Ep. 34 An End to the Syrian War feat. Ehsani

Dan and Joanne talk with Syrian analyst Ehsani @ehsani22 about the origins of the war and the new prospects for an end to the war. We also talk about the current situation in Deir Ezzor and Idlib.

Ehsani is from Aleppo, Syria. He is active on social media, especially Twitter, mainly with analysis and discussion about Syria. He has also written for Syria Comment under this pseudonymn “Ehsani”..  

Follow @ehsani22 on Twitter. He has also been published many times at Syria Comment.

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Recorded on September 17, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference links:

  1. Ehsani at Syria Comment
  2. Russian foreign ministry comment on crossing the Euphrates
  3. SDF Issue Statement Condemning Syrian/Russian bombardment of their forces
  4. Ahmed Abu Khawla (commander of Deir Ezzor military council) claims SDF won’t allow Syrian forces to cross the Euphrates
  5. Russian military spokesman denied targeting SDF

Ep. 33 A Syrian Kurdish Perspective feat. Kovan Direj

Dan and Joanne talk with Syrian Kurdish photographer and journalist Kovan Direj about his perspective on Syria and the region.

Kovan is a Kurd from Rojava, Syria. He is a photographer, journalist and documentary film producer who spent most of his life in Aleppo and Qamishli and now works with refugees in Sweden.

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Follow @kovandire, find his work at www.kovandirej.com

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Recorded on August 24, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 32 Charlottesville and Extremist Proxies feat. Max Blumenthal

Dan and Joanne talk with Max Blumenthal about the history of the national security state and the ruling elite using radical and extremist groups as proxies both abroad and at home. We discuss the Syrian “rebels”, neo-Nazi groups in Ukraine  and we also talk about Charlottesville and how we got here.

Max is an author, journalist, senior editor of the Gray Zone Project at alternet.org, and co-host of the Moderate Rebels podcast. He is well known for his acclaimed books, The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza, Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel and Republican Gomorrah: Inside the Movement that Shattered the Party.

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Follow @maxblumenthal, find references to all of his work at maxblumenthal.com.

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Recorded on August 20, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Reference Links:

1)      18 August 2017 (VIDEO) The Real Story of How Bannon and Trump Got to the White HouseThe Real News Network – Thomas Hedges

 2)      23 June 2017 John McCain and Paul Ryan Hold ‘Good Meeting’ With Veteran Ukrainian Nazi Demagogue Andriy Parubiy Alternet – Ben Norton, Max Blumenthal

 3)      18 November 2014 How the Israel Lobby Protected Ukrainian Neo-Nazis Alternet Max Blumenthal (Rep. John Conyers wanted to block U.S. funding to neo-Nazis in Ukraine. But the ADL and Simon Wiesenthal Center refused to help.)

 4)      24 February 2014 Is the U.S. Backing Neo-Nazis in Ukraine? Alternet Max Blumental (Exposing troubling ties in the U.S. to overt Nazi and fascist protesters in Ukraine.)

 5)      16 June 2017 (VIDEO) Anti-Muslim Manchester Demo Unites Britain’s Far-Right

6)      16 June 2017 Former EDL leader holds large anti-Muslim demonstration in ManchesterHope Not Hate – Dr Joe Mulhall

7)      18 March 2017 New European Branch of International Alt-Right Group to Launch Hope Not Hate – Dr Joe Mulhall

8)      17 March 2017 More Transatlantic co-operation by the international Alt/Far Right  – Hope Not Hate – Dr Joe Mulhall

 9)      20 March 2017 (VIDEO) Can Europe Stop the Far Right if It Doesn’t Stop Neoliberal Austerity? The Real News Network, Liz Fekete (Institute of Race Relations)

10)   20 June 2016 Return of the Reich – Mapping the Global Resurgence of Far Right Power Insurge Intelligence – Nafeez Ahmed (A four part INSURGE intelligence investigative series commissioned by Tell MAMA)

11) 2012 (PDF) Pedlars of Hate: The Violent Impact of the European Far Right Institute of Race Relations – Liz Feket

Bonus Ep. 31: DNC Leaks (Not Hacks)

Preview of episode 31 (a bonus episode for our patrons), part 1 of a series of bonus episodes on the alleged “Russian hack” of the 2016 presidential election.

Full episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-ep-31-dnc-14029153

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Recorded on August 20, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 30 Washington Babylon feat. Ken Silverstein

Dan and Joanne talk with American author and investigative journalist Ken Silverstein about power and influence peddling in Washington and the role of think tanks, NGOs and the media.

Ken is a DC-based investigative journalist,  and creator of Washingtonbabylon.com. He is a contributing writer to VICE and columnist for the New York Observer. His stated goal for Washington Babylon was “to cover DC politicians and journalists like Hollywood celebrities —  not the way they are worshiped by our current media masters.” He also wrote for Harpers Magazine, AP and LA Times.

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Follow @kensilverstein1, find his work on washingtonbabylon.com

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Recorded on August 11, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 29 Report From Baghdad on Iraq & Syria feat. Elijah Magnier

We talk with Elijah Magnier, chief international war correspondent for Al Rai media, reporting from Baghdad on current situation in Iraq and Syria.  

Elijah has covered wars in Lebanon, the Balkans, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, and Syria.  Beyond reporting on wars from the ground, Mr. Magnier also offers expert analysis on terrorism and terrorist organizations. He spoke to us from Baghdad.

