1 00:00:00,960 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: From UFOs two ghosts and government cover ups. Histories were 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:08,319 Speaker 1: with unexplained events. You can turn back now or learn 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:16,760 Speaker 1: the stuff they don't want you to now. All right, everyone, Hello, 4 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: welcome back to the show. My name is Matt and 5 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 1: I am Ben. And this is stuff they don't want 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: you to know. Now. We're talking about some current events today. Ben, 7 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: we're talking about a situation that has the potential to 8 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: get rather hairy rather quickly. Um. It's these kind of 9 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: issues when we're dealing with geo political factions and and 10 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: lots of weaponry and militaries, UM, and diplomacy to an extent, 11 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 1: I just by default, uh I I go okay, what 12 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:52,959 Speaker 1: does Ben think about this? And I'm not sure. I'm 13 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: not sure if many of our listeners really know about 14 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: your background? And I don't want you, you know, I 15 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: don't want you to reveal anything you're uncomfortable with revealing, 16 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: but if you wouldn't mind, can you please tell our 17 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: listeners if they didn't know already, kind of your background 18 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 1: in schooling just a little bit so they can better understand. Um? Okay, 19 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: why you can speak to this with authority? Oh authority? 20 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: A I don't know? Um, I believe you can. Well, 21 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: thank you, Matt, that's really that's really kind of you. 22 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: I uh study international affairs UM extensively, both for fun 23 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,840 Speaker 1: and profit. I'm kidding about the last part UM. And 24 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 1: we're always interested. I think both of us are interested 25 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,199 Speaker 1: in the way that nations are shaped and the we're 26 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:41,400 Speaker 1: we're always interested in behind the curtain things. So, as 27 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: you and I have talked about before, often when there's 28 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: going to be an international conflict, that there's another compelling 29 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 1: reason behind it. You know. That's why we've said before 30 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 1: that people should always be cautious when a politician is 31 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 1: trying to convince you that a war should be fought 32 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: on ideological grounds, because you know, there there's some pretty 33 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: good arguments that every war is ultimately a war about resources, 34 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:17,960 Speaker 1: tangible assets, not feelings really, because nations don't really have friends, 35 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: they have common interests, they have they have this investment stuff. 36 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,080 Speaker 1: And so we've been fascinated by by this for a 37 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: long time, so much so that uh, I'm frightened of 38 00:02:30,160 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 1: trying to do a North Korea episode because it might 39 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: never end. UM. So with this new series that we're doing, 40 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 1: UM calling it behind the Curtain, and it's our attempt 41 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:46,079 Speaker 1: to sort of pierce the veil of what the politicians 42 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 1: and a lot of the mainstream media, whether it's attempting 43 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 1: to be biased like RT dot com or like Fox, 44 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: or whether it's attempting to be more objective. Um. And 45 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 1: I'm not going to name an objective exam uple there, 46 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: because I'm sure that everyone has, you know, their own 47 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: well yeah, but everyone also has their their go to 48 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: source that they feel is the most objective. I know, 49 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: I certainly have one, So just insert yours, okay, uh 50 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: uh man, I don't know if there is one I 51 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,799 Speaker 1: don't have. What are you? What are you working with? Well? 52 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:25,600 Speaker 1: There are a couple. For me. A lot of times 53 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: I go for Vice just because of their man on 54 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: the man, man on the ground really in it style 55 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 1: where there will send one person and a camera and 56 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 1: go and talk to people. Uh. But also something like 57 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: Democracy Now, which I feel leans pretty hard to the left. 58 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: But but a lot of times when there's someone on 59 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 1: Democracy Now talking about a subject, I feel like they 60 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 