Why Russia Always Wants to Control Georgia

[@restispolitics]

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[@ronniechambers2555]

The Rest is Politics, sponsored by the deep state.

[@kemikayt]

Sitting there wrapped up in your coats advertising green energy 😂 is a joke intended?!

[@salokaladze9037]

Thank you so much for discussing what is happening in Georgia. It is very important to us that Western media give more attention to our country.

[@denisesanders5589]

Hi Rory, Just wanted to thank you for all the help you give me. I am going through a very stressful time in my life and I have found listening to your voice soothes my nerves. You are such a genuine humanitarian and I admire your intellect and pathos.

[@natiaandguladze5830]

same here.

[@BossySwan]

@@denisesanders5589 lol

[@denisesanders5589]

@@BossySwan I am glad it amuses you

[@BossySwan]

@@denisesanders5589 it was just an incredibly kind and gushing comment that made me smile

[@denisesanders5589]

@@BossySwan Thanks Bossy Swan 😊

[@rufusreloaded1043]

My friend left his bagpipes in the car and went into the supermarket. When he returned someone had broken the window and left him another set.

[@MrChristyCree]

HAHAHAHAH!

[@BossySwan]

Blag pipes

[@denisesanders5589]

😂

[@ups1art]

👏😆

[@FredTheLard]

People can be cruel

[@gigilomadze]

🇬🇪 Here, The president opened her office today in the same area as her former residence. She’s also ready to join protests in other cities to boost morale, I think she has already announced where she would be going first.

[@melaniemuradbaldwin8904]

Stand strong

[@ohmygordd9426]

GO GEORGIAAAA RAHHH 🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪 🐺🐺🐺🇬🇪🇬🇪

[@babaikazoboh4344]

You need a short (post as its own clip) on the comments around group loyalty, and the nature of the human, you can find it around 30mins in. Quality of this sort is why you're arguably one of the best shows on KZbin. Well done fellas.

[@MultigrainKevinOs]

For all that is holy can Canada and the UK buddy up more on trade? I am so sick of having the rug pulled out from under us every time the wind changes by our "so called" friends in the states.

[@julianshepherd2038]

“I have no way to defend my borders but to extend them.” ― Catherine the Great

[@CloudhoundCoUk]

Catharine was Prussian.

[@Giorgosoellinas]

@@CloudhoundCoUk Right. Though she contributed in creation of this monster country called Russia.

[@rodneyagesa1851]

The more appropriate question is that why does the US want to control Georgia given how far it is from the US or does it just want to build one more military base next to Russia?

[@Ouranialacelest]

Thank you for paying attention to 🇬🇪 42nd day of protest.

[@Britt-e6p]

Al Jazeera isn’t banned by the Palestinians. They are banned by the PA. There is some controversy as to whether the PA is accurately reflecting the Palestinian people or whether they are Israeli stooges. Recent actions have favored the latter interpretation.

[@muffinnman]

The British Lancet medical journal estimates the death toll in Gaza to be approaching 70,000 in direct killings but approaching 200,000 when taking into account deaths due to lack of medical care, lack of food and water etc. Not including the numbers of those maimed, left homeless and orphaned.

[@Ireneket]

Sound quality is impeccable, almost like a studio recording. And an excellent performance !!

[@FredTheLard]

The problem with Afghanistan was not 'caused' by us. We are certainly a link in the chain of the cause, but poor foreign policy by many countries started the problem. If we had found a way to give the Afghanistan people hope, they may not have supported the Taliban, and moved towards education rather than religious belief. If in doubt blame a god.

[@lelasisauri3569]

Great podcast. Thank you. I don't know how to put it nicely, but the angle Alistair holds his head at makes his eye covered by the rim of his glasses, and it is bizarrely uncomfortable to look at the speaker without seeing his eyes. I hope this can be adjusted. Best wishes to you both.

[@senecauk8363]

At 13:24 Rory uses the phrase 'hiding to nothing'- a Google search suggests it is an informal British idiom that means something is doomed to fail (which I guessed from the context). I'd never heard it before, though- curious how many people know it?

[@imflikyt]

I've heard it before, not a super common phrase but it's about

[@RobbieMeadows-oz4cx]

Alistairs face when he was playing the bagpipes , he looked like he was eating a hot chip 😂

[@rsb8380]

Made me think it should make it on the final clip montage on an episode of Have I Got News For You.

