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Ash and Kristen continue their dive into the wildly controversial world of Graham Hancock and his hotly debated speculations!In part two, the gals dig into Hancock's Ancient Apocalypse era- breaking down his theory that a catastrophic comet wiped out an advanced civilization at the end of the last Ice Age, whose survivors may have spread knowledge of agriculture, astronomy, and architecture across the world. They explore mysterious Indonesian mountaintop ruins, buried structures, global mythology connections, archaeological pushback, debate-stage drama, and Hancock's ventures into altered consciousness, psychedelics, and the eternal question: suppressed truth, misunderstood evidence… or just a really fascinating speculative rabbit hole?STUFF TO CHEER YOU UP:Ash's list of "Comfort Shows" (and where to watch them for freeeee)Ash learned a dance and actually filmed it... aka Ash dancing alone in …her yard aka "How Ash Likes to Party" Behind the scenes of Ash struggling to make a simple dance video ft. her SPARKLY BOOTS!PODS TO KEEP YOU INFORMED:It Could Happen Here- It Could Happen Here started as an exploration of the possibility of a new civil war. Now a daily show, it's evolved into a chronicle of collapse as it happens, and an exploration of how we might build a better future.Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay - Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay dissect the biggest topics in Black culture, politics, and sports. Two times per week, they will wade into the most important and timely conversations, frequently inviting guests on the podcast and occasionally debating each other.Pod Save the World - A weekly podcast that breaks down international news and foreign policy developments, but doesn't feel like homework.This F*cking Guy - Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco, co-hosts of the podcast Hysteria, do a deep dive into the lives of some of the worst b*tches in the game - and let you know everything there is to know about their horrible, corrupt, and dishonest pasts.Behind the Bastards - There's a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives. Listeners will learn about the young adult novels that helped Hitler form his monstrous ideology, the founder of Blackwater's insane quest to build his own Air Force, the bizarre lives of the sons and daughters of dictators and Saddam Hussein's side career as a trashy romance novelist.Gaslit Nation - Gaslit Nation provides a deep dive on the news, skipping outrage to deliver analysis, history, context, and sharp insight on global affairs. Hosted by journalist and filmmaker Andrea Chalupa, an expert on authoritarian states who warned America about Russia and election hacking before the 2016 election.The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Jon Stewart and The Daily Show News Team cover today's biggest headlines. The “Ears Edition” of The Daily Show features full episodes, extended content, exclusive interviews, and more.If you'd like to support my escape to Indonesia, check out the GOFUNDME :)Follow us on Instagram, where Ash is actually starting to post again!We'd love to see you in our Discord, come hang out!Audio editing by Tina Lukic.
Picking up where we left off in Part One, we now deep dive into the sectarian violence that unfolded in Iraq and layout a timeline on how they attempted to implement democratic processes as well as Saddam Hussein's trial. We also look at the collapse of the America's central justification for the war: no weapons of mass destruction found. We then jump into Bush's re-election and changing public opinion internationally. Big Small Talk Instagram Sarah-Jane's Instagram Hannah's Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode host Iain Ballantyne talks to guest Steve Kershaw, a former Royal Navy submarine officer, about his amazing career under the sea and his work today helping to bring about the UK'S ‘Hybrid Navy' transformation.Iain kicks off by asking Steve to explain what led him to choose a naval career in the mid-1980s and why it was the engineering side of the Senior Service that appealed most.After talking about his time undergoing Initial Sea Training and being ‘streamed' to the Submarine Service as an engineer, Steve relates how for a short period he returned to the Surface Fleet. He spent time in HMS London, including a foray to Berlin as the infamous Wall dividing East and West came down in late 1989.Steve served in several Royal Navy nuclear-powered hunter killer submarines (SSNs) of the Trafalgar Class, including during the 1991 Gulf War. That boat spent 13 weeks dived in the Mediterranean watching Libya to ensure it did not come into the conflict on the side of Saddam Hussein.Steve also went to sea in the Upholder Class diesel-electric submarine HMS Unicorn for a marathon voyage from the UK to the Indian Ocean and Gulf and back. He reveals to Iain how he found the ‘dirty boat' world aboard Unicorn to be somewhat different to the nukes.While away the UK Government decided to take the four (fairly new) Upholders out of commission, which was a blow. Steve reveals the impact that had on Unicorn's crew. A deployment involving Steve, which hit the headlines for the wrong reasons was that of HMS Tireless as part of Naval Task Group 2000, and which saw a circumnavigation of the world cancelled. The SSN was ‘trapped' in Gibraltar for a year due to serious technical problems and Steve returned home rather than going around the world.Among other things Iain and Steve discuss is his time with Naval Sea Trials Party 30 (NSTP 30) and its work to ensure RN submarine sensors remained on the cutting edge during a continuing contest under the sea.Steve and Iain also discuss how the ‘Hybrid Navy' aims to provide a solution to giving the British fleet of today and tomorrow more mass and presence at sea as part of the new Atlantic Bastion concept.*For more on navies and their activities worldwide, get the magazine! Web site http://bit.ly/wifrmag Also, follow it on X @WarshipsIFR Facebook @WarshipsIFR and Warships IFR TV on YouTube @warshipsifrtv3668 • Steve Kershaw served 21 years in the UK submarine service and has spent the rest of his career consulting in Defence and Security. He has been at PwC for over 15 years and a partner for 11 of them. His primary role is to lead consulting teams working in the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). He is also PwC's Global Security and Defence Sector leader, helping individual territories and multi-national accounts such as NATO to develop and utilise the best that PwC has to offer. He specialises in improving military programmes and procurements and also enterprise-wide transformation.•Iain Ballantyne is the founding and current Editor of ‘Warships IFR' magazine (first published in 1998) along with its ‘Guide to the Royal Navy' (since 2003) and ‘Guide to the US Navy' (since 2018). Iain is also author of the books ‘Hunter Killers' (Orion) and ‘The Deadly Trade' (Weidenfeld & Nicolson), both about submarine warfare, plus ‘Arnhem: Ten Days in The Cauldron' and ‘Bismarck: 24 Hours to Doom' (both published by Canelo). In 2017 Iain was awarded a Fellowship by the British Maritime Foundation, which promotes awareness of the United Kingdom's dependence on the sea and seafarers. Visit his web site Bismarckbattle.com and follow him on X @IBallantyn
PART II ALREADY OUT ON PATREON! IT'S AD-FREE, AND THERE'S A TON OF OTHER GREAT PATREON PERKS, JOIN US THERE!Ash and Kristen begin their dive into the wildly controversial world of Graham Hancock and his hotly debated speculations. Along the way, they take approximately 700 Wikipedia detours through Gnosticism, Catharism, esoteric secret-knowledge clubs, and so much conspiracy-adjacent archaeology, religious relic lore, and Ice Age brain-melt timelines that Ash has to stop Kristen every 2-3 minutes to define something. So naturally, we had to make this a two-parter!In part one, the gals talk about Hancock's journey from respected journalist to alternative archaeologist who digs into controversial theories about lost ancient civilizations and literally everything else throughout time and space. They dig into his greatest hits: the Ark of the Covenant, the Knights Templar, pyramids/Sphinx “they're older than you think” chaos, the Face on Mars, and that whole “is this an ancient warning or just Virgin Mary on toast?” dilemma.STUFF TO CHEER YOU UP:Ash's list of "Comfort Shows" (and where to watch them for freeeee)Ash learned a dance and actually filmed it... aka Ash dancing alone in …her yard aka "How Ash Likes to Party" Behind the scenes of Ash struggling to make a simple dance video ft. her SPARKLY BOOTS!PODS TO KEEP YOU INFORMED:It Could Happen Here- It Could Happen Here started as an exploration of the possibility of a new civil war. Now a daily show, it's evolved into a chronicle of collapse as it happens, and an exploration of how we might build a better future.Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay - Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay dissect the biggest topics in Black culture, politics, and sports. Two times per week, they will wade into the most important and timely conversations, frequently inviting guests on the podcast and occasionally debating each other.Pod Save the World - A weekly podcast that breaks down international news and foreign policy developments, but doesn't feel like homework.This F*cking Guy - Erin Ryan and Alyssa Mastromonaco, co-hosts of the podcast Hysteria, do a deep dive into the lives of some of the worst b*tches in the game - and let you know everything there is to know about their horrible, corrupt, and dishonest pasts.Behind the Bastards - There's a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives. Listeners will learn about the young adult novels that helped Hitler form his monstrous ideology, the founder of Blackwater's insane quest to build his own Air Force, the bizarre lives of the sons and daughters of dictators and Saddam Hussein's side career as a trashy romance novelist.Gaslit Nation - Gaslit Nation provides a deep dive on the news, skipping outrage to deliver analysis, history, context, and sharp insight on global affairs. Hosted by journalist and filmmaker Andrea Chalupa, an expert on authoritarian states who warned America about Russia and election hacking before the 2016 election.The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Jon Stewart and The Daily Show News Team cover today's biggest headlines. The “Ears Edition” of The Daily Show features full episodes, extended content, exclusive interviews, and more.If you'd like to support my escape to Indonesia, check out the GOFUNDME :)Follow us on Instagram, where Ash is actually starting to post again!We'd love to see you in our Discord, come hang out!Audio editing by Gaytrice Perdue.
Former NFL quarterback Jim McMahon joins the boys to talk about going from being a two-sport athlete in college to a SuperBowl winner with the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, whether or not he could've made it to the Majors as an outfielder, landing on the legendary Frank Jobe's operating table, visiting the White House (twice!) and how he ended up in Iraq for the execution of Saddam Hussein. This week's podcast was brought to you by Teambrown Apparel, Old Fort Baseball Co and Patrick's Custom Painting.
