#213 - CIA Spy Breaks Down What's REALLY Happening in Israel | John Kiriakou
Dec 11, 2023
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Former CIA analyst John Kiriakou discusses prisoner exchanges, American privacy, Mossad communication, US government's surveillance, Newsguard and Pentagon, Code Pink, staying on top of intelligence, Billy Waugh's catch of Carlos the Jackal, Abu Zubaydah's true identity, Middle East geopolitical dynamics, China's rise to power, Israel-Hamas conflict, Russia-Iran relationship, covert CIA meeting about Iran invasion, and more.
Failure to fill out a foreign agent registration form can lead to criminal charges and has recently been enforced more aggressively by both the Trump and Biden Justice Departments.
Press freedom and individual liberties are at risk as government entities encroach on these rights, highlighting the need to protect these fundamental aspects of a healthy democracy.
Activism plays a crucial role in holding institutions accountable and effecting change, even in the face of powerful opposition and limited resources.
The recent attack by Hamas on Israel was partly due to an intelligence failure, with Israeli settlers' reports not being taken seriously, leading to a lack of preparedness.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains complicated, with issues of Israel's expansion into Palestinian territories, the interplay between regional powers, and the complex role of countries like Jordan.
Deep dives
Maria Butina and her involvement with the NRA
Maria Butina, a Russian gun enthusiast, came to the US to pursue her graduate studies and founded a small gun club in Russia similar to the NRA. She reached out to the NRA to establish relations but was charged with failure to register as a foreign agent. This charge, although a process crime, resulted in her arrest. The arrest sparked outrage in Russia, leading to retaliatory actions.
The importance of filling out a foreign agent registration form
Butina's arrest highlights the significance of filling out a foreign agent registration form. The form is essential when taking money or establishing relations with a foreign entity. Failure to fill out the form can lead to criminal charges. Previously, such charges were rarely prosecuted, but in recent years, both the Trump and Biden Justice Departments have taken a more aggressive approach in enforcing this requirement.
Government overreach and concerns about press freedom
Concerns about government overreach and press freedom have risen in recent times. Government entities have been encroaching on press freedom and individual liberties, raising questions about ethical and legal boundaries. Cases like NewsGuard's impact on independent news organizations and the expansion of surveillance raise concerns about governmental control and censorship. It is essential to safeguard press freedom and protect individual liberties to maintain a healthy democracy.
The fight for change and the importance of activism
Despite the challenges posed by powerful institutions and limited resources, fighting for what one believes in remains crucial. Activism, whether through writing, speaking out, or peaceful protests, plays a pivotal role in holding institutions accountable and effecting change. While the David and Goliath struggle may seem overwhelming, it is through persistent efforts and determination that progress can be achieved.
Intelligence failure in Gaza attack
The recent attack by Hamas on Israel was partly the result of an intelligence failure. Israeli settlers had been providing information to Shin Bet about suspicious activities and plans for an attack, but their reports were not taken seriously. This led to a lack of preparedness on Israel's part. The attack also happened during a time when Israel and Saudi Arabia were nearing a diplomatic agreement, which Hamas saw as a threat to their cause.
Russia's role in the Middle East
Russia has a complex role in the Middle East. While they have a close relationship with Iran, their main objective is to counterbalance American influence in the region. They have been involved in Syria to protect their interests and strengthen ties with other countries like China. Russia's presence in Syria and their involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict adds another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation.
Complications in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains complicated with deep-rooted issues on both sides. Israel's expansion into Palestinian territories and confiscation of land has been a major source of tension. While many countries have brokered peace agreements and relations with Israel, this has further marginalized the Palestinians and led to increased resentment and frustration. The situation is further influenced by the interplay between regional powers like Iran and Saudi Arabia, adding to the complexity of finding a peaceful resolution.
Jordan's role and the Palestinian-Israeli dynamic
Jordan plays a challenging role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It has a significant Palestinian population, but they are not treated as full Jordanian citizens. The royal family maintains a close relationship with the United States and has been supportive of peace efforts. However, the Palestinian-Jordanian dynamic is complicated due to historical tensions and fear of Palestinians challenging the monarchy. Jordan's role is influenced by its own security concerns and the delicate balance it needs to maintain.
Sasha Baron Cohen's Risky Middle East Filming
Sasha Baron Cohen approaches the speaker requesting his expertise on the Middle East for a film project. The speaker advises against putting Bruno, Cohen's gay Austrian fashion journalist character, in front of religious extremists. However, they explore the possibility of filming in Jordan without informing the authorities. Cohen later arrives in Jordan and recounts how he was warmly received by the king and the director of the Jordanian intelligence service. The speaker expresses his concern, but Cohen proceeds with the filming, which involves showing polaroids of explicit sexual content to Palestinian terrorist group members. Despite concerns, the scene does not go as expected and is not included in the movie. Cohen also shares a story about being attacked by Yeshiva students at the Western Wall in Israel during the filming of another project.
John Kiriakou is a former CIA analyst, case officer & chief of counterterrorism in the Middle East. EPISODE LINKS http://johnkiriakou.substack.com https://twitter.com/JohnKiriakou SPONSORS: https://marekhealth.com/danny - Use code “DANNY” to save 10% off. https://factormeals.com/DJP50 - Use CODE: DJP50 for 50% off. FOLLOW DANNY JONES https://www.instagram.com/jonesdanny https://twitter.com/jonesdanny JOIN ON PATREON: https://bit.ly/koncretepatreon OUTLINE 00:00 - Prisoner exchanges 07:45 - American Privacy 12:45 - Joeseph Goebells on privacy 16:51 - How Mossad communicates with agents 18:16 - Does the US gov REALLY spy on its citizens? 20:20 - Newsguard & the Pentagon 32:26 - Intelligence officials who run Newsguard 35:02 - Code Pink 41:38 - How do you stay ontop of Intelligence? 47:00 - Exposing a FAKE black-ops guy 49:58 - Billy Waugh 53:04 - How Billy Waugh caught Carlos the Jackal 01:06:17 - Abu Zubaydah is NOT who we thought he was 01:13:12 - How Abu Zubedah's story will end 01:15:14 - Khalid Sheikh Mohamad 01:19:07 - Saudi Arabia 01:21:15 - The history of Ukraine & Russia 01:28:43 - NATO 01:36:11 - China / Taiwan 01:42:35 - What would a US v China war look like? 01:44:29 - Israel Hamas Conflict Dynamics 01:54:41 - Israel Iran Saudi Geopolitical Hatred 01:58:08 - How China Becomes Powerful 02:01:02 - Isreal relationship w/ Jordan 02:12:18 - Russia / Iran relationship 02:19:36 - Story of covert CIA meeting about Iran invasion 02:24:41 - DOD powerplay against CIA leading up to Iraq war 02:26:30 - How the Pentagon used a fake informant to invade Iraq 02:40:55 - Kiriaku's experience with Bill Clinton in the 90's 02:45:18 - Meeting HIllary Clinton 02:51:51 - Next Presidential Candidates? 03:03:47 - Working on the BRUNO movie in the middle east