[@MBReader410]

Sanctioning people because they have a different culture. What a stupid idea.

[@nedludd3641]

If you think about it, what can the UK do to help the people of Gaza? HM Govt can huff & puff, but if Israel ignores us then we are done. Sadly, there's nothing more we can do. Our only recourse is a rather stiff letter. That's it.

[@alexmayorov795]

The UK can pressure Arab countries (esp. Egypt) to accept Gaza’s refugees, at least temporarily. Yes, Egypt is worried about the Muslim Brotherhood, but it’s otherwise an embarrassment.

[@MrSupercampeao]

Well it could stop selling arms to Israel as Thatcher did…just sayin 😅

[@nedludd3641]

@@alexmayorov795 - what leverage has the UK got on any Arab country? I would suggest none, unless we are giving them aid I guess - and I'd be surprised if Lammy would cut aid atm

[@alexmayorov795]

@ The U.K. has very significant diplomatic leverage. Just bringing some attention to the unwillingness/hypocrisy of the Arab states to take in refugees would already be helpful

[@nedludd3641]

@@alexmayorov795 that's not leverage

[@AndreasapArthur]

Your main podcast made me very anxious yesterday, as a British immigrant to Hungary, with two adult sons, one living in the UK and the other in Budapest. We get very little information about what is happening here, due to suppression of the media. Could we have more about Central Europe and less about Trump, Musk and the Americas? Thanks!

[@jasonhaven7170]

the far-right is back

[@daydays12]

@@jasonhaven7170 😞 😞 look what happened last time 😞

[@riik3158]

You don't need the media, it is all on the internet you know

[@dshetty1154]

Talking about sanctions, can the Uk not sanction Israel for war crimes? What Israel is doing in Gaza is much worse

[@Nkkdxn45j]

There are two fundamentally different views on Putin, Russia and its territorial ambitions. One, from Mearsheimer and others, says Russia has no real expansionist ambitions, and the west caused all this by NATO expansion in the last 30 years and then moves towards Ukraine and eventually Georgia entering NATO. So, a deal needs to be done, Ukraine loses some territory, they both promise not to 'westernise' - NATO, EU etc, and peace will reign. The other, from various sources, says Russia's essential nature is empire building and always has been, they have to be stopped now, or it is all way worse in the future. The further east one is in Europe towards Russia, the more prevalent this view is. Quite a difference. To go the first way is a big risk if the second proved to be the truth, to go the second requires a huge military build up and expense with consequent economic effects. Hard choice.

[@mrowespencer]

The problem with the first theory is that Russia has nukes. No honest, rational actor can argue that NATO poses a real threat to them: NATO countries don't want their cities nuked, ergo they can't attack Russia. Ergo, the idea that Russia feels too threatened to refrain from attacking their neighbours, or interferring in nearly all Western countries' politics, is BS. Which, obviously it is. And as for Ukraine and Georgia joining NATO and the EU - they are soverign nations who ought to be able to do as they like. Russia getting pissy about not being the favourite isn't a valid reason to, you know, invade them, as it's done to both, or to dismantle their democracies. I don't know about empire building being Russia's "essential nature", but territorial and ideological expansion is certainly what they're doing now. As for what to do about it: hard to see, really. The US is no longer a reliable Western ally, let alone leader; no European country has a sufficiently strong economy to do much any time soon; pro-Putin/anti-demcocracy populists are coming in across the continent; technology increasingly favours manipulation of the people by strong men & dictators - and climate change is going to make all of the liberal West signficantly weaker in the coming decades too, by harming economies through natural disasters and hugely boosting migration from poorer regions. Personaly I think what we're going to do is lose.

[@Nkkdxn45j]

@mrowespencer let's hope not. One can see though why various countries are keen to be nuclear powers.

[@kenbair]

no hard choice here. Mearsheimer is wrong. Putin himself has refuted him.

[@funyt7364]

Russia has a very limited ability to expand its influence from military or economic or any point of view. Russia is already overstretched in Ukraine, fighting a conventional war with NATO would be suicidal.

