The Voices of War

136. Trump's Iran Ceasefire Is a Trap — And Israel Knows It | Willy OAM

The Iran war is over. Or is it just a pause?
In this episode of The Voices of War, host Vedran 'Maz' Maslic sits down with Matthew Williams — Willy OAM — former Australian Army crew commander, Afghanistan veteran, and one of YouTube's sharpest daily conflict analysts, with over 225,000 subscribers and 63 million views. Together they break down the US-Iran ceasefire, Iran's growing global leverage, why Israel is the key spoiler most likely to reignite the Iran war, the nuclear threat on the table, China's strategic gains, and the very real danger of a false flag escalation. Is the Iran-Israel conflict truly over — or is this a strategic reset that benefits Tehran far more than Washington?
 In this deep-dive episode:
🔴 Is the Iran ceasefire genuine — or a pause before the next escalation?
🔴 Why Israel is the most dangerous spoiler in this conflict
🔴 Iran's strengthened negotiating position post-ceasefire — and what it means for the US
🔴 The Strait of Hormuz: Iran's asymmetric trump card
🔴 Trump and the nuclear option — why a ground war is off the table
🔴 China's strategic gains from America's Middle East entanglement
🔴 De-dollarization and the petrodollar under threat
🔴 False flags, radicalization, and what comes next for the global order
🎙️ Matthew Williams (Willy OAM) — YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@willyoam
 
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135. Is the Iran Ceasefire Real? David Kilcullen's Verdict

A US-Iran ceasefire is now in effect. Trump has declared Iran's ten-point peace plan workable. But is this peace — or just a pause? In this episode of The Voices of War, military strategist and counterinsurgency expert Dr. David Kilcullen breaks down the Iran ceasefire, the Iran war's real strategic logic, and whether the Iran peace plan can survive contact with reality.
With 90% of Iran's navy reportedly destroyed and US strikes degrading Iranian air defenses, the Iran-US war appeared to be going Washington's way. Then came the ceasefire. Dr. Kilcullen — former advisor to General Petraeus during the Iraq surge and author of The Accidental Guerrilla and The Dragons and the Snakes — delivers a sober verdict: the ceasefire is fragile, the ten-point plan is largely incompatible with US and Israeli objectives, and the Strait of Hormuz remains the single most consequential bargaining chip in the Iran-Israel war.
We go deep on the Iran sanctions calculus, the US-Israel relationship and whether Washington can actually "leash Tel Aviv," Iran's asymmetric resilience and information warfare, the China-US power shift, and what the rupture of the current world order means for NATO, AUKUS, and Australia's strategic future.
A ceasefire is not a victory. A ten-point plan is not a political settlement. And a two-week pause in a conflict this complex is not the end of anything — it's the beginning of the hardest part.
🎙️ Guest: Dr. David Kilcullen — military strategist, author, former senior advisor to the US State Department and General Petraeus.

134. Iran Can Wait. The US Can't. Former NATO Advisor on the Changing World Order | Hasan Aygun

Is the US Iran war the end of American global dominance — or the birth of a new world order?
Former Turkish diplomat and senior NATO advisor Hasan Aygun joins Maz to break down the Iran Israel war, US foreign policy collapse, and the accelerating global power shift reshaping international relations in 2026.
Iran news cycles miss the bigger picture. This isn't just Trump Iran posturing or iran nuclear program brinksmanship. It's about the fall of the petrodollar, the rise of BRICS, the failure of iran sanctions, and a geopolitics 2026 realignment Washington refuses to admit is already underway. Aygun's verdict: the US is the most vulnerable party — not Iran, not Israel. Because for America, this is not a national war. It's a government, administration, and military war. And iran resistance is built on decades of surviving with less.
What this episode covers:
→ Iran us war — why public opinion is America's Achilles heel
→ Iran nuclear threat — theatre or real?
→ Why regime change iran would be America's gravest mistake
→ Turkey NATO — what Ankara actually wants from this conflict
→ American decline and the collapse of US financial control
→ How BRICS and middle powers are filling the vacuum
→ Iran attack scenarios and why they're more complex than headlines suggest
→ What the new world order 2026 actually looks like on the ground For Iran, this is a national war.
For Israel, this is a national war. For the US under Donald Trump — this is a military war. That distinction changes everything about how this ends.
Hasan Aygun is a former senior Turkish diplomat with decades advising NATO generals across the Balkans, Middle East, and Central Asia.
🎙️ Voices of War is hosted by Vedran 'Maz' Maslic — military veteran, entrepreneur, and geopolitics researcher based in Sydney, Australia.
 