Min 5: TRES ADIOSES (4 estrellas) En “Tres adioses”, la cineasta Isabel Coixet ofrece un drama íntimo e introspectivo —protagonizado por Alba Rohrwacher y Elio Germano— que se adentra en el dolor y la transformación personal tras la ruptura de pareja y el choque con la fragilidad de la vida. Adaptación de la novela póstuma de Michela Murgia, el film sigue a Marta y Antonio después de una separación aparentemente trivial que desencadena en ella una profunda crisis emocional y física, y en él una creciente nostalgia y remordimiento. Rodada entre España e Italia como coproducción italo-española, Coixet equilibra con sensibilidad los temas del desamor, la enfermedad y la aceptación, proponiendo una narración que mira la tristeza de frente sin excesos melodramáticos. Min 19: LA FIERA (3 estrellas) En La fiera, el cineasta Salvador Calvo —conocido por títulos como Adú y 1898: Los últimos de Filipinas— construye un drama visceral y evocador sobre la pasión por los deportes de riesgo y la camaradería, situado en el mundo del salto BASE con traje de alas; la película sigue a Carlos (Carlos Cuevas), Darío (Miguel Bernardeau) y Armando (Miguel Ángel Silvestre), tres amigos que descubren en esta disciplina extrema la sensación más pura de volar y al mismo tiempo la fragilidad de la vida, abordando sin concesiones sus miedos, adrenalina, dilemas personales y el peso de la amistad frente al vértigo de lo desconocido. Basada en hechos reales y rodada entre espectaculares escenarios de España y Suiza, Calvo equilibra secuencias de espectacularidad física con una reflexión más honda sobre el precio emocional de enfrentarse a los propios límites. Min 24: PRIMATE (3 estrellas) En Primate, el realizador Johannes Roberts —reconocido por su trabajo en el cine de terror contemporáneo— propone un thriller de horror visceral y directo que transfiere al espectador al terreno del miedo primitivo: protagonizada por Johnny Sequoyah, Jessica Alexander y Troy Kotsur, la historia arranca cuando Lucy regresa a la casa familiar con su chimpancé “Ben”, adoptado desde pequeño, sólo para que un accidente haga que el animal contraiga rabia y se convierta en una amenaza implacable contra ella y su grupo de amigos, transformando lo que parecía una reunión veraniega en un escenario claustrofóbico de supervivencia sangrienta. Min 29: LA TARTA DEL PRESIDENTE (4 estrellas) En La tarta del presidente, el cineasta Hasan Hadi traza con sensibilidad y dureza la odisea de Lamia (interpretada por Baneen Ahmad Nayyef) y su amigo Saeed en el Irak de los años 90 bajo la férrea dictadura de Saddam Hussein, obligados por el régimen a preparar un pastel de cumpleaños para el presidente en medio de sanciones económicas, escasez de alimentos y miedo omnipresente; lo que comienza como una tarea escolar imposible —en la que la niña debe buscar huevos, azúcar y otros ingredientes en un contexto de pobreza y represión— se convierte en una metáfora poderosa y poética sobre la supervivencia, la inocencia infantil y la deshumanización de un pueblo atrapado. Min 36: LA PELÍCULA DE TU VIDA, CON EVA JAKUBOVSKA Esta semana, la protagonista de esta sección es Eva Jakubovska Pérez, actriz, directora, guionista y productora de cine y televisión de origen polaco y nacionalidad española, afincada en Toledo desde hace más de un lustro y con una carrera internacional en producciones europeas y americanas. Formada académicamente entre la Universidad de Varsovia, la Universidad de Vigo y con un máster en Central de Cine en Madrid, ha trabajado tanto frente a cámara como detrás de ella, participando en películas, series de TV, web series y teatro. Es conocida por sus papeles en títulos como La Sirvienta (donde protagoniza el papel de Lera), Capitán Carver y la serie Serramoura, entre otras producciones. En 2024 fue candidata a los Premios Goya en la categoría de Mejor Actriz Protagonista por su papel en La Sirvienta. Eva nos sorprende explicando por qué una película de 2016 poco conocida, como 'Blue Jay' (Alexandre Lehmann) es la peli de su vida. Min 42: ESPECIAL BSO "EN BUSCA DE LA FELICIDAD" 20 ANIVERSARIO Con motivo del 20º aniversario de En busca de la felicidad, dedicamos este episodio a recorrer la película de Gabriele Muccino a través de su banda sonora, una partitura de Andrea Guerra que convirtió la perseverancia, la fragilidad y la esperanza en emoción pura. Analizamos cómo la música dialoga con el rostro y el silencio de Will Smith, cómo subraya el vínculo paterno-filial sin empujar al sentimentalismo y de qué manera temas como Where Is My Shoe o Possibly construyen un relato sonoro que acompaña —y a veces sostiene— el viaje de su protagonista. Un paseo por una de esas bandas sonoras que no buscan lucirse, sino quedarse contigo, y que dos décadas después siguen resonando como una lección íntima sobre resistir, confiar y seguir adelante cuando todo parece perdido.
durée : 00:02:46 - Capture d'écrans - par : Dorothée Barba - Il a longtemps tenu la corde dans la catégorie du meilleur film International aux Oscars. Révélé à Cannes où il a remporté la Camera d'Or du premier film, "Le gâteau du Président" est une plongée à hauteur d'enfant dans le quotidien du pays sous Saddam Hussein. Inspiré de la vie de son réalisateur. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
Die neunjährige Lamia soll dem irakischen Diktator Saddam Hussein zu seinem 50.Geburtstag einen Kuchen backen, während ihre Familie selbst kaum etwas zu essen hat. „Ein Kuchen für den Präsidenten“ ist ein bittersüßes Drama, für das Drehbuchautor und Regisseur Hasan Hadi beim Filmfestival in Cannes den Publikumspreis und den Preis für das beste Debüt erhielt.
durée : 00:13:58 - Le monde d'Elodie - par : Elodie SUIGO - Tous les jours, une personnalité s'invite dans le monde d'Élodie Suigo. Mercredi 4 février 2026, le réalisateur irakien Hasan Hadi. Son film, "Le Gâteau du président" sort aujourd'hui. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
durée : 00:13:06 - L'invité d'un jour dans le monde - Récompensé d'une Caméra d'or et prix du public de la Quinzaine des cinéastes à Cannes, le film plonge le spectateur dans l'Irak des années Saddam Hussein avec l'histoire de Lamia, une enfant scolarisée obligée par son professeur de confectionner le gâteau du dictateur. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
durée : 00:37:19 - Le 18/20 · Un jour dans le monde - C'est un récit à hauteur d'enfants dans les années Saddam Hussein entre dictature et bombardements. Le gâteau, objet central de l'histoire, doit être cuisiné par un enfant tiré au sort pour l'anniversaire du Président. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
durée : 00:37:19 - Le 18/20 · Un jour dans le monde - C'est un récit à hauteur d'enfants dans les années Saddam Hussein entre dictature et bombardements. Le gâteau, objet central de l'histoire, doit être cuisiné par un enfant tiré au sort pour l'anniversaire du Président. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.
This episode takes us on a journey to an album that was nearly 15 years in the making, through a repressive regime and a war. This edition of TNT will focus on Iraqi metal band Acrassicauda, and their 2015 self-released heavy-hitting album, “Gilgamesh.” Often credited as being the first metal band from Iraq, Acrassicauda thrived as a band despite government censorship, death threats, and forced relocation. Vice magazine provides a telling preview of the album, noting that the conditions in Baghdad after the American invasion resulted in the band's music becoming "even more hate-filled and intense and fucked than ever before." Turn this one up loud and strap in.
Cette semaine, dans la chronique cinéma, série, écrans, on parle d'oeufs, de farine, de sucre, de roseaux, de guerre, et de Saddam Hussein, bref, on parle du GÂTEAU DU PRÉSIDENT, le premier long-métrage du réalisateur irakien HASAN HADI, caméra d'or au dernier Festival de Cannes.
Tsugi Radio, les bonnes ondes du mercredi, après la résidence de Rita Amoureux, et avant de retrouver Ultranoük à 19h aux platines avec son invitée DJ RATZ, ce n'est pas une mais deux chroniques que nous vous proposons aujourd'hui. Cinéma avec Olivier Forest qui a aimé la caméra d'or du dernier festival de Cannes, Le gâteau du président, film d'Hasan Hadi, qui se passe dans l'Irak de Saddam Hussein. Et juste avant c'est en Italie et à Naples que nous irons avec Benoît Felix-Lombard avec La Niña qui dynamite la chanson napolitaine… Puisqu'il s'agit de voyager, c'est entre Beyrouth, Oran, Chicago et Paris que mes invités du jour nous promènent. Rencontre entre house, chanson libanaise, avec Célinatique et Bab. Le deuxième EP de Tales & Ahlam chante leur amour d'une musique populaire sans frontières. Il sortira le 13 février et il s'appelle Ghamra, ce qui veut dire câlin, figurez-vous, et ça nous va bien. Leur fusion est une véritable invitation à la danse et à la joie parce que la fête est aussi le berceau de l'espoir et parfois de la révolte. Alors aujourd'hui dans Place des Fêtes, rencontre avec Célinatique & Bab, le duo Tales & Ahlam, mais avant de les écouter parler, on va les écouter jouer. Tales & Ahlam en live depuis la Folie L1 du Parc de La Villette, en direct sur tsugiradio.fr
Caleb reviews Bad Medicine for Dr. Drugs, Aaron tries to explain Mekton Zeta mecha construction rules, I use a plot from the master fantasy plot generator and we talk about Bob Ross on Twitch.tv. Oh and there’s some discussion of Dragon #136 and Grimtooth’s Traps! If you enjoyed this episode and want more, there are over 10 years of bonus podcast episodes waiting for you on the RPPR Patreon! In our most recent episode, we looked at a d20 modern scenario that statted out Saddam Hussein. I’ve also started a newsletter with scenario writeups, cool links and more. In other RPPR news, I posted an interview with Gareth Hanrahan about his book on Moria for The One Ring RPG on our Youtube channel.