1: allow for that person to speak their peace. And we 61 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: we work with so many people who are just wildly 62 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: knowledgeable about things. Sometimes I think of just standing on 63 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: my chair and going Hey, everybody, hold on a second, 64 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,839 Speaker 1: everyone put everyone put your keyboards down. I'm gonna say 65 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: the following keywords, and I just want to hear your 66 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: reactions starting from the left, um, which is probably an 67 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: effective way to do it. But we digress. So so, yes, 68 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,919 Speaker 1: I do uh study international affairs, um, both on a 69 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: formal level and uh for uh giggles, I guess um. 70 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,560 Speaker 1: So let me ask a couple of questions with you, 71 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 1: matt um. First things first, when we're talking about the 72 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: current situation with Crimea and Russia and Ukraine and the 73 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: West which means NATO, then I'm sure there's a question 74 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: that quite a few people had that they maybe didn't 75 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: ask out loud because you want to embarrass themselves. Yeah, 76 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 1: what's going on here? Well, Crimea is a peninsula that's 77 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: right on the southern tip of Ukraine. It's inside the 78 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 1: Black Sea, and they're another see you don't remember the 79 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: name of that see um that it's connected to, and 80 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 1: it's also really close to kind of uh and the 81 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 1: edge of Russia right on the side there. Um. It's 82 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: roughly twenty six thousand square kilometers. It's it's about the 83 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: size of Maryland. If you wanna have a US version 84 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 1: of large. It is um. A lot of people call 85 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: it the bread basket of Russia because it's one of 86 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: the largest producers of wheat and corn um, so lots 87 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 1: of food resources coming out of there. Um. I don't 88 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 1: know what else. Another thing that's crucial to remember here 89 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: is that the Crimean region, Carimean region is home to 90 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: a incredibly crucial port for Russia. What's the name of 91 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: that one, net Sevastopol. I believe probably pronouncing adding correctly, 92 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: but yeah, yeah, cool. It sounds like you're in hunt 93 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 1: for Red October or something nice accent. Um. So why 94 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: is this hurts so important? Well? Uh, turns out that 95 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: there are some things that you might not know about 96 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: Crimea if you just watch the recent reporting, especially in 97 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:16,080 Speaker 1: the US. First, Crimea has been part of Ukraine since 98 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty four. Officially that was with the what was 99 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,360 Speaker 1: that after World So after World War Two? Then what 100 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 1: was the thing that was? Kris chef he um gave 101 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: it away? But yeah, he okay, I I need to 102 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: look more into this stuff. The things I was reading 103 00:06:38,400 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: about was mostly the oh okay, well we'll just but 104 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: well let's start let's start here, Okay, so UH at 105 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 1: the time, Ukraine is one of the Soviet socialist republics, 106 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:56,120 Speaker 1: So this gift that Kruschev does is pretty much symbolic. UH. 107 00:06:56,320 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: Russia had stationed its black sea fleet in this port 108 00:07:01,920 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: on Crimea since the late seventeen hundreds, and for much 109 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 1: of its history, Crimea has been UH or had been 110 00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: considered part of Russia. Now let's just take a second 111 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: about this black sea fleet and point out why it's 112 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:22,160 Speaker 1: so important. This port allows Russia to access the Mediterranean 113 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: UH via a very very very strictly controlled area in 114 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: Turkey called the Bosphorus, and UH there are treaties that 115 00:07:32,520 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: allow commercial vehicles free passage in that in that straight 116 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: UH only during times of peace. But also considering that 117 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: so much of Russia is UM isolated from the from 118 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: the rest of these big trading ports, this one is 119 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: a huge deal. UM. You know, we saw I don't 120 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: want to