Tag: Turkey

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, John Helmer Gaza Special October 8, 2023

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded October 8th, 2023.

Yesterday’s attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip against Israeli military installations and soldiers, and raids on the towns and citizens adjacent the separation wall and deeper into Israel is all that is news today. Already, mass casualty bombing raids have killed hundreds of civilians in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, in what can only be described as an announcement of war crimes to come, prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu said civilians in Gaza – widely acknowledged as less a place where people live than an “open air prison” – should “leave the Gaza Strip” where, he promises, terrible and widespread attacks will kill many more.

Netanyahu’s admission of intentions to commit mass atrocities accompanies his declaration of war, and the imposition of conditions of war within Israel. This is a God-sent distraction from the prime minister’s severe political troubles, seeing a full year of massive public protests against his constitutional changes to the country’s judiciary – amendments his critics charge undermine Israeli democracy.

A new foreign war must come as a welcome distraction for the Americans, who will use it to reset media messaging away from the Ukraine debacle, even as its EU ally hope to sweep under its collective carpet the problem of growingly restive home populations. Meanwhile, none could be happier for a change of media focus than Canada’s hapless Liberal party government, seeing its recent Parliamentary Nazi feting embarrassment overshadowed.

John Helmer is a journalist and author who’s spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. Principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears, Helmer has too been a professor of political science, sociology, and journalism, and served as advisor to governments at the highest levels.
Among his many book titles are: ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’, ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’, ‘Australian Fascism: How It Destroyed the Courts’, and his latest, still steaming hot of the presses, ‘SOVCOMPLOT: How Pirates Tried to Capture the Treasure of the Russian Seas, and Were Caught Out’.

John’s latest articles at Dances with Bears, ‘NO THANKS FOR THE MEMORY – POLAND IS AFRAID TO UPSET THE NATO WAR AGAINST RUSSIA BY PROSECUTING YAROSLAV HUNKA’ and ‘CANADA AND THE NATO ALLIANCE HUNKER DOWN TO DEFEND RACE WAR AGAINST RUSSIA — THE NEW EVIDENCE’ highlight the historical horrors behind that Canadian embarrassment.

Today, John Helmer and racing to keep up with the West’s rehabilitation of Nazism, and the Hamas lightning war in Gaza.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, James Bissett, Ken Stone September 3, 2022

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded September 3rd, 2022

In Serbia last week the drought-stricken Danube revealed the scuttled hulls of Hitler’s Black Sea fleet, sunk in hopes of slowing the Soviet advance west. Seventy-eight years later the potentially explosive hulks serve the perfect metaphor for both an increasingly volatile political situation in the “Western Balkans”, and as low-water mark in European East-West relations.

James Bissett is a former Canadian Ambassador whose tenure in Yugoslavia coincided with its 1991 dissolution. At century’s end, he was one of the very few government insiders to oppose NATO’s 78 day bombardment of Serbia in the name of “humanitarian intervention.”

James Bissett in the first half.

And; Europe’s economy has fallen victim to the war in Ukraine, and the destructive effects will likely supersede the financial sector before it’s done. The question begging to be asked now is whether that – highly predictable – outcome was merely collateral, or intentional.

Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Solidarity Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War, who fought four-square the incarceration of Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, extradition efforts by the United States, and stand opposed to the odious AUKUS military pact threatening war with China in the Pacific. The Coalition’s website current features two excellent articles, by Moon of Alabama and economist Michael Hudson.

Ken Stone and addressing the aspect of the Ukraine war remaining sotto voce in the imperial presses, “Cui Bono?” in the second half.

But first, James Bissett and back to Kosovo to get a look at Ukraine’s future.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1999; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca.  Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Terry Wolfwood, John Helmer July 28th, 2022

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 21st and 24th, 2022

Nearly seventy-seven years following the atomic annihilation of two cities, politicians in America and its NATO vassal states today are debating the strategic merits of a nuclear war with Russia, (and presumable China to follow). Absent the debate, naturally, is the moral question of both war and its necessary means. August 6th marks the grim anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima by America – Nagasaki being unnecessarily destroyed three days later. In the years since, historians have proven neither attack was needed to bring Japan to the negotiating table; they had been attempting surrender for months before the bombs dropped. But as we learn, each time anew it seems, truth has little purchase for the warmongers.

