Greg Stoker: Anti-Imperialist U.S. Army Veteran on Gaza and Unlearning Military Propaganda
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- čas přidán 29. 07. 2024
- America is #1 in the world! At imperialism, that is. Greg Stoker, U.S. army vet turned anti-war activist, shares how his military experience in Afghanistan sparked him to examine the underbelly of U.S. foreign policy and global capitalism - including Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza.
Greg exposes the fault lines in both U.S. and Israeli military propaganda, explains what BDS really means, and has a tough conversation with our hosts about tactics and the Palestinian resistance movement.
0:00 - 0:19 teaser
0:20 - 4:35 Intro: An Eye for an Eye?
4:36 - 8:26 Greg Stoker and Imperialism 101
8:27 - 11:52 Afghan War and Greg's Disillusionment
11:53 - 21:43 Palestine, Israel, Propaganda - Oh My!
21:44 - 33:27 "What if you were Israel's prime minister on Oct 7?"
33:28 - 38:56 Hannibal Doctrine??
38:57 - 41:13 U.S. real interests in the Mideast
41:14 - 47:16 Christian Zionism Gone Wild!
47:17- 58:55 Debating Solutions and Greg's Jesus-like hair
#podcast #shorts #army #military #veteran #comedy #usarmy #israel #fridaynightsemites #israelvshamas
As a Jew, and an anti-zionist, as Israel is a settler-colonial state, whatever tactics Hamas uses, is justified. No matter what they do, Israel is wrong.
You don't get to tell people with the boot on their neck, how to move the boot.
❤🎉 ✌️🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸😀
Same!
✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻🍉🇵🇸🕊️🐦🔥
Your voice(and hopefully actions) along with others like you are the key to the occupation ending one day, thank you.
Thank you! Viva, viva Palestina!
In 20 years, I'll be in "retirement," whatever that looks like in this country. I hope to be alive to see a free Palestine and see motaz and Bisan live happy and in prosperity. 😮💨🍉 and see Lama thrive as a leader for her people.
“The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality.” James Baldwin
❤
“Does past violence justify current violence?” In this current context there is no “past violence” on Israel’s part. They’ve been inflicting violence on the Palestinians for over 76 years. My two cents as a Jewish American: any actions by the Palestinian resistance since the founding of Israel is self defense.
Israel started it, and are a settler-colonial state, so any action they take, is immoral.
The Palestinians, "Hamas" have the right to use whatever tactics they can.
You don't get to tell people with the boot on their neck, how to protest.
@@anandasouthard7760 you can tell, they really want to justify Israel's violence, so they do this passive-aggressive bullshit.
It's fucking cowardice.
@@anandasouthard7760 Even without the current ethnic cleansing, the response is the same.
Greg NEEDS to write a fucking book ASAP
Greg needs to be the replacement to run against Trump, I'd actually vote again if that happened.
I think he has said before that he's in the process of writing a book but keeps getting interrupted.
Whether he puts his perspective on paper or not, it's really appreciated that he speaks up the way he does.
I struggled to see what Hamas hoped to achieve on Oct 7th for a while, until I read about the Warsaw ghetto uprising (because it was being brought up) and saw this quote describing the reason those who participated gave for doing it "not to allow the Germans alone to pick the time and place of our deaths". This is why it's hard for us to understand, we've not lived in Gaza under siege, the people who live there probably felt like they were slowly dying and their cause being forgotten, the world simply didn't care, we would have left them languishing for years and all went on with our lives as Israel got to choose when they die, the violence that has been inflicted on the Palestinian is constant, but the world only cares when it's brutal, and I am afraid that we all left them no choice but to escalate.
💯 well put
Exactly! I was with the resistance before but against Hummas ways of resistance thinking that the Palestinians in G@za and the West Bank will pay for something that they didn't do just like they do now. Until I discovered that they pay for it everyday and we just didn't know about it.
Just thinking that it only took the killing of white ppl so that the whole world know about their struggles for 76 tell you a lot about the world. And I'm pretty sure that if there was no resistance in G@za, the settlers would have taken over it just like the West Bank so long live the resistance until Palestine is free 🇵🇸🙏🏼
Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think the Jews of the Warsaw uprising intentionally targeted civilians for slaughter, kidnap, and rape.
If not, comparing the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising to the Oct 7th attack is very poor.
Yeah you get it
@@cameronbeatty8022 No the mindset of that uprising is apt. Hamas didn't target civilians for rape or slaughter, they wanted hostages as a negotiating tool because Israel has their own civilians in indefinite detention at torture sites.