133. Iran War Framing vs. Reality: The Pattern Nobody's Discussing | Vedran 'Maz' Maslic

All 18 US intelligence agencies have confirmed on the record: Iran does not possess nuclear weapons and is not currently building one. Yet the Iran war machine is in motion. The US-Iran war is being justified on contested — and deliberately ignored — intelligence.
In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz breaks down the Iran war explained from the ground up. Not through headlines. Through pattern recognition. From the Trump Iran war framing to the fracture between intelligence and political action — from Iran nuclear weapons claims to a cascading, networked Middle East war — this is the analysis the mainstream won't give you.
What this episode covers:
→ Why the Iran conflict rests on a documented intelligence paradox
→ Two morally justifiable positions — and why neither side can hear the other
→ How the US Iran war escalates through a networked Middle East conflict
→ The gap between moral rhetoric and national interests — and who benefits
→ Why the Iran nuclear program intelligence has been overridden by political momentum
→ Why miscalculation is no longer a risk — it's now an expectation
→ The "Unfreeze" phase of world order — and what it costs in blood
War doesn't solve problems. It redesigns structures. This is what that looks like.
🎙️ The Voices of War — scratching below the simple narratives of conflict.
#IranWar #MiddleEastWar #TrumpIranWar #IranNuclear #USIranWar #Geopolitics #TheVoicesOfWar #MazMaslic #IranConflict #WarAnalysis

132. Netanyahu Waited 40 Years for a President Reckless Enough to Attack Iran | Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić

Benjamin Netanyahu recently admitted he'd spent 40 years waiting for an American president willing to attack Iran. In Donald Trump, he finally found one.
But was this a strategy — or a panic?
Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić, one of the Balkans' most incisive geopolitical minds, argues it's neither chess nor grand design. It's a desperate gamble by a declining empire that didn't fully understand what it was getting into — and the consequences may reshape the entire global order.
In this conversation, we go deep on:
🔥 Why the US-Iran war may have been driven by panic, not strategy
💵 How this conflict could kill the Petrodollar and birth the Petro-Yuan
🌍 What Europe should actually do — and why it's making all the wrong moves
🏛️ The coup that already happened in America — and why no one is calling it that ⚔️ The Balkans as a microcosm of great power competition — and when war there becomes likely again
This is the conversation the mainstream media won't have.
🎙️ Guest: Prof. Zlatko Hadžidedić — Professor of International Relations, Sarajevo; author and Balkan geopolitical commentator
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131. Iraq Faces Collapse as Iran War Threatens the Region | Dr Ghassan Jawad Kadhim

The Iran war is no longer contained. As tensions escalate across the Middle East, Iraq is emerging as a critical battleground — caught between Iran, the United States, Israel, and armed groups operating within its own borders.
This episode breaks down the Iran war, Iraq conflict, Middle East war dynamics, PMF Iraq, Kataib Hezbollah, US forces in Iraq, and the growing risk of regional escalation.
In this episode of The Voices of War, I speak with Iraqi political adviser Dr Ghassan Jawad Kadhim to unpack what this means for Iraq, regional stability, and the wider geopolitical order. We explore how Iraq is being ‘hit from four sides’, why the distinction between the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) and Iranian-aligned factions is so often misunderstood, and how that confusion could further destabilise the Iraqi state. We also examine the economic fallout — oil crisis in Iraq, Basra oil exports, and the impact of disrupted energy flows — and what a prolonged conflict could mean for everyday Iraqis.
This is a grounded, on-the-ground analysis of the Iran-Israel war, US-Iran tensions, and why Iraq may be the tipping point.
 

