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Here is our second episode in an ongoing series where we break down early life and military experiences of ourselves and other anti war veterans, to catalog and understand the human history of dissent and moral injury, and maybe…let everyone learn a few new bits about their favorite podcast hosts.  Let us know what you think. Video version: https://youtu.be/_DojEJ-4tco Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson,  Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Howard Reynolds, Why I am Antiwar Podcast, Kenneth Cordasco, Korgoth, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Talia Lugacy, director and co-writer of This Is Not A War Story, drops by the podcast to discuss the film’s upcoming release.  A collaborate work between Talia, her cast and crew, and a group of anti-war veterans, the film takes to task many of the conventional and stereotypical tropes that are associated with veteran portrayals in films and television. The film will be screened this upcoming weekend on Sunday, March 28 at 5:00pm, at the Cinequest Film Festival, followed by a Q&A with Talia, executive producer Rosario Dawson, actor Sam Adegoke, and veteran / About Face member Eli Wright. “THIS IS NOT A WAR STORY tracks a ragtag group of combat veterans in New York whose anti-war art, poetry and papermaking keep them together, despite the spectre of their friend’s suicide and the ever-crystalizing fact that healing from war is sometimes an impossible mission.” Talia Lugacy co-wrote and directed the feature film “Descent” starring Rosario Dawson, which premiered in competition at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released theatrically by Warner Independent. Despite an NC-17 rating “Descent” was championed by The New York Times as “essential to see, a vividness never seen in an American film.” Talia is a full-time Assistant Professor of Screen Studies at Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts, The New School, in NYC. She is also a member of the Actors Studio Playwrights & Directors Unit, and began studying filmmaking at NYU Tisch at the age of 15. She has directed numerous short films as well as directed environmental PSAs with Frack Action, Water Defense, Mark Ruffalo and Food & Water Watch. Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson,  Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Howard Reynolds, Why I am Antiwar Podcast, Kenneth Cordasco, Korgoth, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

In anticipation of the 50th anniversary of the Pentagon Papers, we sat down with Hedrick Smith, award winning journalist and producer, who was one of the principle journalists covering the initial release of the Pentagon Papers. Hedrick’s YouTube channel – The People Vs. The Politicians Recent video from Hedrick regarding his good friend and famed journalist Neil Sheehan and their experiences in covering the Pentagon Papers. Hedrick Smith, Pulitzer Prize-winning former New York Times reporter and editor and Emmy award-winning producer/correspondent, has established himself over the past 50 years of his career as one of America’s most distinguished journalists. In 26 years with The New York Times, Mr. Smith covered Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights struggle, the Vietnam War in Saigon, the Middle East conflict from Cairo, the Cold War from both Moscow and Washington, and six American presidents and their administrations. In 1971, as chief diplomatic correspondent, he was a member of the Pulitzer Prize-winning team that produced the Pentagon Papers series. In 1974, he won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting from Russia and Eastern Europe. His book The Russians, based on his years as New York Times Moscow Bureau Chief from 1971-74, was a No. 1 American best-seller. It has been translated into 16 languages and has been widely used in university and college courses.  His next book, The Power Game: How Washington Works, was also a major best-seller. It became a bible for newly elected members of Congress and their staffs and was bedside reading for President Clinton. His newest book, Who Stole the American Dream? published by Random House in September 2012 , has been hailed by critics for brilliant analsysis of political and economic trends and changes in the U.S. over the past 30-40 years. For PBS since 1989, Hedrick Smith has created 26 prime-time specials and mini-series on such varied topics as terrorism, Wall Street, Soviet perestroika,Wal-Mart, Enron, tax evasion, educational reform, health care, the environment, jazz greats Duke Ellington and Dave Brubeck, and Washington’s power game. Mr. Smith’s documentary work has won many of televisions major awards. Two of his Frontline programs, The Wall Street Fix and Can You Afford to Retire?  won Emmies and two others, Critical Condition and Tax Me If You Can were nominated. Twice he has won or shared the Columbia-Dupont Gold Baton, or grand prize, for the year’s best public affairs program on U.S. television – for Inside Gorbachev’s USSR in 1990, and for Inside the Terror Network in 2002, an investigation of the Al Qaeda pilots who carried out the 9/11 attack and how the U.S. missed chances to stop them. Along with the George Polk, George Peabody and Sidney Hillman awards for reportorial excellence, his programs have won two national public service awards Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson,  Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Howard Reynolds, Why I am Antiwar Podcast, Kenneth Cordasco, Korgoth, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