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Follow @ejmalrai, find his work on elijahjm.wordpress.com

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Recorded on August 4, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 28 War & Peace With North Korea feat. Tim Shorrock

Dan and Joanne interview Tim Shorrock, an author, investigative journalist and commentator on US foreign policy, national security and intelligence, and East Asian politics.

Tim grew up in Japan and Korea and was recently in South Korea for an extended visit. He’s the author of the popular book “Spies for Hire”. You can find Tim’s work at The Nation, Newstapa/Korea Center for Investigative Reporting, and many other media outlets and also at his website timshorrock.com.

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Follow @TimothyS. Find his work at timshorrock.com

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Recorded on August 1, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 27 (BONUS): Russia Hysteria

Listen to or download Episode 27 at Patreon.

Dan and Joanne discuss Dan and Joanne talk about the hysteria around Russia and Vladimir Putin in western media which is not calming down and instead is getting progressively worse.

Episode 27 is a bonus episode for our patrons. Thank you! You can gain access to all of our content by becoming a patron.

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Recorded on July 21, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 26 Torture in the American Empire feat. Jeffrey Kaye

Dan and Joanne interview retired psychologist and writer Jeffrey Kaye about the history of torture in the American empire and the latest news of black sites and outsourced torture in Yemen.

Jeff is a retired psychologist and a writer, specializing on the topics of torture, national security, civil rights. He has done some major collaborative investigatory work (some co-written with Jason Leopold) that have been published at Firedoglake, Truthout, and The Public Record.

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Follow @jeff_kaye. Find his work at valtinsblog.blogspot.com

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Recorded on June 27, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Ep. 25 (BONUS): Russiagate or Intelgate?

Listen to or download Episode 25 at Patreon.

Dan and Joanne discuss Russiagate and analyze Stephen Cohen’s and Oliver Stone’s recent comments about how the intelligence “assessment” was contrived. Both Cohen and Stone spoke strongly on the subject, turning the tables, citing three main figures in the Obama administration’s national security state. Is Russiagate the real scandal rivaling Watergate? Or is it Intelgate?

Episode 25 is a bonus episode for our patrons. Thank you! You can gain access to all of our content by becoming a patron.

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Recorded on June 23, 2017. Music by Fluorescent Grey.

Podcast Episode 24: What is the Antiwar Right? feat. Angela Keaton

Originally published on June 21, 2017.

In Around the Empire Episode 24, Dan and Joanne talk with Angela Keaton, executive director of Antiwar.comabout libertarian and right-wing opposition to war and about areas of common ground with the antiwar Left where alliances or coalitions might be formed.

Angela is a second generation libertarian, a writer, legal researcher, and the Executive Director of Antiwar.com. She has worked in news and public affairs broadcasting since 1999 and she has served on the Libertarian National Committee. Her work is focused on a long term goal of ending militarism, war and torture.

Follow Angela on Twitter @Antiwar2.

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Podcast Episode 23: High-Level Leaks, Soft Coup, and Conspiracy feat. Philip Giraldi

Originally published on June 14, 2017.

In episode 23 of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne talk with Phil Giraldi about his recent article, “Do High-Level Leaks Suggest a Conspiracy?” Former intelligence officers are questioning whether leaks and other events signal an ongoing soft coup based in the national security establishment.

Phil Giraldi is a former counter-terrorism specialist and military intelligence officer of the CIA. Giraldi is a columnist at The American Conservative and unz.com. He is also a commentator on mainstream and independent media. He is a consultant, the Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, and he is a member of a group called Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS).

Phil’s article: “Do High-Level Leaks Suggest a Conspiracy?

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Podcast Episode 22: Shadow Wars and the Manchester Bombing feat. Christopher Davidson

Originally published June 7, 2017.

Dan and Joanne speak with author and scholar Dr. Christopher Davidson about manipulation of the Middle East by Western powers, the use of extremist groups as a strategic asset, the strife and extremism that has resulted. We also focus on the recent attack in Manchester by a man who fought with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) which helped overthrow Gaddafi.

Dr. Christopher Davidson is a scholar and expert in Middle East politics who teaches at Durham University in northern England. He is the author of numerous books including his latest: “Shadow Wars: The Secret Struggle for the Middle East,” based on four years of archival work and interviews with former intelligence officials.

Follow Dr. Davison on Twitter @Dr_Davidson

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Podcast Episode 21: Impeach Trump, Get President Pence? Hell No feat. Doug Henwood

Originally published on May 24, 2017.

On this episode of Around The Empire, Dan and Joanne talk with Doug Henwood about the anti-Trump faction’s endgame, the force applied by the unelected permanent government and about the prospect of a President Pence (a “horror”) and Republican-controlled Congress implementing the Republican dream in short order.

Doug Henwood is an American journalist, economic analyst, and financial trader who writes frequently about economic affairs. He publishes a newsletter, “Left Business Observer” and he hosts “Behind the News” a weekly radio show covering economics and politics.”

Follow Doug on Twitter @DougHenwood

Doug’s recent article “The post-Trump Era?”

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Podcast Episode 20 (bonus): Comeypocalypse

Originally published on May 15, 2017 for our patrons. You can get our bonus material by becoming a patron of Around the Empire.

In Episode 20, a bonus episode for our excellent patrons (thank you!), Dan and Joanne talk with about the firing of FBI director, James Comey and the immediate aftermath.
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Recorded on 5/12/17. Music by Fluorescent Grey.