130. Trump's Iran Strategy Reveals a Collapsing World Order | Vedran 'Maz' Maslic

Trump, Iran, global order, rules-based order, Mark Carney, US decline, world order, China, Russia, BRICS, international law, and Western decline.
This episode examines whether Trump’s Iran confrontation reflects strategic calculation or the breakdown of the US-led order. I look at American hegemony, global power shifts, spheres of influence, and what a post-Western order could mean for international politics.
If American hegemony is fading, what comes next?
 
#TheVoicesOfWar #Trump #Iran #Geopolitics #WorldOrder #MarkCarney #USDecline #BRICS #China #Russia #InternationalRelations

129. Lebanon Trapped in US-Israel-Iran War: What Happens Next? | Nadim Shehadi

As the fallout from the US and Israel's ongoing Iran war spreads, we examine the broader regional impact, particularly for Lebanon.
Lebanese economist and political analyst Nadim Shehadi joins me to discuss the implications of the Iran US war for the country, deeply exposed to the middle east war's shifting power dynamics.
This episode explores the complex geopolitics news surrounding the conflict and its effects on Lebanon.
In this conversation we cover:
🌍 Why this war's consequences extend far beyond Iran
⚖️ The collapse of international law — and who it hurts most
🔄 How proxy conflicts trap entire populations with no say in the fight
🌐 Two competing visions for the Middle East — and why both carry enormous risk
🇱🇧 Lebanon's impossible position: caught between outside powers and internal fractures
🤝 What a stable Middle East would actually require — and how far away it is
🇺🇸 Trump, the old world order, and the dangerous vacuum being created
Nadim Shehadi is a Lebanese economist, political analyst, and associate fellow at Chatham House. He is one of the most measured and incisive voices on Lebanese politics, Iran's regional role, and the future of the Middle East — bringing insider perspective without partisan framing.
🎙️ The Voices of War — scratching below the surface of war's simple narratives.
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128. Trump's Iran War: Strategic Confusion With No Way Out | Dr. Samir Puri

Trump's Iran War: Strategic Confusion With No Way Out | Dr. Samir Puri
What happens when the world's most powerful military goes to war with no clear objective and no exit strategy?
Dr. Samir Puri — former UK diplomat, Chatham House director, and bestselling author of Westlessness — joins Maz fresh from the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, where he sat in the room with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister as the attacks began.
In this episode, Samir breaks down why the US is playing both arsonist and firefighter in the Middle East — and why that contradiction may define America's strategic position for years to come.
What we cover:
Why Israel has a clear objective in this war, and the US has only confusion
How Iran is winning the global sympathy battle despite being an odious regime
The moment India quietly broke with Washington — and why Modi wasn't told about the attack
How the Strait of Hormuz becomes a pressure point without Iran firing a single shot
Why Europe is "moving like a snail while everyone else runs laps"
China's calculated silence — and what they're actually gaining from this
The "forever war" trap: why the US may be policing these waters indefinitely
A standout line from Samir: "This is not just a live fire weapons display. What it will show is that the United States is liable to engage in military activities for misconstrued goals — and is not a stabilizing force."
If you want analysis that goes beyond the headlines, this is the episode.
🎙️ The Voices of War is your gateway to the untold stories and nuanced perspectives of conflict. Hosted by Vedran 'Maz' Maslic — military leader, entrepreneur, and strategic thinker.
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127. Are Australia's New 'Hate' Laws Really About Israel? Vedran 'Maz' Maslic