[@mrowespencer]

​@ I definitely agree with you on the economic and military fronts, but fortunately from their point of view all they need to do to gain more territory & influence is weaken the West's desire to do anything about it. Given social media inherently stokes division, promotes fake news, and tends to glorify demagogic megalomaniacs, and climate change will only cause more conflict and create more refugees (great news for far right parties wanting to be voted in, as we've seen already, and no far right parties and very few demagogues are anti-Putin), all they really need to do is give those natural trends a nudge here and there. You know, promote both sides of the social media fight about Gaza, as they've done, promote fake news especially about migrants, as they've done many times, bomb civilian areas after Merkel announced they'd take 1m refugees, as they did, bus refugees across Belarus to the EU, as they've done... Give it ten years and them invading Romania will barely make the news. I was going to say Georgia or Moldova, but they've already kind of taken over Georgia on the sly already, and they're not far off with Moldova either.

[@bobbarber5529]

Superb show. Thank you!

[@alextiley6108]

Having travelled through Georgia in August seeing what’s happening there at the moment is absolutely heartbreaking. Great country with some great people! PS. If you go, be careful of the cha cha. That stuffs lethal

[@maritagorgiladze8920]

Thank you for talking and reminding world about Georgia 🇬🇪

[@margaretmagnuson6730]

Would really like Rory to do an episode on Afghanistan…. The history, the people, how we can help women there etc….One of my fav podcasts❤️

[@ernestvanophuizen461]

Alistair's composition, with background vocals by my Australian Shepherd while my partner is on a work call in the other room. Made my day!

[@imcd338]

Welll done Alasadair👏👏👏👏 You’ve written a cracking tune for Rory. 🎶🎶🎶

[@TheMilesLuca]

Got curious after hearing about book titled Guarded Laws of Money Manifestation, and now I’m hooked. Such a good find

[@dreamcrusher112]

Rory talking about Afghanistan being safe since we left. Forgetting to clarify that it was the Taliban causing the deaths of tens of thousands and the lack of safety, so obviously violence will drop when they are no longer a rebel force.

[@vidcreatorlondon]

Regarding Georgia they seem to have a clear position condemning the incumbent government. But when it comes to Gaza, totally neutral. Wow.

[@eddiel7635]

Not sure what your point is?

[@eddiel7635]

You seem to be ignoring the fact that the regime in charge of GAZA is HAMAS. I’m not a fan of the israeli government but i’m less of a fan of HAMAS. I don’t see any moral equivalence in your statement.

[@maxpieper2392]

The international media - all media - should STOP talking about Trump and Musk. Talking about them is exactly what those plutocrats (Musk & Trump) want and need for their own ego. The media should stop giving Trump and Musk a voice. In German we say „Sprachrohr“.

[@normanwolfe7639]

Been saying that since 2015! Never would have had Trump to start with. But the media can’t resist. Everyone jumps every time they say or do something. Give a toddler too much attention and they become hard wired for attention. Too late now

[@fjorddenierbear4832]

Fanatic

[@deadhead2453]

Great job covering the situation in Georgia!🇬🇪🇪🇺

[@AlexSutherland-y3n]

Rory, Not particularly relevant to this podcast, but In your recent contributions to “The rest is Politics”, you have outlined your position as a card-carrying conservative, while holding onto social democrat principals. It is a position I try and occupy, and find difficult at times. Robert Jenrick made it impossible when in July 2023 he actually made a conscious effort to be despicable, by painting out the cartoon characters at the Dover reception centre, designed to welcome child asylum seekers. I submit that until the conservatives shed the “Nazi-apprentice” cohort they will struggle to occupy any moral high ground in government or opposition. Alex Sutherland

[@carrie5490]

Anyone who thinks that we are above poor behaviour is living in a dream world. Milgram showed us clearly what ‘good’ people will do when it comes to authority. We pretend we are more moral, don’t fool yourself. It’s not us and them, it’s human nature

[@RobertThomson-y4m]

Why should Britain send cash to Gaza? Have you not noticed that we're skint?

[@Nkkdxn45j]

Not as skint as they are.

[@RobertThomson-y4m]

@Nkkdxn45j labour needs to give the heating allowance back first.

[@valerianpantsulia5137]

Thank you, Madam President, for not betraying Georgia. You truly deserve to be elected President by the people of Georgia for the second time, for your patriotic, unwavering dedication to a European Georgia and the Georgian people. I wish you success together with the Georgian people. Thank you, God is with us.