I think the mindset shift to decolonization and anti-imperialism involves the realization that we aren’t doing the work for ourselves but for future generations. The Palestinians have really shown us how difficult and painful that is but also how noble and courageous. We won’t see the fruits of our labor, but if we care about humanity and the future of our species on this planet, we have to be patient, courageous and steadfast in the face of brutal state violence.
Agreed
Palestinians can teach us so much. I have learned many lessons from them in the past 9 months.
It will be most of us reducedto standing how they have to if we let it go so far...
"people hear the word terrorist and their critical thinking shuts down." 100% agree 👍👍👍👍
And I think that's what happened to the dude on the left in this conversation
It's a thought stopping cliche
At 31:16 Sammy asked a really poignant question. I wish we got the chance to hear Josh answer that. I get the sense there is this unconscious bias Josh has that won’t allow him to attribute any success to Hamas towards the larger goal of Palestinian liberation. I don’t think he’s intentionally doing this, but I think that question may have led to a lightbulb moment for Josh to recognize some bias he’s harboring perhaps due to years of propaganda we’ve been fed about Hamas and “terrorism” in general
It’s a tough question because you’re answering for people who are injured/starved/dead, some of whom didn’t or couldn’t consent to resistance. (I’m on the side of, it’s inevitable, a right and a duty. But I don’t want to answer questions for ANY Palestinians.)
@@tethergobrrr that’s a fair point
Agreed. Additionally, a few KEY points were dismissed in this conversation re the events of October 7th. First, Hamas knew of an imminent attack by Israel after October 7th and that Israel was planing to escalate unlike previous aggressions on the Gaza strip. So they acted first knowing that would garner world wide attention on not just the Palestinian issue but also expose Israel as the brutal, cowardly occupation that it is. Second, Israel had plans beyond tormenting Palestinians. The David Ben Gurion canal?!! Third, the events of October 7th shattered the long held self proclaimed narrative of IDF being invincible.
And finally, most importantly, the world especially Americans are now aware of the extent of the influence of the Israel lobby/government on not just regional politics but also international.
Palestinian liberation is a justified cause. However, the fact remains that Hamas are deeply conservative and socially repressive; they are an offshoot of the Islamofascist Muslim Brotherhood. Liberals, Progressives, and Leftists should keep that in mind when supporting Palestinian liberation.
That's exactly how I felt too after watching this. It's fascinating to see the disconnect you can actually see in Josh's mind in regards to this. He's too focused on the micro and kinda forgot about the macro.
Greg is a true gem!
❤💎
I feel like Josh is getting peace and justice confused. That’s why he doesn’t understand that October 7 was critical to moving Palestinians closer to liberation.
Ahhh yes , justifying Oct.7 and then crying about Palestinians killed in Gaza
Yeah it’s completely ridiculous. He identifies as anti zionist but any revolutionary act that defeats zionisn he can’t understand it 🤔 I think he’s a fake left winger - there’s a limit to how left wing an Israeli can get because their brainwashing limits them
Every revolutionary war demands extreme violence. The idea that true freedom might be conquered with minimum or no casualties is a romantic one. The resistance knows that, as they’ve been fighting this war for basically a century. And as a people that is intrinsically connected to its resistance, especially in Gaza, most Palestinians also know that. That’s why they stay, that’s why they choose to die in their homes, and that's why they give their lives to armed struggle.
this!!!!
I friggin love Greg. If he comes across my feed on some random page, I will always stop and listen to him. He explains things in such an engaging, easy to understand way.
Same here. It's amazing how his popularity has grown. Doesn't hurt that he's cute AF but that might be my ginger bias. I'm a grandma, I can get away with a virtual pinch of his cheeks 😂
Non Violence Protects the State.
Greg & Sammy in one video? Insanely based.
The fact that the comment was made that Hamas did not had the objective to free Palestine or strategically won by Oct 7 to get a free Palestine is quite unrespectful. Ofcourse it’s sad so many people died on Oct 7.But do you think Hamas members like killing people? Are you serious? Do you know what that does to a God fearing person? There is no way they could have achieved this unviolently(it has been tried)that’s why their resistance is legal under Geneva. Eternal occupation isn’t legal under Geneva btw. Can you imagine that we did not fought the Germans because of all the casualties that died in the war? Should we have just let the Nazis do their thing? No! Ofcourse innocent people will die. And the number of innocent dead in Gaza is so insane big, and that is not failure of Hamas concerning strategy but expected behavior of an Apartheid regime, as they dehumanize indigenous people.