*** As this episode contains clips from other sources, I recommend watching it on YouTube on this link: https://youtu.be/uenKNmiHP10
Australia has just passed sweeping new "hate-speech" laws. Former Army officer and Bosnia war refugee Vedran ‘Maz’ Maslic warns they could be used to silence criticism of Israel even from Jewish scholars and peace activists. In this solo monologue, Vedran breaks his silence on the Bondi attack aftermath, the "Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026," and what he sees as an escalating campaign to reshape what Australians can say about Israel, Gaza, and Zionism.
🔍 WHAT HE COVERS:
• How the Israel lobby shapes Australian politics (ASPI data on political trips, Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism)
• Why Bob Carr warned about disproportionate foreign influence on Australia's foreign policy
• Penny Wong refusing to rule out prosecuting "genocide" accusations under the new law
• How Western allies (UK, Canada, France, Australia) are recognising Palestinian sovereignty and why that matters
• Media ownership shift: Ellison family controlling CBS News, TikTok US, with explicit Israel advocacy
• Why Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Megyn Kelly have all turned against Israel and what that signals
• A Bosnian refugee's warning: "We didn't grow up hating each other. We were manipulated."
⚖️ THE QUESTION: Are Australia's new hate-speech laws genuinely about protecting communities from violence or are they about reshaping what we can say about Israel at the exact moment its closest allies are stepping back?
📹 KEY CLIPS REFERENCED:
• Bob Carr on Israel lobby influence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4psBTp6CVk
• Michael West investigation: https://michaelwest.com.au/sponsoring-the-gold-coast-antisemitism-junket-for-mayors-and-councillors/
• Penny Wong on Today Show: https://youtu.be/kc-xLKertvU?t=285 • Netanyahu's domestic speech (no Palestinian state): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E5j0CPLZJ9o
• Tucker Carlson on Israel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_LN4fDf6s
🎙️ ABOUT VEDRAN MASLIC: Bosnian war refugee (1990s), Australian Army veteran, and host of The Voices of War podcast. Has interviewed genocide scholar William Schabas, Israeli historian Ilan Pappé, and dehumanisation scholar David Livingstone Smith all Jewish experts critical of Israel's Gaza operations.
📌 SUBSCRIBE for expert analysis on war, conflict prevention, and the politics of violence.
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126. Top 10 Conflicts That Could Explode in 2026 (And Why They’re Connected)

Is 2026 the year of global conflict escalation?
In this in-depth conversation, Richard Atwood, Executive VP of International Crisis Group and host of Hold Your Fire! podcast, discusses the top 10 conflicts to watch in 2026 and how Trump's foreign policy is reshaping global order.
Richard Atwood, one of the world's leading conflict analysis and prevention experts, draws on 20+ years of field research across 50+ war zones (Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela, Syria) to explain:
• Venezuela: a dramatic US raid, but no clear ‘day after’
• Latin America: pressure politics over intervention wars
• Greenland: how seriously should Europe take Trump?
• Europe & NATO: defence burden-shifting and US unpredictability
• Ukraine: diplomacy stalled, deterrence doing the heavy lifting
• China-Taiwan: mixed signals, high stakes
• Iran: regime under pressure, options narrowing
• Israel-Palestine: ceasefire without resolution, West Bank escalation
• Syria: Assad gone, opportunity or new instability?
• Gulf politics: Saudi-UAE tensions beneath the surface
• Sudan-Yemen: neglected wars reshaping the region
Advising UN, EU, US State Dept and cited by world leaders, Atwood delivers unfiltered analysis on rules-based order collapse, Trump 2.0 impact, and which wars pose the greatest global threat. For geopolitics analysts, policymakers, and anyone tracking 2026 flashpoints, this is essential predictive intel.
If you value independent analysis like this, please like , comment, share, and subscribe to The Voices of War for long-form interviews with top geopolitics experts.
Resources & Links
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📘 About Richard Atwood Executive VP International Crisis Group | Hold Your Fire! host | Oxford IR expert | UN/State Dept advisor
🎙️ Related episodes Crisis Group reports, Trump policy, great power competition: thevoicesofwar.com #10ConflictsToWatch #TrumpForeignPolicy #GreatPowerCompetition #RichardAtwood #CrisisGroup #Geopolitics #Ukraine #Venezuela #ChinaTaiwan #Iran #Gaza #RulesBasedOrder

