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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

The European migrant crisis of the 2010s is definitely something that polarized politics of the EU. They are still feeling the effects of it. Of course alot of people on the right of the spectrum point to George soros as being a facilitator. And I do agree to an extent. He is a very shady figure. But of course organized crime is also a problem. And the killing of Gaddafi didn't help either.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Yeah, the blowing up of Libya and then Syria triggered a lot of the migrant wave - but maybe you would have got a lot of people on the move anyway...

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Tom Johnston's avatar

F. William Engdahl, a historian extremely critical of the CIA and American intelligence, wrote an excellent article on Soros and immigration in Europe.

http://williamengdahl.com/englishNEO5Apr2017.php

There is a strong aversion by global political elites to a defined culture and religion in any country. They feel that this type of society supports a too radical form of nationalism contrary to their goals of an international homogenized globally connected communities. The international asylum pacts after World 2 still allowed countries to refuse the claims of asylum. The EU has been trying to force members to accept all so-called refugees. The United States is facing this same onslaught by the same groups trying to destroy the national characters of European countries.

The CIA also has a huge role in this primarily to use refugees as a political weapon for regime change and control. Many have described Soro's as a rich attack dog for the CIA. The policies of Soros and the CIA do not differ.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

I'll check out the writer and back on that one...

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

I feel like LA is sort of like the new miami. Because at first it was a predominantly Mexican american city. Then in the 70s and 80s it had waves of Central Americans. Now in the 21st century south Americans are coming in. Alot like how miami sort of became a Hotspot for latin Americans when it was first a cuban dominated town

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Yeah, the LA - Miami comparison is an interesting one...

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

Also a bit of Segway but what do you think about the colombia vs Argentina Copa final and the mayhem in sunrise stadium in Miami. Of course the behavior of the Colombian fans angred people. For good reason. Heck even over here in California. Downtown Los Angeles colombian fanatics got out of control and somebody apparently got stabbed. It seems latino immigrants just bring their stupid hooligan mentality from their native countries. And it's pretty interesting that Los Angeles has gotten an influx of colombians when before they were pretty non existent in LA. You see more of them in California now. I am curious to try their restaurants though lol

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Yeah, the American experiment is in for interesting times. But as a Brit I can't frown on hooliganism too much...

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Tom Johnston's avatar

Yeah my Scottish relatives during the 60's were part of the worst Scottish football hooliganism. They forced them on cattle cars to transport them in international matches and Rangers and Celtics gangs to Europe for competitions. Drink heavily Saturday morning, drunk to the match at 3:00 PM and still be drinking at the match and later at their hell raising pub. Home late and then off to church Sunday.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Ha ha. Drinking and fighting through life and with some stories to show for it. I ran into a couple of authentic hooligans in the 80s and early 90s and they really knew how to strike fear into you...

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Tom Johnston's avatar

Latino's football hooliganism is nothing compared to Europe's football gangs. Search for football ultras and you will read about violence that swept through Europe from the 60's to 80's especially riots that resulted in 52 dead in one incident. The Dutch Ultras of all people were really violent and the English football club, West Ham (The Hammers) were notorious and were even involved in major drug dealing.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Ahh, the dreaded Hammers and their hooligan firm, the ICF. I used to know one (former) ICF turned beat-up skinheads but that is a whole other tale. There is some interesting (and deadly) Latin American hooliganism though. Shit, I am too old to get brick in the head!

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Declan Hill's avatar

Excellent work, Ioan. Thank you.

A note - I did a couple of stories about the early days of the waves of illegal immigrants coming to Europe. Watching the boats come across the sea to Malta and Lampedusa felt like Muammar Gaddafi's Revenge from beyond the grave.

Before the Washington idiots and oil hungry French political class got rid of him, Libya was a secure country. Once, Gaddafi was killed it was turned into a Mafia-run thug state where the good people died, while the pimps, whorish mercenaries and oil executives run free. Enter the African organized crime groups (step forward the Black Axe Mafia) who traffick people across the desert and to the sea.

Now, much of the drive to right-wing politicians in Europe comes as a reaction to these waves of immigration. Gaddafi may have died in a ditch but he must be smiling now.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Great to hear from you Declan - and really useful insights from a time reporting that. Yeah, the Arab spring dissolved into a mess - however, I wonder if the refugee wave would have happened anyway. Ahh, the thought of Gaddafi smiling in a ditch! Best there.

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Daniel Helkenn's avatar

Thanks for this piece. It’s something we hear about all the time, but the nuts and bolts of how it’s actually accomplished, are never covered. The motives of the people making these journeys are always the same, as is the lack of concern by those who facilitate them.

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Thanks much there Daniel. Yeah, that was what I was aiming for in the story - I feel a lot of the coverage just goes straight for the politics without really reporting what is happening on the ground.

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Jonathan Ramos's avatar

Also will you do a story or video on the trump assassination attempt? Or do you feel like you kind of already touched on political assassinations?

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Thanks there Jonathan - it is huge and fascinating issue but there is so much media on that and I am not sure how much I would add - unless I run into some distinct angle down the line...

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Tom Johnston's avatar

If you want to see other discussions about the attempted assassination including the possibility of a second shooter go to yandex.com which is a Russian search engine that does not censor it's searches and type in second shooter involved with Trump's attempted assassination. Also very large private equity investment concerns were shorting the market on Trump's Truth Social the day before the attempted assassination. Stephen Bryen on Substack is also discussing this.

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Jan Mouchet's avatar

The same in spain, in the canarias islands

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

That is very interesting. I looked it up and saw it dubbed as the world's most dangerous migrant route. Best and good to hear your voice here Jan.

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Jan Mouchet's avatar

Well, with a "mothers" boatd, tugs or similars put the small boatd very close tonthe shore, and the rescuers come in no time....sorry dont buy the story pf some media. And very happy for read another excelent article from your pen!

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Ioan Grillo's avatar

Thanks and best Jan

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