This is the first episode in an ongoing series where we break down early life and military experiences of ourselves and other anti war veterans, to catalog and understand the human history of dissent and moral injury..  As usual, Danny is the first subject for dissection.  Enjoy! Buy Danny’s book – Patriotic Dissent Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson,  Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Howard Reynolds, Why I am Antiwar Podcast, Kenneth Cordasco, Korgoth, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

We revisit “The Siege”, an action movie involving terrorist cells in New York City from 1998, starring Denzel Washington, Annette Benning, and Bruce Willis and we couldn’t in good conscience do that without our friend Tom Secker.  Remember that weird time New York City was bombed by Iraqis and Palestinians?  Us either.  However, that means that Bruce Willis will forever be known as General John McClain. Spy Culture – Tom’s website and blog Tom’s piece on Oliver Stone’s Vietnam trilogy Trailer for Tom’s new documentary, Theatres of Command Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson,  Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Howard Reynolds, Why I am Antiwar, Kenneth Cordasco and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

We are coming to you live today for a special episode to mark the 50th anniversary of the Winter Soldier hearings.  We have a great line-up of guests to discuss this with us, to include Greg Daddis, Andrew Basevich, Vince Emanuele, and Jovanni Reyes, alongside our usual Fortress crew of myself, Danny, and Keagan.    The Winter Soldier investigation was a three day summit in Detroit, MI, in February 1971, which brought combat veterans who fought in Vietnam to testify to their personal experiences with atrocities they or their comrades committed, both against enemy combatants and civilians. The hearings was preceded by the revelations of the My Lai massacre, which unlike Winter Soldier, received major media attention and forced U.S. officials to defend their policies in Vietnam, causing leaders like General Westmoreland, the senior U.S. commander in Vietnam, to refer to My Lai participants as “a few bad apples”, a comment that many veterans of Vietnam found beyond disingenuous and, alongside other dismissals by those in power, compelled them to speak out.   It was organized by members of Vietnam Veterans Against The War (VVAW), with many of the veterans who participated having never spoken of their experiences publicly prior to their testimony, nor were many of them antiwar activists before the inquiry began.  It was filmed by a documentary crew and then turned into a film, which is available on YouTube, for anyone who wants to watch it. Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson,  Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Howard Reynolds, Why I am Antiwar, Kenneth Cordasco and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Tom Secker joins us to discuss the third and final film in Oliver Stone’s Vietnam trilogy, Heaven And Earth. “Le Ly (Hiep Thi Le) lives in a small Vietnamese village whose serenity is shattered when war breaks out. Caught between the Viet Cong and the South Vietnamese army, the village is all but destroyed. After being both brutalized and raped, Le Ly resolves to flee. She leaves for the city, surviving desperate situations, but surviving nonetheless. Eventually she meets a U.S. Marine named Steve Butler (Tommy Lee Jones) who treats her kindly and tells her he would like to be married — maybe to her.” Spy Culture – Tom’s website and blog Tom’s piece on Oliver Stone’s Vietnam trilogy Trailer for Tom’s new documentary, Theatres of Command Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Jason, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Bart, Howard Reynolds, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

