In this latest thought-provoking episode of The Watchdog, esteemed academic and public intellectual David Miller returns, this time delving into the covert tactics used by the powerful Israel Lobby to silence advocates for Palestinian rights. Drawing upon firsthand experience, Miller exposes the systematic campaign to force him out of Bristol University and the weaponization of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism to stifle dissent. He reveals how academics who have dared to speak out against the Israeli government’s policies towards Palestine face severe repercussions, including threats of termination and professional blacklisting.
On Ukraine, Miller and Lowkey discuss the insidious influence of the Center for Countering Disinformation, funded by the US State Department. Miller exposes their published list of individuals to be prosecuted as war criminals in relation to the conflict in Ukraine, raising alarm bells about potential harm and abuse of power. He uncovers disturbing connections between the Ukrainian government and the Peacemaker kill list website, which enjoys support from NATO, US, and UK, including organizations funded by the State Department and the National Endowment for Democracy. Shockingly, NATO’s Center of Excellence on strategic communications and Western propaganda experts advise the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, revealing a web of geopolitical interests at play.
But the revelations don’t end there. Miller sheds light on the British military’s involvement in propaganda and misinformation through the enigmatic 77th Brigade, which has been training Ukrainian special forces. The conflict of interest concerns raised by MP Tobias Elwood’s dual role as a member of parliament and part of the Ministry of Defense adds another layer of intrigue to this complex geopolitical puzzle.
In this captivating episode of The Watchdog, Miller presents the murky and sometimes disturbing realities of modern propaganda campaigns, exposing the multifaceted tactics and connections involved in the conflicts in Israel-Palestine and Ukraine, and much more.
Lowkey is a British-Iraqi hip-hop artist, academic, political campaigner, and a MintPress video and podcast host. As a musician, he has collaborated with the Arctic Monkeys, Wretch 32, Immortal Technique, and Akala. He is a patron of Stop The War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Racial Justice Network, and The Peace and Justice Project founded by Jeremy Corbyn.