Writer, comedian, and University of Bath teaching fellow, Matthew Alford joined me to discuss his latest book Union Union Jackboot: What Your Media and Professors Don’t Tell You About British Foreign Policy, which we co-authored with TJ Coles. We started off the conversation by discussing the unique structure of the book. Matt and I talked about the perception of British foreign policy we see today in the media. We touch on the brutal legacy the British Empire has had around the world, and take shots at some of the UK’s sacred cows like Winston Churchill. We also discussed why the media, Conservatives, and many in Labour despises Jeremy Corbyn. We talked about the way that Corbyn is perceived, many times incorrectly. Matt also talks about Brexit and why we should never feel sorry for Theresa May. Later we talked about the destructive role British foreign policy plays in seemly mundane affairs like clothing industry. We also touched on Britain’s role more recently in Sri Lanka and Nigeria.
JP Sottile joins me in the first hour to discuss the recent airstrikes by the US, UK, and France in Syria. We discuss how this is nothing new for the Trump administration, and how in fact this latest airstrike comes almost on the anniversary of Trump’s earlier strike after the alleged use of chemical weapon. JP and I also discuss how this latest attack appears to have targeted three sites which were completely evacuated and probably were known of in advance. JP talks about the theater that was involved in this latest military action, including Trump’s idiotic use of the phrase “mission accomplished.” We then break down the media’s hyping of this event as a prelude to WWIII. JP and I present several reasons for why this is nothing more than bluster meant to drive traffic on websites. We also explore the notion that this is really the last hurrah of the American Empire. We talk about the decline of US power and their inability to maintain such a large global empire. I talk about the how France has begun filling this imperialist vacuum more and more in Africa.
In the second hour Robbie Martin joins me to breakdown the ever changing narrative of the Skirpal poisoning. We talk about how this fits into the larger context of what we are seeing geopolitically particular with regard to actions in Syria. Robbie talks about how Theresa May wove Skirpal into her decision to help bomb Syria over the weekend. Later we move onto the latest explanation which comes from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that the Skripal’s were exposed to BZ. Robbie explains what BZ is and the history of the US governments experiments with the chemical. We also mention the State Department cable that mentions the possibility of BZ having been used in Syria. The bizarre claim by former KGB operative Boris Karpichkov that Skripal is connected to the murder of GCHQ’s Gareth Williams is also discussed. We end by talking about the danger of these sorts of operations and the rhetoric that is produces within society.
Keelan Balderson of WideShut.co.uk joins me again to discuss the latest developments in the Manchester Bombing case. We begin by briefly discussing how the bombing has evolved as a news story, and they way it is being perceived in the U.K. We then move onto the latest developments in the actual investigation. Keelan and I talk about the authorities back and forth narrative of this being a lone wolf attack or part of a larger plot. We talk about the police recently stating that there could have been multiple people who knew Salman Abedi was going to bomb the arena. The two of point out how this is yet another change in direction after the authorities released over a dozen people suspected of being involved in the attack. Keelan also gives us the latest details coming out of Libya. He talks about the claims being made by the RADA militia that Salman’s brother Hashem has confessed to buying the parts for the bomb while in Manchester visiting. We also touch on the claims that Salman Abedi was sent to a bomb making school in Libya by his father. Keelan and I again touch in the deep connections that Abedi had to British intelligence, and ponder if the Libyans are attempting to hide these details. Next we take a look at claims made by the bizarre “NGO” Quilliam, which stated that Abedi learned how to make construct the bomb from a YouTube video. Keelan also touches on the stranger claim by Qulliam that the chemical TATP was used in the bomb. We point out that this is yet another in a long series of claims which have sought to connect Manchester to 7/7. We also look at a recent David Shayler interview where he asserted that Salman’s father Ramadan is the infamous “Tunworth” who was tasked by MI6 with trying to assassinate Gaddafi. We also touch on the fact that Abedi met twice with a convicted Libyan terrorist in prison in the U.K.
In the second hour we take a closer look at the two recent inquests into the victims and Abedi’s deaths. Keelan first explains what an inquest entails, and what we can except to learn from them. Keelan tells us all about this new diagram of the bomb blast which contains a series of interesting new claims. We explore why the diagram does not show where Abedi’s body was discovered, and the inclusion of more victims. Keelan also points to the diagrams revelation that a CCTV camera appears to have been pointed exactly where Abedi set of the bomb. The two of us ask the question as to whether this footage will show Abedi detonating the device, or if we will ever even see the footage. Keelan and I also talk about some of the other CCTV images that have come out in recent weeks and speculate as to what they might represent. We end the conversation by exploring the notion that Manchester is part of a larger Gladio style operation happening predominantly in Europe. We talk about the rise of the right wing and attacks like the one at the Finsbury Park Mosque and how this relates to a new Gladio. Keelan and I also ponder what might be next.
Keelan Balderson of WideShut.co.uk joins me today for an in depth discussion of the recent terror attacks in Manchester and London. We begin by looking at the initial narrative that the media presented to us and how that quickly began to change within days of the event. Keelan discusses how the narrative had many of the hallmarks of the 7/7 Terror attacks, such as prior knowledge and security monitoring, slipping through the net, and the calls for internal reviews by MI5. Next to take a closer look at Salman Abedi’s family and the claims that they were Libyan refugees. Keelan talks about the Salman’s fathers ties to the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and the LIFG’s close relationship with both MI5 and MI6. We discuss how the British government has long funded and protected the LIFG and used them time and time again as a proxy force against former Libyan leader Gadaffi. Keelan and I also talk about the fact that as Home Secretary Theresa May signed off on orders allowing LIFG fighters to freely move around the UK and Europe. Keelan and I then move one the bombing itself and focus on several key pieces of evidence that have emerged. We look at the mysterious CCTV footage of Abedi buying tuna fish, almonds, air freshener, and scouring pads, and ask the question: if this the shopping list of a man who thinks he is about to die? The two of us also discuss the blacked out image of Abedi that has made the rounds in the media and again point out that this doesn’t really prove anything. Keelan also dives into the curious admission that the bomb Abedi used may have been equipped with a remote detonator, therefore begging the question of whether Abedi was an unwitting suicide bomber. Keelan and I explore the idea that Abedi could have been part of a much larger plot. We also talk a out several bizarre eyewitness reports, and well as conflicting forensic evidence.
In the second hour Keelan and I address Abedi’s families response to the bombing. We talk about his fathers allusion to this possibly being a false flag, as well his brothers flat out statement that he knew his brother was a terrorist. We then move onto some of the political responses to the attack. Keelan discusses May’s renewed efforts to control the internet with ever increasing draconian laws aimed at preventing this very attack. We also touch on the idea that this attack in many ways mimics Gladio style operations in places such as Italy in the 1970’s. We then move onto the London bridge attack and take a look at the attackers connections to another terrorist group with deep ties to British intelligence, al-Muhajiroun. We then look at how this is effecting the upcoming British election in just a few days. We finish off by looking at how the MSM and alt-media has completely accepted either blow-back or the right-wing narrative that Muslims are all evil. Keelan and I also touch on the recent severing of ties with Qatar by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE, and how this may be playing into the ever evolving narrative of the war on terror.
Porkins Policy Review 