Tag: Iraq

“The Long Road Home” with Tom Secker – Ep 36

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Today, I sit down with Tom Secker of spyculture.com to discuss the National Geographic series The Long Road Home.  Here, Tom and I note its lack of discussion on the historical and cultural questions surrounding the massive battle in Sadr City, known by veterans of the battle as Black Sunday, and the military questions I have as a soldier who was fighting against the same Mahdi militia in southern Iraq at the same time.

Thanks again to Tom for chatting with me.  He wrote an amazing piece of analysis with journalist Matthew Alford on the influence of the Pentagon and the CIA in American films and television.  It’s called National Security Cinema: The Shocking New Evidence of Government Control in Hollywood.  Definitely pick up a copy!!  And don’t forget to subscribe to Tom’s podcast, ClandesTime.  He recently did a review on Executive Decision, the Kurt Russell/Steven Seagal film from 1996.

Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here.

Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com

Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570.  We might even play it on the podcast!!!

Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill

A special thanks to our honorary producers Matthew Hoh, Will Ahrens, Gage Counts, Fahim Shirazee, James Higgins, and James O’Barr.  Without you guys, we couldn’t continue our work.  Thank you so much!!!

Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!

FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and BT Hampton

Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page

Thanks to Nate Bethea from What A Hell of a Way to Die for editing and mixing this episode

Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL

Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

The hard path of resistance – conscientious objectors panel – Ep 35

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Conscientious objection is a time-honored part of military service.  After reading about its history a bit, I decided we needed a closer look from the only people who can tell it right from the horse’s mouth: objectors themselves.  Here, I chat with three of them, all with different backgrounds, but one overwhelming consensus among them: military service was unacceptable to their conscience. Here, we find out a few clues why.

Clifton Hicks enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of seventeen and served as an M1 Abrams tank crewman with C Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Division in Iraq 2003-2004. In 2005 he was honorably discharged as a conscientious objector. He went on to earn a degree in anthropology from Appalachian State University and currently works as a musician and music teacher.

Rosa del Duca is a writer and musician. She grew up a tomboy in rural Montana, where she joined the Army National Guard when she was seventeen. During her six-year contract, she became not only a conscientious objector, but a feminist and unlikely rebel.  That tumultuous time is the focus of her memoir, Breaking Cadence: One Woman’s War Against the War, forthcoming from Ooligan Press in May, 2019, and her companion podcast, Breaking Cadence: Insights From a Modern-Day Conscientious Objector.

Jorge Javier (JJ) Rodriguez is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where his time spent as a cadet solidified his stance as a conscientious objector.  He is now stationed at Fort Campbell, KY, where he is going through the process of the Army’s conscientious objector program. For his full bio and a better look at his situation, click here.

Ramon Mejia enlisted in the Marine Corps out of economic necessity. He served in Supply Ops. and participated in the initial invasion of and deployment to Dhi Qar Province, Iraq in 2003. As a result of his experience in Iraq, he converted to Islam in 2008. He has been an active organizer in countering local manifestations of hate and racism by neo-Nazis and paramilitary groups in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Ramon is a Social Studies teacher and one of the founding organizers of #VetsVsHate, a national veteran grassroots initiative pushing back against racism and bigotry. He was recently recognized as part of the ‘MPower 100–Muslim Social Justice Leaders Building Power Across the United States.

RESOURCES

GI Rights Hotline – 18774474487

Quakers House of Fayetteville – 919-663-7122

Department of Defense Office of Inspector General – 800-424-9098

Center on Conscience and War – 1-800-379-2679

Code Pink – 202-248-2093

Vets For Peace – 314-725-6005

About Face (Veterans against the war) – 929-430-4988

Courage to Resist –  510-488-3559

The Objector Church – 510-488-3559

Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here.

Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com

Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570. 

Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill

A special thanks to our honorary producers Matthew Hoh, Will Ahrens, Gage Counts, Fahim Shirazee, James Higgins, and James O’Barr.  Without you guys, we couldn’t continue our work.  Thank you so much!!!

Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!

FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and BT Hampton

Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page

Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL

Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

From Afghanistan with sorrowful results – Ep 29

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It’s been WAY too long since we’ve done headlines, so we do our best to catch you up.  I break down the current situation in Yemen and discuss some updates, including the American contractors working as mercenaries there while Danny takes us back to the seventeen year old war in Afghanistan, showing the headlines missed during the week while the media was focused on a photo of the senior commander in Afghanistan carrying his rifle.

America Is Headed For Military Defeat in Afghanistan – Danny Sjursen – The American Conservative

Tank plant in Ohio that Trump “saved” – nothing in piece suggested he actually “saved” it.

1.3 million Iraqi children displaced by war with Islamic State

Al Qaeda commander gets numerous emergency surgeries while held at GITMO.

US exempts Iran’s Chabahar Port from sanctions – helpful to Afghanistan’s economy.

Iraq asks US to consider how sanctions will affect Iraq’s economy / etc.

Marine veteran protests Leupold at Blazers game

Think Progress on Leupold protest

Second Saudi journalist tortured and murdered by Saudi authorities

The Ministry of Defense in the UK is being petitioned to stop recruiting 16 and 17 year olds.

Low IQ draftees were chosen after Vietnam leaders couldn’t make numbers.

Rust costs 21 billion per year

Statistical connections between veterans and mass shooters

Army secretary says NCOs should visit barracks on weekends to prevent suicide

Hypertension linked to Agent Orange exposure

VA moving hundreds of docs from union admin spots back to providing care for veterans

1 in 5 generals couldn’t deploy for medical reasons in 2016

There’s a strong possibility that several of the northern Marianas Islands will become bombing ranges for the US Navy – ep from Chapo Traphouse

The Trump administration is demanding the Supreme Court immediately rule on the ban on transgender people serving in the military.

VA isn’t providing benefits correctly to veterans with ALS

85k children under believed to have died in the war in Yemen – CNN

Trump may declare the Houthis a terrorist organization

Finland and Denmark have joined Germany in ceasing all weapons sales to Saudi Arabia over their war crimes in Yemen, along with the continuing fallout from the assassination of Washington Post writer Jamal Khashoggi

Yemenis killed in assassination by American contractors

Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here.

Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com

Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570.  We might even play it on the podcast!!!

Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill

A special thanks to our honorary producers Matthew Hoh, Will Ahrens, Gage Counts, and Fahim Shirazee!!  Without you guys, we couldn’t continue our work.  Thank you so much!!!

Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!

Facebook – Fortress On A Hill

Twitter – Fortress On A Hill

Soundcloud – Fortress On A Hill

FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson and Danny Sjursen

Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page

Thanks to Nate Bethea from What A Hell of a Way to Die for editing and mixing this episode

Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL

Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

About Face 2018 campaign drive

Danny and I are proud members of About Face – Veterans Against The War.  The group is currently holding their fall fundraising drive, which provides funds for veterans to conduct outreach about militarism and endless war, to include protesting President and Mrs. Bush receiving the Liberty Medal at the National Constitution Center.  I’m so proud of the great work they did in Philadelphia.  $5 is amazingly helpful, so please give and help About Face continue the fight!!

How to go for broke as an anti-war advocate – Scott Horton interview Part 1 – Ep 27

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Today, Danny and I present part 1 of our sitdown with Scott Horton, host of Anti-War Radio on KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles, which is also known by its podcast name, the Scott Horton Show.  Scott has hosted Anti-War Radio since 2003 and has done several thousand interviews with war correspondents of all stripes.  His book, “Fool’s Errand: Time to end the war in Afghanistan” is an amazing collection on the history of war in Afghanistan, how presidential decisions from Carter to Trump have destroyed the greater Middle East, and how the American people were deceived by the leaders about both the premise of the war and the history of it, now just past its 17th anniversary.  Scott is also managing director of the Libertarian Institute at  LibertarianInstitute.org and editorial director of Anti-war.com, where both Danny and myself, but mostly Danny, have published pieces on the American war state.  The man has an amazing mind and recalls even the tiniest of details about his research and reporting on Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, and so forth.  Please do listen to his show on 90.7 if you’re in the Los Angeles area. If not, grab your podcatcher app and add the Scott Horton show to your podcasts.

