Dr. Daniele Ganser: Geopolitics and Covert Action

This video discusses geopolitics and covert actions, including the interaction of nation-states, the distribution of global power, and the role of secret operations in international conflicts. It emphasizes the importance of understanding these dynamics in order to strive for peace in the world.

[00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflYmbKSV-s&list=PLJ66jnKkCnrzAzNowE8C_6SPU3WaXm4lx&index=14&t=0) Geopolitics refers to the interaction of nation-states on a global scale, with historians examining the actors involved and their influence.
- Geopolitics is the combination of "geo" meaning the world and "politics" which encompasses various issues.
- Historians traditionally view the nation-state as the primary actor in geopolitics.
- Geopolitics involves the interaction of all nation-states on Earth, with approximately 200 nation-states in existence.
- The number most commonly mentioned in newspapers is 193, which represents the United Nations member states.
[06:11](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflYmbKSV-s&list=PLJ66jnKkCnrzAzNowE8C_6SPU3WaXm4lx&index=14&t=371.919) This section discusses global power structures and the analysis of geopolitics.
- The biggest country on Earth is Russia, followed by China.
- The United States is the most powerful country due to its dominance in military affairs, with the most aircraft carriers and highest defense spending.
- The United States holds the record for bombing other countries in the last 70 years.
- Within the big five countries (US, Russia, China, France, and Great Britain), the United States is the strongest, making it an empire.
[12:24](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflYmbKSV-s&list=PLJ66jnKkCnrzAzNowE8C_6SPU3WaXm4lx&index=14&t=744.8) The speaker discusses the presence of US military bases around the world and the lack of coverage in mainstream media.
- The speaker mentions that the US has military bases in approximately 40 countries.
- They question why the US has bases in countries like Afghanistan, Japan, Germany, and Amsterdam.
- The speaker suggests that the term "US empire" is avoided in media due to information warfare.
- They mention that the Swiss media avoids using the term "US empire" to avoid trouble with the United States.
[18:38](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflYmbKSV-s&list=PLJ66jnKkCnrzAzNowE8C_6SPU3WaXm4lx&index=14&t=1118.32) The video discusses how foreign policy and wars are often driven by nations' desire for influence, resources, and profit, which goes against the basic rule of not attacking another country.
- The UN's rule, established in 1945, prohibits one country from attacking another.
- Despite this rule, wars still occur as nations seek to gain influence, control resources, and make money.
- The five members of the UN Security Council, including the UK and France, have waged wars without being held accountable.
- The UN was created after World War II, the deadliest conflict in history, with 60 million people dead.
[24:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflYmbKSV-s&list=PLJ66jnKkCnrzAzNowE8C_6SPU3WaXm4lx&index=14&t=1490.559) The distribution of power in the United Nations Security Council allows the five permanent members to take actions without punishment.
- In 1990, Saddam Hussein violated the United Nations Charter by invading Kuwait.
- The Security Council condemned the war and authorized an international army to push Saddam out of Kuwait.
- Iraq was then put under an embargo, resulting in the suffering and death of many Iraqi children.
- Madeleine Albright, the US Secretary of State, controversially stated that the price of the embargo was worth it.
[31:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflYmbKSV-s&list=PLJ66jnKkCnrzAzNowE8C_6SPU3WaXm4lx&index=14&t=1864.08) The majority of people across all countries and classes want peace and do not want war.
- The United Nations does not effectively work towards peace.
- A strong Secretary General, like Kofi Annan, would be beneficial.
- The Secretary General should publicly declare illegal wars and call upon nations to refrain from them.
[37:16](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflYmbKSV-s&list=PLJ66jnKkCnrzAzNowE8C_6SPU3WaXm4lx&index=14&t=2236.56) Secret operations or secret wars are illegal, but they exist and have historical proof.
- Secret operations are illegal according to the UN charter, but they still occur.
- The speaker shares his personal experience as a student researching the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Fidel Castro's rise to power in Cuba in 1959 led to secret operations by the US to remove him.
[43:29](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VflYmbKSV-s&list=PLJ66jnKkCnrzAzNowE8C_6SPU3WaXm4lx&index=14&t=2609.359) The CIA is secretly arming radical Muslims to overthrow Assad in Syria, but the empire doesn't care about the group they arm.
- The CIA is providing money and weapons to radical Muslims to overthrow Assad.
- The CIA claims it's just an internal war in Syria when questioned about their actions.
- Special forces, like the Green Berets, are used by the US empire to enter countries illegally and fight behind enemy lines.
- The war in Syria started as a secret war but has now turned into an open war with bombings by both Obama and Trump.