call it too much of a similar situation, 121 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 1: but we saw some parallels with the UH with the 122 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:06,000 Speaker 1: port that Russia holds in Syria UM during the same time. 123 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: So Russia is always going to try to preserve these ports. UM. 124 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 1: Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Kremea has kind 125 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: of been on its own. It's been relatively autonomous for 126 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: for a while. Yeah, that that's one of the really 127 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:25,280 Speaker 1: interesting things that that I learned about this, just that 128 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: it has its own legislative body, even though it is 129 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,880 Speaker 1: a part of Ukraine, right, it has its own legislative 130 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 1: body and a parliament and even a prime minister. And 131 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: the really interesting thing about it to me was that 132 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: the prime minister has to be approved by Kiev or 133 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 1: by the administrators in Kiev, which is interesting to me. 134 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: But but they still get to function on their own 135 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: and make laws and you know, legislate, right, Yeah, within 136 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,440 Speaker 1: the bounds of that area. And um. Part of that 137 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: I think comes from the fact that Kremea has been 138 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:05,439 Speaker 1: historically an unstable part of the world. It's been occupied 139 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: by the Greeks, by the Ottomans. Um this if if 140 00:09:10,600 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 1: the current situation with the UH the Autonomous Republic of 141 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 1: Korea does lead to a military conflict, it's not going 142 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: to be UH the first time by any means. Um 143 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,079 Speaker 1: there was there was one famous one that some people 144 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 1: might recall and from your history class war on one 145 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: whole name. Yeah, everybody's been talking about that. If you're 146 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: interested in if you don't know what that is, and 147 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: you want to learn more about it, just look up 148 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,360 Speaker 1: the Crimean War. Yeah. Um, we will tell you that 149 00:09:42,480 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: it was Russia on one side, with France, Britain, the 150 00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: Ottoman Empire and Sardinia uh on the other side, So 151 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: it was not necessarily even Yeah, okay, So we've set 152 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,800 Speaker 1: the scene here. We know that since the seventeen eighty 153 00:10:00,360 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: Russia has had a presence in Crimea, controlling it under 154 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: various forms of government until nineteen fifty four, and then 155 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: from nineteen fifty four, uh two about the present day, 156 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:17,719 Speaker 1: Crimea has been uh semi autonomous part of Ukraine. Um, 157 00:10:17,840 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: let's go, let's fast forward. Okay, do you want to 158 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: go two? Yeah? Yeah, what happened then? Okay? So in 159 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,440 Speaker 1: two thousand ten Russia negotiated uh kind of agreement between 160 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: the Sevastopal Naval Base through two So nice long chunk 161 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 1: of time there where they can basically they're going to 162 00:10:36,040 --> 00:10:40,640 Speaker 1: exchange uh for forty billion dollars worth of natural gas 163 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: discounts to allow their usage of this military base or 164 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 1: this naval base. A little more gas problem diplomacy, right, 165 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:53,880 Speaker 1: gas problem being the state owned Russian energy giant Okay, 166 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:58,080 Speaker 1: see that's that's interesting. That shows how important this area 167 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: is to Russia, this port espec actually um, and it 168 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: also shows how important the trade aspects of this is. So, 169 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: so let's look at the Russian side of the current situation. 170 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:15,360 Speaker 1: Russia is saying that essentially that's protecting its interest in 171 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 1: this sport, um that the current Ukrainian government is um 172 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: not completely legitimate and essentially cannot be trusted to hold 173 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 1: itself to its responsibilities. Yeah. That that is a very 174 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 1: strange situation you get into when there's instability in a country, 175 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: especially if say the president gets kicked out by protesters. Um, 176 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: I mean there are so there's so much economic interest 177 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: going on there. What do you do? Do you send 178 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: your troops in or your peace keeping