[@Ravi9A]

😂😂😂

[@valerianpantsulia5137]

@@Ravi9A

[@melaniemuradbaldwin8904]

Stand strong

[@sg-or6wb]

Შე სირო😂😂ტრაკში გაიკეთე მადამ სალომე

[@valerianpantsulia5137]

@@sg-or6wb შენ ემთხვიე ბიძინას ერთ კაი ადგილზე, იქნება ადამიანათ გაქციოს და ხუთი კილო ქართოფილი მოგცეს.

[@HowardSherwood-v7q]

I'm so glad Alastair and Rory have found each other.

[@stefanzoppi83]

Pedalling

[@proudman6598]

Who in their right mind would associate themselves with a war criminal like Cambell.

[@marksimons8861]

I find the attacks on Sir Keir Starmer very reminiscent of Trump's attacks on Sir Sadiq Khan back in the day.

[@ThomasSpitzer1]

What a surprise the EU cannot act as per, its because it’s to big and actions gets vetoed.

[@YoungLochinvar]

Fabulous tune for Rory, delightfully played Alistair. Splendid !

[@neilb2793]

There is nothing stopping the government negotiating with Europe over trade. The tribal Brexit positions on both sides should be consigned to the past. Move forward in the current paradigm

[@julianshepherd2038]

Redwall votes

[@anonymousonlineuser6543]

No to trade with Putin colonies.

[@daydays12]

"both sides"? Did the EU want the UK to leave the EU?

[@kevancook2699]

On the question of why normal people do awful things, I agree with Rory about team spirit, but there is also a large element of people doing what they are told. The 1960s Milgram experiment showed this very well and it was an oft quoted reason during the Nuremberg trials- I was just following orders. The way to combat this is open conversation and discussion. Please, please, keep it up.

[@MrHalstedt]

37:16 that was literally the last type of noise I was expecting to hear

[@annd5702]

Really, Salome is a remarkable woman. I hope, Europe and USA will not leave us alone face to face with Russian Dream.

[@Johnny_Ringo_75]

maybe try working in the health service for one day you will understand why no one wants to

[@ninokakabadze3371]

Thank you for your attention . We, Georgians need more voice in international media.

[@leslieelizabeth219]

Love the sound of Scottish Music. Making me homesick 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🇦🇺Thank you 🙏

[@Banksiana]

21:00 Rory dropping heavy 1000kg truth bombs

[@zazasajaia4867]

Actually gays, what happened in Georgia in 2012, now happening in the USA:)) One person is taking over without being in power officially. Well, you will not like this.

[@chrisohanlon69]

Funny how all the election results they don't like are all won under "dubious circumstances".

[@macsmiffy2197]

I always listen first thing in the morning, in bed with a coffee. Then I come here later in the day for the comments.

[@jasper8443]

“your fingers are very precise” - that is absolutely going to be in a tiktok edit within a few days

[@khalidshah2849]

37:09 best ending to a podcast ever

[@MightySheep]

I'm all for an EU referendum when there is any sign that the public want one. The previous EU referendum and the Scottish referfendum happened because the demand couldnt have been clearer.

[@zaleost]

Right now I get the impression that after all of the stress and turmoil we all went through in the aftermath of the EU referendum, most people (both politicians and general public) just don’t want to potentially go through it all over again. There’s also a massive can of worms that could be opened if there was a vote to rejoin on the premises that we’d get the same terms as before with all the exceptions and opt outs only to find out afterwards that wasn’t possible.

[@ecaeas4439]

​@@zaleost You're right. Brexit won't solve the division within our society - it happened because of said division. We need to bring people together by combating the divisive forces in our society - people like Farage. The best way we can do that is by making lives better. Joining the EU would improve lives but unfortunately it's tied into that division within society. Whereas the NHS, housing, people's income and disposable income are all things everyone can agree need to improve.

[@stephenkeogh3287]

The end reminded me of a scene from the latest Wallace and Gromit film!😂

[@d.e.7210]

First rate podcast!

[@nedludd3641]

"Fewer people are playing bagpipes than ever before" - BBC Radio 4, World at One, 9th January 2025 (that's a legit quote)

[@georgianborat]

Yes, why? And why West always wants to control Georgia as well?

[@alexzalk9860]

What you said about Georgia is completely wrong. This is not an expert but words but a regular news listeners level.

[@ctrl-shift-run8681]

Brexit... the own goal that keeps giving.

[@AaaaandAction]

The choice was …. a) stay in and be emasculated by Franco/german coalition using bullying tactics when our veto is stripped away and qualified majority is the rule or b) leave and have some say over our future. Either way we would have been worse off but the b) way we were stabbed in the back by our own europhile MPs The lesson is …… never trust your government and democracy is a charade. Always has been.