On January 4th, we hosted a live stream to discuss the verdict of Julian Assange’s extradition hearing (he’s not being extradited for the time being) and the ramifications of the decision, both to Julian and to freedom of speech as a whole.  Steve Poikonen, host of Slow News Day and co-host of the Free Assange online vigil series, along with a few of Steve’s pals, joins us to discuss the verdict and the potential impact to American journalism. Donate here to help Action 4 Assange and cover costs of their trip to D.C. Slow News Day YouTube channel Slow News Day website Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Jason, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Bart, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz returns to the podcast, discussing the premise of her new book, “NOT “A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS” Settler Colonialism, White Supremacy, and a History of Erasure and Exclusion”, coming soon from Beacon Press. Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Jason, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Bart, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Karen Kwiatkowski, USAF Lieutenant Colonel (retired), writer at LewRockwell.com, and senior fellow at the Eisenhower Media Center, stops by the podcast for an in-depth discussion of her career, to include serving at the height of the Cold War, the huge collection of personalities and political bends of her time at the Pentagon, to include the neocons early in the Bush II presidency, her expertise on the Africa continent and U.S. regime change policies there, and her regrets around her role as a whistleblower.  It’s a great discussion.  Enjoy!!! Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Jason, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Bart, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Dr. Ben Freeman, the Director of the Foreign Influence Transparency Initiative at the Center for International Policy (CIP), stops by the podcast to discuss his own intellectual and professional journey, his work on foreign funding and influence inside the United States, the oft-misunderstood role and defense-industry links American think tanks, why we should ever keep an eye on Saudi machinations, and the related prospects for Biden transition team—with more than a few quips and inside jokes along the way.  See his CIP bio page for more details and past publications.  Follow Ben on Twitter @BenFreemanDC. Check out other links to Ben’s recent reports and articles discussed in the interview: JAPAN’S INFLUENCE IN AMERICA U.S. GOVERNMENT AND DEFENSE CONTRACTOR FUNDING OF AMERICA’S TOP 50 THINK TANKS Foreign Funding of Think Tanks in America The Saudi Lobby: How the Kingdom Wins in Washington Nuclear Weapons Profiteers are Driving the Nukes Debate How the Qataris conquered DC while you were sleeping Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Jason, Zach H, Ren Jacob, Bart, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Bill Astore, a retired Lieutenant Colonel (USAF), professor of history, one of TomDispatch’s regular contributors, and a senior fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, stops by the podcast to discuss his career in the Air Force as an engineering officer, his family history of military service, the inherent problems in the American ideals of exceptionalism and hero worship, and the powerful, but often forgotten anti-war history of George McGovern.  You can find his personal blog at BracingViews.com. Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Tristan Oliver, Daniel Fleming, Michael Caron, Jason, Zach H, Ren Jacob, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Ali Soufan, former FBI agent who investigated al Qaeda in the late 1990’s up to and including the 9/11 attacks, chairman and CEO of The Soufan Group, and author of several great works, including the recent second edition of “The Black Banners”, now completely unredacted, stops by the podcast to discuss his work as a federal agent, his portrayal in The Looming Tower (both the award winning book by Lawrence Wright and the Hulu limited series), his youth in Lebanon and how he was dared to apply for an opening as a FBI agent, his thoughts on the Global War on Terror and how U.S. military operations have changed the “landscape” of the Middle East, the long journey of fighting to unredact The Black Banners, and a whole lot more. Ali Soufan is Chairman and CEO of The Soufan Group, and a leading national security and counterterrorism expert.  Previously, as an FBI Supervisory Special Agent, he investigated and supervised complex international terrorism cases, including the East Africa embassy bombings, the attack on the USS Cole, and the events surrounding 9/11. He also serves as a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council.  He is the author of Anatomy of Terror: From the Death of bin Laden to the Rise of the Islamic State and the New York Times top-10 bestseller The Black Banners: The Inside Story of 9/11 and the War Against al-Qaeda, which won the 2012 Ridenhour Book Prize. Ali has testified before the U.S. Congress and the British Parliament’s Home Affairs Committee. He’s also contributed to and been profiled and interviewed by 60 Minutes, Frontline, The New Yorker, Newsweek, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal, among others – and also appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, and the BBC.  Many of our book and film buff listeners have probably seen his work detailed in several nonfiction books, including The Looming Tower, by Lawrence Wright, which was adapted into a 10-part Hulu series in 2018. Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Lawrence Taylor, Tristan Oliver, Marwan Marwan, Daniel Fleming and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Chris Lombardi, editor at Democratic Left Online, stops by the podcast to discuss her new book “I Ain’t Marching Anymore: Dissenters, Deserters, and Objectors to America’s Wars”.  It’s an amazing history of military dissenters, conscientious objectors, and their hard, but determined path of dissent. She will be hosting a live stream on Nov 10, 2020, at 4pm PST.  Click here to register for the event! Journalist Chris Lombardi has been writing about war and peace for more than twenty years. Her work has appeared in The Nation, Guernica, the Philadelphia Inquirer, ABA Journal, and at WHYY.org. The author of I Ain’t Marching Anymore: Dissenters, Deserters, and Objectors to America’s Wars (The New Press), she lives in Philadelphia. Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Lawrence Taylor, Tristan Oliver, Marwan Marwan, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