of what I 179 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 1: forget what he what he referred to them as civil 180 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: defense guys. Uh yeah, well okay, so there's there's another 181 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:09,920 Speaker 1: problem here if you look at the Russian side of it. Um, 182 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 1: they have they already that treaty that we talked about 183 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 1: that allows them to maintain a presence in that port, 184 00:12:16,080 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: that already allows them to have twenty five thousand troops 185 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:24,079 Speaker 1: in crimea twenty four artillery systems, over a hundred armored vehicles, 186 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:31,520 Speaker 1: military planes, UM five Russian naval units station there. UM. 187 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 1: So basically just to protect Crimea from any invaders of Crimea. 188 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 1: That's essentially what it's for, right well. It's also it's 189 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 1: also something that we've talked about before, UM that's very 190 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: very big in international naval forces and militaries in general, 191 00:12:48,240 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: and that's called force projection. The United States currently runs 192 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,560 Speaker 1: the game and forced projection. Force projection just what it 193 00:12:55,559 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: sounds like, the ability for a country or maybe in 194 00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: the future corporate shan to project um it's hardware and 195 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: its troops to a foreign locale. There are three types 196 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: of navies. They're called brown water, green water, and blue water. 197 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 1: Brown water are the ones that are closest to the shore. 198 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: They can kind of only protect their territory. Green water 199 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 1: can get a little bit farther out. Blue water, which 200 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: is the ideal, would be a navy that is able 201 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: to travel around the world and kick tires and light fires. 202 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: For lack of a better phrase or a more dignified 203 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: or respective one, the United States has a blue water 204 00:13:38,080 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: navy because they have aircraft carriers and that and bases 205 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: around the world. The world is allousy with US business, 206 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:49,480 Speaker 1: so mobilization is pretty easy from any location on the 207 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 1: earth US. Yeah. And so this port, because it allows 208 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: access to the Mediterranean Sea, allows Russia to send out 209 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: their own um, their own units to project force. So 210 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 1: they've got everything there, man, They've got submarines, they got 211 00:14:06,360 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: missile boats, they've got um ambition, which might be the 212 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: most dangerous of all. And so now we come to 213 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,200 Speaker 1: a really weird thing. Now we know that we know 214 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: that this is a tricky podcast for us to do 215 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: because we're talking about current events and they haven't resolved themselves. 216 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: Uh right now, the West and NATO countries are saying, no, Russia, 217 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: don't take Crimea, doesn't belong to you. It's power grab. 218 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 1: If you do this, there will be huge consequences. And 219 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: Russia is saying, we're just trying to protect our interests 220 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: and the people of Crimea welcome us. We're already there. 221 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: Calm down, Why you mad bro man? What do you think? Well? 222 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:57,160 Speaker 1: I think one of the things we have to look 223 00:14:57,160 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: at is the destabilization of Ukraine. Okay, I think that's 224 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: really important. Why did that happen? Who kind of started 225 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: the fire? And you know what, like, is there is 226 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: there anything behind that? And I know a lot of 227 00:15:10,760 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: the things I've been reading online, uh point to, hey, 228 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 1: maybe Russia did this, or on the other side, maybe 229 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 1: the CIA did this on purpose to destabilize some of 230 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: the gas the oil that's pumping out through what is 231 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:31,440 Speaker 1: it to Russia or is it from Russia? From the 232 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: natural gas from Russia to Yes, Yeah, much of which 233 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: runs through pipelines in Ukraine. Um. So it's tough to 234 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 1: wade through all of it because there's a ton of 235 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:47,600 Speaker 1: stuff to read. So did Russia destabilize Ukraine for its 236 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: own benefit or did everybody's