How I Went From Al-Qaeda Bomb Maker To British Spy | Extraordinary Lives Podcast |

In this episode, we sit down with Aimen Dean - a former terrorist turned British spy. Aimen joined Al-Qaeda in the late 90s but soon had a change of heart. We hear how he was recruited by the British intelligence services and sent back to Afghanistan to spy on the world's most dangerous terrorist organisation, through 9/11 and the London bombings, before he was eventually exposed.
Extraordinary Lives is a podcast from the team behind LADbible’s Minutes With.
We speak to remarkable people who each have a unique story to tell - spies, terrorists, hackers, gangsters, killers, people with particular conditions, and those who’ve lived unreal experiences. These are the stories that resonated the most with LADbible’s audience when they were originally told on Minutes With.
In this podcast, LADbible’s Ben Powell-Jones sits down with those individuals for a more in-depth conversation, revealing untold tales for the first time.
Host: Ben Powell-Jones, Twitter: @BenPowellJones
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[@GavinY]

There is no way this story could be watched for 1.5 hours without this man's great gift of memory and speaking. The way he can recall dates and places is unbelievable when I can't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday

[@dr.terrible7062]

why is this so true

[@AlphA12647]

I think it is because he actually experienced it. Emotions were involved on those days. I'm baffled by how life seems to go faster when we grow older-- because we stop having new experiences and get stuck in the hamster wheel banal routine, relative to the explorative and enthusiastic childhood phase. Peace.

[@elliotwebb5924]

I had a meal deal

[@khadargolongol6610]

@@AlphA12647 xx F

[@Ipwnnoobs7]

Makes you think it’s scripted and bs

[@rboeyrt4054]

Ladbible. The interviewer is absolutely asking the right questions and letting the answers come out. Fantastic journalism.

[@lukepittle8961]

I agree. Didn’t talk over him, let him talk, asked solid probing questions and follow ups, in my view very good interviewing and journalism. It’s a dying breed from most of what I see unfortunately

[@juanzarceno5696]

Uuucucu

[@juanzarceno5696]

Uvuvu

[@juanzarceno5696]

@@lukepittle8961 uuen en Cucu uu

[@juanzarceno5696]

U

[@chrismlone]

Aimen is a national treasure. I'm still shocked by the way people in Scotland have treated him. To the point he is now leaving the country. The man is a hero.

[@HypocritesExposd]

Seriously 💯 he should be honored, not shunned

[@CL-we8tn]

He was protecting Scotland too, perhaps someone should mention that to the Scots.

[@tenaciousduk6587]

Agree 100%

[@fred1125]

I'm a big fan of his too but it's pretty understandable that the parents at his kid's school were worried about security

[@chrismlone]

@@fred1125 It goes further than just that. I posted a link to the interview below where he talks about it. Ironically for the people at that school worrying, it would probably now be the most secure school in the country.

[@EmperorSheepy]

Can't believe the Ladbible has gone from a meme page to a journalism outlet of higher quality than most of the old media and TV combined in this country. Not complaining though, this is excellent content.

[@MLXSTORMPROMAX]

Wow, I must say hearing him talk about him and his children being turned away and discredited after everything he has done for this country is absolutely heartbreaking.

[@biniam2301]

Once 🐀 will always be one

[@zoomforlife]

i dont support al Qaida nor their mission . but this guy switching side to be a spy for a foreign country is enough to be called a traitor and this is no way serving his country .

[@moosesnWoop]

Typical, we all saw how Afgani's clung to the airplanes as the US left Afghanistan. Used and abused. Translators, spies, ground teams, all abandoned and probably dead now.

[@bg22757]

@@biniam2301 fantastically well thought out opinion

[@natural_medicare]

That is exactly my feelings. If you ask me, I would say it is a plot to demoralize him. How did his children teachers got to know him so well if the information was not provided by same department he worked for? If not his love for God that single action against him is enough to commit suicide and by extension take some lives with himself. I am convinced God has a place for him.

[@justsaying8159]

What shook me the most was his unshaken faith that everything he did was right. Even when his own kids were basically mobbed out of GB (btw how disgusting is that??) and he still feels good about basically saving these people. Truely an inspiration.

[@SilverMist0121]

Really disgusting we only have 1000 illegals coming into the uk daily now , so sad there ain't more 👏🏼

[@kay-dc8495]

Bro paused and selected "Change Teams"

[@sullszn]

ong

[@rl_mel]

and then carried what a chad

[@M.Z84]

😂😂😂😂

[@hiddenvapor6667]

That comment deserves to be pinned

[@vaclavborkovec]

@@M.Z84 0ppn

[@HaloWolfgirl]

I could listen to that man speak for hours. He is an intelligent man that has an amazing story. I'm surprised no one wrote a biography on just him.

[@HarryPotter-yh3sm]

he wrote his own autobiography

[@stevegeekscorner]

He co-hosts a podcast called conflicted and it's fantastic

[@psidhu1979]

Thats coz they are British and that's what they do. Use and throw people and at the end tell them to back to their country. The guy put his life on line for the British people and what did the British people do? They bullied his little girls and forced him to return to Saudi!

[@bismarana9691]

@@stevegeekscornerWhere can I find the podcast?

[@stevegeekscorner]

@@bismarana9691 it's called conflicted

[@darrenmurray861]

“Bankers are basically like terrorists” never a truer word 😂

[@MunkeeMedia]

well i mean... politicians.. talk about a run for their money. (pun intended?)

[@shkodranselmani2695]

No the bankers are much bigger terrorists

[@blueflame3531]

Deutsche Bank x Epstein

[@seltonk5136]

Have you seen Arthur 2: On The Rocks?

[@ajubhosle]

As a banker this is not true

[@MaharionPendragon]

Ladbible, this was amazing. I don't know if you guys will ever read this but Amien Dean should definitely pitch his story to be made into a Netflix series. It is an incredible human story.

