It’s been twenty years since the March 2003 Iraq War. The country is still unstable. The U.S. has by and large forgotten about the war and probably will only will re-engage with Iraq if radical group ISIS makes a major comeback. Iraqis are now left to themselves to pick up the pieces from years of international isolation, foreign military intervention and civil war. Was the 2003 Iraq War worth the effort? Did a neutered Saddam really pose a danger to the international order in the Middle East? Join John as he speaks with Yale scholar, Emma Sky to discuss this issue.

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In this episode of The Focus, host John Bruni speaks with British technology and investigative journalist Peter Warren about the impact of chatbots and artificial intelligence on society. They delve into the potential benefits and pitfalls of this rapidly-evolving technology, including its impact on employment, biases and privacy concerns, and the need for ethical and responsible development. Peter Warren provides insights into the hyperbole surrounding chatbots and whether general AI is a reality or still a far-off dream. Join them for a thought-provoking and informative discussion on the complex and ever-changing landscape of AI and its impact on our world.

Show Notes:

Future Intelligence Link can be found here: https://www.futureintelligence.co.uk/

A good explanation of the Kardashev Scale can be found here: https://futurism.com/the-kardashev-scale-type-i-ii-iii-iv-v-civilization

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In Season 3, Episode 3, John is joined by professional sceptic & science writer Mick West to talk about the recent Chinese spy balloon shoot-down by the US Air Force…and the shoot down of those 'other things'. Were they also balloons? Were they Chinese? Or were they from ‘out of this world’? Join John and Mick as they go through what the evidence has to say about spy balloons, UAPs generally and the reliability of onboard cockpit data and pilot identification. Not all is as straight forward as it seems. For more info on Mick West, please refer to the following links: 

Sutter Buttes UFO Solved & Balloon Identified

youtube.com

Response to David Fravor "debunking" me on Lex Fridman

youtube.com

Gimbal UFO - A New Analysis

youtube.com

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In this episode we follow up an old story that we reported back when we were a radio show on Radio Adelaide. It’s arguably one of the world’s most difficult issues to grapple with and it comes down to what we in the West value most, money or morality. In the neoliberal age we live in, often also called a post-ideological age, money and profit are the glues that keep societies together. So long as we all value profit, we can all get along. But can we? If we sell out to the great 'monetary god’, are we not in danger of selling out our soul in a sort of Faustian pact? The West has this problem over what to do with totalitarian China. Elites in the West and the People’s Republic like making money and so long as trade and commerce generates wealth for both, everyone’s happy. But when this wealth is generated on the backs of repressed and persecuted minorities, do we care? This problem dogs the the world’s Muslim countries too. In China, Muslim Uyghurs are being persecuted and repressed. In many Muslim countries, Chinese money and good relations with a secular, ‘godless' communist regime in China IS rated as more important than the fate of Uyghur co-religionists.  Join us as John talks with U.S. based Uyghur activist Rushan Abbas on this important issue.
If you want to know about Rushan Abbas’ Documentary 'In Search of My Sister’, you can rent or buy it for a modest fee on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/insearchofmysister 
If you want to know more about the work of Rushan’s organisation: Campaign for Uyghurs, please follow this link: https://campaignforuyghurs.org/ 

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In this our first episode of The Focus for 2023, we look at some fascinating developments in drone technology taking place here in South Australia, at Flinders University. Since the Russia-Ukraine War, drones have been receiving a lot of attention as the 21st Century’s primary weapons/surveillance platforms. But just imagine if we can improve in their capabilities by borrowing from the biology of insects, giving drones ‘instinctive’ sensors, thereby allowing them to move seamlessly in the natural environment. Here we speak to Dr Russell Brinkworth, Associate Professor in Autonomous Systems at the College of Science & Engineering who is working on making that happen. 

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Back in April of this year, we were lucky to have spoken with the University of Portsmouth’s Dr. Frank Ledwidge on the operational aspects of the Russia-Ukraine War. Now, 9 months after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we speak with Frank again to see how changes on the battlefield have changed the scale and nature of the Russian ’Special Military Operation’. Are we close to determining a winner? Can the Ukrainians defeat the Russians? Will there be a peace settlement before things spiral out of control?

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It is often said that the casualties in war are the innocents. In the Russia-Ukraine War, probably the most innocent of victims are disabled children. Unable to flee the fighting on their own accord, they are dependent on their parents, their families, the state and NGOs to get them out of harm’s way. But sometimes, sadly, logistically and organisationally, this is an impossible task. To discuss this less reported element of the Russia-Ukraine War, from Ukraine, we are joined by Halyna Kurylo. Halyna is Director for Ukraine Rapid Response, Disability Rights International (DRI).

If you want to know more about the work of DRI, please click on the hyperlink provided: https://www.driadvocacy.org/ 

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Policing in the 21st Century is no easy thing. There’s the neoliberal impulse to do more with less people and resources. There’s the problem of bureaucratic and legal red tape which never seems to bring timely justice and security to the community and of course there’s the problem of 21st Century technology where crime has been digitised and moved into cyberspace, giving tech savvy criminals the edge over police agencies all over the world. Join John as he speaks with Director of Strategic Solutions at Thomson Reuters and former Police Officer with the London Met, Mark Nuttall, as they discuss the challenges of modern policing.

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Ever wondered what the QAnon phenomenon is and how far reaching its power over the United States body politic? Well fear not dear listener. In this episode we speak with journalist and author Mike Rothschild on his latest book - The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything. I was shocked to find out just how wounded American society and politics is because of this strange and perplexing movement where truth is turned on its ear. Once you listen to this episode, you can’t un-listen to it. And before you say anything Mike is not from THAT Rothschild family. Or is he?

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A lot has been said about Neoliberal economics and its socio-political consequences. In this podcast, we are joined by Cambridge University’s Professor Gary Gerstle to discuss the key themes of his new book: The Rise and Fall of the Neoliberal Order. This is a journey into the dark heart of how neoliberal economics came to dominate economic life, everywhere. But it also a surprisingly optimistic in how we might escape the worst aftereffects of this philosophy.

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