In the first hour, Michael Swanson and Chuck had a unique exchange about the JFK Assassination and its implications regarding current events. Chuck also mentions his new glasses while the evolution of refining knowledge on deep political issues is made plain.
Hour number two revolved around a strange mob hit in the news and a discussion on what the news is not alerting you about. Pearse Redmond makes a few announcements, and Chuck has to say he is sorry.
Tuesdays are always fun, educational, and unexpected on The Ochelli Effect. News, and entertainment factory installed.
JP Sottile of NewsVandal.com joins me in the first hour to discuss the decline of the US empire. We begin by discussing the continued decline of the US media. JP and I touch on the the ways in which the US media (particularly TV) has become ever more enamored with the cult of celebrity. We discuss the ways in which the TV talking heads will obsess over a single tweet by Trump while actual real news is happening all around us. JP and I speculate over the reasons for this trend, and why the media loves to distract us with “news items” about presidential tweets. We also touch on the lighting speed with which the news cycle now runs at. Later JP and I talk about the decline of US dominance globally and how this may explain why we are seeing so many violent conflicts erupting across the globe. JP focuses on the numerous crises in the Middle East, and how they are being exploited in order to stave of the eventual death of both the US and Saudi Arabia.
I begin the second hour by briefly touching on the arrest and escape of former Georgian President JP Saakashvili. I then turn my attention to the recent murder of former president of Yemen Ali Abduallah Saleh. I give a brief look at the recent history of modern Yemen and how it has continually been used by regional and world powers. I also talk about the Arab Spring which ousted Saleh and his return to power in 2015 with the Houthi movement. I then explore the Houthi’s and attempt to explain some of the complexities surrounding their political movement. The issue of Iranian support for them is also explored. I finish off by discussing my displeasure with some of the political rhetoric from left which appears to be supporting war against Saudi Arabia. I talk about the problems with choosing sides in any war and Yemen in particular. I also talk about how this still fits into the US/Saudi narrative of their being a “good” and “bad” side in this war.
The wait is finally over, Porkins Great Game is back! We begin by taking a look at the recent Parliamentary elections in Georgia. We break down how the elections turned out and analyze the results and what that may mean for the political future of Georgia. Christoph and I also touch on the most recent scandal in Georgia dealing with yet another leaked audio tape of Saakashvili. In our second segment we discuss the ongoing violence in Afghanistan as well as a ongoing peace negotiations. We begin with the recent peace deal between the government and famed heroin warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. We also break down the latest Taliban attack on the city of Kunduz and the wave of attacks in the south in Helmand provience. Christoph and I also analyze the latest Taliban/Kabul peace talks which has conspicuously left out Pakistan. For our final segment we talk all things Syria. We touch on the recent push for more direct US action from armchair generals such as Charles Lister. Christoph and I discuss the reality of what is going on in Aleppo as well as the threat of armed conflict between Russia and the United States.
In our Weird Terrorism section we talk about the strange case of Jabar al Bakr: the White Helmet humanitarian who tried to blow up the Berlin airport. We also talk about the recent death of Uzbek leader Islam Karimov.
On this episode Christoph and I start off with our favorite Georgian politician, Mikheil Saakashvili, and his most recent meddling in his native country. While ostensibly operating as governor of Odessa, Saakashvili was recently caught on tape advising the owner and director of popular TV station Rustavi 2 on how to instigate a violent confrontation with the goverment. The pro-Saakashvili channel has been in a long legal dispute and the current regime has trued multiple times to shut it down. Christoph explains what is at stake for Rustavi 2 and how Saakashvili has been inserting himself into the situation. We discuss his plans to start a “revolution” by orchestrating a violent government showdown. We also talk about Georgia’s recent descion to buy natural gas from Russia and Iran. Christoph breaks down the reasons for this and address’ the persistan claims that the Georgian Dream Coalition is “pro-Russian.”
Next we move to Syria and the startling rumors of Chinese involvement in the war. We discuss a series of reports about Chinese naval vessels and military advisers arriving in Syria. Next we talk about the growing Uighur presence in places such as Jisr al Shughour and Deir ez-Zour. We break down the increasing role of the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) with in the jihadi movement, but also their role in bringing hundreds of Uighur’s to Syria. We explore how all of this has forced China’s hand to a degree when in comes to fighting international terrorism.
For our third section Christoph and I explore the recent shooting down of a Russian jet by the Turkish military. We breakdown the reality of what actually happened, and provide a detailed analysis as to why Turkey carried out this action. We talk about Russia’s recent targeting of Turkish backed Turkem fighters, and how this one was one of the major factors for Turkey downing the fighter jet. Christoph explains how this was probably a joint US-Turkey operation separate from the NATO power structure. Christoph also tells us about the leader of the Turkem fighters and his true identity as a Turkish national and son of a Turkish mayor. As we round out the section we explore the ISIS oil smuggling routes that have also been bombed by Russia. We talk about how much of this lucrative trade is being overseen and brokered Bilal Erdogan, son of president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Christoph also gives his predictions as to the sorts of steps Russia will be taking in the near future.
For our weird terrorism section we discuss South Korea’s claims that ISIS and North Korea are in league with one another. As if that isn’t weird enough, we also touch on China’s claim that the Dailai Lama supports ISIS.
Christoph and I also briefly discuss a new media project that Sibel Edmonds is starting that both of us will be a part of.
We start this month’s episode by looking at the recent escapades of our good friend Mikhail Saakashvili. We begin by looking at Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko’s appointment of Saakashvili as governor of Odessa. Christoph and I discuss how this corrupt war criminal will now be in charge of a politically and economically important region of Ukraine. We also touch on the tricky game that is being played with Saakashvili and his Georgian citizenship. Later we focus on why Saakashvili was chosen to rule this region, focusing mostly on the bordering pro-Russian breakaway state of Transnistria. Christoph explains how Saakashvili may be part of a concerted effort to foment a proxy war between the West and Russia by using Transnistira as a staging ground. We talk about the deportation of Russian troops by the Moldovian government, as well as the placement of anti-aircraft missiles on the border between Ukraine and Transnistria.