[@cameronmoughton9933]

Netflix series definitely

[@duey985]

The integrity of this man... WOW!

[@alirezamotivationalspeaker3047]

@@cameronmoughton9933l

[@alirezamotivationalspeaker3047]

Grsfla

[@alirezamotivationalspeaker3047]

Adhlkakadad@@cameronmoughton9933

[@dkexpat2755]

First time i saw the short version of his story, i felt like i wanted to hear more. So happy this came out.

[@davie4517]

Same with me I bought his book after watching the short version of his story. The book is good too

[@geckotoe]

An important thing to realize with this guy is that he may have switched sides, but he didn't change his morals. He followed his morals which caused him to become a spy. But Holy Shit. I threw this on for listening while I worked, but got sucked into this story and got no work done. This is wild to hear, I cannot imagine living it. Absolutely wild!

[@Joelpanazza]

I agree. I also think his parents taught him the right lessons in such a short time before losing them. He knew his religion because he questioned the things he did not understand. The one lesson about fate made all the difference. the people around him when he was young knew the importance of truth and let him question it without fear or shame.

[@moosesnWoop]

I put this on and i haven't slept lol. Sun is up it's 5am now

[@davidgraham8507]

He was requested at the behest of the British to become a spy and accepted, on the grounds he had renounced his prior alliance and as a true hero spent 7.5 years back in that hole serving our country.

[@Inagole4233]

Lesson learnt,,,if you are a Muslim know that just as Al_ qaeeda does not differentiate between civilians and soldiers The west also does not differentiate civilians Muslim and jihadist,,,,we are also their target only that they hide it,Therefore the jihadist concept that even soft targets like civilians are ok makes sence,

[@Hannah-Clarke-uk]

I am so sorry for the way you were treated in Scotland. As a British citizen I thank you for risking your life to keep us safe. May god be with you always.

[@bnapilo]

You are pretty

[@JamesDeanIsAlive]

@@bnapilo kys moid

[@zedstar0]

I agree Hannah! Very ignorant bigotry ...caused by the Historic Bigotry!

[@ivanstanisavljevic3121]

You’ve lost your mind. Once Alquaeda always Alquaeda. I would not trust him one bit.

[@lukkaku]

@@bnapilo shut up, are you here to simp?

[@Salvaba]

Men like this can provide an insight to the world like nobody else.

[@inspireengineering479]

They should make a movie about his life and experience. Honestly the story itself is more captivating than anything a Hollywood writer can come up with, it’s honestly an incredible story and telling his experience is I think more important than anything else for people to see what the world is really like through someone else’s eyes

[@Chzydawg]

I can't imagine how pissed off the UK would have been by the US burning a high level Al-Qaeda spy, oof. Imagine that was a spicy phone call followed by a lot of face palming. Be amazing to have Suskind and Dean in the same room just for a talk though.

[@shutout951]

I vaguely remember hearing about a similar incident (possibly this one) as a child. The British were pissed

[@Bisquick]