125. Betrayed: Brigadier Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar, Exposes Military Hypocrisy

In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz speaks with Brigadier (Ret.) Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar, a retired SASR commander and one of Australia’s most decorated special operations officers, reflecting on leadership, accountability, and the human cost of Australia’s war in Afghanistan.
Dan served extensively within SASR Sabre Squadrons as both an enlisted operator and later a commissioned officer. His career includes multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan, senior targeting and command roles, counter-terrorism operations, combat freefall missions, and leadership appointments within Australian and NATO Special Operations Task Groups. He also served alongside US Tier One special forces and commanded the ADF Tactical Assault Group during the Sydney Olympics.
Building on themes raised in the award-winning documentary Bravery and Betrayal and Episode 1 on this topic with Vando and Brett, this conversation explores the effects of relentless operational tempo, repeated rotations, and prolonged exposure to violence on moral judgement and decision-making. Dan discusses how cultural mismatch and partner force dynamics shaped operational realities on the ground, including green-on-blue incidents and force protection failures.
The episode examines the conduct and consequences of the IGADF and Brereton processes, including findings later characterised by the Royal Commission as ‘weaponised injustice’. Dan reflects on how bureaucratic risk aversion, strategic distance, and institutional self-protection displaced accountability downward, leaving tactical operators to absorb blame, reputational damage, and long-term moral injury.
Rather than focusing on individual wrongdoing, this episode interrogates systems: how wars are managed from afar, how leadership decisions cascade, and how justice, recognition, and responsibility are applied after conflict. It offers a sober, first-hand perspective on command, culture, and the enduring costs of a war of choice.
Key Moments:
DSC and Bar SASR commander reveals moral compass shift in combat
Civilian casualties & how tolerance hardened over deployments
Fat Lady's Arms hypocrisy: PMs drank, troops demonized
IGADF as weaponized injustice - Royal Commission critique
Green-on-blue murders & partner force cultural clashes
O6 and below values vs One Star and above interests: Leadership cowardice exposed
Healing through truth: Veteran recognition & future lessons
 
 

124. Australia's War in Afghanistan—Told From Inside the SASR

In this episode of ‘The Voices of War’, Maz sits down with two former Australian special operations officers whose careers unfolded at the sharp end of Australia’s longest war in Afghanistan.
Vando served 24 years in the Australian Army, including 16 in special operations with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). Across 10 deployments to Iraq, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, North Africa and three tours of Afghanistan, he held command at troop, squadron and senior staff levels, carrying responsibility across tactical and operational decision-making within the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG).
Brett came into special operations through law and intelligence. He first served as the principal intelligence officer (S2) at 1 Commando Regiment and later as the S2 for SASR, before transferring to the Legal Corps. In that role, he advised special operations forces on the laws of armed conflict, rules of engagement, and some of the most complex legal and ethical challenges of the Afghanistan war. His five deployments included Kosovo, three tours of East Timor and an extended tour of Afghanistan.
Together, they reflect on their involvement in the award-winning documentary ‘Bravery and Betrayal’, unpacking how sustained operational tempo, political decision-making, legal constraints, and leadership silence shaped the war in Afghanistan and what those choices cost individuals, families, veterans, and institutions.
This is a conversation about systems, not slogans; about war as it was lived, not how it was sold.
Key Moments:
- Why special forces became the ‘force of choice’
- Endless rotations and the absence of genuine rest
- The impact of ‘catch and release’ policy on decision-making
- How killing became routine over time
- The human and institutional fallout of the IGADF inquiry
- Moral injury and leadership silence that hurt deepest
- Why their story matters now
Resources & Links ‘Bravery and Betrayal’ documentary WEBSITE https://wanderingwarriors.org/bravery-betrayal-the-documentary/
BRAVERY & BETRAYAL 2025 | Trailer https://youtu.be/-3rS0h-pjqc?si=4_zStLj4KxR7w1xL
STREAMING
Madman Streaming https://www.madman.com.au/bravery-and-betrayal/
Prime https://www.primevideo.com/region/fe/detail/0I6EPX8QDL0CP8HN9HQTSENWY5?ref_=atv_sr_fle_c_Tn74RA_1_1_
Apple TV https://tv.apple.com/au/movie/bravery-and-betrayal/umc.cmc.1vql2nd3lpc381hnq1xjmxjcx
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuzpNCIB_P0
Fetch https://www.fetchtv.com.au/movie/details/3011300/bravery--betrayal
Docplay https://www.docplay.com/shows/bravery-betrayal
Vimeo https://vimeo.com/ondemand/braverybetrayal/1129397949
DONATE https://wandering-warriors.mygiveeasy.com/bravery-betrayal/donate
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📘 About Brett & Vando Vando - SASR Troop/Squadron Commander featured in Bravery and Betrayal documentary. 16 years SASR across 10 deployments. Brett - Special Forces Task Group legal officer. Combined intelligence and law background with 5 deployments.
🎙️ Related episodes & reading Explore more conversations on special operations, Afghanistan, moral injury and veteran leadership at https://thevoicesofwar.com
 