favorite organization, the coup instigators 237 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:59,440 Speaker 1: of America also make a new a new revolution, right? Yeah? 238 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: And is that why Russia was so quick to act 239 00:16:02,520 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 1: in response? Well, that's a very interesting point, and that 240 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: does take us behind the curtain um to some things 241 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: that you might not hear in mainstream news, which is that, uh, 242 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: Russia has a deep and abiding distrust of the West 243 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: because there have been there's been some i would say 244 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: circumstantial evidence, but it did convince the Russians that, um, 245 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: the West and particularly the United States was instigating coups 246 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: um in various or various former Soviet areas and areas 247 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: along the Russian border. Also, Um, the energy. I'm so 248 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: glad you mentioned the energy. So much of this stuff 249 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 1: goes back to energy. So Europe needs what like a 250 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: quarter of its gas comes from Russia, all right, So uh, 251 00:16:53,520 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 1: Crimea then needs electricity from Ukraine. Um, Europe hesitant to 252 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:09,080 Speaker 1: anger the sleeping red bear of Russia then because the Russia, 253 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:14,000 Speaker 1: I mean the economic disaster, but also we should keep 254 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 1: in mind the economic disaster for Russia as well. Um, 255 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,359 Speaker 1: there are there is wide support for Korea to become 256 00:17:22,400 --> 00:17:25,840 Speaker 1: part of Russia, I guess. And that's that at least 257 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:27,760 Speaker 1: from what I understand, it has a lot to do 258 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: with the ethnicity of people who lived there because it 259 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:34,640 Speaker 1: was again at one time Crimea was part of Russia 260 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: and then it was kind of just given away or 261 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 1: changed its name essentially um by the ruler at the time. 262 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 1: So those people still feel at least I can't speak 263 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 1: for any of those people, but they feel like culturally, 264 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:51,760 Speaker 1: culturally they're a part of Russia. Um. But then the 265 00:17:52,280 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: it's so interesting to me when you then look at 266 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 1: Ukraine and how Ukraine is is fairly split almost fifty 267 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: fifty and sentiments towards Russia and believing they're they're a 268 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:06,439 Speaker 1: part of Russia, and then the other half believing that 269 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,640 Speaker 1: they want to be a part of the EU. Right. 270 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:16,760 Speaker 1: It's really fascinating how how much schism there can be 271 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:20,600 Speaker 1: between in one country and how difficult it can be 272 00:18:20,640 --> 00:18:26,919 Speaker 1: at times to find the motivating force behind these different factions. 273 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 1: There is a group in Crimea that definitely does not 274 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,920 Speaker 1: want Russia in control, and those would be the Crimean Tartars, Yes, 275 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:40,200 Speaker 1: who are Muslim and make up about twelve of the population. Uh. 276 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: They have a very good reason not to want Russian rule. Uh, 277 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:48,200 Speaker 1: a little something called discrimination, right yeah, yeah, yeah, um. 278 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: And that's an understatement, if ever, because the at various 279 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:59,040 Speaker 1: times the Tartars have been uh deported, forced the labor 280 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:03,160 Speaker 1: in can amps under horrid conditions during World War two 281 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:08,160 Speaker 1: and Russia, and uh quite a few people died as 282 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:15,879 Speaker 1: a result. So they have no compelling interest to trust Russia. UM. 283 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:18,640 Speaker 1: The while this is stuff that you might not hear 284 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: too often in mainstream news, UM, I I have to ask. 285 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:27,919 Speaker 1: I hesitate to make some predictions, UM, but I do 286 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 1: know that Crimea may well become a part of Russia 287 00:19:33,359 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 1: again because they're holding a vote now and we're on 288 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:41,760 Speaker 1: Sunday when when this is published. Yeah, the coming Sunday, 289 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:46,760 Speaker 1: they're holding that vote, and we know that, um, Western 290 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 1: Western media is not happy about it. You will probably 291 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,000 Speaker 1: be able to read some stories that say there is 292 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:57,119 Speaker 1: no no option on the vote. Well, well, it's just 293 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,119 