Apr 25, 2021 – What Were the Economic Consequences of the Peace? – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 368

Description: Bill and Rachel discuss the gap between perception and reality on the World War I reparations demanded of Germany in April 1921 and earlier in the Treaty of Versailles.

Notes and links for Ep. 368 (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/AFD-Ep-368-Links-and-Notes-What-Were-The-Economic-Consequences-of-the-Peace_.pdf

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Feb 2, 2020 – French Strikes – AFD 294

Description: Back on the air at WVUD, we discuss recent French strikes over reactionary pension reforms and what lessons it holds for the rising American left. Bill, Rachel, Nate.

Theme music by Stunt Bird.

Links and notes (PDF): http://arsenalfordemocracy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Ep.-294-Notes-and-Links-French-Strikes.pdf

February 20, 2018 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 215

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Topics: CFPB leadership dispute, Bank of America fees, Wells Fargo fake accounts scandal; Holocaust Denial politics in Europe. People: Bill, Rachel, Nate. Produced: Feb 18th, 2018.

Episode 215 (51 min):
AFD 215

Related links

AFD 215 Links and notes (PDF)

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Music by friend of the show Stunt Bird.

May 10, 2017 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 179 Extended

Posted by Bill on behalf of the team.

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Topics: French presidential election results; the Republican House passes their healthcare bill; recalling the Battle of the Bulge in 2017. People: Bill and Nate Produced: May 8th, 2017.

Episode 179 (58 min, incl. 8 bonus minutes):
AFD 179

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Music by friend of the show @StuntBirdArmy.

Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 104 Re-run

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Description: Interventions, Interference, and Invasions: Nate and Bill lead a world tour of the post-WWII history of countries entering other countries’ civil wars and uprisings, for good or ill, and what it means for the future. (We talk about Cuba, Angola, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Indonesia, Guatemala, Libya, Central African Republic, Mali, Somalia, and many others.) People: Bill, Nate. Originally produced: October 20th, 2014. Re-edited and abridged: April 19, 2017.

Discussion Points:

– Kissinger’s plan to bomb Cuba and what the future of the embargo is
– CIA history: Why arming rebels has often failed and what it means for US plans in Syria now
– What does the future hold for international and unilateral military interventions in armed conflicts and crises? Is the UN still relevant?

Episode 104-Abridged (54 min)
AFD 104

Related links
Segment 1

NYT: Kissinger Drew Up Plans to Attack Cuba, Records Show
AFD: Jimmy Carter’s Election Prevented a Disastrous War in Cuba

Segment 2

NYT: CIA Study Says Arming Rebels Seldom Works

Segment 3

AFD: Confusion in Libya as Egyptian jets bomb Benghazi
AFD: US suddenly surprised to find Mideast states acting unilaterally
AFD: Is the US-led Syria operation vs ISIS legal under international law?
AFD: France announces indefinite Sahel deployment
AFD: France: Back to Africa?

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And don’t forget to check out The Digitized Ramblings of an 8-Bit Animal, the video blog of our announcer, Justin.

March 22, 2017 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 174

Posted by Bill on behalf of the team.

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Topics: 2017 French presidential election campaign and the UN counterinsurgency mission in Mali. People: Bill and Nate. Produced: March 20th, 2017.

Episode 174 (51 min):
AFD 174

Further reading:
– 2014: “EU Elections, the Rising Populists, and Why Europe is Worried”
Our partial archives on Mali

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iTunes Store Link: “Arsenal for Democracy by Bill Humphrey”

Music by friend of the show @StuntBirdArmy.

French collateral damage

I believe (based on extensive previous evidence) that Burkina Faso would not be getting attacked by Al Qaeda were it not for France’s selfish decision in 2014 to deploy counterterrorism troops to the country indefinitely (and to put them up regularly at the hotel that was attacked on Friday). Burkina Faso is extremely poor and fragile, but it’s working hard to secure its fledgling democracy. Burkina Faso doesn’t bother anyone or get involved in these matters, but France used its influence to meddle and endanger everyone there. This is spreading terror, not containing it.

burkina-faso-map