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Disinformation, peace negotiation, information warfare, conflict resolution, fog of war, back channel diplomacy — conflict mediator and peace negotiator Michael Vatikiotis joins The Voices of War host Vedran 'Maz' Maslic to expose how deliberate deception has made peacemaking structurally impossible. With more cameras, data, and AI-generated content flooding the information space than ever before, why are mediators, journalists, and governments more blind to the realities of war? The fog of war is no longer a byproduct of conflict — it is the weapon. Governments, including democratic ones, are intentionally hiding truth from lawmakers and the public. Journalists are being targeted and eliminated from conflict zones — not by accident. AI is being weaponised to manipulate information in ways we cannot detect or verify. And the multilateral institutions built to preserve the post-WWII international order — including the United Nations — are deadlocked and increasingly bypassed in conflicts from Gaza to Ukraine to Iran. In this episode of The Voices of War, Vedran 'Maz' Maslic speaks with Michael Vatikiotis — conflict mediator, peace negotiator, author, and journalist — about the structural collapse of truth in modern warfare, the rise of new mediation models led by middle powers like Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia through the Islamabad process, and whether the world is sleepwalking toward the complete abrogation of international law and rules-based conflict resolution. 🎙️ Michael Vatikiotis has spent nearly four decades in Southeast Asia moving between two worlds: reporting on conflict and negotiating peace. He is a back channel peace negotiator in some of the world's most intractable conflicts. 🔗 Read Michael's SCMP article: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/opinion/article/3351339/blinding-world-lies-makes-peacemaking-impossible-task 🎙️ The Voices of War is your gateway to the untold stories and nuanced perspectives of conflict. Hosted by Vedran 'Maz' Maslic — military leader, life-long student, and entrepreneur. 📩 Subscribe to The Voices of War Substack: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_voices_of_war/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war/ Website: https://www.thevoicesofwar.com

China is sitting on 120 days of strategic oil reserves. That's not unlimited patience — that's a countdown. As the Iran blockade tightens and the Strait of Hormuz becomes the most contested waterway on earth, Beijing faces a question it cannot ignore: how long can strategic restraint hold? In this episode of The Voices of War, Vedran 'Maz' Maslic sits down with journalist and geopolitical commentator Qinduo Xu to unpack China's Iran calculus — the oil dependency, the US grand strategy to control key access points across Venezuela, Russia, and now Iran, and what Beijing is actually doing about it. From China's electrostate model overtaking the American petrostate, to rare earth leverage, de-dollarisation, and the KMT's quiet visit to Beijing — this is a conversation about the real contest behind the Iran war: US vs China. Key topics: China Iran war, Strait of Hormuz blockade, China oil reserves, China geopolitics, US China relations, Beijing strategy, Iran blockade, China rare earth minerals, Trump Xi Jinping, China Taiwan, dual circulation, China global strategy, middle east war, geopolitics. Qinduo Xu is a journalist and geopolitical commentator with deep expertise in Chinese foreign policy and global affairs.

The US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz started today. Iran has promised retaliation. China has issued direct warnings to Washington — and Trump's Iran war strategy may be heading toward catastrophe. In this episode of The Voices of War, I sit down with Dr. Robert 'Bob' Bowker — 37 years as an Australian diplomat in the Arab world, Ambassador to Jordan and Egypt, intelligence analyst with the Office of National Assessments, and one of the sharpest minds on Middle East war and geopolitics alive today. What we cover: → What the Hormuz blockade actually means for global oil prices (Brent at $94 — physical oil already trading at $150+) → Why the Islamabad peace talks collapsed and what it signals for the Iran-US conflict → Iran's asymmetric warfare options and retaliation timeline → The China-Iran war dynamic that could escalate a regional crisis into a global confrontation → Trump's Iran war strategy — and exactly where it breaks down → Israel's influence on US foreign policy → The fractures inside the Gulf Cooperation Council → Why this Middle East war is more dangerous than the 1973 oil crisisTwo red flags Bob is watching: Iran cutting regional oil exports — and China placing naval escorts alongside its tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. If either happens, this goes global. About Dr. Robert 'Bob' Bowker Dr. Bowker served 37 years as an Australian diplomat in the Arab world — Ambassador to Jordan, Egypt, and non-resident Ambassador to Syria, Libya, Tunisia, and Sudan. He served at the UN's relief agency in Gaza and Jerusalem, spent a decade as an academic at the ANU Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, and worked as an intelligence analyst with the Office of National Assessments. He is the author of six books on the region, including his memoir Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots. 🎙️ The Voices of War is your gateway to the untold stories and nuanced perspectives of conflict. Hosted by Vedran 'Maz' Maslic — military leader, life-long student, and entrepreneur. 📩 Subscribe to The Voices of War Substack: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_voices_of_war/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war/ Website: https://www.thevoicesofwar.com #IranWar #iranceasefire #IsraelIran #VoicesOfWar #MiddleEastConflict #Geopolitics #USIran #TrumpIran #IranNuclear #IranWar #HormuzBlockade #MiddleEastWar #Geopolitics #VoicesOfWar