Speaker 1: do you write It's like yes, well it's yes, you 294 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:04,040 Speaker 1: check check for us and offer you can't refuse. And 295 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:08,240 Speaker 1: we know that, we know that Vladimir Putin um, being 296 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:12,879 Speaker 1: a very smart and surprisingly charismatic leader in Russia, is 297 00:20:13,119 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: also a bit of a gangster at times. Well yeah, 298 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: and and he's trained, man, he's trained, he has his 299 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:25,080 Speaker 1: background is KGB, right, And it just makes you kind 300 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:28,879 Speaker 1: of understand the tactician that exists inside of him, that 301 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:31,919 Speaker 1: is him, um, in the group that's around him. It's 302 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 1: a bit of a cautionary tale because it's it's an 303 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:39,680 Speaker 1: illustration of what would happen if the CIA openly ran 304 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,879 Speaker 1: the US government. And I say openly because there have 305 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:47,440 Speaker 1: been past politicians who uh, we're a high level in 306 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:51,200 Speaker 1: the CIA and ultimately ascended to the presidency or influence 307 00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:56,320 Speaker 1: the patient, right, and um, you know at that at 308 00:20:56,400 --> 00:20:58,679 Speaker 1: that point it goes into a little bit of a 309 00:20:58,680 --> 00:21:02,479 Speaker 1: different can of worms. But I believe this is about 310 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:09,000 Speaker 1: force projection and control over energy and international trade. What 311 00:21:09,040 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: do you think again, Ben, whatever you think, I'm probably 312 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 1: gonna go with that. For well, for me, it's it's 313 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: it's tough to give a full on opinion because it's 314 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:24,440 Speaker 1: stuff I have to I have to continue watching, really 315 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: and as much as I go back through the history 316 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:31,640 Speaker 1: and and try and understand what's currently happening. Um, I'm 317 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: left with so many questions that, like a lot of 318 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:38,720 Speaker 1: these topics, I don't I don't know what my opinion 319 00:21:38,800 --> 00:21:42,320 Speaker 1: is yet. Okay, I see what you're saying. Maybe somebody 320 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: can prove disprove my assertion that this is primarily a 321 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:54,480 Speaker 1: grab for force projection and for control of energy trade. Uh. 322 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,560 Speaker 1: I will say that I can't remember who it was. 323 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: But recently a congress person in the US argued that 324 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: the United States should begin exporting natural gas to Europe 325 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: as a move to um sort of declause or defaying Russia. 326 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: But what they ignored or a couple of very important points, 327 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: which are that there is no infrastructure currently in place 328 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,439 Speaker 1: that would be able to perform a fraction of what 329 00:22:23,480 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: they're talking about. Um, and uh, the senator, I think 330 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: it was a senator, I'm not sure. Uh, this statesman 331 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: whoever was speaking also, uh failed to mention what had 332 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:42,359 Speaker 1: persuaded them or which companies would be exporting. Whenever I 333 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:46,320 Speaker 1: hear a politician saying something about a private business doing 334 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: something specific, I want to know the names. Yeah, well 335 00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:52,480 Speaker 1: I know a couple, but in particular if you look 336 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 1: at excell and they had a deal, um or they 337 00:22:55,480 --> 00:23:00,159 Speaker 1: have a deal currently to build a belief to I 338 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: think they're gonna drill two wells right off the shore 339 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:07,160 Speaker 1: of Crimea and yeah, there they're trying to figure out 340 00:23:07,240 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 1: what's going on. And you know, if whatever new government 341 00:23:10,640 --> 00:23:13,679 Speaker 1: comes in, whoever's ruling, if they will, can you know, 342 00:23:13,720 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: continue on with those contracts or not? Um? So, I 343 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,520 Speaker 1: don't know. There's definitely us and there's a lot of 344 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:24,680 Speaker 1: interest and energy over there from all over the place. 