2:59– Scott discusses how he got started on being an anti-war advocate

10:22– Scott discusses writing “Fool’s Errand”

17:14– Scott discusses the impact of high ranking US government officials, even cabinet members, keeping certain information away from the president to demonstrate a specific narrative on foreign policy

27:36– Scott on the current horrifying situation in Afghanistan

36:02– Scott on future predictions for Afghanistan    

Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here.

Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com

Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570.  We might even play it on the podcast!!!

Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill

A special thanks to our honorary producers Matthew Hoh, Will Ahrens, Gage Counts, and Fahim Shirazee!!  Without you guys, we couldn’t continue our work.  Thank you so much!!!

Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!

Facebook – Fortress On A Hill

Twitter – Fortress On A Hill

Soundcloud – Fortress On A Hill

FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson and Danny Sjursen

Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page

Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL

Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Nothing to see here…just take your war criticism and get out! – Ep 26

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Going through the official government narratives of conflict, there’s a lot of learn, even knowing that you’re dealing with a certain percentage of deliberate obfuscation and outright falsehoods.  It’s important to discuss what the war planners of a given conflict knew, at what point they knew it, and how they acted on that information. A new Army report with heavy criticism over operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom will be released soon and while I expect to get irate while reading it, I also expect to learn a lot that I didn’t already know.  We’ll do a much longer episode on the full report when it’s released. Enjoy! 

Skip to 3:21 in the player{

2:00 – Syrian civil war update and America’s involvement

10:21 – Brain injuries from a roadside bomb



18:38 – Irresponsible general calls for war with China in 15 years


29:41 – Patron question on posse comitatus and habeas corpus


34:44 – New report critical of Army operations during the Iraq war


US war with China is likely in 15 years, retired general says – Vanessa Gera – Associated Press


Here’s Exactly What A Roadside Bomb Does To Your Head – Ronald Glasser – Task and Purpose


The Army Tried To Bury A Critical Report On All Its Failings In The Iraq War – Adam Linehan – Task and Purpose




Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here.


Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com


Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570.  We might even play it on the podcast!!!


Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill


A special thanks to our honorary producers Matthew Hoh, Will Ahrens, Gage Counts, and Fahim Shirazee!!  Without you guys, we couldn’t continue our work.  Thank you so much!!!


Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!


Facebook – Fortress On A Hill


Twitter – Fortress On A Hill


Soundcloud – Fortress On A Hill




FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson and Danny Sjursen


Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page


Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL


Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

	


	
	






	
	

		
	

		
Beware the Muslim dislike oversell – Dr. Rachel Gillum – Ep 23
	


	

		


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Can anyone tell ‘ol Henri what a Muslim living in America looks like?  Anybody?!


See, that’s the whole problem.  Being a Muslim means a specific type of religious practice, but which sect?  Which tribe?  Which country or region do they hail from?  Are they practicing the religion presently?  If not, are they simply trying to survive in their culture, albeit one that’s hard and severe for apostates?!  Is it the white guy in a beige track suit with a gold chain around his neck?  Maybe, but nothing says he’s less a Muslim than the former Arab Iraqi translator working at the front desk at State Farm.  It’s a hatred with much history in the US, both socially and politically, used to further foreign policy interests for those vested in its loathsome logic.


And with that loathsome logic in mind, Danny and I present our sit down with Dr. Rachel Gillum, Muslim-American integration expert and author of “Muslims in a Post-9/11 America: A Survey of Attitudes and Beliefs and Their Implications for U.S. National Security Policy”




Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here.


Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com


Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570.  We might even play it on the podcast!!!


Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill


A special thanks to our honorary producers Matthew Hoh, Will Ahrens, and Gage Counts!!  Without you guys, we couldn’t continue our work.  Thank you so much!!!


Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!!


Facebook – Fortress On A Hill


Twitter – Fortress On A Hill


Soundcloud – Fortress On A Hill


FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson and Danny Sjursen




Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL


Music provided royalty free by Bensound.com


Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

	


	
	






	
	

		
Moral injury panel (feat. the Warax, Tyson Manker, and Chaplain Josh Morris) – Ep 19
	


	

		


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I wanted to expand our conversation on moral injury, to give listeners a better insight into the weight of war from different perspectives and experiences.  Here is the result.  I won’t preface it anymore than that; please listen and learn.






Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here.


Got news to share about our military or veterans?! Or just need to cuss at us for a bit?! Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com


Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570.  We might even play it on the podcast!!!


Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill


A special thanks to our honorary producers Matthew Hoh, Will Ahrens, and Gage Counts!!  Without you guys, we couldn’t continue our work.  Thank you both so much!!!


Facebook – Fortress On A Hill


Twitter – Fortress On A Hill


Soundcloud – Fortress On A Hill


FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson and Danny Sjursen


Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL


Music provided royalty free by Bensound.com


Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

	


	
	






	
	

		
Keagan Miller interview – former Navy-NSA intel analyst – Ep 15.0 – Part 1
	


	

		


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Military operations grind to a halt without intelligence.  Both the human side (HUMINT) and the electronic side (SIGINT for signal intelligence) must be pursued relentlessly to give military operational forces their picture of the battlespace.  Yes, it’s a lot of jargon and bullshit to say intelligence speaks to people and gets info from them, along with listening to cell phones and other electronic devices.


Today, we’re going to focus on the analyst side and speak with Keagan Miller.  Keagan is a former CTT (Cryptologic Technical Technician) who served in the Navy from 2009-13. He worked at NSA Georgia in support of 5th fleet and intelligence agency operations in North Africa and Middle East such as the Libya mission in 2011, the anti-piracy mission in Somalia, as well as other intelligence support given to operations in Yemen and Syria. Since getting out of the military he has been working with homeless veterans in the non profit and at the county level as a Case manager for Supportive Housing programs.


Here’s part 1.  Enjoy!!!






Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here.


Got news to share about our military or veterans?! Or just need to cuss at us for a bit?! Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com


Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570.  We might even play it on the podcast!!!


Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill


A special thanks to our honorary producers Matthew Hoh and Will Ahrens!!  Without you guys, we couldn’t continue our work.  Thank you both so much!!!


Facebook – Fortress On A Hill


Twitter – Fortress On A Hill


Soundcloud – Fortress On A Hill


FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson and Danny Sjursen


Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL


Music provided royalty free by Bensound.com


Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

	


	
	






	
	

		
Tom Engelhardt of TomDispatch interview – Ep 14.0 – Part 2
	


	

		


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Danny and I are very excited to bring you the second half of our sit down with Tom Engelhardt, editor-in-chief and founder of TomDispatch, where he brings us amazing long form journalism from a huge group of writers about our national security apparatus and especially America’s endless addiction to militarism.  Please go and pick up Tom’s new book, “A Nation Unmade By War“, an amazing collection of essays on how the US has been forever altered by almost two decades in endless war.  Enjoy!!!


00:40 – Sitdown with Tom Engelhardt – Part 2






Enjoy the show?!  Please leave us a review right here.


Got news to share about our military or veterans?! Or just need to cuss at us for a bit?! Contact us direct by email at fortressonahill@gmail.com


Leave us a voicemail at 860-598-0570.  We might even play it on the podcast!!!


Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our contributors today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill


A special thanks to our honorary producers Matthew Hoh and Will Ahrens!!  Without you guys, we couldn’t continue our work.  Thank you both so much!!!


Facebook – Fortress On A Hill


Twitter – Fortress On A Hill


Soundcloud – Fortress On A Hill


FOH is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson and Danny Sjursen


Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL


Music provided royalty free by Bensound.com


Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.