I just want to point out that the idea that religious people are made less prone to violence by their faith is historically a pretty dangerous one. There have been countless atrocities committed by religious people throughout history, just as there have been countless acts of mercy and grace from religious people. Faith is a powerful thing, but we are only human, and can't just assume that it will automatically protect us from acting immorally.
Yeah I think the guy on the left doesn't quite grasp what is going on. His critical thinking stopped working once he heard Hamas/Terrorist
Greg is freaking amazing! His ability to clearly explain his view points and change people’s perspectives is unmatched.
Gen Z’s got y’all covered.
Oh shit! Big Greg Stoker fan ❤
“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children."
"The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some 50 miles of concrete highway. We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people."
"This, I repeat, is the best way of life to be found on the road that the world has been taking. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron."
-President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 'A Chance for Peace'
Thanks for posting the whole quote. People love the short soundbite, but the whole statement is amazing.
Please interview Dr. Jill Stein!! 💚✌🏼💚✌🏼💚✌🏼💚✌🏼
Yessss best match up ever! 👏 it’s so exciting watching this whole new crop of content creators and communities emerge out of tragedy. I hope everyone continues for years to come even after peace & freedom
The description of Colonial Outcasts as a podcast “your uncle will hate” is so relatable. My uncle was a lifer in the marines and became a defence consultant when he retired. He always seemed like a scary douchebag to me, but since he lived across the country, I didn’t know him well or have to be around him much.
I had to kind of claw my way through the bro-accent and the pumpkin spice logic, but once you accept that's just how this world operates: in very gender-siloed realms - and this guy is someone who can speak knowledgeably about the military - it was worthwhile.
Hms essentially knew what was going to happen, but they overdelivered. Can only judge it from the perspective I’d rather die than live under Israeli torment. So I fall on the side of resistance is a right AND a duty.
Respect that a decision was made for a population including people who didn’t or couldn’t consent to that bargain.
I think they also saw the importance of capitalizing on this particular moment in social media history (which can move incredibly fast), and it worked out in their favor.
The problem with eye for an eye is the assumption is the two parties are equal in power. If this is the case then and eye for an eye makes sense. However, in situations where there is a clear power imbalance and oppression, an eye for an eye doesn't make sense. One, you can't dictate what is a just amount of aggression against an oppressive force. If the oppressed party takes an eye the oppressor will take both eyes and 4 limbs.
IMO, the appropriate amount of aggression against an oppressor is whatever amount of aggression is necessary for the oppressor to stop. And that us NEVER going to be a small amount.
Greg man of my heart. I respect, value and love him. A big hug from Australia.
Really great episode! Love Stoker's no-nonsense style
A pro palestinian in a merciful fate t-shirt.. I'm right at fucking home ❤
I know, right??
Guy on the left is really out of his element intellectually in the company of Sammy and Greg.
I think his perspective is really important. It’s the moderate perspective that can still be understood and reasoned with.
At least he showed up and is engaged.
He sounds like he took bong tokes throughout the interview
I feel like he voiced out the points he did on purpose so that Greg could spell it out for the slow ones in the back
explain why? He made him have to name a certain context inside the free jazz speech of possible repercussions. It gives more of a realistic (time)frame.
Also there is no reason to mention it in this manner, its arrogant. And just this alone hows how 20 year predictions are hard to make now maybe more than ever.
Sorry, both Sammy and Josh are terrible on this topic. Josh is worse. They're spouting liberal garbage talking points. Resistance is always justified when you're occupied no matter the means. If you want to condemn anything, condemn the occupation and the root cause of the violence, not the symptom. Greg is a real one.
It's time to move on from the nonsense of "oh no, scary resistance violence".
Yes this is shocking to hear from a so called anti zionist 😳 He’s obviously not that sickened by thr occupation since he wants Palestinians to sit there and take it. Horrendous!
From Aotearoa New Zealand, October 7th was a successful strike back against Jewish occupation and with the exception of young children, everyone over 18 killed were military reservists
Zionist occupation. Zionism is a Christian movement, specifically end times prophecy. Many Jews, myself included, are anti-zionist.
In one of the past wars in Gaza, a guy did say "If you fight for freedom....do you get it or die trying"
FNS on a Thursday!? Blasphemous but I'll gladly partake early
Aaron Bushnell was active duty.
Veteran here- very relatable story.
Well it's past Maghrib here in Kuala Lumpur, so we are legit in Friday for another awesome episode 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
The guy to the left needs to watch Scott Ritter's breakdown of the Hamas action on October 7th.