The first of a two-part conversation in which David talks to Helen Thompson about how to understand the extraordinary and unlikely power of the United States, from its origins to its current incarnation. How strange would it once have seemed to live in a world dominated by a state from the Western hemisphere? When did the US overcome its natural disadvantages to achieve superpower potential? What does the rest of the world get wrong about how American power actually operates? And what might come next? A reminder that the second part of David's conversation with Glen Rangwala about the trial and execution of Saddam Hussein is available now on PPF+. To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up to PPF+ today https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus Next Time: The Weirdness of American Power Part 2 – Trump and the Future Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Safe Haven, which has just opened at London's Arcola theatre, tells the true story of what happened in spring 2001, when two million Kurds fleeing Saddam Hussein's forces found themselves in the freezing mountains, and two Whitehall diplomats decided to intervene. Hannah chats to two of the play's stars, Lisa Zahra and Beth Burrows, to find out more. * Safe Haven is on until February 7. More information and tickets here: https://www.arcolatheatre.com/event/safe-haven/ * You can support Standard Issue here: Standard Issue Podcast | creating a magazine for ears, by women for women | Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For the final episode in this series David talks to historian and political scientist Glen Rangwala about the trial and execution of Saddam Hussein in 2006. What plans did the Americans have for Saddam before the Iraq war began? How was it decided what to charge him with once he had been captured? Did his trial exacerbate rather than overcome the sectarian divisions tearing Iraq apart? Was justice served? Part 2 of this conversation, in which David and Glen discuss the circumstances of Saddam's execution and the legacy of his fate for the politics of Iraq and the wider world, is available tomorrow on PPF+. To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up to PPF+ now https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus Next time: Talking Geopolitics with Helen Thompson – The Weirdness of American Power Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
L'histoire paraît si incroyable qu'on la croirait inventée. Pourtant, elle est bien réelle : le dirigeant qui a fait écrire un Coran avec son propre sang est Saddam Hussein, président de l'Irak pendant plus de vingt ans. Et ce “Coran de sang” est devenu l'un des objets les plus controversés de l'histoire récente du pays.Tout commence dans les années 1990. Saddam Hussein, affaibli politiquement après la guerre du Golfe, cherche à renforcer son image. Il lance alors ce qu'il appelle une campagne de “retour à la foi”, un virage religieux censé le présenter comme un chef pieux, protecteur de l'islam, alors même que son régime était jusque-là surtout nationaliste et autoritaire. C'est dans ce contexte qu'il imagine une opération spectaculaire, à la frontière de la propagande et du sacrilège : faire écrire un Coran avec son propre sang.Selon les récits les plus souvent rapportés, Saddam Hussein aurait fait prélever, pendant plusieurs années, de grandes quantités de son sang — certains parlent d'environ 24 litres au total. Le sang aurait ensuite été transformé en encre par un calligraphe, chargé de copier intégralement le texte sacré, à la main, page après page, vers la fin des années 1990.Pourquoi faire cela ? Saddam Hussein présente l'acte comme un vœu religieux : une offrande à Dieu, réalisée “par reconnaissance” après avoir survécu à des menaces. Mais pour de nombreux Irakiens, et pour des autorités religieuses, l'affaire est immédiatement jugée troublante. Car dans l'islam, le sang est généralement considéré comme impur : utiliser un fluide corporel pour écrire le Coran apparaît donc non seulement comme une excentricité, mais comme une transgression.Le manuscrit achevé est exposé dans une mosquée monumentale de Bagdad, construite sous Saddam : la mosquée Oum al-Ma'arik, souvent appelée “mosquée de la Mère de toutes les batailles”. Là, le Coran de sang devient un symbole : aux yeux du régime, il doit représenter la dévotion du chef ; pour ses opposants, il illustre plutôt le culte de la personnalité poussé à l'extrême.Après la chute de Saddam en 2003, le manuscrit devient un véritable casse-tête : faut-il le conserver comme pièce historique, ou le détruire comme objet blasphématoire ? Pendant des années, des débats agitent l'Irak, car détruire un Coran est lui-même un acte problématique, même si sa forme choque.Résultat : ce livre reste un paradoxe. Un Coran… écrit par le sang d'un dictateur. Un objet sacré pour certains, scandaleux pour d'autres — mais dans tous les cas, un témoignage fascinant de la façon dont le pouvoir peut chercher à se rendre éternel, même à travers le religieux. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.
Script: François de Grandpré Adhérez à cette chaîne pour obtenir des avantages : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN4TCCaX-gqBNkrUqXdgGRA/join Pour soutenir la chaîne, au choix: 1. Cliquez sur le bouton « Adhérer » sous la vidéo. 2. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hndl Musique issue du site : epidemicsound.com Images provenant de https://www.storyblocks.com Abonnez-vous à la chaine: https://www.youtube.com/c/LHistoirenousledira Les vidéos sont utilisées à des fins éducatives selon l'article 107 du Copyright Act de 1976 sur le Fair-Use. Sources et pour aller plus loin: https://ici.radio-canada.ca/info/breve/15051/nicolas-maduro-venezuela-portrait https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capture_de_Nicolás_Maduro_par_les_États-Unis https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saddam_Hussein https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emilio_Aguinaldo https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Déclaration_d%27indépendance_des_Philippines https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Noriega Autres références disponibles sur demande. #histoire #documentaire #venezuela #maduro #usa
Am 17.1.1991 beginnen die USA und Alliierte mit Luftangriffen auf den Irak, um das von Saddam Hussein annektierte Kuwait zu befreien. Die Weltöffentlichkeit ist erstmals live dabei. Von Wolfgang Meyer.
Tensions are boiling over in Minneapolis following another shooting involving an ICE agent. As Homeland Security pushes back against intensifying protests, Minnesota is suing the federal government to halt the deployment of immigration agents. With President Trump threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, FOX News Sunday's Shannon Bream joins us to analyze the legal battle and the national trend of states distancing themselves from federal immigration enforcement. It's been 35 years since the U.S. and its allies launched Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Vincent Boles joins us to break down why the coalition was so dominant, how the conflict changed modern warfare, and the lingering debate: Was it a mistake to leave Saddam Hussein in power? Plus, commentary by New York Post and FOX News columnist, Karol Markowicz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tensions are boiling over in Minneapolis following another shooting involving an ICE agent. As Homeland Security pushes back against intensifying protests, Minnesota is suing the federal government to halt the deployment of immigration agents. With President Trump threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, FOX News Sunday's Shannon Bream joins us to analyze the legal battle and the national trend of states distancing themselves from federal immigration enforcement. It's been 35 years since the U.S. and its allies launched Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Vincent Boles joins us to break down why the coalition was so dominant, how the conflict changed modern warfare, and the lingering debate: Was it a mistake to leave Saddam Hussein in power? Plus, commentary by New York Post and FOX News columnist, Karol Markowicz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tensions are boiling over in Minneapolis following another shooting involving an ICE agent. As Homeland Security pushes back against intensifying protests, Minnesota is suing the federal government to halt the deployment of immigration agents. With President Trump threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act, FOX News Sunday's Shannon Bream joins us to analyze the legal battle and the national trend of states distancing themselves from federal immigration enforcement. It's been 35 years since the U.S. and its allies launched Operation Desert Storm to liberate Kuwait. Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Vincent Boles joins us to break down why the coalition was so dominant, how the conflict changed modern warfare, and the lingering debate: Was it a mistake to leave Saddam Hussein in power? Plus, commentary by New York Post and FOX News columnist, Karol Markowicz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
El recorrido en la carretera de la muerte para llegar a Irak; el refugio atómico de Saddam Hussein y un teléfono satelital abrió las puertas de los lugares prohibidos
Part 1 of this essay was published by rediff.com at https://www.rediff.com/news/column/rajeev-srinivasan-trumps-huge-venezuela-gamble/20260114.htmPart 2 of this essay was published by rediff.com at https://www.rediff.com/news/column/rajeev-srinivasan-was-maduros-capture-a-warning-shot-to-china/20260124.htmIt is hard to judge whether the US regime-change operation in Venezuela is a stroke of genius or an act of pure recklessness. This is completely orthogonal to the questions of morality and legality involved in such, well, coups, to put it bluntly. The real issue at hand is twofold: why did they do it? And what is the long-term fallout from it?I consider several perspectives below: the moral/legal angle, the alleged oil bonanza, the alleged drug trafficking, geo-politics and geo-economics. In sum, I am inclined to believe that the Venezuela adventure may not be an indication of American strength, alas, but rather of American weakness. To someone like me who is deeply supportive of the US (especially in opposition to China, the G2 condominium notwithstanding), this is a disheartening conclusion.The morality and legality angleLet us summarily dispose of the entire morality-legality question. At the end of the day, international relations, despite flowery marketing language, is essentially Chanakyan matsya-nyaya, i.e. the big fish eat the little fish, the law of the jungle. Might is right, and that's just the way realpolitik is, let us accept that and move on. The United Nations and the so-called ‘liberal rules-based international order' are syntactic sugar hiding this bitter fact of life. There are a few implications for the little or medium-sized fish: deter the big fish. 1. Bulk up, build up your military and economic strength, including your ability to produce lots of military hardware, 2. Build your economic leverage, so that you are an indispensable trading partner nobody can afford to alienate, 3. Build a nuclear arsenal.This last is significant. Let us consider all the recent (and near-future) invasions by big fish. Iraq. Libya. Iran. Panama. Vietnam. Afghanistan. Ukraine. And soon, alas, Taiwan. Ok, I may have missed some here, but none of them have nukes. If you have working nuclear weapons, and the means to deliver them (such as nuclear-capable missiles, submarines lurking in the ocean depths with nuclear warheads), then it is risky for the invading big fish. No big fish likes body bags, and they certainly don't like mushroom clouds over their cities.In addition, there was the stunning silence from the European Union and Britain, which have been moralizing to everybody about how wicked it was for Russia to invade Ukraine. No clutching pearls this time, eh, Eurocrats in Brussels? In fact, EU leaders were positively ecstatic about Trump's intervention in Venezuela. It is indeed the end of the European century.Ditto with the United Nations, which, by the way, is pretty much on its last legs so far as I can tell: on 7th January President Trump exited 31 UN agencies and a grand total of 66 multilateral entities.This of course hurts the UN's budget, not to mention its relevance.In January the US will formally exit the Paris Climate Agreement and the WHO, and it has already exited the UNHRC, UNESCO, and UNRWA. The newly announced exits include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN Women's Fund, the UN Population Fund, the International Solar Alliance, the International Renewable Energy Alliance, and so on.All this fits in with the ‘Fortress America' part of the National Security Strategy, which I wrote about at some length recently. In my opinion, it is not in the US' long-term interests. The post-WW II “liberal, rules-based international order” with America as its center was good for the US, and its precipitous end will erode pre-eminence, Manifest Destiny notwithstanding. The problem is that the dollar, sanctions, SWIFT and US Treasury debt are losing their clout. Pax Americana too.Summary: Nobody is bothered about morality or legality.The oil colony: is it for real?It could be argued that the unabashed Trump statements about Venezuela's oil are exactly like the British and other European colonization of many lands in the 19th century. It can be summarized as: “we have the guns, we're going to take your butter”. That may well be true, although it is not discussed in genteel circles, where they pretend the Euros were on an, um… civilizing mission.Trump, to his credit, makes no bones about it: he says in so many words that he will henceforth consider Venezuela's oil to be his, and that it will be used for the benefit of both Venezuelans and Americans. To be honest, there is some rationale behind this: the infamous Resource Curse, where