This week Jon Atack and Sam Atack joined me to discuss their new videos series Think Like a Cult Leader. Jon and Sam described how their criteria for being a “successful cult leader” matches up with so many people currently in positions of power today. We also talked about Sam’s prank creation his own cult “The Unification Church of Saminanity” and how he was able to persuade 50 people to join. We then discussed the issue of impulsivity among cult leaders and how this affects their actions. We talked about how this behavior, and the trend of extreme boredom. We closed out the first hour by focusing on how this might influence future generations and cult groups alike.
In the second hour, we discussed the destructive influence of the Christian fundamentalist group “The Family” and their late leader David Coe. We talked about how the group developed a far-reaching influence in America and abroad. We finished off the hour by talking about the political situation in Xinjiang. We talked about the repression of Uighur’s and the use of re-education camps by the Chinese government. Jon and I discussed the cult-like devotion among the political left when discussing China. We also talked about the real threat of extremist groups like the East Turkestan Islamic Movement and how the Chinese government exploiting them.
The Chinese government recently announced a near 10% increase in their military budget for 2018. Chinese state media have defended the decision, saying it is part of a modernization program, calling the increase “proportionate and low.”
The increase is the biggest jump in Chinese military spending in recent years. In 2014, the total was $132 billion, which grew to $145 billion in 2015, $147 billion in 2016 and will reach $175 billion next year. Zhang Yesui, a spokesperson for the first annual session of the 13th NPC, explained that the extra money is not to increase China’s overall military capacity, but to update and modernize their armed forces:
“A large part of the growth of the defense budget is to make up for the low military spending in the past and is mainly used to upgrade equipment and improve the welfare of servicemen and women and the living and training conditions of grassroots troops.”
Sputnik spoke to political analyst Pearse Redmond about the geopolitical struggles that are the underlying reasons for China’s consistently growing military expenditure:
“As China becomes more and more integrated in the global economy it understands that maintaining economic superiority requires more security. In Africa, where China has poured vast sums of money into various projects, they have also been quietly building small military bases and developing relationships with various African military and security forces. For example, in Djibouti, once the exclusive military domain of the US, China now operates a naval base adjacent to the Port of Doraleh, which is west of Djibouti City.”
In the first hour JP Sottile of News Vandal joins me to discuss the latest political machinations in Washington DC. We begin with the latest developments regarding Trump lackey Jared Kushner. JP and I talk about his recent loss of Top Secret security clearance and what this may or may not mean going forward. JP then discusses the latest revelations about Kushner and his ties to both Qatar and the UAE. We talk about the revelation that several countries including China and the UAE saw Kushner as a useful tool in order to get what they wanted out of the United States. We look at the role that Kushner plays within the White House, and his ongoing battle with chief of staff John Kelly. JP and I also touch on the interesting timing of the sanctions against Qatar and his own business deals with the Gulf Nation. Later JP and I explore Trump’s proposed tariff on steal and aluminum imports. We discuss how this ultimately translates into a high tax on the American people who buy Chinese made pots and pans. JP and I talk about how this is yet another attempt to go to war with big bad evil China. We also talk about how everything from cars to the price of beer could dramatically increase. JP also explains how Trump’s proposal will, like most of his policy proposals, never really come to pass the way he wants them.
In the second hour Chuck Ochelli of Ochelli.com joins me for an in-depth discussion of the US military presence in Africa. We start off by discussing a recent report from AFRICOM which stated that there was not proper command approval for the disastrous mission in the Tongo Tongo region of Niger. Chuck and I break down the double speak coming out of AFRICOM. We talk about how AFRICOM is attempting to absolve itself from the deadly raid, while at the same time recommending more and more support for US forces in Africa. Chuck and I also dive into AFRICOM commander Gen. Thomas Waldhauser’s recent testimony before congress on the looming threat of China. We discuss China’s quiet soft colonization, and their quiet construction of military bases in places like Djibouti. We also talk about the growing threat of ISIS and the resurgence of Al Qaeda in West Africa. Chuck and I talk about the recent Al Qaeda attack in Burkina Faso and the theory that the next great conflict may be fought on the African continent. We finish off by touching on China’s plan to build a military base in the Wahkan Corridor in Afghanistan. I talk about China’s fear of political and military insatiably in Northern Afghanistan, and the threat of Uighur groups like ETIM, and how this has led them to take further steps militarily.
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.