It all comes down to this.  After around 18 months of speculation and primaries, the election is Tuesday.  The country is at a crossroads of immense proportions.  And to add to the leftist/progressive discussion and atmosphere of the 2020 presidential election, here is an analysis of the critical points of Joe Biden’s record concerning foreign policy anda brief examination of his domestic record relating to racial justice, to include a half dozen sound clips from the man himself.  This was a difficult episode to create, given the polarizing nature of Biden’s record and American politics today more generally, and it will be difficult to hear as well.  Please email us with your comments, let us know where you fall, whether you agree or disagree, and be sure to vote on Tuesday! Worth The Price: Joe Biden and the launch of the Iraq War – The Real News Network Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Lawrence Taylor, Tristan Oliver, Marwan Marwan, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Coleen Rowley, retired FBI agent and whistleblower on the FBI’s inaction prior to and following September 11, 2001, joins us for a discussion on her career history to include her time conducting racketeering investigations in NYC, her role as a whistleblower in the FBI during the Bush administration, her thoughts on nonviolent alternatives to state violence, and a whole lot more.  Enjoy!! Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Lawrence Taylor, Tristan Oliver, Marwan Marwan, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

We take a pause from the insanity of the election and a commander in chief with COVID-19 (remind me to thank him for endangering the staff at Walter Reed, as well as the permanent staff at the WH!) to discuss the recent explosion in Lebanon and America’s long intervention history there.  We break down some of the myths from Danny’s series and give everyone a good picture of where Lebanon is today and how American foreign policy took it there.  Below is the links for Danny’s series on Lebanon.  Enjoy!!! Lebanon: Bellwether, Battleground, and Bastard Child of the Mideast Lebanon: The Top Ten Myths About the Country and Its Conflicts Lebanon: The Top Ten Myths About the Country and its Conflicts (Part Two) Lebanon: Inconvenient Truths About Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, and the Shia ‘Street’ Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Lawrence Taylor, Tristan Oliver, Marwan Marwan, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Christian Sorenson stops by the podcast to discuss his new book “Understanding the War Industry”, a detailed look at contracting within the U.S. military industrial complex and how its giant war chest gets funneled to an endless list of contractors, without question to its necessity or what could have been purchased in its place.  Christian writes at ibpoffices.com, and he’s on Twitter @cp_sorensen Everyone from libertarians to mainstream liberals to anarchists utters the words “military-industrial complex,” often as a catchall for murky forces that press the U.S. government into war. But what is this complex? More accurately rendered as the “military-industrial-congressional complex,” it is comprised of the Pentagon, the headquarters of the U.S. Armed Forces; industry, the corporations that sell goods and services to the Pentagon and allied governments; and Congress, which authorizes funding for the Pentagon to purchase industry’s products. Large corporations—the “industrial” side—steer the triangle. Understanding the War Industry is a critical examination of corporate influence on matters of war. The book throws back the veil on how the corporations comprising the U.S. war industry wield authority and exploit financial structures and legal code. Sorensen demonstrates how corporate aggressors profit through such business sectors of war as information technology, nuclear weaponry, drones, space, and special