resource-rich countries end up with the riches being grabbed by both foreigners and kleptocratic local elites, and miserable citizens get virtually nothing.I am not quite sure how Arab OPEC countries managed to keep their money, and spend it on their own nationals: possibly because their populations were low, and they were used to authoritarian rulers anyway. The same with Norway. But the Resource Curse is a fairly universal phenomenon. I bet the global money managers are laughing all the way to the bank.When I first went to the US in the late 1970s, I had a graduate student friend, a woman from Venezuela. She was there on a generous scholarship funded by oil revenues, just like the Iranians who had studied with me in India. At least some of the money was going to actual citizens, and wasn't disappearing into tax havens. I guess socialism did Venezuela in over decades, as we have seen in West Bengal and Kerala.The country's finances are an absolute mess, through years of economic collapse, US sanctions, and a sovereign default in 2017. There are enormous debts owed by Venezuela to foreign investors, add up to more than $150 billion, or twice GDP; this includes interest, penalties for default, and arbitration awards for the expropriation (nationalization) of oil infrastructure. Venezuelan assets abroad (e.g. the CITGO oil retailer) are at risk.So far as I can tell, the country owes the following:* Bond default in 2017 (sovereign and state oil company PDVSA bonds): face value $60 billion, now up to $100 billion with accrued interest and penalties. Owed mostly to international asset managers such as Fidelity, Greylock, T Rowe Price (often US based)* Oil-backed loans of about $15 billion, to be paid off in oil shipments (China and Russia)* Arbitration awards often based on nationalization/expropriation of (especially oil-related) assets: around $30 billion (US and Canada based creditors such as ConocoPhillips and Crystallex owed around $8-10 billion)This means there's a lot of issues that needs to be settled before Venezuela becomes a normal and substantial player in the world oil market. Besides, despite the exertions of Chevron, an American oil major that still has operations in Venezuela, I don't think it will be easy to ramp up production there, which has collapsed due to a variety of factors, including the non-availability of naphtha to make the very viscous, heavy crude from the Orinoco Belt more easily transportable.It is said, however, that a number of US refineries can indeed handle this heavy crude (incidentally Indian refineries such as Reliance's Jamnagar can as well) and so, over time, the oil will begin to flow, although it is going to cost quite a bit to get there. Their production was of the order of 3.5 million barrels per day in the 2010s, but it has fallen to about 1.1 million barrels now, as the result of infrastructure decay, mismanagement, corruption, and US sanctions.I have read estimates that it might take as much as $180 billion in investments over the next 10-15 years to bring Venezuela back online at scale. This means that any dreams of the US tapping Venezuela's vast oil reserves any time soon are unrealistic. Besides, that could lead to an oil glut, depressing global prices even below the current $50-60 levels, which has the side effect of making America's own shale-based oil production unviable.There is one good outcome, though: for neighboring Guyana. Venezuela had been threatening to go to war over Guyana's oil fields. Given that Guyana has a large Indian origin population, I am glad that at least some diaspora people are becoming oil rich. But then again, Trump may feel free to claim their oil too, who knows?All this suggests that, despite all the talk of seizing the largest oil reserves in the world, this is not the real reason behind the regime change.Summary: The oil issue is overblown, and nothing dramatic will happen short-term.What about the drug-running?There was a lot of noise about how Venezuelan gangs pushing drugs in the US was a major threat, and how that needs to be taken care of. However, on closer scrutiny, Venezuela is not a major producer of cocaine (production is almost entirely in Colombia, with smaller amounts from Peru and Bolivia). It serves as a minor transit country for some cocaine, mostly headed to Europe or the Caribbean rather than directly to the streets of America.Data from the UNODC (UN Office on Drugs and Crime) and the US DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) show no significant direct sea routes from Venezuela to the US; the only known direct route is limited air trafficking.DEA reports (including the 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment) and UNODC (World Drug Report 2025) consistently show Colombia as the overwhelming source of cocaine entering the US (around 84%+ of samples). Venezuela ranks low in direct contributions, with most US-bound cocaine transiting through Mexico/Central America via Pacific routes.Fentanyl trafficking into the United States follows a distinct supply chain, very different from plant-based drugs like cocaine. The overwhelming consensus from US authorities is that Mexico is the primary source of finished illicit fentanyl reaching the US, while China remains the main origin for the precursor chemicals needed to produce it.The fentanyl crisis is overwhelmingly a China to Mexico to US southwest border pipeline not linked to Venezuela or South America in any substantial way, per DEA, State Department, and congressional reporting.Summary: The talk about Venezuela's drug-running is a smoke-screen.Is it geopolitics then?The most interesting thing about the extraction of former Venezuelan President Maduro was not the dramatic flair with which it was done, though that was indeed very Youtube-ready. The helicopter gunships, the silenced air defences, the Cuban bodyguard eliminated (by a sonic weapon?): all the elements of a pretty exciting Hollywood film. I'm sure one is coming up soon.What was even more interesting, though, was that a delegation from the Chinese Communist Party had met him just a few hours before. China has been rather chummy with a fellow-socialist, and has been a good customer as an oil buyer. The fact that Maduro was extricated while the Chinese were still in Venezuela was a warning shot: besides, it suggests that they had no clue what was going to happenIn effect, it was a slap on the face of China, and it goes back to my belief that the US is investing in a G2 condominium with them. Stick and carrot, maybe? Collaborate in general in the spheres of influence concept, but hey, you better keep out of my sphere, ok? As I said earlier, China has made serious inroads into Latin America, which the US may now be hinting is simply not ok: stay in your lane, Xi! In simple terms, China will no longer have access to Venezuelan oil.The prognosis is grim: Russia and the EU are mired in the Ukraine mess, China is rampant (certainly in Asia, with their declared intent of invading Taiwan by 2027), the QUAD is more or less defunct. Trump refused to support Japanese premier Takaichi Sanae when she was bullied by the Chinese over her remark that if Taiwan were to be attacked by China, this would create a survival-threatening situation for Japan, which is literally true as Taiwan is only 70 miles away.Parenthetically, India has also realized the same about the US – that it is on its own – after what was quite likely a US-supported regime-change operation in Bangladesh has put the Hindu minority there in real danger of genocide and ethnic cleansing, with daily incidents of burning alive, murder, rape and abduction and threats of capturing Indian territory.The emerging situation in Iran is also likely to be a blow to China: they would lose one more source of cheap oil. But then, they do have buyer power: in other words, major oil producers do have to sell their stuff to somebody, and as China demonstrated in the case of soybeans from the US, its refusal to buy the stuff has severe consequences for the seller.So it is true that the US and China in general have to respect each other and trade with each other. This is perfectly feasible under the G2 condominium, the principal role of which is to give each of them a ‘playpen' if you will, and prevent a new power, e.g. India, from forcing its way into a G3. It appears they both are applying the Thucydides Trap to India.The US is still ahead of China in the geopolitical game, but if it continues to burn its bridges with its erstwhile allies and partners (such as the EU and Quad members) it will accelerate its relative decline. This is hardly the time to alienate potential partners, especially now that a belligerent NATO has pushed a reluctant Russia into the dhritarashtra-alinganam of China.Unfortunately, in geo-politics America is becoming less exceptional, and Henry Kissinger's quip that “it is dangerous to be America's enemy, but fatal to be its friend” is taking on a new urgency. The action in Venezuela (and possibly in Cuba before long) does not encourage other nations to look to the US for partnerships.Summary: The geopolitical fallout is not particularly good for America's image as an ally.It may well be economics, and a desperate fin-de-siecle lungeThe final issue is that of economics and economic history. Over the past several centuries, we have seen how those countries that hold the global reserve currency have prospered and have been financial hegemons to begin with, based on some substantial competitive advantage, but then a strange malady (“the Dutch disease”) sets in, and over time their financial clout diminishes, until at one point they become major debtors and then, they become irrelevant.This has happened several times in the past 800 or so years, and the patterns are strikingly similar, so there is a fair chance that it is happening again. The countries in question are:* Spain in the 16th century onwards* The Netherlands in the 17th century onwards* Britain in the 19th century onwards* And alas, the US in the 20th century onwardsNow, I would dearly wish the US could avoid this vicious cycle, partly because it is a continent-sized nation with immense resources, but I believe that economic profligacy, wasting money on unnecessary things like wars, and complacency fostered by easy money is leading to a mountain of debt, which usually is a bad place to be in. In each of these European examples, initial success inevitably led to collapse. I hope the US can avoid this fate, especially as warnings have been sounded for some time by experts such as Ray Dalio.Great economic powers, particularly those issuing the world's primary reserve currency, tend to follow a recurring historical cycle of rise, peak dominance, gradual (or sometimes rapid) decline, loss of competitiveness, mounting debt burdens, and eventual marginalization on the global stage. This pattern has repeated over the last 500+ years.The archetypal cycle often unfolds in phases:* Rise and dominance: Because of strong education, innovation, productivity, trade dominance, military power, and financial innovation create a virtuous cycle (this is the model that I have in mind of the US. But there is a second model: colonial loot. Spain stole trillions from Latin America, Britain from India. This too leads to (unearned) privilege). This leads to the currency becoming the preferred global medium for trade, reserves, and debt denomination.* Peak and overextension: Success breeds complacency, wealth inequality widens, debt accumulates (often to fund wars, welfare, or consumption), and costs rise relative to competitors. Besides, there is a form of the Resource Curse: the colonial loot or digging things out from a hole in a ground is so easy that all other industries wither away and die. We see this in Kerala today: remittances are easy money, so everybody wants to go to the Persian Gulf (skilled and unskilled labor) or Europe (nurses). Maybe the generativeAI bubble falls into the same category: the money is too easy.* Decline in competitiveness: Education and innovation lag, unit labor costs rise, trade shares erode, and emerging rivals catch up or surpass in productivity and technology. Too much by way of wokeness, social justice and related illnesses means the smart ones leave, and the dumb ones keep congratulating each other. Ruchir Sharma just wrote in the Financial Times about how the continuing exodus of skilled Indians is a big negative.* Debt buildup and financial strain: The “exorbitant privilege” of reserve status allows cheap borrowing, encouraging more debt. Deficits grow, and the currency is printed or devalued to manage burdens. Print, baby, print. But one day you have to pay the piper.* Marginalization: Confidence erodes (via inflation, devaluations, defaults, or crises), foreigners reduce holdings, and a new power's currency gains primacy. The reserve status lingers due to network effects and habit, but the issuing power loses geopolitical and economic centrality.Spain had its colonies in the Americas from which it extracted enormous amounts of gold and silver; the Dutch started the Amsterdam stock exchange and stepped into the vacuum of finance when Spain faltered; the British outcompeted the Dutch in colonization and in industrialization and defeated them in wars; and the US took over when Britain lost its colonies and had nowhere to dump its goods, and was in debt for its spending in World Wars I and II.Some of the symptoms of the “Dutch disease” are showing in the US: enormous debt, wars that have no clear benefit to the nation, loss of manufacturing, geopolitical challenges, loss of competitiveness and brand superiority in industry after industry.US investors are quietly moving their funds to other countries, while foreigners are quietly moving their money out of US treasuries (e.g. China has reduced its holdings from a high of $1.3 trillion in 2013 to $688 billion now) and into gold, the BRICS group is creating an alternative currency and a non-SWIFT settlement mechanism, and many countries are trading with each other bilaterally in local currencies. De-dollarization is a little far off but no longer implausible.Now, as a big supporter of the US, I do hope the dollar will continue to be supreme, but I am beginning to have my doubts. I have had faith in the US and its ability to re-invent itself on the brains of its immigrants, but I wonder if a post-MAGA US will be the beacon, the “City on the Hill”, “Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. Maybe not any more. Perhaps cyclical decline, and the rot, are already too deep.This, in my opinion, is the real reason for Trump's little adventure in Venezuela: to be relevant in global finance for a little longer. The petrodollar has been the lifeline allowing the US to run substantial deficits for a long time. Because all transactions for oil have traditionally been mandated to be in dollars, there has been constant demand for the dollar, despite the loss of manufacturing (in other words, nobody needs dollars to buy US goods except a few like weapons, aircraft, and Big Tech software). But everybody needs it to buy oil.Trump is ensuring that Venezuela's giant oil reserves (the largest in the world) will now be sold in dollars, contrary to Maduro's plans to trade in yuan. This is deja vu: when Iraq's President Saddam Hussein planned to trade his oil in Euros in 2000, he found himself deposed. When Libya's President Muammar Gaddafi planned to trade his oil in a new currency called the ‘gold dinar' around 2009, he found himself deposed. Coincidence? Perhaps.This is why I have had the feeling that the Venezuela adventure does not show American strength, but rather American weakness. The dollar is in trouble, and thus the US welfare state. This is an attempt to shore it up.Summary: The real rationale behind the Venezuela regime-change is to ensure that de-dollarization is postponed at least for a while.3450 words, Jan 12, 2026. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rajeevsrinivasan.substack.com/subscribe