On this episode Christoph and I discuss several recent Gladio B revelations from Russia, China and even Kyrgyzstan. First we update listeners on the Boris Nemstov assassination investigation. We discuss how the case has hit a brick wall in terms of suspects and progress. We explain how the main suspect, Zaur Dadev, has recanted almost his entire story. We also discuss how alleged ringleader Ruslan Geremeev has vanished from Russia and is most likely hiding out in Dubai. We then move onto our first Gladio B story with the recent “revelation” from Putin that the FSB has intercepted communications between the US and Chechen terrorists in Azerbaijan. Christoph breaks this down for us and explains the context in which Putin chose to reveal this: a Russian TV documentary on his 15 years in power.
Next we move our focus to China and its ongoing fight against the Gladio B network. We talk about the recent Uighur smuggling rings that have been exposed in Malaysia and Thailand, as well as how South China has become the premier destination for Uighurs who go off to fight in Syria and elsewhere.
We then move on to a bizarre story that was broken by the South China Morning Post about an “American scholar” who was recruiting Uighur students to fight abroad. We wrap up this section by discussing how the CIA-backed Gulen movement has been exploiting this situation to attack the CIA-backed Erdogan government.
As we finish off our Gladio B extravaganza we turn our attention to the mysterious 150 tons of “diplomatic mail” that was delivered to the US embassy in Bishek, Kyrgyzstan. We discuss what might be in this cargo (money, arms, spy equipment) and whether or not this may be part of some sort of “Maidan” color revolution.
We finish of the episode by taking a look at a recent Congressional Hearing that featured Washington’s favorite terrorist cult leader, Maryam Rajavi, leader of the MEK, discussing how best to defeat ISIS.
For this month’s episode Christoph and I start by taking a look at a very important aspect of Gladio B, the East Turkestan Project, and specifically the terrorist smuggling rings that are active in bringing Uyghurs to Turkey. We start by taking a look at the most recent example of this type of operation which was just discovered in Shanghai. Christoph breaks down how widespread these large and sophisticated human smuggling rings are. We also touch on how the ongoing battle between Erdogan and Gulen has affected the political debate about the Uyghur issue in Turkey. Christoph and I highlight this point by discussing the rare admission by World Uyghur Congress President Reba Kadir that there are in fact Turkish smugglers sending Uyghurs to Syria and Iraq, and the interesting response in the Islamist Turkish media calling Kadir an “infidel” and “American agent for sale.”
Next we move on to Azerbaijan and discuss the the most recent attempts by the South Caucus nation to crack down on foreign-funded media and NGO’s. This time we look at the recent closing of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) offices in Baku and the arrest and detention of RFE/RL journalists and staff. Christoph breaks down how this recent crackdown is being spun in the West as a geopolitical shift away from NATO and the West, and into the arms of big, bad, evil Russia. Christoph and I explain how even though the rhetoric of Azerbaijan may be hostile, behind the scenes, particularly with regard to NATO, everything is going splendidly. We finish out the segment by dissecting one aspect of the Azerbaijan issue that continues to flare up, the ongoing crisis in breakaway region Nagorno-Karabahk, and how this relates to Azerbaijan’s increased “anti-Western” actions.
In our next segment we move on to the other actor in the Nagorno-Karabahk region, the small South Caucus nation of Armenia. Christoph and I start by discussing Armenia’s recent entry into the Russian-led economic bloc, the Eurasian Economic Union. Christoph explains why Armenia chose to join the EEU despite Europe’s desires to the contrary. We discuss how Armenia is stuck in a difficult position when it comes to EEU, as Russia , which they depend on to militarily back up their de-facto control of Nagorno-Karabahk, is their sole protective ally in the world. Christoph relates how Armenia’s membership in the EEU has led to the closing of the National Democratic Institute, which signals a tacit defeat for the American Deep-State’s “democracy promotion” agenda. We finish out this section on Armenia by focusing on the recent brutal murder of a family of seven by a Russian solider in the city of Gyumri and how this complicates Russian-Armenian relations.
Closing out this episode of PGG Christoph and I update the listeners on the Tajik-Afghan border crisis and the pipeline politics of Russia and Ukraine. We also comment on the recent Charlie Hebdo killings by looking at it from a geopolitical perspective. Christoph and I discuss how bizarre it is – – casting the already dead Awlaki and the practically dead Zawahiri as the masterminds of the attack. I also give my take on the situation in Yemen and how the Houthi led takover of the nation might be part of a much larger plan to get former president Saleh back in power.
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