[@simonsena1378]

I'm more worried about Trump than Putin at the moment.

[@TheGoodShepherd117]

So I watch this podcast to listen in the background while I study. I had the volume up so I could hear it well then out of nowhere this EXPLODING bagpipe music starts blaring and I jump out of my chair like “WTF?”

[@TheGoodShepherd117]

I agree Good Shepherd!

[@joepoole7807]

Not to feed into far right bs but is rory suggesting sentiment towards islam is more important than womens rights?

[@QwentyJ]

I can see why you would think that and there certainly appears to be a cultural issue over misogyny but the argument is that this could play into the far right's hands due to already existing anti-muslim resentment

[@joepoole7807]

@QwentyJ this could be naive but could we not combat far right anti-muslim sentiment whilst also encouraging equality and tolerance in the islamic world, surely if womens rights were better over there the far right would have less to talk about

[@QwentyJ]

@joepoole7807 There's definitely options to do both. In the UK, I think we should enforce a niqaab ban, just on grounds of safety and identification. That might some of the more socially Conservative to amend their ways

[@wilfredtackie2351]

Thanks for exposing Brexit rewards

[@Ekaterine76]

Thank you for discussing Georgia!

[@bh1935]

How do you discuss Gaza and not talk about the hostages?

[@DoubleCross2009]

That pipe tune is the most impressive thing that has come out of Alistair's mouth in the history of TRIP!

[@bikerpaul68]

From 2nd April 2025 EU citizens will need to pay £10 for an Electronic Travel Authorization if they want to visit the UK or even travel on a connecting flight to a final destination outside the UK. I doubt if this will make the EU authorities more motivated to negotiate access to the Customs Union or Single Market.

[@debcampbell5722]

If not quite sliding on Gaza you do not seem to be asking 'What are the ramifications of the Israeli brutality on opinions about the Jewish state in the wider world?' Has Corbyn been proved right about Israel? Have governments around the world missed how their communities feel about this extreme violent brutal behaviour? Does that even matter?

[@felixenigma4335]

If you think being blatantly anti Western and pro terrorism is being “ right”, i don’t really know what to tell you. There is a rather big difference between being critical of Israel war and foreign policy and not only accepting but celebrating terrorism of the most heinous kind. As governments missing anything, not at all but i think realist in Western governments always knew Israel would slide back to the norm of the region, were hard power and atrocities have historically been used by all countries to further their national interest. Lastly, does it matter?Unfortunately not really since Europe has been wholly schizophrenic in its approach to the Israeli Palestinian question to begin with and frankly not really a serious partner on anything touching on hard power in that region ( or frankly most others) in the last two decades or so. Unless Europe becomes serious about military strength again nothing the say will matter much in a region like the Middle East.

[@Himgonemountain]

No, Corbyn hasn't been proved right about anything

[@valerianpantsulia5137]

Shame on you European Union and Mr Biden, whatever you doing you doing too slow and too late and did not take care of your followers.

[@HowShouldIKnow6543]

Despite all the news, Alistair’s playing made my day Rory, what do you have hidden away?

[@stefanzoppi83]

an hidden agenda

[@safariad]

Doesn't it make sense that Israel is continuing action because A- Hamas has not surrendered and B- the hostages haven't been freed. If you consider the action as a "hostage rescue action" then it makes perfect sense to me

[@jennbeammakes]

Rory, every sentence of yours on the Taliban needs the addition "if you're a bloke". Not good enough

[@tommc1425]

"The taliban are running a gender apartheid state" "The taliban have very repressive views on women" I wouldn't say he's shying away from condemning them on women's issues here.

[@QwentyJ]

Just as an fyi and please don't mistake me for a Taliban apologist, because I am not, but he is talking about conflicts and warzones. In that respect, it is somewhat safer but the position of women and girls is not. It's an important caveat

[@jamesnichols5163]

Surely the Taliban allowing a gender equal team to compete in the olympics, even if not allowing them to train in Afghanistan does suggest they care about international sporting representation, and is something that can be used in negotiations

[@jonathanmonck-mason6715]

Is it necessary for a Chancellor of the Exchequer to be a highly qualified and experience banker or economist? Should they not have civil servants with financial expertise to advise them and put all government expenditure in a spreadsheet? How about using AI?