THE HOSTAGE CRISIS, THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR, AND THE CARTER DOCTRINE Colleague Brandon Weichert. Focusing on the aftermath of the 1979 revolution, this segment explores the American hostage crisis and the subsequent Iran-Iraq War initiated by Saddam Hussein in 1980. Hussein attacked to exploit Iran's post-revolutionary chaos and seize the Shatt al-Arab waterway, fearing the spread of radical Islamism. Weichert explains the Carter Doctrine, which committed the US to military intervention to protect Persian Gulf interests, a policy expanded by the "Reagan Corollary." The discussion notes that neither the American public nor the administration fully grasped the deep-seated grievances fueling the Iranian revolution. SHADOW WAR BY BRANDON WEICHERT NUMBER 21917 BAGHDAD
SHIFTS IN US POLICY AND THE RISE OF THE SHIA CRESCENT Colleague Brandon Weichert. This section tracks US policy shifts from Clinton's diplomatic attempts to the unintended consequences of the 2003 Iraq War. Weichert argues that removing Saddam Hussein eliminated a check on Iranian power, allowing Tehran to establish a "Shia Crescent" of influence stretching to Lebanon. The conversation covers the deep Sunni-Shia hostility and Iran'sstrategic co-opting of the Palestinian cause to weaken Israel. It also critiques the Obama administration's JCPOA, describing it as a failed attempt to equalize regional power between Iran and Israel, and traces Iran's nuclear ambitions back to Eisenhower's "Atoms for Peace" program. SHADOW WAR BY BRANDON WEICHERT NUMBER 31897 DAMASCUS
Darrell Castle discusses the raid in Venezuela, the capture or arrest of Nichalas Maduro and his wife and whether it was beneficial to anyone. TRUMP'S VERSION OF THE MONROE DOCTRINE Hello, this is Darrell Castle with today's Castle Report. This is Friday the 9th day of January in the year of our Lord 2026. I will be discussing the raid in Venezuela and the capture or arrest as the DOJ calls it of Nichalas Maduro and his wife and their criminal prosecution by US Federal authorities in the federal district court of New York. Did it benefit anyone, was it right or wrong, was it legal or illegal. Yes, folks 2026 has barely started and it has already been quite a year. Was the capture of Maduro an indication by the administration that one year of his term is complete and now the gloves come off. I certainly think that was one of the many intentions of the raid, but not the most significant by any means. What then was the real intent or reason for the raid. The truthful answer to that question is, I don't know and neither does anyone else. We look at it and we see the results short term but what was in his mind only he knows for sure. Let's look first at the legality of the raid. In my opinion it was clearly legal if US law is the judge. The 1973 War Powers Resolution allows the president to deploy military forces; however, he chooses without prior approval of congress if he decides its in the national security interest of the United States. Its's more than a little hypocritical for any Democrat with a microphone to scream illegal because they could always repeal the War Powers Act but they don't/ Why not, because they use it too, and they want it available. When Hillary Clinton rejoiced at the death of Muammar Gaddafi who was killed in a US bombing attack while apparently asleep in his bed, was that illegal. What about when George Bush sent American forces into Iraq and eventually hanged Saddam Hussein, was that illegal. In fact, Trump should be thanked by Maduro and his supporters in congress because he could have sent a cruise missile through his window but instead he arrested him. The DOJ insists this was a law enforcement action whereby a wanted fugitive was arrested in a foreign country. So, the question is, what do you mean by illegal. Clearly it does not violate US law so perhaps you mean it violates your sense of consciousness or morality. Well, most of what the US government does violates my sense of morality but that is not the judge. I guess the argument then is that it violates international law. My answer is that international law is a nebulous concept that doesn't even exist anymore. International law was invented at Nuremburg as a way to justify dealing with Nazi war criminals when there was little real evidence of the crimes with which they were charged. In other words, it began and ended at Nuremburg. OK then, did anything good come out of the raid. Yes, lots of things, starting with the way the raid was conducted. This was perhaps the greatest and most successful special forces raid in history. Conducted in a foreign capital with very few known casualties. As I said he could have just put a warhead on Maduro's forehead but he didn't so in that sense the rule of law is intact. To carry that thought forward, the President has this very elite force the best of the best and he is committed to using them to accomplish his foreign policy rather than mobilizing vast armies with coalition partners at a cost of hundreds of billions. Everyone around the world took notice and the countries you would expect voiced their disapproval, but at the same time they know he is not bluffing and when he warns that he will act it is prudent to pay attention. It was a demonstration of what the US military can do especially when you consider that Venezuela supposedly had the latest version of Russian and Chinese anti-air defense system. It was Trump's version of, we are still here and we are still the best so pay attention. The other benefit that it is hard to argue against is that Maduro is a very bad man and Venezuela will be better off without him. There was an election in 2024 which was won by Edmundo Gonzalez but Maduro used his military to hold on to the most addictive thing in the world, power. He was so bad as a leader that 20% of the Venezuelan population left the country. I personally know many Venezuelan people some of whom live here in America and some in Venezuela and they are happy he is gone. The pro Maduro crowds of young white liberals marching through the streets of New York are really anti-Trump not pro Maduro. I guess one can justify supporting a vicious dictator if it means hurting Trump. The crowds of Venezuelan people rejoicing in the streets of Caracas are far more important than those in New York. Sometimes I think the people in such demonstrations have lost touch with reality. Certainly, they have lost touch with the needs of ordinary people if they ever had touch with them. It reminds me of when Trump sent the National Guard into the most crime ridden cities to help slow violent crime. Washington DC was the first but my city of Memphis was also included. The people in New York marching against the deployment were probably the same as the pro Maduro crowd but in the streets it was different. I talked to many people in my law office who live out there with reality and that reality is constant fear of violent crime. People told me in no uncertain terms that they were glad to see the Guard on the streets and they felt safer walking or going shopping. The people of the cities worry about whether their kids will be killed in a drive by, and so they are glad for protection. So, Maduro was a very bad man who caused many to leave their country and many more were starving. Yes, he was a leader who lived in palatial luxury while his people starved. Venezuela has one of the largest deposits of petroleum in the world but the people have no gas. We learned after Maduro's capture that the infrastructure of pumping and getting oil to market was in such a poor state that it could take ten years to fully bring it up to speed. Venezuela has all this wealth under its soil and under its ocean but no one cared enough for the people to exploit it for their benefit. Will the American oil companies that are competing for Venezuelan oil use it for the people's benefit. Well, that is a good question but I believe that while trump is president they will. Right now, Venezuela is left in a highly volatile and uncertain phase of its history. Who will lead after Maduro. Delci Rodriguez, Maduro's vice president is in charge as I record this. She talked tough but only for a moment and then she saw the light and started saying something like I will be glad to cooperate with the Americans and I am just glad to be here. That is of course another point and that is that he did leave her in power and let natural progression take its course. Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado said that she would like to see Gomzalez given power because he won the election in 2024 but Trump seems committed to let the laws of succession take their course. So, the next several months are very uncertain and many questions remain. Will Roddriguez accommodate US pressure and demands, defy them, or perhaps some hard line socialist from Maduro's old party, The United Socialist Party of Venezuela, will try to seize power. One thing should be obvious though and that is that the US military will be used if it becomes necessary so the leaders of that country obviously know that. So, the President is reimposing the Monroe Doctrine to protect US interests in this hemisphere. When President Monroe announced his doctrine in 1823 or 24 it was to be a two-way street. To the European colonists he said stay out of our hemisphere and we will stay out of yours. Spain had colonies so it was primarily directed at them and it eventually took the Spanish-American War to get Spain out of the Caribbean. It would be hard to argue that the US has stayed out of European affairs since the US has fought two World Wars and currently has bases and troops all over Europe. In addition, the US has China surrounded by bases and carrier battle groups so two-way street, no not yet. Perhaps it indicates a return to the old Monroe doctrine whereby the US watches its own back yard and lets others do the same. I for one would be happy if that were the policy. In regard to that thought Trump has repeatedly referred to the Venezuelan oil deposits as “our oil. “Is he bringing a Machiavellian concept of might makes right to the table with that expression. No, he is referring to the contracts US companies had with the Venezuelan government before Hugo Chavez took power in 1998. One of Chavez's first acts was to nationalize the oil industry thus stealing all the oil, at least from an American point of view. So, Trump is referring back to the pre-Chavez days and saying by contract that oil is ours and you should thank me instead of criticizing me for enforcing contracts and the rule of law. None of that had anything to do with Nicholas Maduro of course since it happened long before he took power. Chavez named Maduro as his successor from his death bed in 2010. Venezuela is supposed to have free elections but if you know the history of that region you know that often free elections are in name only. You've probably noticed that I have spent very little time on the topic of drug interdiction. That's because the whole concept is ridiculous and had very little to do with US military action. Slowing the flow of narcotics into the US was at best a side benefit but it made for good theater. Interestingly, Bibi Netanyahu made his fifth visit to the Trump White House just before this happened. Bibi has been complaining for some time that Venezuela was allowing Iran to train its terrorists there and he wanted something done about it. So, was it an Israeli operation? I don't know since knowing is virtually impossible but I will wager it didn't hurt. Finally, folks, from all this talk you might get the impression that I am in favor of this attack but no I'm afraid not. America first to me means that we have enough problems at home to last all of our lifetimes and I think the American people are about sick of Foreign policy. Rather than empire building or the imperialism of Pax Americana our concerns are or should be here at home. I reject these grandiose schemes in favor of home and family the way it should be. Let us raise our children in peace and prosperity and keep the price of ground beef modest. At least that's the way I see it, Until next time folks, This is Darrell Castle, Thanks for listening.