When is violence justified? Too easy. In response to unjustified violence. It's antiviolence; you must see this...
You all have a great vibe. Greg is always awesome to talk to. In it for the long haul, indeed. Nothing happens overnight.
The algorithm brought me here after this dude was on the Majority Report. Great talk, guys!
Greg is 100% correct!
Respect to Greg. Seen a few of his videos recently, always informative. Keep up the great work 👍🏽
The guy with the hat lacks cerebral dexterity.
I agree ,who is he ?
Maybe you need more context before you judge. It also is not a match. He made him have to name a certain context inside the free jazz speech of possible repercussions. It gives more of a realistic (time)frame.
Also there is no reason to mention it in this manner, its arrogant. And just this alone hows how 20 year predictions are hard to make now maybe more than ever.
Oct 7th was a world water shed moment. The fact that this guy can’t comprehend tells you it’s way over his head.
Greg Stoker lets gooooo!!
Thanks all! Solidarity ✊
Organize, organize, organize. Mobilization is great. It needs a concerted direction and goals in the best interests of the masses.
Yes!!!! Organize 4 Power (it’s an free online organising course, look it up!) Mobilize with the intent to add concrete structures, or change old structures… like BDS. Setting up the campaign for BDS, building and strengthening the movement and making it accessible and known to the masses. Might have a lot of impact. Of course the students are pulling their weight, but there might be more to work towards on the boycott, the consumer and sanction, the state side of things.
Sammy and Greg ! How awesome and insightful they are !
This guy is just uncomfortable with accepting and admitting the fact that Hamas gets a win here. People like myself have been in this conversation for around a decade. Nothing has moved along this conversation and the push for human rights more than October 7th did. You can be as uncomfortable with that as you want to be, but it is an undeniable fact. Had October 7th never happened, we would be lucky to achieve the global outcry that we have now, in the next decade or more. And not just that, but the idea that virtually all Palestinian movements and organizations are not on the same page in regards to Palestinian resistance and the goals of that resistance is really just kind of absurd. Broadly all of these groups obviously agree at a very fundamental level about resistance and to end the occupation, etc. What happens next isn't of much concern at the moment. People view a group as extremist or as terrorists and they just get really uncomfortable when they learn that what they perceived to be a terrorist attack, actually brought about the goals and the victory that the group wanted it to. When Israel killed many and then expelled 750,000 Palestinians during the Nakba, people were not confused about the win that was for Israeli settlers and colonialists. Resistance is ALWAYS extreme. They don't have the luxury of playing by the rules and being tolerant of everything. They were also brutal when we fought for our independence in the US. The bottom line is that that attack has brought Palestinians closer to ending the siege and the occupation than anything has in decades. Also I am not condemning anything. Last I checked we don't condemn Nat Turner for his rebellion. You had a concentration camp of refugees under siege and occupied their entire lives, and a bunch of settlers celebrating a damn music festival just over the fence. They targeted military installations and planned to take hostages for trading hostages Israel has already been taking for years, including many innocent children, and who with which has had a long history of torturing them in those very prisons. These armed settlers who chose to live in land that was not theirs with the expressed intent to occupy the land and to steal it from people, and literally moved there, are fair targets. They CHOSE to be there. October 7th was more in terms of collateral damage than virtually anything Israel has done since. Israel has killed more of their hostages and more of their people under threat of capture than anyone else has, including Hamas. We have the luxury of judging what resistance does or does not look like from the comforts of our unoccupied land, in our safe homes with totally free trade and freedom of movement. People need to shut up and check their privilege. The truth of the matter is, this is what resistance looks like, and always has looked like. We don't live in a fairytale. Peaceful resistance has been something that has been ongoing in Palestine for decades and it has not only done nothing, but things have gotten significantly worse.
Thank you for this. That guy on the left made me so angry during this video. Who needs enemies with friends like these eh. Your comment has soothed by irritation 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Hat guy must not have barely any millitary knowledge, it is accepted by quite a few millitary analysts that the strategic sophistication and defeat Oct. 7 offered was massive, in fact that is why the lies about it were so massive and the response was so over the top.
Enjoyed that , if your reading this Don't give up , Don't let people tell you its not worth it .
Aye Aye, new Podcast! Lesgoo
The Jewish guy doesn't know what's happening
I wouldn't frame it like that. The disconnect was in the timeframe of their thinking. He was thinking of short term suffrage of the Gazans, instead of what that would lead to, long term.
thank you for turning me on to this guy!!, love him, very smart and eloquent, God bless you guys !