345 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:28,200 Speaker 1: Would um, where could people go? Where can we point 346 00:23:28,200 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: people if they want to learn more about this situation? Oh, 347 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: there are a lot of places you can go. Again, 348 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: my go to right now for the most interesting information 349 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:41,160 Speaker 1: coming out is from Vice News, and that's Vice dot Com. 350 00:23:41,160 --> 00:23:43,560 Speaker 1: It's They've got a series running right now called Russian 351 00:23:43,640 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: Roulette The Invasion of Ukraine, and there's six parts so far, 352 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 1: and it's hosted or it's basically just a handful of 353 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:58,240 Speaker 1: people over there and led by Simon Ostrovsky I believe 354 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: is his name, uh fastating they they're going into Ukrainian basis, 355 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 1: actually jumping over walls so that they can get into 356 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:11,520 Speaker 1: a Ukrainian base and talk with the soldiers there. Um, 357 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 1: they're attempting to make contact with the the soldiers in green, 358 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:20,360 Speaker 1: the Russian soldiers and get information from them. They're speaking 359 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: with naval commanders. I mean, it's it's fascinating stuff. Well, 360 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:27,000 Speaker 1: you know, I'm glad you said that. It also reminds 361 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: me of a couple of things I need to say 362 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 1: before people right hate mail or say that I'm being 363 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:36,719 Speaker 1: pro Russian about this. Uh. First things First, the Russian 364 00:24:36,760 --> 00:24:42,040 Speaker 1: government cartoonishly disingenuous about this entire thing. When they're saying, oh, 365 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:44,520 Speaker 1: local militias, I don't know, I don't know, you know, 366 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 1: and just local militias just trying to It's right up 367 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:52,000 Speaker 1: there with whenever people in the US wants support for 368 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: something and they say just trying to feed their families, 369 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:59,200 Speaker 1: you know, like as by you know, as implying that 370 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,400 Speaker 1: if you dis agree with whatever crazy thing they're spouting, 371 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,159 Speaker 1: then you want families to starve. It's kind of the 372 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:08,160 Speaker 1: same thing. It's like, it's just malicious fighting for their safety. 373 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: What are you are you against safety? Do you not 374 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:14,119 Speaker 1: want people to be safe? And uh So that's first 375 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:20,960 Speaker 1: it was. There was a lot of disingenuous uh rhetoric there. Um. Secondly, uh, 376 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:26,000 Speaker 1: the primary concern here, while it may be energy for 377 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:29,160 Speaker 1: quite a few decision makers or hegemony for other ones, 378 00:25:29,680 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 1: the primary concern should be the safety of the people 379 00:25:32,640 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: in these areas, which historically living in crimea. Um. If 380 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:39,160 Speaker 1: you look at the span of history, it's a it's 381 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 1: a dangerous place to live. And it reminds me of 382 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: that old statement that when elephants make war, only the 383 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:51,360 Speaker 1: grass suffers. And I hope that the population of Chrimea 384 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:55,720 Speaker 1: does not become grass. So um and I don't you know, 385 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,040 Speaker 1: I'm not saying anything about dying. I'm just referring to 386 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:02,520 Speaker 1: that quotation. Uh. But we would also like to hear 387 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:05,040 Speaker 1: from you. Let us know what you think. Tell us 388 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 1: on Facebook and Twitter. Um, who who has the right 389 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 1: of it? Is it the West? Should they take Ukraine 390 00:26:12,280 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 1: and Tornado and then also get Crimea in Tornado in 391 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 1: that part? Uh? Is Russia doing a reactionary thing? Or 392 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,760 Speaker 1: is there a longer game? Uh? And what do you 393 00:26:23,840 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 1: think will happen in the Black Sea? And last, how 394 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 1: long do you think it's gonna take until we just 395 00:26:31,000 --> 00:26:36,479 Speaker 1: get rid of nations altogether and Google runs everything? Well, 396 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:42,640 Speaker 1: I feel like Google has earned California, Matthew nice. Uh, yeah, 397 00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:45,159 Speaker 1: but that's that is a great question. When does the 398 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: collapse of the nation state occur? Let us know on 399 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: Facebook and Twitter, check out our website stuff they don't 400 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: want you to know dot com And as always, we 401 00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: are gearing up for some excellent listener mail right to 402 00:26:57,320 --> 00:27:00,639 Speaker 1: us directly, give us suggestions, give us feed at Let 403 00:27:00,720 --> 00:27:02,680 Speaker 1: us know if you want to shout out on the air. 404 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: Let us know if you think we're co Intel pro 405 00:27:05,119 --> 00:27:08,880 Speaker 1: agents on you know, YouTube comments, that's cool, we can 406 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 1: we can take it. People knew how much money we 407 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: do not make? Uh? All right? 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