[@AlanHamilton-j5i]

Rory is very undemocratic on the Brexit mess. I voted against Brexit but accepted the vote. There are undemocratic dark stonewallers at work.

[@t00ty_fru1ty]

The managerial class cannot take that "uneducated" class voted against their interests and their belief that being in a large global block is better for the UK. They are the ones banging on about democracy but whenever the people vote for anything that wasn't in the projected globalist course of the last 30 years they fight against it. No Empathy for their own countryman having different points of view and their experiences but will fight like hell for people 1000s of miles away. True Global Citizens!

[@stefanzoppi83]

Black opps

[@stefanzoppi83]

Covert

[@stefanzoppi83]

Black opps

[@carolinehoughtom5862]

Absolutely agree with Rory's comments on Islam and women

[@hickorywind7859]

..The cabinet in Mr Cambell's background. Is it "Wine Dark" ? 😅 Nice anyway.

[@Stoic_Voyage]

In this interview Alistair said said that a doctor had a visceral reaction to Palestinians. That's fine. Why should UK or Latvian or Polish citizens have ro pay for the consequences of that visceral reaction?

[@ImmyYousafzai]

this episode has Rory's objectives truth explosions.

[@funkhouse5936]

Two great minds , enjoy the podcast

[@Unknownuser67891]

It costs way too much and takes way too long to get anything done in the civil service. Often, delays are caused by ‘business case governance’. I.e. developing a document that talks in great detail about why something should be done (hundreds of pages, describing the same thing from every imaginable perspective) and then getting approvals from everyone up the chain to do the thing, approvals from junior civil servants and specialists, to senior and very senior civil servants, then ministers, then cabinet office civil servants and ministers, then treasury civil servants and ministers. If anyone in the chain disapproves, you have to start again. Oh and, mostly, each step in the chain is rigidly only available to make decisions once a month, and they aren’t at all aligned or sequenced well. Usually, the different functions, specialists, departments and ministers all have differing needs and perspectives and there isn’t the possibility to fully appease everyone. This process takes much longer than actually doing the work to decide the best course of action in the first place. This is mostly caused by micromanagement of spending.

[@bekachanturia8901]

Hey! Not sure if my expectations were higher than it should have been but given the title is on Georgia, why was this matter only discussed in the first 6/7min of this 40min video? There’s a lot that’s going on in the region and I think this video didn’t even touch the surface. Bit disappointing as you mentioned yourself that western media is mostly ignoring it

[@jezlawrence720]

There was an interview with a Ukrainian who is part of the rounding up of fighting age men there, and the way he talked - better them going to fight than me - I think makes the case quite starkly that personal pressure can really easily turn you against your fellows.

[@denisesanders5589]

Bravo Alistair. My feet were tapping 🙏

[@AlanHamilton-j5i]

Ask Cameron about torture. He was waterboarding people with impunity... in a place you couldn't see.

[@DSTH323]

It's always in a place you cannot see. The Enlightenment West never wants us to actually see what they live and do, even as they seethingly condemn the rest of the world for the very same. At least Henry VIII was open and honest in his hypocritical tyranny.

[@alwhy3124]

Shouldn’t any conversation on Gaza mention the hostages?

[@daydays12]

That is almost the first thing that Rory said about Gaza - the hostages. You apparently didn't listen.

[@Cubeforc3]

​@@daydays12 Rory said he couldn't understand why Israel was not letting up in Gaza. This shows he completely disregards the hostages because getting them back was one of the main objectives that clearly hasn't been met yet

[@stephenwood2172]

​@@Cubeforc3 if Israel cared about the hostages they wouldn't have carpet bombed all of Gaza, destroyed all the hospitals so they will receive no healthcare if they do manage to avoid bombs / starvation. Possibly most importantly they wouldn't have assassinated the Hamas negotiators. Believe around 95% of the hostages that have been released came from negotiations (remember that Israel has kidknapped thousands of Palestinians without trial including many children whom they torture, sometimes to death) but Israel have shown they have no interest in anymore - this is why the hostage families are continuosly protesting against the government... my guess is aren't interested in facts that don't suit your narrative though...

[@alwhy3124]

@@daydays12 Rory wondering why Israel continue to fight in Gaza. Well is pretty obvious that they would continue as hostages still not released. He doesn’t wonder why Ahmad has my return them I note.