This channel is amazing, you deserve so many more subscribers!!!
This is a fantastic episode. I've been following Greg since the Gaza massacres started in the fall of 2023. It's nice to know a little more about his background and how he became anti-colonialist. The explanations presented are excellent and very informative. Thanks!
Greg came to Oakland!? Wtf, I'm right here damn, thanks putting me onto these folk bout to check y'all out 🤘🤘
My man is not only a fellow Vet, but a Helldiver?! Don't think you can make a crack about Managed Democracy and get away with it! My Democracy Officer has been informed.
Greg and Sammy wtf this is amazing
Great episode! Loved the discussion - it was thought provoking.
Great episode. Love Greg Stoker, been following him from near the beginning of the ‘conflict’.
Greg needs to make a statement saying that he's not suicidal.
Thanks so much for doing this
loved the questions and Greg , as always , has an abundance of insight with great wit . I might need to make a “ no pumpkin spice latees “ shirt for the season because it all seems to start with those damn things 😂
Good thing you guys had Greg Stoker on - there's obviously lots more for you to be informed about - start with Al Jazeera's documentary ‘October 7’ just to get a more thorough detailed understanding of what actually happened that day. That'll walk you through the basics of the operation, after that try Bad Hasbara just for fun :)
Greg is a big guy!!!
It's called Palestine!!! Viva Anarchy!!!
I feel like Josh needs some educating on the resistance. Resistance is justified when a people is occupied!! Talk about the root cause. Idk if they are trying to be mild on here or what. Also what is an israeli peace activist?
Greg is a real one though.
Cool collab!!!!
I get that it was a joke but the eye for an eye bit of Hammurabi’s code was about NOT escalating….
Borne on the forth of July...starting early!!
Another great episode and fantastic guest. Keep em coming 👏🏽
Squeaky chair is really distracting.
Interesting conversation ty
omg omg omg ..this podcast we all needed...
Thanks to CZcams recommendations for bringing this channel to me!
Greg was fabulous 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 The guy on the left shows us the limits of how left wing an Israeli can be. He’s supposedly anti zionist but has absorbed ridiculous notions that violence is terrible even when uv been attacked for 76yrs. Nobody condemned slave uprisings or the Haitian slave revolt. Nobody condemned the Indians kicking out the British or Aborigines and Native Americans fighting off European colonisers. I’m pretty disgusted by this guy right now! I feel like I watched a slave uprising and he is the plantation owner coming on to condemn the slaves for resisting. Who is this guy? Totally don’t trust him. Sami, do this on your own, he is no friend if Palestine
I’m so happy I found this channel 😮😊
Awkward moment at the beginning when the guest doesn't thank the hosts for offering food.
One thing is funny though, how really smart people keep miscategorizing the whole WEST when referring to one single country!
Because the weatr is what used to be referred to as the 1st world.
One of the best podcasts ever !!
Under international law arent occupation powers only permitted to do law enforcement operations in the Territories they occupy instead of bombing them?
Also if you follow electronic Intifada they are showing the PFLP working with PIJ resistance fighters. In decade and a half i have been struggling for palestine i have never ever ever seen momentum like this. The people in gaza were left to languish and die, they had been forgotten about. Most of the people in gaza in the studies (mohamed Shehada did an interview about this) say that oct 7 put the issue of palestine back on the map and it did.
All my favorite humans in one garage
Amazing show. Great guest
Subbed
Where in the bay are you guys located? I’m in San Francisco and would love to collaborate.
Thank you for this video b/c FvCK the 4Th!!!!
#FreeFalastinALWAYS🍉
This just cheered me up.. thank you. 🙏
And also the fucking hilarious name of this channel. :)
Great podcast
Mercyful Fate t-shirt. My kind of person
Great conversation. Don’t love it took 6:30 minutes to get started but still great
Stoker!!
Was better than some podcast with 100k+ subscribers. 👏
Greg 👑👑👑
Invite Blakeley to your show.
Honestly, the more you learn the worse it gets! Great podcast
I love listening to Greg and his unique inside knowledge of the US military, coupled with the sympathetic humanity of a normal human being having an objective perspective.
Yes-Hammurabi’s Code! Nice source!
first 3 min is so crazy lol
You're just starting to take off! Come back!
Thank you for this! Have been thinking about this metaphor of the thread and how we are unraveling a lot of problematic indoctrination and systems. and as a knitter 😊 i am now thinking what are we weaving and reconstructing with these threads. What narratives systems stories ways of being are we knitting once the old shit is unraveled? Thanks again for this thought provoking convo ✌🍉