You might get all this already, but I'll just say there's another "limited hangout" angle here. If we ask what is really the _only_ political question, cui bono? (who benefits?), and take a broader view of history through a materialist lens to ground it to reality, we can see some important context and potential revelations, specifically the major intelligence connections established during the "cold" war, more particularly Operation Cyclone. At the risk of writing a book here, I'll attempt the most concise version of this but I'll recommend some actual books to fill in the gaps further if anyone cares, but my point here is that from a more macro geopolitical perspective, the political utility of the compartmentalization thing Aimen mentions in the beginning bumper thing reveals some further lacunas which in turn reveal ulterior motivations of these intelligence services like MI6 and the CIA. Very basically during the late 70s/80s before/after/during the Saur revolution in Afghanistan, the CIA funded/trained Salafi-jihadist mujahideen separatists ( 19:48 , 25:00 ) _explicitly including_ that Osama Bin Laden guy himself to the tune of _billions_ to, in the words of Zbigniew Brzezinski (one of the Atlanticist founders of the Trilateral Commission who served as natsec advisor for Carter/Reagan and was Operation Cyclone's coldwarrior architect), _"give the USSR its own Vietnam"_ - that insurgent faction later fractures into Al Qaeda and the Taliban..."oops"... But is it really "oops" as the standard liberal charge of incompetence proclaims when there exists a vast sea of similar examples? If we triangulate the geopolitical utility of these opaque yet vital institutions through plotting a basic historical continuity of the CIA to glean ulterior unsaid motivations, we can juxtapose them against the public-facing narratives and see if "national security interests" are actually aligned with what is assumed in such a vague yet extremely politically useful euphemism. Helpfully, we have plenty of case-studies to choose from: take Iran in 1953 where the "seven sisters" oil cartel, through the covert ops intelligence services MI6 and the newly established CIA (formerly OSS), overthrew democratically elected Mosaddegh to prevent him from nationalizing oil with Operation AJAX installing the Shah for the next 20+ years until a grassroots revolution took hold in '79; the legitimate protests against the oppressive overreach now being protested is exactly what was established under the Shah's regime, "oops" yet again. So "weird" how the US didn't give a shit when they were an ample client-state for the oil-igarchy (intimately connected with wall street demonic arcons might be worth mentioning, notably CIA director Allan Dulles and his brother, SecState under Eisenhower, John Foster Dulles in Sullivan and Cromwell). Take Guatemala in 1954 with Operation PB-SUCCESS, to prevent Arbenz from executing mild land reform with unused land owned by the United Fruit Company, also see: banana wars, Smedley Butler, "business plot"), Sukarno in Indonesia, Lumumba in the Congo, the _first_ 9/11 in '73 in Chile overthrowing democratically elected Allende for Pinochet's military dictatorship, et al. - unfortunately this is merely the _tip_ of the imperialist iceberg... Probably the most revealing of these covert operations aka "regime change" is the insane and uncoincidentally never discussed despite being publicly acknowledged/documented is in Operation Gladio ( _extremely_ relevant in regards to Ukraine and enforcing the glorified protection racket/arms distribution network of NATO) which generated the "years of lead" in Italy (see: Bologna bombings, Aldo Moro assassination, etc.) but also extended parallel operations in _every_ NATO country in which the CIA directed domestic terrorism via fascist paramilitary units to enforce outcomes preferable to US corporate/finance capital and continued US domination/influence over Europe through the so-called "strategy of tension"). Circling back around to the original point with some further context/continuity of interests, we can maybe check out that Brzezinski guy's book The Grand Chessboard which lays out the macro geopolitics of securing US hegemony (ie corporate financial empire) through "full spectrum domination" control of global oil markets primarily, maintaining the financial subservience of debt peonage/resource & labor control via the IMF/World Bank which the US established post-WWII, imposing the Bretton-Woods international financial system with the US dollar as the "global reserve currency" using the leverage of being the only industrialized nation-state _not_ bombed to shit and taking the imperial baton from the British and their pound sterling. Really though, pretty much any of US involvement in regime change is entirely ignored by corporate media and quite revealing to the larger scope here, a scope which also explains Aimen's involvement in Bosnia (see: NATO bombing of Yugoslavia). The common liberal critique of highlighting such a historical materialist analysis is the charge of "whataboutism", but these aren't arbitrary or insulated or discrete (the rhetorical trick of such a term being that it flattens history into disconnected seemingly unrelated cumulative, but not causal, events to be morally judged discretely but never connected together), these events form a historical continuity _directly causal_ to the current inevitable thanatos embrace the world currently finds itself in, a deliberately contrived cyclone that now subsumes us all hollowing out all social meaning/trust and selling it for profit; Aimen being a perfect example. Not to mention the corresponding social miasma of perpetual reaction and permanent farce that accompanies this enforcement of social class hierarchy, a resentment-fueled ouroboros inevitably leading to the _"common ruin of the contending classes."_ and an arrangement pretty clearly enforced covertly by these "intelligence services" ie the SS 2.0 for transnational corporate/finance capital (if not explicit military invasion like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc.) at quite literally all other costs ("externalities" if we put on the neoliberal aka neoclassical econ ideological blindfold..."externalities" like, you know, consciously destroying the earth for instance...). If my prior screed of consciousness there didn't coalesce in a triangulation of what I'm trying to get at or just didn't make sense or whatever, reminded of the great Michael Parenti, an excerpt from his piece Mystery: How Wealth Creates Poverty, which highlights this very same dynamic under the auspices of global US empire and its financial dominion over the world: _"In their perpetual confusion, some liberal critics conclude that foreign aid and IMF and World Bank structural adjustments “do not work”; the end result is less self-sufficiency and more poverty for the recipient nations, they point out. Why then do the rich member states continue to fund the IMF and World Bank? Are their leaders just less intelligent than the critics who keep pointing out to them that their policies are having the opposite effect?_ _No, it is the critics who are stupid not the western leaders and investors who own so much of the world and enjoy such immense wealth and success. They pursue their aid and foreign loan programs because such programs do work. The question is, work for whom? Cui bono?_ _The purpose behind their investments, loans, and aid programs is not to uplift the masses in other countries. That is certainly not the business they are in. The purpose is to serve the interests of global capital accumulation, to take over the lands and local economies of Third World peoples, monopolize their markets, depress their wages, indenture their labor with enormous debts, privatize their public service sector, and prevent these nations from emerging as trade competitors by not allowing them a normal development._ _In these respects, investments, foreign loans, and structural adjustments work very well indeed._ _The real mystery is: why do some people find such an analysis to be so improbable, a “conspiratorial” imagining? Why are they skeptical that U.S. rulers knowingly and deliberately pursue such ruthless policies (suppress wages, rollback environmental protections, eliminate the public sector, cut human services) in the Third World? These rulers are pursuing much the same policies right here in our own country!_ _Isn’t it time that liberal critics stop thinking that the people who own so much of the world---and want to own it all---are “incompetent” or “misguided” or “failing to see the unintended consequences of their policies”? You are not being very smart when you think your enemies are not as smart as you. They know where their interests lie, and so should we."_ *TLDR;* Who benefits from the nebulous enemy of "terrorism"? Hell, who funds the entire ideological movement of Salafi-jihadism (another tangent)? _Cui bono?_ The US empire. Neoconservative think-tank Project for the New American Century in '97, with signatories of Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Cheney, et al. - all the Bush admin demons we know and "love", called as a part of its broad plan for explicit global empire for, and I quote, _"some catastrophic and catalyzing event - like a new Pearl Harbor."_ "Funny" that... _"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false."_ - William Casey, -demonic arcon- CIA Director under Reagan Surely he's giving two big thumbs up in hell, which at this point is probably hard to distinguish from the world he helped create for us. And on that note, #FreeAssange

[@CL-we8tn]

(1:17:39) This man's childhood was war. Then he lost his parents early. He adapted well because of the large extended family and community. When he went off to Bosnia, he went back to something he thought of as being normal:war. When he went back as a spy, he returned to his 'normal'. I think he said he wanted to be posted somewhere at one point because as he put it "I was bored". Only if war is your normal, can you shrug things off as normal that would give another person ptsd.

[@randomcat3854]

Agree. He lived through all the chaos, the wars. No chaos = not his growing up condition.

[@busimanunga8436]

This presenter is so good at asking the questions I wouldn’t have thought of… in order to get the answers which provide more depth to the story.

[@sulemanali2988]

Lol what? These questions were as basic as they get

[@jarlhenrik]

He's ok, a pleasant voice to listen to. But I could do without some of his active listening noises. "Hm." "mhm" "mmh!"