The new year has only just begun, and already we have seen an event with massive significance for the world of energy. The US operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro opens a new era for a country that holds – according to some definitions – the world's largest oil reserves.So far there has been little impact on oil markets. But what are the implications going to be for energy in the months and years to come? To discuss how this volatile situation might evolve, host Ed Crooks is joined by regular guest Amy Myers Jaffe, Director of NYU's Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab, and an expert on oil earlier in her career. History never repeats itself, the saying goes, but sometimes it rhymes. Amy draws a parallel between Venezuela today, and Iraq after the US-led invasion and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003. There are some similarities in the position of the two oil-rich countries, which were both dragged down by mismanagement and sanctions. But Amy argues that Venezuela's oil system is in far worse shape, with looted equipment, chronic power and fuel shortages, and damage that may not be reversible.Melissa Lott, another Energy Gang regular, also joins the show, and raises the question of what regime change in Venezuela might mean for the energy transition. Melissa is a partner at Microsoft, but appearing on the show in her usual role as an independent commentator and energy expert. Then it's on to the other places, people and technologies that are likely to make a big impact on energy this year. Ed is watching the Gulf Coast buildout of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants. It is a boom so big that Wood Mackenzie expects US LNG exports to roughly double from 2023 levels by around 2030, with more growth beyond.The gang assesses the likely consequences of surging LNG supplies: downward pressure on global gas prices, and potential financial strain for exporters. There is also the possibility that a peace deal in Ukraine could make the oversupply even worse, by allowing more Russian gas to flow west into European markets. Next up, it's people to watch in 2026. Melissa names the US energy secretary Chris Wright, and Ed picks new FERC chairman Laura Swett. As the US power grid, and its energy system more generally, face mounting challenges because of the growth in data centers needed for AI, effective policy and regulation will be critical. Amy chooses China's President Xi Jinping: the country's next five-year plan could reshape the global competition for energy dominance.On technologies to watch, battery storage is a hot topic. Melissa and Ed discuss the supply chains needed to meet growing demand, and innovative products such as Form Energy's iron-air batteries, which are being deployed in a first-ever commercial project that will be fully operational this year. Amy's choice is humanoid robots. They're expensive and still imperfect, but are they going to rule the future? They are already being trialled for repetitive factory tasks. Amy says her Roomba can't cope with a spilt bowl of cereal. But will new flexible AI-guided robots be able to do the job properly?Follow the show so you don't miss an episode this year – it's going to be a busy one.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
GET YOUR WAV WATCH HERE: https://buy.wavwatch.com/WAM Use Code WAM to save $100 and purchase amazing healing frequency technology! GET HEIRLOOM SEEDS & NON GMO SURVIVAL FOOD HERE: https://heavensharvest.com/ USE Code WAM to save 25% plus free shipping! BUY TICKETS HERE! https://anarchapulco.com/ Use Code WAM & Save 10%! BUY GOLD HERE: https://firstnationalbullion.com/schedule-consult/ Avoid CBDCs! Get Your SUPER-SUPPLIMENTS HERE: https://vni.life/wam Use Code WAM15 & Save 15%! Life changing formulas you can't find anywhere else! Josh Sigurdson reports on the reality behind the CIA coup in Venezuela as Nicolas Maduro is arrested and shipped to New York City with his wife, being processed as a narco terrorist as bombs are dropped on Caracas. Firstly, Maduro is an awful person who we've reported on for more than a decade where we spoke for years about the possibility of a coup in the region. We've seen the CIA's own simulation on a Venezuelan military coup from 6 years ago where it showed millions dying as a result and guerilla warfare breaking out. The reality is, despite the awful hyperinflation and humanitarian crises that Maduro helped forge in Venezuela, the notion that the CIA and the Israeli government (which on record convinced Trump to attack Venezuela) are being virtuous and actually care about Venezuelans is absolutely absurd. This has absolutely nothing to do with stopping the flow of fentanyl which is NOT made or shipped from Venezuela. In fact, Trump just pardoned Juan Orlando Hernández a month ago who was convicted of trafficking 400 tons of drugs into the US. The US government was directly involved in Iran Contra as well as Operation Fast & Furious and the poppies of Afghanistan. This isn't even as much about oil, though Venezuela is the largest holder of oil on earth alongside lithium. This is about two things. Manufactured chaos in Latin America as Trump threatens to do strikes on Mexico, Colombia, Cuba and Honduras next all to bring in the WEF's technocratic digital agenda as well as the dollar hegemony system. Venezuela stopped using the dollar for oil much like Saddam Hussein and Gaddafi previously. We've seen this exact situation play out in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria in the past as well as Iran in the 50s. China and Russia started trading oil outside of the dollar with Venezuela. History tells us what happens next. Venezuela is the most important country for oil in partnership with China. Russia has even sent warships and carriers to Venezuela. We understand that many Venezuelans are happy to see Maduro go, but many of them are also well aware of what the CIA will do to their country which is why there are major protests in Venezuela. We also understand that even with many Venezuelans being happy with what Trump has done which killed 80 civilians, people were cheering on Bush in Iraq and it lead to millions of deaths. This is just the beginning and most are completely missing the point. Stay tuned for more from WAM! HELP SUPPORT US AS WE DOCUMENT HISTORY HERE: https://gogetfunding.com/help-keep-wam-alive/# Get local, healthy, pasture raised meat delivered to your door here: https://wildpastures.com/promos/save-20-for-life/bonus15?oid=6&affid=321 USE THE LINK & get 20% off for life and $15 off your first box! DITCH YOUR DOCTOR! https://www.livelongerformula.com/wam Get a natural health practitioner and work with Christian Yordanov! Mention WAM and get a FREE masterclass! You will ALSO get a FREE metabolic function assessment! GET YOUR APRICOT SEEDS at the life-saving Richardson Nutritional Center HERE: https://rncstore.com/r?id=bg8qc1 Use code JOSH to save money! SIGN UP FOR HOMESTEADING COURSES NOW: https://freedomfarmers.com/link/17150/ Get Prepared & Start The Move Towards Real Independence With Curtis Stone's Courses! GET YOUR FREEDOM KELLY KETTLE KIT HERE: https://patriotprepared.com/shop/freedom-kettle/ Use Code WAM and enjoy many solutions for the outdoors in the face of the impending reset! PayPal: ancientwonderstelevision@gmail.com FIND OUR CoinTree page here: https://cointr.ee/joshsigurdson PURCHASE MERECHANDISE HERE: https://world-alternative-media.creator-spring.com/ JOIN US on SubscribeStar here: https://www.subscribestar.com/world-alternative-media For subscriber only content! Pledge here! Just a dollar a month can help us alive! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2652072&ty=h&u=2652072 BITCOIN ADDRESS: 18d1WEnYYhBRgZVbeyLr6UfiJhrQygcgNU World Alternative Media 2025
In a stunning U.S. military operation carried out in the early hours of Saturday, January 3rd, American forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. As of Saturday afternoon Eastern Time, the two were en route to New York, where they are expected to face criminal charges tied to a U.S. indictment issued roughly five years ago. The operation follows months of escalating confrontation between Washington and Caracas. The Trump administration had already carried out military strikes on vessels accused of drug smuggling and seized oil tankers off Venezuela's coast. Hours after Maduro's capture, President Trump declared that the United States would now "run Venezuela," offering few details—but repeatedly emphasizing that the U.S. would soon control the country's vast oil reserves. To help us understand what just happened and what may come next, I'm joined from Bogotá, Colombia by Elizabeth Dickinson, deputy director for Latin America at the International Crisis Group. We discuss what is known so far about the operation, the risks facing Venezuela in the days ahead, and why this moment bears uncomfortable similarities to the U.S. overthrow of Saddam Hussein and the occupation of Iraq more than two decades ago. Support Global Dispatches with your paid subscription! https://www.globaldispatches.org/
El 17 de Enero de 1991, hace casi 35 años, se desata la operación Desert Storm en forma de ataque aéreo masivo. Un mes después, las fuerzas terrestres de la coalición internacional irrumpieron en territorio iraquí arrollando a las ya debilitadas defensas de Saddam Hussein, un ejército de potencial muy exagerado por la prensa. Te lo cuenta el G4: Julio C, Esaú R, Antonio G y Dani C. Dramatizaciones de Gemma. 🎁 SORTEO FANS NAVIDAD 👉 https://forms.gle/RjF6aB1qRUQFpYaXA 🍀 ¡SUERTE! ⭐️ ¿Qué es la Edición Especial de Navidad? Se trata de reediciones revisadas de episodios relevantes de nuestro arsenal, para que no pases el verano sin tu ración de Historia Bélica. Casus Belli Podcast pertenece a 🏭 Factoría Casus Belli. Casus Belli Podcast forma parte de 📀 Ivoox Originals. 📚 Zeppelin Books (Digital) y 📚 DCA Editor (Físico) http://zeppelinbooks.com son sellos editoriales de la 🏭 Factoría Casus Belli. Estamos en: 🆕 WhatsApp https://bit.ly/CasusBelliWhatsApp 👉 X/Twitter https://twitter.com/CasusBelliPod 👉 Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CasusBelliPodcast 👉 Instagram estamos https://www.instagram.com/casusbellipodcast 👉 Telegram Canal https://t.me/casusbellipodcast 👉 Telegram Grupo de Chat https://t.me/casusbellipod 📺 YouTube https://bit.ly/casusbelliyoutube 👉 TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@casusbelli10 👉 https://podcastcasusbelli.com 👨💻Nuestro chat del canal es https://t.me/casusbellipod ⚛️ El logotipo de Casus Belli Podcasdt y el resto de la Factoría Casus Belli están diseñados por Publicidad Fabián publicidadfabian@yahoo.es 🎵 La música incluida en el programa es Ready for the war de Marc Corominas Pujadó bajo licencia CC. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/3.0/ El resto de música es bajo licencia privada de Epidemic Music, Jamendo Music o SGAE SGAE RRDD/4/1074/1012 de Ivoox. 🖼 Las imágenes de la portada se usan con fines divulgativos y los derechos pertenecen a sus creadores. 🎭Las opiniones expresadas en este programa de pódcast, son de exclusiva responsabilidad de quienes las trasmiten. Que cada palo aguante su vela. 📧¿Quieres contarnos algo? También puedes escribirnos a casus.belli.pod@gmail.com ¿Quieres anunciarte en este podcast, patrocinar un episodio o una serie? Hazlo a través de 👉 https://www.advoices.com/casus-belli-podcast-historia Si te ha gustado, y crees que nos lo merecemos, nos sirve mucho que nos des un like, ya que nos da mucha visibilidad. Muchas gracias por escucharnos, y hasta la próxima. ¿Quieres anunciarte en este podcast? Hazlo con advoices.com/podcast/ivoox/391278 EEN ⭐️ Tormenta del Desierto - Guerra del Golfo 1991-92 Escucha el episodio completo en la app de iVoox, o descubre todo el catálogo de iVoox Originals
This clip breaks down the rhetorical shift behind U.S. policy toward Venezuela — and why language matters more than missiles. We examine how Washington reframed Venezuela from a collapsing petro-state into a “narco-terrorist threat”, unlocking expanded legal war powers. The centerpiece of that shift? A $50 million bounty on President Nicolás Maduro — a reward larger than those once placed on Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. We unpack how: Criminal language quietly turned into security doctrine “Narco-terrorism” became a legal workaround for extraterritorial force Low-level smugglers are treated like enemy combatants Terror labels disappear when geopolitical utility changes (see Ahmed al-Sharaa) This isn't about defending Maduro — it's about exposing how labels expand power, and why those tools are nearly impossible to put back once normalized. This is Part 2 of our Venezuela series. Part 1 covers the U.S. naval escalation in the Caribbean. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – From Drug War to “Narco-Terror State” 01:55 – The $50 Million Bounty Explained 05:00 – Maduro vs. Bin Laden: The Price Tag Problem 07:30 – Terrorists… Until They're Useful 11:30 – What “Narco-Terrorism” Actually Means 15:00 – Who's Really Being Killed? #Venezuela #NarcoTerrorism #USForeignPolicy #Maduro #DrugWar #Geopolitics #BroHistory #LatinAmerica #Sanctions #WarPowers Links to our other stuff on the interwebs: https://www.youtube.com/@BroHistory https://brohistory.substack.com/ #343 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
A vastly wide range of experiences is held by our first guest. Steve Russell is a decorated military vet who was a team member of the unit that captured Saddam Hussein. He is a pilot, and now the President of JAARS (Jungle Aviation And Relay Service), an aviation missionary organization that reaches into the most remote areas in the world. Also, an interview with Michael Ray Lewis, the Director of the new film called UNIVERSE DESIGNED. Finally, musician and pastor Craig Smith.