#SASR #Afghanistan #BrettVando #BraveryAndBetrayal #SpecialForces #AustralianMilitary #VeteranStories #MilitaryJourney #SASRCommander #AfghanistanVeterans #MoralInjury #WarDocumentary #ADF #SpecialOperationsAustralia #CombatVeteran #MilitaryLeadership #TheVoicesOfWar #AustralianSASR #VeteranJourney #WarStories #IGADF

123. Israel Is Collapsing From Within - Ilan Pappé Explains Why

Is Israel beginning to collapse from within?
In this in depth conversation, renowned Israeli historian Ilan Pappé explains why he believes Zionism has entered its final phase, how Israeli society is disintegrating internally, and what a just future for Palestinians and Israelis could look like.
Pappé, director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies and author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic and Israel on the Brink, draws on decades of archival research to argue that Israel is a classic settler colonial project built on ethnic cleansing, apartheid and permanent military rule over Palestinians. He details the social implosion inside Israel, the growing split between secular and religious Jews, the role of the U.S. and European powers, and why he thinks decolonization is inevitable.
We discuss 1948 and the Nakba, the Gaza war, accusations of genocide, the collapse of the two-state solution, one democratic state between the river and the sea, Jewish-Palestinian coexistence, and what real decolonization might require in practice.
For anyone trying to understand the future of Israel-Palestine, this is an unfiltered, long form analysis from one of the conflict’s most important dissident historians.
If you value independent conversations like this, please like the episode, leave a comment, share it, and subscribe to The Voices of War for more long‑form interviews with critical thinkers from around the world.
Resources & Links 🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War Website (episodes, show notes, extras): https://thevoicesofwar.com
Full episodes & archives: https://thevoicesofwar.com
📰 Newsletter Reflections, episode drops, and behind the scenes notes: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com
📺 Subscribe to the channel Long‑form conversations on war, peace and everything between:  @thevoicesofwar 
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📘 About Ilan Pappé Renowned Israeli historian, director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies, and author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Ten Myths About Israel and Israel on the Brink.
🎙️ Related episodes & reading Explore more conversations on Palestine, Gaza, decolonization and the lived experience of war at https://thevoicesofwar.com
#IlanPappé #IsraelPalestine #Gaza #Zionism #Decolonization #Nakba #SettlerColonialism #EndTheOccupation
 

122. The Political Insider: How Social Media Is Quietly Rewiring UK Democracy with Mike Martin MP

Is the UK really on the brink of collapse - or are we victims of our own narratives?
In this revealing conversation, Dr. Mike Martin, former British Army officer, author of Why We Fight, and now Member of Parliament, breaks down what’s really driving Britain’s political, social, and moral crisis.
From the rise of authoritarian narratives to the weaponization of social media, Mike reveals why our biggest enemy isn’t immigration or the economy, it’s misinformation. Drawing from his experience on the battlefield and now in Parliament, Mike explains:
⬛ Why migration isn’t the crisis we think it is
⬛ How social media and foreign influence are polarizing the West
⬛ Why “the House of Commons is just theatre”
⬛ How the real work of politics happens behind the scenes
⬛ The connection between Ukraine, Gaza, and the global information war
⬛ What gives him hope about Britain’s future
A candid, no-nonsense conversation that cuts through political noise to uncover the psychology of modern conflict, the truth about migration, and what leadership really looks like. If you want to understand how narratives shape nations, and how to fix a broken system from within, this is a must-listen.
🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War
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📘 About Dr. Mike Martin Author of Why We Fight and How to Fight a War Website: https://mike-martin.co.uk/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/threshedthought
 
#MikeMartin #UKPolitics #MigrationCrisis #SocialMediaWarfare #Geopolitics #InformationWarfare #Democracy #PoliticalPolarization #IsraelGaza #UkraineWar #GlobalPolitics #WhyWeFight

121. Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: The Palestinian Who Refuses the Script