[@CandongaJeezy33]

@@sulemanali2988 it's the simplicity of the questions that make him a great interviewer, he was keen on moderating the flow of the story without making the listener anxious over an interrupted unfinished story from Aimean, which happens a lot with the likes of Piers and other annoying hosts

[@jessy1982]

I thought the opposite tbh, in other interviews by this presenter I see better questions, while here I felt they were too basic and prone to repetition rather than expanding the story. They interrupted the flow instead of adding to it, so without a presenter and just with Aimen might have been a similar or better impact. I think there was a limit to open-mindedness to this topic as shown in the final thoughts at the end. The impression the predenter had was the journey was so unthinkable he needed Aimen to be breaking down and traumatised the whole time, without cnsidering Aimen had a different life and sense of normal as well as his experience shaped by his values and the comfort his faith gave him. It was almost frustrating how although the ginal message was said to be to question if you are right, there werent many chalenging questions giving more humanity to the Arabs in thr story, Al Qaeda or Islam, or questioning the US's actions that drew the need for Aimen to want to fight against their attacks.

[@michalaleskandr3985]

This guy spits out memorable phrases like a broken fortune cookie machine.

[@clivengu]

Such a wise man. A true hero. And even with all that he has been through, he still has a good sense of humor. Really wish him a good life. He deserves better. This is probably the longest video I ever watched in youtube, but the interview went so well that it kept me interested... like reading a book, or even a full movie.

[@morzee94]

That headteacher should be ashamed of themselves / get fired. How dare they say that his daughters won’t be accepted.

[@kanemarchant4957]

Absolutely. I think, having seen what their dad is capable of, they'd be incredible assets to any school.

[@kanemarchant4957]

16 GCSEs, and 8 A Levels at a guess.

[@9bandit450]

@@kanemarchant4957 Sorry, but now i am curious what "16 GCSes and 8 A levels" means?

[@swarnsandhu]

Looks like the producers are unable to understand why Aimen doesn't have emotional toll. It is evident that he never had any intention to harm innocent people. This strength of saving innocent people instead of harming keeps him going.

[@jamiecanning]

Shame he didn't feel accepted here. To me, for what he did, he is as heroic as a D-Day veteran, and as British as someone who loves his daily cup of tea.

[@kanemarchant4957]

How is this the first time I've seen you host an interview? Your interview technique was phenomenal. Bordering on flawless. The only ring I thought you needn't have asked was, were you a bit of a loner when growing up. Aimen would never have been hired as a spy if he wasn't very well rounded. Well socialised, hugely educated, all while giving off the 'Mr beige' appearance. Legend. Thank you for your service and I'm sorry someone dropped you in the s**t during your service. I am in no doubt your loved ones are very proud. 🙏🤝

[@uzaiyaro]

This reminds me of a wonderful piece of advice a friend told me. If someone is asking you a question with specific details, that means that they already know the answer, and they are testing your integrity.

[@TheRaveJunkie]

"So how would you like your burger? With or without onions?"

[@fahadgulani6472]

very smart and articulate gentleman, I hope he finds peace and tranquility wherever he goes. Ameen.

[@thealarmclock9307]

These guys are highly underrated... There's so much to be said for an interviewer knowing when to talk and guide a conversation. And shutting the fu*k up and letting the interview go..

[@winniealwayo700]

This man's story is so consistent. He has such a vivid memory with dates,places and times. Woow!! Iam glad he turned his life around. Good man. Great interview!!

[@nataliewantscookies]

It’s so sad that his family doesn’t receive the respect they deserve for all he did for national security, that they feel unwelcome. I hope they remain safe and find appreciative community.

[@SilverMist0121]

Like the gherkas then

[@PbVeritas]

Imagine you fight for years for a country and all you get is mistrust and intolerance

[@tenaciousduk6587]

Very sad and shameful indeed 😢

[@P_Wigs]

You mean being a citizen of the U.S.? Yeah…it’s pretty frustrating.

[@zacharysmama1996]

How he was treated was despicable. Shame on those families and on that school principal. This man was absolutely integral in helping Britian remain safe. I am sad he felt the need to leave. I hope he continues to stay safe and is happy.

[@JW-YT]

I'm not. He is a risk. I'm glad he's gone.

[@nataliemcmillan2605]

Its easy to say that when your child wasn't in school with the daughter of an ex terrorist. Its so naive of people to think that this man hasn't committed atrocities. He seems like a great guy now and I'm grateful for the information he gave as a spy but that doesn't counteract the lives he took directly or indirectly. I do wish him the best though.

[@Kismayo-Videos]

@@JW-YT how is he a risk? Do you know something your intelligence services do not know? I would like to know how you came by this information? I'm really curious if you don't mind.

[@JW-YT]

@@Kismayo-Videos I came by this information by watching the video. He was in AlQueda making bombs. After taking part in a previous Jihad. He had a change of heart because he didn't agree with how some of the Islamic hadiths or fatwahs were being interpreted. Thats it. He still believes and follows his faith. So when the next Jihad comes along that aligns with his interpretation, whats to stop him? As he openly admitted when he called his brother. There is nothing his brother could have said that would have changed his mind. People like this are the ones that killed innocent kids at a concert in Manchester. Judging by your name you're a Muslim. So I'll make this point. When I was working in Saudi Arabia years ago. On the road to Mecca there is a sign on the road. Muslims go this way, non-muslims go a different way. Because non-muslims are not allowed in Mecca. If it is ok for non-muslims to be excluded in your country. Then it is perfectly fine for muslims to be excluded from mine.

[@Kismayo-Videos]

@@JW-YT Non-muslims are only excluded from the holly cities not muslim countries. There are plenty of muslim majority countries where non muslims lived for centuries amongst muslims. You are right terrorists have no right to be anywhere but jail or death but the man is not a terrorist and he been on your side more than he been on al qaeda side. Killing kids, women, innocent people or non-combatants in war is not Islamic. Vigilantism is not Islamic at all. Fighting against enemies of muslims in a noble thing for us but that has nothing to do with killing innocent civilians of any kind though.