[@saberint]

well I found myself dancing a jig in my office! thank you

[@ashleyupshall7641]

Hi Alistair how are you morally living with the Dodgy Dossier ?

[@julianshepherd2038]

“I have no way to defend my borders but to extend them.” ― Catherine the Great

[@stephaniechampion1506]

Stanford Prison Experimemt

[@bikerpaul68]

And the social psychologist Stanley Milgram's "Behavioural study of obedience" experiment at Yale in 1961

[@BanjoLuke1]

I've commented already on this, but RS has made some extraordinary and EXCELLENT points about Afghanistan, the Balkans, collaboration, tyranny, influence, betrayal and more... I hate to say RS is a clever man. RS is a clever man.

[@0w784g]

They're about as good as his idea that the Democrats would win the US election by a near landslide.

[@eleanorsmith6268]

There's a great book by James Waller, Becoming Evil. That's all about how normal people become involved in mass killing

[@madsoliverberg9726]

Ref. your discussion on torture in conflict zones, there is a really interesting academic book called The Logic of Violence in Civil War by Kalyvas were he delves into this. 27:37

[@nonsuch9301]

To the point of the UK needing to improve its relationship with the EU , I would say it takes two to tango and the EU seems to be still indulging a determnation to see the UK 'punished' for holding a referendum and then abiding by the result.

[@colmquinn7860]

The EU are applying "third country" rules to the UK, as per the Brexit vote result. No punishment involved as all third countries treated as such equally

[@HughSmith-r1g]

Is it true that increased wealth may cause more liberality in society which could lead to reform in itself in Afghanistan? And what would need to happen to introduce wealth into a very sparsely populated country.

[@kevinkevin-ug9po]

Wonderful hearing that being played, encore.

[@FF101100]

Rory's dismissive attitude to the girls and women we deserted when we ran away from the Taliban, combined with the tediously typical accusation that anyone who supports the women and girls of Afghanistan is doing it because they are Islamophobic, is about the most disgusting piece of so-called analysis I've seen in a long time. He may speak softly and smile a lot, but he clearly has no problem with the misogyny inherent in Islam, and that tells me all I need to know about him.

[@QwentyJ]

@FF101100 "No problem with misogyny in Islam" I mean this is the kindest way but that is a bit of a stretch. He's said multiple times before that in previous podcasts that the Taliban are vile but he is also right to acknowledge, sometimes too much I'll grant you, that these things are seized in by the likes of Tommy Robinson and Reform

[@FF101100]

@@QwentyJ He made it quite clear that he thinks criticism of the way Islamic regimes deal with women is Islamophobia. And he did it in a way that suggests that disliking a regime that removes all rights from women and makes them the property of men is somehow wrong. I'm sure he'd get along fine in an Afghanistan - in fact, he praised the Taliban, and said it's now safe to travel through the country. For men, he means - I'm quite sure it wouldn't be safe for an unaccompanied woman. He doesn't appear to think that's a problem. And according to him, my objection to the way the Taliban treat women - my belief that we shouldn't be pandering to their regime - makes me a far-right racist. What an odd set of values he has.

[@QwentyJ]

@FF101100 I beg you watch previous episodes on the taliban and his TV appearances before the Taliban takeover. You're painting a picture that actually does not exist. Re: safety - it is factually safer overall due to the fact that allied forces withdrew so there is no more actual war going on. The point I'm trying to make is you can acknowledge simultaneous problems. The issue will be amplified by the far right and the female apartheid in Afghanistan is unfortunately very much real. Again, in the kindest sense, I think you've invented a position for RS that doesn't actually exist

[@laura4697]

@@FF101100yes exactly this. Safe for men, who cares what it’s like for women eh?

[@mrowespencer]

@@FF101100 He didn't say anything about being a far-right racist. He said sanctions didn't hurt the Taliban at all (with the implication that they hurt ordinary people a lot), and boycotting the cricket team was trivial for them. And, it can be true that the Taliban's treatment of women is appalling, and also that tens of thousands of people dying violently every year is appalling too. To me his position seems to be, though he's not said this explicitly this time either, that we need to do things that are a) moral, rather than just moralising, and b) work. And that he's angry about what we've done instead.

[@w.t.chapman1995]

"The March Of Rory Stewart's Pots". God love ya from the U.S.A !😊😊😊

[@fKyAJkFD]

From one piper to another, that’s a brilliant tune!