What if the real story of Gaza isn’t about sides but about people?
In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian writer and policy analyst from Gaza, breaks through decades of noise, propaganda, and polarization to share what life in Gaza really means.
From surviving war to speaking truth in the West, Ahmed reveals the human reality behind the headlines, the pain, hope, and determination of ordinary Palestinians caught between Hamas, occupation, and a collapsing system. Now living in the U.S., Ahmed has become one of the most courageous Palestinian voices of his generation, challenging both Israeli and Palestinian narratives while calling for something radical: pragmatism, empathy, and moral courage.
He explains:
⬛ Why Hamas’ rule has failed Gaza and its people
⬛ How Palestinians can reclaim agency and rewrite their future
⬛ Why peace requires rejecting victimhood and embracing complexity
⬛ The truth about how Gazans really feel about Hamas and Israel
⬛ Why he still believes in hope after losing everything
This isn’t a political debate, it’s a masterclass in humanity, nuance, and resilience. If you want to understand Gaza beyond the headlines, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.
🌐 Follow Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: https://www.instagram.com/afalkhatib
📸 Twitter/X: https://x.com/afalkhatib
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#Gaza #AhmedFouadAlkhatib #Palestine #Israel #VoicesOfWar #Humanity #Peacebuilding #MiddleEast #GazaConflict #WarAndPeace #Hope #Empathy #HumanStories #Resilience #Hamas #Freedom #UnderstandingGaza #IsraelPalestine

120. Professor Zlatko Hadzidedic on 30 Years of Authoritarian Rule

Why does nationalism look less like a mistake and more like a structural feature of modern capitalism? In this provocative and deeply researched episode, Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić explains why nationalism often functions as the social glue that stabilizes capitalism’s contradictions and why the current phase of hyper-capitalism risks producing more authoritarian nationalisms over the next decades. Using Bosnia (the Lisbon maps and Dayton aftermath), the Balkans, and contemporary flashpoints as case studies, Zlatko connects theory to concrete history: how imperial legacies, external power strategies, and the logic of the military-industrial complex help produce recurring conflict. He also shows how consumer tech, information flows, and media narratives help pacify populations while power consolidates.
 
He explains:
⬛ Why nationalism can be a structural necessity for capitalism
⬛ How “hyper-capitalism” creates conditions for authoritarian nationalism
⬛ The Lisbon maps & Bosnia case study — why partition was engineered and what it means today
⬛ How information, phones and consumer culture shape political consent
⬛ Why great-power strategies sometimes manufacture zones of instability
⬛ What citizens and leaders can do to cultivate nuance, media literacy, and democratic resilience
 
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction: Capitalism, Nationhood & the Big Question
03:10 - Thesis: “No Capitalism Without Nationalism” — the argument explained
08:45 - The Lisbon maps & Bosnia: how partition was made possible
13:30 - From Yugoslavia to the Balkans: external influence and local politics
18:20 - Imperial legacies, Mackinder & geopolitical strategy
22:45 - Hyper-capitalism defined: inequality, pacification, and authoritarian pressures
27:50 - Phones, streaming & control: the tech-consumer pact
32:40 - Gaza, Ukraine & manufactured instability — strategic utility of conflict
37:55 - Predictions: the next 20–30 years of nationalism and power
42:10 - Practical takeaways: media literacy, nuance, and democratic repair
46:00 - Closing reflections & recommended reading
 
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in political economy, history, geopolitics, and media, especially listeners who want frameworks that connect the dots between capitalism, nationalism, and contemporary conflict.
🎧 Listen now to understand the hidden structures shaping modern conflict, from imperial maps to smartphone screens, from Bosnia to the broader global order.
🔗 Resources & Links
🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com Full episodes + extras: https://thevoicesofwar.com Newsletter: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@UCLS_kSQmxMAZIByOr9DTS5Q Twitter/X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevoicesofwar/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war/ 📘
 
About Zlatko Hadžidedić Professor, author and analyst focused on nationalism, political economy and Balkan history. (Check episode for recommended reading and sources.)
🎙️ Related Episodes & Reading Look for prior episodes and sources on Bosnia, the Lisbon conference, and imperial legacies in our archives at thevoicesofwar.com.
 