[@scumbaag]

His insight about sacrificing his life for one side, so he had no choice personally and morally but to sacrifice it for the good guys when he was in the position was really profound. Guy is incredibly intelligent and a new personal hero of mine. Ive always had a pretty deep understanding of this topic and the workings of the various terrorist sects, I'm a damn nerd for this shit. This was an awesome conversation.

[@revenevan11]

I agree, I gasped when I heard it

[@Bisquick]

You might get all this already, but judging from the assertion of "good guys" being applied to the UK, I'll just say there's another "limited hangout" angle here that paints the world in far murkier normative yet far more coherent/consistent descriptive framework. If we ask what is really the _only_ political question, cui bono? (who benefits?), and take a broader view of history through a materialist lens to ground it to reality, we can see some important context and potential revelations, specifically the major intelligence connections established during the "cold" war, more particularly Operation Cyclone. At the risk of writing a book here, I'll attempt the most concise version of this but I'll recommend some actual books to fill in the gaps further if anyone cares, but my point here is that from a more macro geopolitical perspective, the political utility of the compartmentalization thing Aimen mentions in the beginning bumper thing reveals some further lacunas which in turn reveal ulterior motivations of these intelligence services like MI6 and the CIA. Very basically during the late 70s/80s before/after/during the Saur revolution in Afghanistan, the CIA funded/trained Salafi-jihadist mujahideen separatists ( 19:48 , 25:00 ) _explicitly including_ that Osama Bin Laden guy himself to the tune of _billions_ to, in the words of Zbigniew Brzezinski (one of the Atlanticist founders of the Trilateral Commission who served as natsec advisor for Carter/Reagan and was Operation Cyclone's coldwarrior architect), _"give the USSR its own Vietnam"_ - that insurgent faction later fractures into Al Qaeda and the Taliban..."oops"... But is it really "oops" as the standard liberal charge of incompetence proclaims when there exists a vast sea of similar examples? If we triangulate the geopolitical utility of these opaque yet vital institutions through plotting a basic historical continuity of the CIA to glean ulterior unsaid motivations, we can juxtapose them against the public-facing narratives and see if "national security interests" are actually aligned with what is assumed in such a vague yet extremely politically useful euphemism. Helpfully, we have plenty of case-studies to choose from: take Iran in 1953 where the "seven sisters" oil cartel, through the covert ops intelligence services MI6 and the newly established CIA (formerly OSS), overthrew democratically elected Mosaddegh to prevent him from nationalizing oil with Operation AJAX installing the Shah for the next 20+ years until a grassroots revolution took hold in '79; the legitimate protests against the oppressive overreach now being protested is exactly what was established under the Shah's regime, "oops" yet again. So "weird" how the US didn't give a shit when they were an ample client-state for the oil-igarchy (intimately connected with wall street demonic arcons might be worth mentioning, notably CIA director Allan Dulles and his brother, SecState under Eisenhower, John Foster Dulles in Sullivan and Cromwell). Take Guatemala in 1954 with Operation PB-SUCCESS, to prevent Arbenz from executing mild land reform with unused land owned by the United Fruit Company, also see: banana wars, Smedley Butler, "business plot"), Sukarno in Indonesia, Lumumba in the Congo, the _first_ 9/11 in '73 in Chile overthrowing democratically elected Allende for Pinochet's military dictatorship, et al. - unfortunately this is merely the _tip_ of the imperialist iceberg... Probably the most revealing of these covert operations aka "regime change" is the insane and uncoincidentally never discussed despite being publicly acknowledged/documented is in Operation Gladio ( _extremely_ relevant in regards to Ukraine and enforcing the glorified protection racket/arms distribution network of NATO) which generated the "years of lead" in Italy (see: Bologna bombings, Aldo Moro assassination, etc.) but also extended parallel operations in _every_ NATO country in which the CIA directed domestic terrorism via fascist paramilitary units to enforce outcomes preferable to US corporate/finance capital and continued US domination/influence over Europe through the so-called "strategy of tension"). Circling back around to the original point with some further context/continuity of interests, we can maybe check out that Brzezinski guy's book The Grand Chessboard which lays out the macro geopolitics of securing US hegemony (ie corporate financial empire) through "full spectrum domination" control of global oil markets primarily, maintaining the financial subservience of debt peonage/resource & labor control via the IMF/World Bank which the US established post-WWII, imposing the Bretton-Woods international financial system with the US dollar as the "global reserve currency" using the leverage of being the only industrialized nation-state _not_ bombed to shit and taking the imperial baton from the British and their pound sterling. Really though, pretty much any of US involvement in regime change is entirely ignored by corporate media and quite revealing to the larger scope here, a scope which also explains Aimen's involvement in Bosnia (see: NATO bombing of Yugoslavia). The common liberal critique of highlighting such a historical materialist analysis is the charge of "whataboutism", but these aren't arbitrary or insulated or discrete (the rhetorical trick of such a term being that it flattens history into disconnected seemingly unrelated cumulative, but not causal, events to be morally judged discretely but never connected together), these events form a historical continuity _directly causal_ to the current inevitable thanatos embrace the world currently finds itself in, a deliberately contrived cyclone that now subsumes us all hollowing out all social meaning/trust and selling it for profit; Aimen being a perfect example. Not to mention the corresponding social miasma of perpetual reaction and permanent farce that accompanies this enforcement of social class hierarchy, a resentment-fueled ouroboros inevitably leading to the _"common ruin of the contending classes."_ and an arrangement pretty clearly enforced covertly by these "intelligence services" ie the SS 2.0 for transnational corporate/finance capital (if not explicit military invasion like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, etc.) at quite literally all other costs ("externalities" if we put on the neoliberal aka neoclassical econ ideological blindfold..."externalities" like, you know, consciously destroying the earth for instance...). Hell, far from hyperbole, post-WWII the CIA not only protected high-level nazi leadership in the ratlines to South America (useful for things like Operation Condor aka the Monroe Doctrine 2: no sovereignty for you - also see: banana wars, a deep historical continuity of US empire) but put _literal SS_ on the payroll for their anti-communist bona fides aka "counterinsurgency" or "terrorism" depending on one's affinity for capitalism; Klaus "butcher of Lyon" Barbie in France/Bolivia, Reinhard Gehlen of the Gehlen Organization, Otto Skorzeny of the Paladin Group who is basically nazi james bond, just to name a few... Reminded of Michael Parenti, an excerpt from his piece Mystery: How Wealth Creates Poverty, which highlights this very same dynamic under the auspices of global US empire and its financial dominion over the world: _"In their perpetual confusion, some liberal critics conclude that foreign aid and IMF and World Bank structural adjustments “do not work”; the end result is less self-sufficiency and more poverty for the recipient nations, they point out. Why then do the rich member states continue to fund the IMF and World Bank? Are their leaders just less intelligent than the critics who keep pointing out to them that their policies are having the opposite effect?_ _No, it is the critics who are stupid not the western leaders and investors who own so much of the world and enjoy such immense wealth and success. They pursue their aid and foreign loan programs because such programs do work. The question is, work for whom? Cui bono?_ _The purpose behind their investments, loans, and aid programs is not to uplift the masses in other countries. That is certainly not the business they are in. The purpose is to serve the interests of global capital accumulation, to take over the lands and local economies of Third World peoples, monopolize their markets, depress their wages, indenture their labor with enormous debts, privatize their public service sector, and prevent these nations from emerging as trade competitors by not allowing them a normal development._ _In these respects, investments, foreign loans, and structural adjustments work very well indeed._ _The real mystery is: why do some people find such an analysis to be so improbable, a “conspiratorial” imagining? Why are they skeptical that U.S. rulers knowingly and deliberately pursue such ruthless policies (suppress wages, rollback environmental protections, eliminate the public sector, cut human services) in the Third World? These rulers are pursuing much the same policies right here in our own country!_ _Isn’t it time that liberal critics stop thinking that the people who own so much of the world---and want to own it all---are “incompetent” or “misguided” or “failing to see the unintended consequences of their policies”? You are not being very smart when you think your enemies are not as smart as you. They know where their interests lie, and so should we."_