Ian, Randy, and Patrick discuss home projects before addressing listener feedback about embodied carbon in new builds and Saddam Hussein's palaces before they taking questions about building steam showers and the right way to seal and insulate a brick crawlspace. Tune in to Episode 716 of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast to learn more about: Reducing the use of concrete in new builds for lower embodied carbon The right way to build and detail a steam shower to control water vapor Sealing and insulating a crawlspace in an old house Have a question or topic you want us to talk about on the show? Email us at fhbpodcast@taunton.com. ➡️ Check Out the Full Show Notes: FHB Podcast 716 ➡️ Sign up for a Fine Homebuilding All-Access Membership ➡️ Follow Fine Homebuilding on Social Media: Instagram • Facebook • TikTok • Pinterest • YouTube ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and rate us on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, or wherever you prefer to listen.
“Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.” (Matthew 2:7 NLT) We can prepare our hearts for Christmas not just by reading God’s Word, but also by reflecting on it. We can celebrate the fact that Jesus’ coming fulfilled prophecies that had been announced centuries earlier. We can lean into the trustworthiness of its promises. We can anticipate the coming glory of God’s kingdom. If King Herod had reflected more on God’s Word, his story would have had a much different ending. Instead, he’s known today as the man who tried to stop the first Christmas. His efforts resulted in a spectacular failure and fall. With all his wealth and power, he came to complete ruin. Historical writings tell us that in the final year of his life, his body was infected with disease. Ironically, Herod pretended to be a worshipper. He said to the wise men, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” (Matthew 2:8 NLT). Yet Herod was a false worshipper. There are people like him today. They say they believe in God, but they live a life that contradicts what the Scriptures teach. Herod wanted to be the king of his own life, but he really was a slave. He ended up being not the King of the Jews but the king of fools. Herod ended up on the ash heap of history like dictators before and after him, reminding us that those who live wicked lives eventually will reap what they sow. Adolf Hitler went into his bunker and shot himself as his nation crumbled around him. Saddam Hussein was found hiding in a hole and was eventually executed by his own people. Muammar Gaddafi was hunted down by his own people, beaten, and shot to death. All those who blaspheme God, fight with God, or try to stop the work of God eventually will fail. Yet God’s Word and His plan ultimately will prevail. Philippians 2:9–10 says, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (NLT). The glorification of Jesus is as inevitable as His birth. God gives us a choice. We can humble ourselves, submit to Christ, and enjoy His blessings. James endorsed this option. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (James 4:10 NLT). So did Peter. “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6 NLT). Or we can be humbled. One day, everyone—every man, every woman, every believer, and every nonbeliever—will bow before Jesus Christ. It’s inevitable. Reflection question: How can you elevate Christ in the way you live, the choices you make, and the things you prioritize? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The discussion delves into the complex historical eras of Iraq, challenging binary understandings of its past and present. A professor at Haverford College and author of "Political Undesirables: Citizen Denaturalization and Reclamation in Iraq and Return to Ruin: Iraqi Narratives of Exile and Nostalgia", Zainab Saleh discusses how the Iraq she grew up in—during the Ba'ath Party reign and under Saddam Hussein—was a time of fear and repression, despite the earlier period of high hopes and political aspirations in the 1940s and 1950s. She explores the concept of nostalgia for the Saddam era, which exists even among those who suffered under the regime, because of the basic services that were provided. The conversation offers a nuanced timeline of modern Iraqi history, from World War I's role in creating Middle Eastern nation-states through the Ottoman and British rules, the monarchy, and the Ba'ath Party. A key focus is placed on the 1990s as a major turning point, with the 1991 bombardment and subsequent sanctions leading to the rapid deterioration of infrastructure, increased social problems like begging and corruption, and environmental collapse. We consider the argument that the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, and the US invasion should be viewed as one long, continuous war. Saleh critiques the simplistic narrative that Americans brought to Iraq after 2003, arguing that it institutionalized a sectarian political system. She emphasizes that the American discourse—classifying Sunnis as loyalists and Shia or Kurds as oppressed—ignored the reality of mixed communities and complex political loyalties. Saleh explores the historical use of denaturalization in Iraq, a topic central to her latest book. She details how the British and subsequent Iraqi regimes used the pretext of "political undesirables" to strip citizens of their rights, citing examples such as Iraqi Jews in the 1950s and Iraqis of Iranian origin in the 1980s. 0:00 Introduction 1:50 When Did The Iraq You Grew Up In Start?2:54 The High Hopes of the 1940s and 1950s3:33 Nostalgia, Time, and Loss7:09 The Broad Phases of Iraqi History9:33 Cultural Renaissance Under the Monarchy10:00 Vibrant Leftist Politics in the Monarchy Era11:39 Nostalgia for the Monarchy13:00 The Largest Effect on Daily Life: 1991 Bombardment and Sanctions16:29 Connecting the Wars: One Long War17:59 The Lead-up to Saddam's Invasion of Kuwait19:33 The Vision of the Neoconservatives20:40 Misunderstandings about US Imperialism22:11 The Myth of Iraqi Sectarianism23:24 The Institutionalization of a Sectarian System25:27 The Role of the Iraqi Opposition Abroad28:29 Phases of Post-2003 Iraq29:12 The Civil War and Proxy War (2006-2008)30:20 Displacement and the Reorganization of Iraqi Society30:52 Social Mobilization: 2011 and the Tishreen Uprising (2019)31:24 The Catastrophe of ISIS34:29 The Problem with Nostalgic Photos40:14 When One Dictator Becomes a Source of Nostalgia41:16 The Book: Political Undesirables and Denaturalization41:59 The Deportation of Iraqis of Iranian Origin (1980)44:48 Denaturalization as a Systemic Pattern48:19 Issuing Passports After World War I51:00 The Expulsion of Iraqi Jews (1950)51:25 Iraqi Jews as an Integral Part of Society52:44 The Ancient History of Babylonian Jews55:20 The Basis for Expulsion58:19 Recommended Readings on Iraqi History Zainab Saleh is Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Haverford College and the author of books "Return to Ruin: Iraqi Narratives of Exile and Nostalgia" (2020) and "Political Undesirables: Citizenship, Denaturalization, and Reclamation in Iraq" (2025).Connect with Zainab Saleh
This week, we're diving into the explosive, ridiculous, joke-a-second world of Hot Shots! Part Deux — a sequel that proves parody films can be smart, sharp, and absolutely unhinged all at once.We break down everything that makes this one of the best spoof sequels ever made, including:
If you're a fan of SCREAM then you're going to want to pay attention to today's episode featuring none other than Stu Macher and Billy Loomis themselves, Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich. They're appearing in the upcoming Five Nights At Freddy's 2 and they decided to stop by The Kingcast to talk about their love of King's work and specifically Frank Darabont's adaptation of The Shawshank Redemption. We also talk about their real life friendship, the stain that is toxic masculinity, working with Wes Craven on the original Scream, and even about Skeet's rather... interesting... appearance as a poster above Satan and Saddam Hussein's bed in South Park.