The tragic and senseless destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will again be commemorated by the Victoria chapter of the Women in Black, who will stand silent vigil August 6th at the inner harbour. All are welcome to attend.

Terry Wolfwood is Director and co-founder of the Barnard-Boecker Centre Foundation, at BBCF.ca. She’s a writer, poet, photographer, and long-time activist in pursuit of peace, social justice, and women’s rights. Her articles have appeared at Briarpatch, Peace News, and Third World Resurgence among other places. In conjunction with her many activities in support of justice and peace, Terry has served too as local coordinator for the Women in Black for many years.

Terry Wolfwood in the first half.

And; mere hours after signing an agreement allowing the safe passage of goods from Ukraine, an acknowledged Russian missile attack against the port of Odessa threatens to scotch the deal. Russia denies allegations made by Ukraine and western media it targeted grain silos in the port, instead saying a dry dock, warship under repair, and warehouse of American munitions were struck and destroyed. Meanwhile, Kiev’s president Zelenskyy spent part of his day today playing host to US congressional reps, eager to pad their war-making resumes in anticipation of the Fall election.

John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past scholar, and advisor to government at the highest level, and spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. His many book titles include: ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17, ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ and his latest, ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt‘ is newly out.

John Helmer and Ukraine’s thickening fog in the second half.

But first, Terry Wolfwood and remembering still Hiroshima/Nagasaki.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca.  Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Vanessa Beeley, Andy Worthington September 23rd, 2021

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded September 18th and 19th, 2021

America’s military admitted this week, all Afghans killed in a drone bombing it carried out in Kabul last month were civilians. The admission followed three weeks of Pentagon insistence those killed were ISIS-K terrorists, and denials of contrary reports from the scene. In a statement issued September 17th, congressman and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff expressed regret for those killed in what he characterized a “mistake with horrific consequences“, and offered his prayers for the dead and their surviving relatives. Schiff also expressed concern about the “accuracy and completeness of public statements made in the immediate aftermath of the strike” by the Department of Defense.

General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of United States Central Command and man answerable for the massacre, too expressed his “profound condolences to the family and friends” and reassures his government is “exploring the possibility of ex gratia payments“. Left unexplained by the general, and unquestioned by Chairman Schiff, was just why America was continuing its attacks against the country it has reportedly withdrawn from.

But then the same could be asked about Syria.

Vanessa Beeley is an award-winning independent journalist and photographer who has worked extensively throughout the Middle East; covering the U.S./NATO wars from where their bombs land in Syria, Iraq, and Palestine. She’s also reported the ongoing humanitarian disaster of Yemen since 2015. Her accolades include a Serena Shim Award for uncompromising integrity in journalism, finalist for the prestigious Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, and was named one of Britain’s “most respected journalists” in 2018. She currently calls Damascus home.

Vanessa Beeley in the first half.

And; while Adam Schiff is bending a figurative knee for the “victims and their families” of America’s most recent “mistake” in Afghanistan, perhaps he could spare a prayer for the men rounded up, shipped off, and remaining still in the U.S.A.’s prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba?

Andy Worthington is an English journalist, activist, author, photo-historian, filmmaker, musician, song-writer and principle of The Four Fathers band. He is too co-founder of both the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign and successfully completed We Stand With Shaker campaign. Worthington’s book titles include: ‘The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison’, ‘Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion’, and ‘The Battle of the Beanfield’.

His articles appear at his website, AndyWorthington.co.uk, where he’s inviting participants for 2022’s Close Guantanamo effort.

Andy Worthington and sending the prisoners of the forever war home in the second half.

But first, Vanessa Beeley and America’s secret second front in Syria.