[@thehnrdepartment5680]

Lol ur on watch lists now

[@msscrazybuthappy]

I'm so glad you brought him back to the show. He's an extraordinary man with an extraordinary life. It's an absolute pleasure to listen to his story.

[@sebastianbreitkopf2386]

I am so impressed by his personality! Thank you for shareing your story and your life. I enjoyed every second.

[@EzraB123]

The intellect and humility of this man is incredible. I loved hearing his story.

[@Thomas-cl9cz]

His book nine lives is a great read, also available on audible. Definitely would recommend!

[@RikodiusRex]

I will look it up

[@CL-we8tn]

Thank you, I'm getting it too.

[@RikodiusRex]

Got it!

[@thatrandomguy.200]

(Sponsored by Audible)

[@rossgrant5849]

Agreed - it’s fantastic!

[@benjaminthomas7274]

I remember watching the short 20 minute interview with him. I love these long form conversations much better! I hope they do more of these!

[@serenakoh136]

Ideology led him astray, and ideology saved his soul and led him back to the path of righteousness. You can tell from how he says he would feel morally responsible for the people who died as a result of bombs he would have built, that he is a good person at heart.

[@amandamargaretbaker2023]

Such an intelligent and articulate man. Very interesting listening to him.

[@lamaj26]

7 mins in and broski’s dropping gems, this gon’ be a good one

[@whoisrune]

This whole interview blew me away. Aimen has a very special presence. wishing only the best for him and his family

[@Crotes1990]

Wow this is by FAR the most interesting person I've seen on this channel. I could listen to this guy for hours.

[@100162136]

I can't believe that someone who risked their life for a country was still not accepted where he wanted to settle within that country - so sad! Thank you for helping to protect our country.

[@tee4241]

Unfortunately this has happened forever. The British government requested loads of people from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh and many other countries in the 18/1900s to serve on the navy ships as chefs, mechanics and many other jobs. The government promised these people better lives, income and a place for their family. My grandfather in law came from Pakistan in the early 1900s after serving for the British navy for decades and he was met in Britain with taunts, attacks and threats every other day. It’s so unfortunate that the people who came here that were promised a better life and helped this country have been completely belittled and treated so unfairly by some of the British people.

[@hemansx]

I saw this guy interview Bobby Cummins and loved his approach, and now he's interviewing undoubtedly one of the most interesting guests to appear on Minutes With. All round brilliant video.

[@rickybojangles162]

I remember watching the original minutes with with this guy and thinking omg I wish we could see this for hours instead of minutes. Amazing speaker, amazing man. And top quality interviewer too! Asking all the right questions!

[@matthewwalker5430]

I feel bad that he struggled in Edinburgh. I kind of understand the concerns of the school and the parents, not so much that he's ex-Al Qaeda and HE is a risk but more because he's ex-MI6 and he and his kids may be a target. I don't know, I'd like to think we British could've reassured them but Scotland is a funny place these days. I hope Aimen and his family are able to get the protection they need in Arabia and enjoy their lives safely. Aimen, you probably won't ever read this, but please know that the majority of us in the UK are very appreciative of the sacrifice you've made on all of our behalf. You and your family will ALWAYS be welcome & have a home here, I just feel you unfortunately had a bad experience in Edinburgh and I hope you don't judge us all too harshly for that.

[@nataliemcmillan2605]

In what way is Scotland a funny place? I call bullshit on any parent not being concerned about their child being in the class of an ex terrorists daughter. It is not the responsibility of people just to accept him when the fear of terrorism has been very real since 9/11, the Glasgow Airport terrorist attack as well as the London attacks..... the instinct of fear takes over understandably.