operations. Sales to foreign governments (“foreign military sales,” or FMS) provide a major source of revenue for U.S. war corporations. Large swaths of U.S. academia function as part of the war industry instead of advancing the public’s understanding of the world or incubating innovation that benefits human progress. Other revelations within Understanding the War Industry include insight into how corporate boardrooms view the troops, overseas bases, and warzones. Understanding the War Industry can be read as a call for peaceful mobilization or as a detailed journey covering the ins and outs of corporate dominance. Drawing upon an impressive body of research, Sorensen demonstrates how industry commands the other two sides of the military-industrial-congressional triangle and how it subverts democracy in the process. Stunning in its depth and analytical perspective, Understanding the War Industry instructs the reader about the state of the nation and offers hope for a future in which “national security” involves caring for the public instead of waging elective global war. Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page.  Alternatively, you can click here: https://lovethepodcast.com/fortressonahill Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Lawrence Taylor, Tristan Oliver, Marwan Marwan, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

Steve Poikonen, host of Slow News Day and co-host of the Free Assange online vigil series, joins us for a discussion on all things Julian Assange (FYI: this was recorded before the recent hearings on Julian’s extradition from the U.K.)  We discuss Steve’s view of NAFTA-driven neoliberalism in his childhood home of Elwood, IN, how the fallout from Chelsea Manning’s leaks made life better for all whistleblowers, even if just on paper, and of course, on the importance of Julian Assange’s actions as a publisher and how important unvarnished views of government activity are to activists who call out government criminality.    Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page. Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Lawrence Taylor, Tristan Oliver, Marwan Marwan, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

It’s here folks!!  Danny’s new book is out first thing tomorrow.  You can find it right here at Heyday Books.  For this episode, Danny and I broke down the book a bit, discussing the differences between Ghost Riders of Baghdad (Danny’s first book.  Get it here) and Patriotic Dissent, and even a few tidbits on the podcast itself, and a whole lot more.  Enjoy!!! Let me guess.  You’re enjoying the show so much, you’d like to leave us a review?!  Click here for Stitcher.  Click here for Apple Podcasts.  Click here for our Facebook page. Email us at fortressonahill@gmail.com Check out our t-shirt store on Spreadshirt.com Not a contributor on Patreon? You’re missing out on amazing bonus content! Sign up to be one of our patrons today! – www.patreon.com/fortressonahill A special thanks to our Patreon honorary producers – Will Ahrens, Fahim Shirazee, James O’Barr, Adam Bellows, Eric Phillips, Paul Appell, Julie Dupris, Thomas Benson, Emma P, Janet Hanson, Lawrence Taylor, Tristan Oliver, Marwan Marwan, and the Statist Quo Podcast.  You all are the engine that helps us power the podcast.  Thank you so much!!! Not up for something recurring like Patreon, but want to give a couple bucks?!  Visit Paypal.me/fortressonahill to contribute!! Fortress On A Hill is hosted, written, and produced by Chris ‘Henri’ Henrikson, Danny Sjursen, and Keagan Miller. Intro / outro music “Fortress on a hill” written and performed by Clifton Hicks.  Clifton’s Bandcamp page; Clifton’s Patreon page Cover and website art designed by Brian K. Wyatt Jr. of B-EZ Graphix Multimedia Marketing Agency in Tallehassee, FL Note: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts alone, expressed in an unofficial capacity, and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.