logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2023
1h 1m

What is Exercise Flintlock?

iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Since 2005 -- officially -- the United States has conducted a training program known as Exercise Flintlock. This program, which has multiple partners in various roles, aims to educate and prepare forces in Africa's Sahel region against the growing threat of non-state actors and terrorists. Proponents argue it saves lives. Critics allege it's another School of the Americas... and that the US may well be creating the same villains it claims to fight.

They don't want you to read our book.: https://static.macmillan.com/static/fib/stuff-you-should-read/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Is Your Intuition A Form Of Time Travel?
We've all experienced it: a moment of sudden, unexplained certitude: go left, not right, says a voice in your head; stay home from work today, or pause a second longer at this traffic light. For most of us, these small, inexplicable moments come and go. But why do they exist? In ... Show More
1h 4m
Jan 15
Listener Mail: Faith Healing, Christmas Conspiracies, Africville, a Letter from Malaysia, and More
It's our first listener mail segment of 2026! The Grease Weasel gives an inside look at faith healing. Bonita C. provides more context on the terrifying hidden history of Africville. Alpha Flight and Betty share strange Christmas stories. Inspired by Noah, the guys vow to do a fu ... Show More
56m 37s
Jan 14
The True Story of Tsantsas, or "Shrunken Heads"
Have you ever heard the story of "shrunken heads"? In the West, a ton of people sadly associate this with their own self-centric pop-culture experiences. However -- as Ben, Matt and Noel discover in tonight's episode -- the ancient practice of creating tsantsas is far more fascin ... Show More
58m 10s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
Stranger Danger: Moral Panic, White Childhood Innocence, & the American Carceral State With Paul Renfro
tail spinning
1h 55m
Oct 2022
In and Around War(s): Season 1, Episode 1: War And Terrorism
The years 2000 started with the so-called ‘global war on terror’, in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The use of armed force against non-state armed groups labelled as ‘terrorists’ has, over the years, become more and more common — and continues to pose important legal and ethi ... Show More
31m 25s
Apr 2022
EP279: Finding New Purpose By Joining the Army in my 40's and Are Pro Wrestlers Athletes?
<p>On this episode of <em>Our American Stories</em>, <strong>Ken Scar</strong> tells us how he decided to join the army during the War on Terror and how he left with an appreciation for life and the art of photography. <strong>Riley Evans</strong>, sports writer and CEO of RealPo ... Show More
38m 14s
Jan 2022
Operation Boulder
Since 9/11, US governmental agencies have poured millions of dollars into spying on Arabs, Muslims and Arab Americans. Their surveillance has changed countless lives as ordinary citizens all over the country were interrogated, arrested or had their homes raided.But this didn't st ... Show More
36m 59s
Jan 2023
The WWII Tragedy America Chose to Forget
<p>On this episode of <em>Our American Stories</em>, because of the devastating nature of the attack, the U.S. government chose to keep the details of this attack hushed. Grove City College PoliSci professor <strong>Paul Kengor</strong> brings us the details through the eyes of S ... Show More
7m 59s
Jan 2023
America’s First Real Life Superhero
<p>On this episode of <em>Our American Stories</em>, former Air Force Captain and Air Force OSI Special Agent <strong>Vince Benedetto</strong> shares his story of going to a school to teach students about why we honor our veterans. But to understand why, we have to understand who ... Show More
19m 28s
Mar 2020
The Confrontation
Welcome to what is possibly the most tense and uncomfortable summer program in America! The Boston-based program aims to teach the next generation the real truth about race, and may provide some ideas for the rest of us about the right way to confront someone to their face. | To ... Show More
51m 44s
Jul 2023
Why We Fight
<p>We often suppose that wars are fought over things like resources, border disputes, and ideologies. My guest calls this "the spreadsheet approach to war" and argues that, in reality, such factors only come in as justifications for the much deeper drives at play.</p><p>Mike Mart ... Show More
46m 11s