🔖 Hashtags #ZlatkoHadzidedić #Nationalism #HyperCapitalism #Bosnia #LisbonMaps #Balkans #Geopolitics #InformationWarfare #EmpireLegacy #MultipolarWorld #AuthoritarianNationalism #PoliticalEconomy #MediaManipulation #HistoryOfEmpires #GlobalPolitics

119. Genocide, Gaza, and Global Justice — with Professor William Schabas

In this landmark episode, Professor William Schabas — one of the world’s foremost experts on international criminal law and the legal architect behind much of our modern understanding of genocide — joins The Voices of War to unpack the explosive legal and political debates surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza.
🔥 With over 20 books and 400 articles to his name, Schabas walks us through:
What legally constitutes genocide under the 1948 Convention
How intent is proven in international courts
Why the ICJ is now handling four major genocide cases
Why Gaza meets the threshold for genocide, in his legal opinion
The unprecedented global response — and 50+ states intervening
Western double standards: Ukraine vs Gaza
Whether states like the US and Germany could be complicit
The future of the Genocide Convention in a multipolar world
📚 This is the definitive episode on the politics of accountability and the contested meaning of genocide in a rapidly shifting global order.
🎥 Full video episode: https://youtu.be/OhHavUpazyc🌐 More: https://www.thevoicesofwar.com📬 Substack: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com

118. The Rules-Based Order: Can the West Defend What It Undermines? with Dr Trita Parsi

As the world fractures into competing blocs and narratives, the so-called "rules-based international order" is under growing strain. From Gaza to Ukraine, accusations of hypocrisy, selective enforcement, and double standards are eroding trust in the West’s claim to moral and legal authority.
In this episode of The Voices of War, I’m joined by Dr. Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and one of the most prominent voices calling for a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward restraint and diplomacy.
Together, we unpack the contradictions at the heart of the West’s global strategy, the shifting balance of power in the Middle East, and why the next war between Israel and Iran may be closer than many realise.
🔍 What We Discuss:
🌍 Why the “rules-based order” is breaking down
⚖️ How Western double standards weaken international law
🛑 What “snapback sanctions” reveal about Europe’s strategy
🇮🇷 Why Iran missed its chance to become a regional middle power
🇮🇱 The real objectives behind Israel’s war with Iran—and why they failed
⚔️ The risks of escalation and U.S. involvement in a wider conflict
🧠 Whether external pressure will liberalise or harden Iran’s regime
🧭 How China and Russia are shaping a multi-order world
🤯 Why Europe is sacrificing its own principles—for Israel
📚 About the Guest:
Dr. Trita Parsi is Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute, founder of the National Iranian American Council, and author of several acclaimed books on U.S.–Iran relations and Middle East geopolitics. He has advised diplomats, policymakers, and civil society leaders on diplomacy, multilateralism, and regional conflict resolution.
📎 Resources Mentioned:
📖 Trita's Books
🔗 Better Order Project
🔗 Quincy Institute
🔗 Trita Parsi on Twitter/X
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:🌐 Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com📬 Newsletter: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com

117. Westlessness Explained: Decline, Division, and a New Global Era with Dr Samir Puri

In this episode of The Voices of War, I speak with Dr Samir Puri—former British diplomat, Senior Fellow at King’s College London, and author of Westlessness: The Great Global Rebalancing—to explore the seismic global shift away from Western dominance.
We unpack the concept of “Westlessness”, which Dr Puri defines as the psychological and strategic unravelling of the West’s central role in global affairs. As traditional Western powers lose their edge—militarily, economically, and morally—new global actors like China, India, and coalitions like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are stepping in to reshape the international system.
But this isn’t a story of collapse. Instead, it’s about rebalancing—and the West’s growing crisis of identity, cohesion, and moral authority. We discuss the rise of soft power from non-Western states, the consequences of Western hypocrisy in conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza, and how hybrid identities, populism, and cultural fragmentation are transforming politics at home.
Dr Puri also reflects on whether a multipolar world could be fairer—and what risks it might bring.
Resources:
Dr Puri’s website: https://samirpuri.com
Newsletter: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com
More episodes: https://thevoicesofwar.com
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