From Battlefield to Boardroom: A Global Legacy of Courage, Compassion & Leadership This week, the Team Never Quit Podcast welcomes a truly extraordinary guest: Dr. Sudip Bose — emergency physician, Iraq War veteran, entrepreneur, medical innovator, and one of the world's most dynamic voices at the intersection of medicine, military leadership, and business. Few leaders embody resilience and global perspective the way Dr. Bose does. His story spans continents, combat zones, emergency rooms, and corporate boardrooms—all shaped by deep heritage and a lifelong commitment to service. A Legacy Rooted in Courage and Heritage Born in the United States to parents who emigrated from Kolkata, Dr. Bose carries a powerful cultural heritage. Fluent in Bengali and proud of his lineage, he is a descendant of: · Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, legendary freedom fighter · Jagadish Chandra Bose, pioneering scientist · Satyendra Nath Bose, the physicist behind the concept of bosons Their spirit of bravery, intellectual curiosity, and innovation lives on in Dr. Bose's own journey. Leadership Forged in War Dr. Bose's leadership was tested early—on the front lines of Iraq as a U.S. Army physician under the most intense combat conditions. He earned the Bronze Star Medal for his service and was entrusted with treating Saddam Hussein after his capture. More than the accolades, the battlefield taught him the principles that guide his life: · Stay calm when others panic · Find clarity in chaos · Turn adversity into opportunity · Let heritage and values anchor global impact These lessons follow him into every trauma bay, boardroom, and keynote stage he steps into today. From the ER to the Global Stage After returning from combat, Dr. Bose transitioned into civilian life—continuing his work as an emergency physician while expanding his influence across medicine, media, innovation, and policy. His roles include: · Executive Producer of Desert Doc, the Telly Award–winning Amazon Prime docuseries revealing the realities of emergency medicine · Founder of The Battle Continues, a nonprofit supporting injured combat veterans · EMS Medical Director for the largest geographic hospital coverage area in the U.S.—19 counties and 38,000 square miles · Advisory Board Member for DrB.ai, a global digital health platform increasing access to affordable care · Trusted Advisor to the U.S. Congress on healthcare policy · Keynote Speaker for Fortune 500 companies and major financial institutions Across everything he does, Dr. Bose bridges healthcare, military discipline, and business strategy—helping leaders thrive in high-stakes environments. This is a masterclass in courage, clarity, service, and global leadership—told by a man who has lived it on every front line imaginable. In this episode you will hear: • [My sister] She's a CEO but sometimes she's the CEO of my chaos. (7:46) • I basically started med school at 21; I got my MD at 25. (8:59) • I remember sitting with my dad and asking him: “What can I do where I don't have to study?” (10:58) • Things that are just tragic and sad; they shape you later. You don't realize it at the time. (11:47) • I think if they had an award in high school for least likely to go in the military, I might have gotten that award. Guess what? In Junior high – 6th grade – I weighed 49 pounds. I was tiny. I didn't hit 5' tall until my sophomore year of high school. (12:33) • I'm in the books as the Illinois state champion in wrestling, because nobody could match my weight division. (13:11) • You don't realize how your world can change in a moment, and what seems like irrelevant work or homework or assignments later in life might save your life. (16:32) • In Iraq, I find myself cooped up in this ambulance. An armored 5-7-7 track medical vehicle with metal wheels, jostling to the next section of Bagdad or Fallujah and then the vehicle comes to a screeching halt, the back door opens and you hop out like a frog jumping out of a blender. And you find yourself on the front lines of the battlefield. (21:33) • There are the mental challenges of losing people you know. (22:52) • You love [life] saves where you can have them unite with their family. (27:11) • Within hours of getting there, there were two soldiers that came in and I had to pronounce dead. You just realize, wow, you are in it now. (31:19) • You cant take care of everyone, but by training my medics, I multiplied myself. (34:02) • [Marcus] You scored the number 1 in the nation on your medical exam board; You scored at the top of the Army physical fitness test; A Bronze Star; Recognized by CNN as a CNN hero; You're one of the leading physicians in the world; [You served] The longest combat tour since WWII; You treated Saddam Hussein. (52:26) • I evaluated [Saddam Hussein] shortly after his capture. (56:10) • You have to put your feelings, emotions, everything side, so you can focus. (57:45) • Somebody told me I might be the only person who has ben face to face with Saddam Hussein and shaken hands with George W. Bush. (58:38) • The people who gave their lives, their vision, their limb, made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Those people wrote the blank check, up to and including the cost of my life. That's what keeps me motivated. (59:48) • The journey keeps going forward and the battle continues… (75:55) Support Dr. Bose: - Website: https://www.docbose.com/ - IG: https://www.instagram.com/drsudipbose?igsh=MWZhbjJqNXNxazk2aA== - Watch “Desert Doc” —> https://tr.ee/Wds2TOBWTP - YouTube —> https://tr.ee/DlNDNGdGo0 Support TNQ - IG: team_neverquit , marcusluttrell , melanieluttrell , huntero13 - https://www.patreon.com/teamneverquit Sponsors: - Tractorsupply.com/hometownheroes - Navyfederal.org - mizzenandmain.com [Promo code: TNQ20] - Dripdrop.com/TNQ - ShopMando.com [Promo code: TNQ] - meetfabiric.com/TNQ - masterclass.com/TNQ - Prizepicks (TNQ) - cargurus.com/TNQ - armslist.com/TNQ - PXGapparel.com/TNQ - bruntworkwear.com/TNQ - Groundnews.com/TNQ - shipsticks.com/TNQ - stopboxusa.com {TNQ} - ghostbed.com/TNQ [TNQ] - kalshi.com/TNQ - joinbilt.com/TNQ - Tonal.com [TNQ] - greenlight.com/TNQ - PDSDebt.com/TNQ - drinkAG1.com/TNQ - Hims.com/TNQ - Shopify.com/TNQ
Dalia Al-Aqidi — Baghdad-born journalist, activist, and current challenger to Rep. Ilhan Omar — joins me to discuss her extraordinary life: growing up under Saddam Hussein, fleeing Iraq, decades reporting from war zones, and why she distinguishes Islam from Islamism. We dive into her fight against anti-Semitism, her views on immigration and U.S. foreign policy, and her perspective on Ilhan Omar, Al Jazeera, and the future of the Middle East.#Chapters0:00 Welcome & who is Dalia Al-Aqidi0:41 Baghdad upbringing; parents in Iraqi theater1:20 Fleeing Iraq (1988) & joining the opposition1:44 Radio Free Iraq and activism1:52 Chris Stevens' influence & immigrating to the U.S.2:33 Life in America; 37 years in journalism3:00 Covering wars from Iraq to Afghanistan4:04 Cultural vs. religious Islam; women under dictatorship7:02 Anti-Jewish indoctrination in the Middle East9:00 Why progressives avoid criticizing radical Islam11:26 Islam vs. Islamism & the “Islamophobia” label14:12 Muslim Brotherhood's influence in the West16:09 Why some immigrants import illiberal politics18:18 Risks for Muslim dissidents; community pressures21:05 Immigration, liberal ideals & “ideological tests”24:12 Borders vs. legal immigration28:07 On nation-states, borders, and sovereignty30:26 Community ties across faiths31:32 Concerns about Ilhan Omar, CAIR, and Turkey34:12 Al Jazeera Arabic vs. English38:05 Minneapolis issues: safety, economy, campus anti-Semitism40:13 Voting by issues; thoughts on Trump & Biden42:25 The Abraham Accords & Middle East peace46:02 Dalia's post-Oct 7 trip to Israel49:01 Misconceptions about Jews & Israel in Arab media52:24 Advice for Israel & American Jews combating hate57:19 Where American Jews fit politically now59:20 Building a centrist “decency coalition”1:00:02 Pro-life vs. pro-choice nuance1:01:23 Can she win a deep-blue district?1:02:10 Closing remarksKey topics: Iraq, Saddam Hussein, Ilhan Omar, Islam vs. Islamism, Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jazeera, anti-Semitism, immigration policy, Chris Stevens, Qatar, Hamas, October 7, Abraham Accords, Israel, centrism.#islam #islamism #iraq #ilhanomar #zohranmamdani #israel #muslim
Veteran Horror Stories | Paranormal Podcast In this special Veterans Day episode, we honor those who serve by sharing six chilling paranormal encounters experienced by military personnel during their time in service. We explore stories from soldiers stationed across the globe, from basic training at Fort Jackson to deployments in Korea, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The episode opens with a Fort Jackson trainee who witnessed a mysterious floating orb of light that behaved impossibly—appearing as a bouncing flashlight before suddenly veering off the trail, rising into the air, and vanishing just feet away from three startled soldiers. We then hear from a Marine patrolling a veterans cemetery alone at night who discovered an old weathered headstone with a glowing neon-blue cross and multi-voice humming that seemed to come from hundreds of sources at once, creating such an intense electric field that his hair stood on end. The encounters take darker turns as we share the story of a Marine sniper who describes his first kill in Fallujah and the terrifying sleep paralysis experience that followed, where he felt an entity crawl onto his chest and pin him down in the middle of the night. We also explore a British soldier's encounter with a mysterious voice warning "don't come in" from inside a chained building that turned out to be booby-trapped with mines and filled with bones from a Russian massacre. Additional stories include soldiers hearing phantom children's laughter in the Afghan desert where no children existed for miles, cadence calls echoing through empty training grounds at 2am, and an entire haunted government building in Iraq where Saddam Hussein allegedly executed dissidents.
First: As Russia advances on Ukraine, G7 leaders meet in Canada with this war high on their agenda. So, what's at stake, and how long can Ukraine hold out? Next: "The President's Cake" is the award-winning film exploring the realities of Saddam Hussein's rule in 1990s Iraq. We speak with writer/director Hassan Hadi. Then: On Veterans Day, Hari Sreenivasan speaks with former Navy Seal Marcus Capone and Bonni Cohen, director of "In Waves and War," a film about controversial psychedelic therapy that seeks to heal brain injuries. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Retired Israeli Ambassador Yoram Ettinger warned in an interview that the United States and Israel are misplacing focus on Gaza and proxy groups while the core danger remains Iran, which he likened to a swamp spawning mosquitoes. “Chasing Hamas, the Houthis and Hezbollah is like chasing mosquitoes coming out of the Ayatollah's swamp,” Ettinger told interviewer Alan Skorski. The comments come after President Trump's 20-point Middle East peace plan and a joint U.S.-Israel operation inside Iran on June 13 that severely damaged Tehran's capabilities. Despite the setback, Ettinger said Russia, China and North Korea continue to rearm the Islamic Republic, endangering Israel and all U.S. interests in the region, including oil-producing Arab states. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance and top U.S. generals have visited Israel since the June strike, Ettinger noted. A 2026 threat assessment jointly compiled by the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Director of National Intelligence warns that Iran, Russia and China are expanding sleeper-cell terror networks inside the United States, the ambassador said. On Palestinian statehood, Ettinger cited decades of PLO violence — from the 1960s and 1970s in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon to the 1990s when Yasser Arafat's group backed Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait despite Kuwait hosting hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with full rights. “Every Arab country knows what a Palestinian state would mean,” he said. Saudi Arabia and others publicly tie normalization with Israel to Palestinian statehood, but Ettinger called it “talking the talk, not walking the walk.” President Trump's recent declaration against Israeli annexation of the West Bank is temporary and diplomatic, not a permanent endorsement of a future Palestinian state there, Ettinger said. Granting statehood to the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria runs counter to U.S. interests, he added. Alan Skorski Reports 05NOV2025 - PODCAST
After spending years tracking Al Qaeda, former analyst Gina Bennett talks to SpyTalk about her storied career, her new spy novel and the rising threat of "politicized misogyny." Gina BennettIf Two of Them Are Dead Follow Jeff Stein on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SpyTalkerFollow Karen Greenberg on Twitterhttps://x.com/KarenGreenberg3Follow Michael Isikoff on Twitter:https://twitter.com/isikoff Follow SpyTalk on Twitter:https://twitter.com/talk_spySubscribe to SpyTalk on Substack https://www.spytalk.co/Take our listener survey where you can give us feedback.http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=short Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this bonus episode Sebastian answers questions from listeners about the recent series on the Parthenon Marbles. The host tangles with the ethics of repatriation requests from notorious dictators, the role of the Parthenon Marbles in inspiring the Greek Independence movement, and the path towards a true "universal museum." Sebastian also wrangles with the notorious "If I don't do it, somebody else will" argument that is often used to defend Lord Elgin. Tune-in and find out how Saddam Hussein, Dr. John, and a bunch of other history podcasts play a role in the story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Callen wants a donkey real bad and talks hanging with George St. Pierre and Gordon Ryan at The Comedy Mothership, owning dogs, dog "lovers", Saddam Hussein stories, current events around the world including Khabib Nurmagomedov turning down an offer to fight Floyd Mayweather, Donald Trump's alleged 50th birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein, a body found in artist D4vd's Tesla, Get this episode and all future episodes AD FREE + 2 extended episodes, Fan Questions, exclusive behind the scenes content and more each month at https://www.patreon.com/tfatkO'Reilly Auto Parts - https://oreillyauto.com/FIGHTERMagic Mind - https://magicmind.com/True Classic - True Classic - Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at https://trueclassic.com/fighter ! #trueclassicpodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.