[@matthewwalker5430]

@@nataliemcmillan2605 because Scotland's laws on hate speech are all over the place. A man who served our country to bring terrorists to justice is hounded out yet if someone should say something considered slightly rude about someone else in the privacy of their own home they can be done for Hate Speech. It IOS a funny place. Plus Scots are traditionally very Left Wing and yet are fiercely Nationalistic. It IS a funny place. Especially considerning they're so Nationalistic despite their DNA effectively being identical to everyone else on the Island. It is a funny place, Scotland 😋. Also, he's NOT a terrorist, he is the MAIN reason the UK has not suffered more terrorist attack. That said, I understand that in itself is a reason to be concerned - he himself would be a high value target but, if anything, he will be one of the MOST protected people (and most watched) by British Intelligence. So whilst he might be a target, anyone in his immediate vicinity is arguably amongst the safest from terorist attack in the UK. I would have LOVED to have his kids at my kids school and I would have shook his hand and thanked him for his service to our country which he has no connection to and keeping me & my kids safe. I feel like the parents of the other children, rather than whisper behind his back, should all have been given copies of his book because, whilst the man they're all scared of put his and his family's life at HUGE risk to protect the rest of us they were no doubt all sitting in their cushy jobs in Scotland.

[@nataliemcmillan2605]

@@matthewwalker5430 I agree with you on the hate speech laws being all over the place and also that Scots can be quite nationalistic but that tends to stem from what happened hundreds of years ago between the English and Scottish rightly or wrongly. Scotland generally is a very welcoming place with so much diversity however when it comes to an ex terrorist it's a different situation altogether. I'd be terrified of him being a target for the terrorists he betrayed and kids being collateral damage to get to him as well as any other dangerous situation that could arise. I have 2 children and its part and parcel to have fear about keeping them safe. I dont believe there was hate speech towards him, it was a case of talking about him as well as the looks, gossip etc which ofcourse is not a nice thing to do but given the circumstances it's understandable. I'm glad he changed sides and helped the UK but also wary of his roots in terrorism. The SNP have laws which are definitely funny and that many voters never expected to arise as a result of voting them in but most of the population are reasonable people who are fully against these laws that the extreme left are praising. Anyway I agree with part of your view but just wanted clarification on what you meant by Scotland being a 'funny' place.

[@natural_medicare]

So sad. He has a Godly heart. There was a conspiracy against him because ordinarily information about ought to be a top secret.

[@forzaacmilan36]

@@nataliemcmillan2605 He literally risked his whole life to keep you and your family safe. Secondly you say you’re “wary” of his roots when he was pretty much fighting against Serbia who literally committed genocide on Bosnia. Thirdly he’s been in the UK for 24 years under protection from intelligence services, if he did something suspicious than why does he have so much of their trust? It wouldn’t make sense

[@thatdarnmage1515]

This guy should start podcasting or maybe just a series of upolads. I'd love to hear more of the "in-between" of each of these talking points. This man has to have some absolutely insane stories!

[@Toast4tw]

54:24 WOW. What a fucking line. Absolute Chad.

[@SynysterGuitarX]

Giga Chad! What a legend

[@OnlyUseMeChin]

Would love to hear more about his time in the counter terrorism department in the banking system

[@tuvoca825]

Forensic accountants. Few exist. But they are the most profotable employees of the US government. True heroes.

[@tobiasgoldman]

Totally fascinating! Every sentence was interesting and relevant. The best I've seen from Ladbible to date.

[@steeziix8435]

I love interviewers like this that actually show the person being interviewed can actually talk about things

[@itdoesntmatter8252]

Amazing interview with such a composed courageous intelligent gentleman. Thanks for bringing him back, shame it was too short. I feel sorry for him and his family for being treated the way they’ve been after all he has done, gone and going through as I believe after it all the only time he will be in Absalute tranquility is when dead. All we could have provided to him and his family was love, security and peace… so little compared to what he did and we failed to do so. Been living in the uk for years and I wish could truly call it home and I do but time to time I don’t feel welcomed. Wish you best of luck in your life’s next chapter.

[@randomcat3854]

Amazing podcast. Great knowledge I've learnt today from Aimen Dean. Great work from the interviewer. As if I managed to personally sent my questions to be answered. I'm looking forward to read Aimen's book and also to read the One Percent Doctrine. Thank you. 🙏

[@sahilbatra396]

Great interview and serious props to Ben Powell-Jones - I'm just realising how fantastic your interview technique is compared to most that I watch. You leave long stretches for the interviewee to speak freely and your very pertinent questions seem to tap into the bits we want you to without stopping the flow too much. Love it!

[@sennataylor592]

Glad you have this guy back on your channel, his story is fascinating and the previous video was too short

[@adayinthelifeof6197]

I´ve been binging these hour-long interviews and they are just amazing.. You better pay Ben more than well, because he might be the best damn interviewer ever.

[@richarddavis1599]

This is the best episode Lads Bible have done. Breaks many moulds 👍

[@FLAME-pj7nh]

This is the best interview I've seen thank you both.

[@davemackinder6518]

what a very intelligent and interesting guy with a great gift a speaking and painting a verbal picture of his life, I could watch him for hours

[@nickdotson21]

Great interview started from beginning & no interruption & asked for clarification when needed.

[@tapz1231]

One of my favourite stories. I’ve listened to this story so many times. His podcast is amazing too!

[@Valeyellow46WLF]

Where can I Listen to his podcasts?

[@justwalkintomylife]

This was fascinating! Loved hearing more of his story, what an interesting and aspiring individual - turning a life which was so bad into something for the greater good. Really hope him and his family find peace and a happier life in the Middle East

[@HenJack-vl5cb]

Those series of interviews are fascinating.Thank you !

[@richardmann145]

Impressive man, alot of people walking around living their lives because of him having the self awareness to question the cause he ended getting involved with.. Fascinating interview & have my respect

[@nickpartridge2763]

Wow what an incredible interview. Amazing guest and an amazing interviewer. What a story.