Our second story is a look at the political situation in Azerbaijan. The unending tit-for-tat fight between Azerbaijan and the US continues, as the Caucasus nation yet again cracks down on pro-western forces. Christoph and I also take a look at the European Games which are being played right now in Baku. We discuss how Azerbaijan has used the Games as a pretext to ban both Amnesty International and the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe. Christoph also updates us on recent pipeline-politics developments in Azerbaijan.
For our third story we turn once again to the Northern Afghanistan and the increased fighting going on there. We break down some of the recent victories the Taliban has had over Afghan forces throughout Badakshan Province. The once untouched region is now slowly falling bit by bit to Taliban fighters, while the West continues to downplay the security situation in the North. Christoph and I also update our listeners on some of the recent peace talks taking place in Xinjiang between the Taliban and the Afghan government, brokered by Pakistan’s ISI. We end this section by looking at recent defections of Taliban fighters to ISIS and how ISIS is slowly becoming the dominant force in Afghanistan.
We close out this month’s episode with two bizarre stories that touch on ongoing Gladio operations. First we talk about the most recent high profile ISIS fighter to emerge, Tajik commander Gulmurod Halimov, what he might actually be up to and the similarities between him and other Gladio/CIA operatives. We finish off with an interesting terrorism case in London that had to be stopped when it became clear that MI6 was arming and funding the very group the state was going after.
On this long-awaited episode Christoph and I begin with a close look at the recent assassination of Russian politician Boris Nemtsov. We analyze this bizarre case and the myriad explanations given by the Russian government as to who was really behind it. Christoph and I discuss the links between Nemtsov’s alleged killers and Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Christoph breaks down how this killing has exposed the deep divisions between the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Kadyrov and his cronies. We explore why the FSB has been behind all of the major news leaks relating to this case, and what this means for Kadyrov going forward. Before rounding out this segment, we also take a look at the 15-day disappearance of Putin and offer our own interpretations of what may have been going on.
In our second segment we turn once again to Georgian politics and dissect Mikheil Saakashvili’s latest attempts to bring about a Georgian Maidan. We discuss the pro-Saakashvili demonstrations that took place in Tiblisi recently and what they really mean going forward for Georgia and NATO. Christoph points out that while Saakashvili is still very useful for Washington, they have no desire to overthrow the government again. We also look at the recent scandal that developed when a government-funded group screened a graphic anti-Saakashvili documentary before school children.
For our third segment we turn once again to the Turkmen-Afghan border, where the violence and tension continues to rise. Christoph offers his analysis on several interesting new developments including: the murder of ethnic Turkmen by Afghan police, the continued incursions into Afghanistan by the Turkmen army, and the so-called threat of ISIS to Turkmenistan. We touch on how Turkmenistan is using the alleged threat of ISIS to clamp down on any and all dissent with in the nation. Later we question the validity of a report stating that Russian advisers and Uzbek troops are actually on the Turkmen-Afghan border. Lastly we update our listeners on the latest developments in Afghanistan itself. Christoph and I look at President Ashraf Ghani’s visit to the US where he pleaded yet again for Obama to order US troops to remain even longer. Christoph also updates us on the negotiations currently underway between the Taliban, China and Pakistan.
In our closing segment Christoph and I take a look at the latest shenanigans of journalist/freedom fighter/CIA agent/filmmaker Mathew VanDyke. We focus on VanDyke’s most recent business venture, Sons Of Liberty International, a “non-profit” military training firm which is building a Christian Army in Northern Iraq to fight ISIS.
The wait is finally over: The new podcast series produced by Christoph Germann and me, Porkins Great Game, is now up and running! This new podcast will deal exclusively with Central Asia and the Caucus region, and will explore the various geopolitical machinations that compose the “New Great Game.” Porkins Great Game will be a monthly podcast and we really encourage you to be a part of this endeavor. So please follow us on Twitter, @PorkinsPolicy & @NewGreatGame, and feel free to email us with topic suggestions and news stories that pertain to the new great game. You can contact me by emailing porkinspolicy@gmail.com, and you can contact Christoph through the contact form on christophgermann.blogspot.com
On this month’s episode we take a look at the increasing violence in Xinjiang as well as the ISIS connection within the Uyghur separatist movement, and take a look at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization conference in Tajikistan. We discuss the military buildup in NATO proxy-country Georgia as we consider the recent announcement to set up both a NATO training center and training camp for Syrian rebels. Rounding off the Georgia section, we take a look at probable intelligence operative and ISIS commander Tarkhan Batirashivili, offer an update on former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, an consider Sibel Edmonds’ new novel The Lone Gladio and how it pertains to Georgia. Later we examine some of the recent attempts by the government of Azerbaijan to crack down on the Gulenist movement with in the country. Christoph and I explore how the national oil and gas company of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, may be quietly reopening many of the Gulen-funded schools that were recently closed. We also touch upon the the claim that ISIS captured a SOCAR fuel tanker in Syria, and talk about the twentieth anniversary of the signing of the “Contract of the Century.” We conclude the podcast with an exploration of the ambush of Saudi Prince Abdul Aziz bin Fahd this summer in Paris. This story received almost no media coverage, despite the theft of over $300,000 and diplomatic documents from one of the prince’s cars. Abdul Aziz bin Fahd is of course a high-profile royal official who has been linked to terrorism in Syria, and to billionaire and former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
Porkins Policy Review 