[@dodonnell-ze9yc]

How lucky we are that we can hear in detail exactly what brings a person to be known as a "terrorist" from their own personal views. Amazing and thank you lad Bible.

[@CannibalShadow]

Watched the other video with this guy when it was released, looking forward to this 👍🏾🙌🏾

[@dan_YELL]

I could listen to Aimen talk for hours. Thoughtful explanations.

[@Kakossdamn]

what a brilliant interview!

[@BigJayC.]

This is one of the most interesting interviews I have had the pleasure of watching. His story would make a fantastic movie. Popcorn 🍿 at the ready.

[@stevegeekscorner]

Check out his podcast conflicted it's very informative

[@BigJayC.]

@@stevegeekscorner 👍🏼

[@charlesw5357]

Glad I found this channel, amazing interviews of very interesting people. Cheers from the US!

[@trishdoughty1965]

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to Aimen for his help in keeping this country safe. I am really saddened to hear he is leaving due to the behaviour of other British citizens, they should be ashamed for judging this family on their perceived background without knowing the full story. I wish Aimen and his family all the best for the future.

[@conjohntv714]

This is the most badass need I’ve ever seen in my life!! Much respect sir!

[@conjohntv714]

Nerd*

[@richardtyreman8762]

Thank you for all you did for the uk. In my opinion you all welcome in the uk anytime and all so to call your home. I am saddened the treatment you and your family got from the school in Scotland. I wish you and your family all the best we’re ever you live and thank you once again. From Rich England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Squarepeg57]

Great interview. Well done! I wish it had been longer! Aimen probably saved lots of lives.

[@twenty-twenty]

What an incredible incredible story. What a life experience. And to be shunned in that manner. I can’t imagine how he has accepted events in his life. He certainly did “go with the flow”.

[@allybool]

Severely disappointed with how he says he was treated at the end. He seems like such an important person and should be credited for how he has served our country and the world.

[@abimbolaowolabi4985]

He joined Jihad to fight Injustice. He also left Al Qaeda because he felt some of their killings was unjust. He's a good man at Heart. I wish him and his family the best.

[@IvanProsper]

What fascinating story. Great interview.

[@yfa98]

They should make a movie about his life , absolutely amazing story

[@kikoabdul3728]

allah 3lek ya zizo, I agree 100% - Karim

[@CoffeeBeanWitch]

Aimen was amazing to listen to and very inspirational. Even at the beginning about stepping on glass as a kid saved his life, everything happens for a reason and he is the embodiment of that saying. Even with how he deals with mistakes made, how he does not dwell but instead takes something away from the situation like a learning curve. It also disgusts me how we and our neighbouring countries didn't welcome this man and his family with open arms after risking life to protect the country when he was a spy. Shame on them for that and I hope they've watched this and learned not to jump the gun. I can only hope that Aimen and his family are at peace wherever they are.

[@Zuxkas]

Incredible interview and story 🔥

[@darkwolf2343]

May Allah bless this man, having a conscience is humanity's greatest strength and he didn't go down as another idiot who made Islam look bad.

[@joxley2780]

Islam look bad? It’s an evil ideology. Fact

[@jessy1982]

Im glad he researched what he was being told about Islam to show that the extremists are often using religion as just a cover and not actualky following it.

[@bestwishes2455]

Quran makes Islam look bad if you read it with critical thinking.

[@josotorres9643]

What an AMAZING interview!!!!!!

[@ruthmoncrieff1284]

I really enjoyed this interview. Thank you.

[@melinapaixao82]

His life is truly amazing. Thanks him for sharing, thank you for interviewing him.

[@dennisraymond6649]

You're absolutely right.... good afternoon how are you doing over there hope you're having a wonderful day it's a lovely day that the lord has made

[@tenaciousduk6587]

Fascinating interview, I really enjoyed it. So sorry his family have faced prejudice in Scotland. It will be a sad loss when he leaves UK

[@JohnSmith-le5oe]

To Hell with the UK. If the English like him, have him in England, not Scotland.

[@tenaciousduk6587]

@@JohnSmith-le5oe deal. We’ll send all the racist bigots up to you lot & your 1st minister, Jimmy Cranky

[@buffster948]

I'd love to see a film (or films) about this man's life. Crazy. It would be fascinating.

[@EMGEE718]

This was a great interview.. kudos

[@citizencovenwithsimon]

Great interview! Quite expository and fascinating

[@johnmckay1961]

Who would have thought some of the best long-form interviewing on the internet would come from a channel called LadBible lol Brilliant content recently, keep em coming!

[@DarioHaruni]

This man is a very good Muslim. After all of this he did the right thing and when you look at him you can see a kind of serenity. I'm happy he didn't die as a radical but actually managed to understand the difference between the Qur'an and some crazy political motivations masked with religious rhetoric.

[@criptovida]

That's a bravery history with so many mysterious involved, I was also raised in a war zone from 3 years old up to 14 I could identify myself with so many points in this interview. The difference is that my father was from the army and we were never allowed to use any gun.

[@R0B690]

What a story wow. Well done on this interview

[@RoyalBlue292]

His closing statement really broke my heart! If anything, He shouldn't be treated that way especially his kids who are British citizens and innocent!

[@moosesnWoop]

He also collaborated that many didn't even know about the 9/11 plan, I've read up on it and the planning itself is so fascinating. The way the hijackers were in the states in Sarasota (ironically Bush was in Sarasota when he heard the news at the school) go figure how high up and who knew what and when. I have no doubts that some people in the US knew, the whole sarasota coincidence is too on the nose.

[@linisaenz]

This was incredible and heartbreaking at the same time. Huge respect for this honourable man.

[@Mr.Sadist77]

Good interview! I liked his man's personality too. There's a lot we can learn from him to enhance our future like him.

[@harrounvidow1109]

This is a great podcast 9.89/10

[@Iliasstaridas]

He IS an amazing story teller.