The Iran war is over. Or is it just a pause? In this episode of The Voices of War, host Vedran 'Maz' Maslic sits down with Matthew Williams — Willy OAM — former Australian Army crew commander, Afghanistan veteran, and one of YouTube's sharpest daily conflict analysts, with over 225,000 subscribers and 63 million views. Together they break down the US-Iran ceasefire, Iran's growing global leverage, why Israel is the key spoiler most likely to reignite the Iran war, the nuclear threat on the table, China's strategic gains, and the very real danger of a false flag escalation. Is the Iran-Israel conflict truly over — or is this a strategic reset that benefits Tehran far more than Washington?  In this deep-dive episode: 🔴 Is the Iran ceasefire genuine — or a pause before the next escalation? 🔴 Why Israel is the most dangerous spoiler in this conflict 🔴 Iran's strengthened negotiating position post-ceasefire — and what it means for the US 🔴 The Strait of Hormuz: Iran's asymmetric trump card 🔴 Trump and the nuclear option — why a ground war is off the table 🔴 China's strategic gains from America's Middle East entanglement 🔴 De-dollarization and the petrodollar under threat 🔴 False flags, radicalization, and what comes next for the global order 🎙️ Matthew Williams (Willy OAM) — YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@willyoam   📩 Subscribe to The Voices of War Substack: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com/ Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_voices_of_war/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war/ Website: https://www.thevoicesofwar.com   #IranWar #IranCeasefire #WillyOAM #IsraelIran #VoicesOfWar #MiddleEastConflict #Geopolitics #USIran #TrumpIran #IranNuclear

A US-Iran ceasefire is now in effect. Trump has declared Iran's ten-point peace plan workable. But is this peace — or just a pause? In this episode of The Voices of War, military strategist and counterinsurgency expert Dr. David Kilcullen breaks down the Iran ceasefire, the Iran war's real strategic logic, and whether the Iran peace plan can survive contact with reality. With 90% of Iran's navy reportedly destroyed and US strikes degrading Iranian air defenses, the Iran-US war appeared to be going Washington's way. Then came the ceasefire. Dr. Kilcullen — former advisor to General Petraeus during the Iraq surge and author of The Accidental Guerrilla and The Dragons and the Snakes — delivers a sober verdict: the ceasefire is fragile, the ten-point plan is largely incompatible with US and Israeli objectives, and the Strait of Hormuz remains the single most consequential bargaining chip in the Iran-Israel war. We go deep on the Iran sanctions calculus, the US-Israel relationship and whether Washington can actually "leash Tel Aviv," Iran's asymmetric resilience and information warfare, the China-US power shift, and what the rupture of the current world order means for NATO, AUKUS, and Australia's strategic future. A ceasefire is not a victory. A ten-point plan is not a political settlement. And a two-week pause in a conflict this complex is not the end of anything — it's the beginning of the hardest part. 🎙️ Guest: Dr. David Kilcullen — military strategist, author, former senior advisor to the US State Department and General Petraeus.

Is the US Iran war the end of American global dominance — or the birth of a new world order? Former Turkish diplomat and senior NATO advisor Hasan Aygun joins Maz to break down the Iran Israel war, US foreign policy collapse, and the accelerating global power shift reshaping international relations in 2026. Iran news cycles miss the bigger picture. This isn't just Trump Iran posturing or iran nuclear program brinksmanship. It's about the fall of the petrodollar, the rise of BRICS, the failure of iran sanctions, and a geopolitics 2026 realignment Washington refuses to admit is already underway. Aygun's verdict: the US is the most vulnerable party — not Iran, not Israel. Because for America, this is not a national war. It's a government, administration, and military war. And iran resistance is built on decades of surviving with less. What this episode covers: → Iran us war — why public opinion is America's Achilles heel → Iran nuclear threat — theatre or real? → Why regime change iran would be America's gravest mistake → Turkey NATO — what Ankara actually wants from this conflict → American decline and the collapse of US financial control → How BRICS and middle powers are filling the vacuum → Iran attack scenarios and why they're more complex than headlines suggest → What the new world order 2026 actually looks like on the ground For Iran, this is a national war. For Israel, this is a national war. For the US under Donald Trump — this is a military war. That distinction changes everything about how this ends. Hasan Aygun is a former senior Turkish diplomat with decades advising NATO generals across the Balkans, Middle East, and Central Asia. 🎙️ Voices of War is hosted by Vedran 'Maz' Maslic — military veteran, entrepreneur, and geopolitics researcher based in Sydney, Australia.

All 18 US intelligence agencies have confirmed on the record: Iran does not possess nuclear weapons and is not currently building one. Yet the Iran war machine is in motion. The US-Iran war is being justified on contested — and deliberately ignored — intelligence. In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz breaks down the Iran war explained from the ground up. Not through headlines. Through pattern recognition. From the Trump Iran war framing to the fracture between intelligence and political action — from Iran nuclear weapons claims to a cascading, networked Middle East war — this is the analysis the mainstream won't give you. What this episode covers: → Why the Iran conflict rests on a documented intelligence paradox → Two morally justifiable positions — and why neither side can hear the other → How the US Iran war escalates through a networked Middle East conflict → The gap between moral rhetoric and national interests — and who benefits → Why the Iran nuclear program intelligence has been overridden by political momentum → Why miscalculation is no longer a risk — it's now an expectation → The "Unfreeze" phase of world order — and what it costs in blood War doesn't solve problems. It redesigns structures. This is what that looks like. 🎙️ The Voices of War — scratching below the simple narratives of conflict. #IranWar #MiddleEastWar #TrumpIranWar #IranNuclear #USIranWar #Geopolitics #TheVoicesOfWar #MazMaslic #IranConflict #WarAnalysis

Benjamin Netanyahu recently admitted he'd spent 40 years waiting for an American president willing to attack Iran. In Donald Trump, he finally found one. But was this a strategy — or a panic? Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić, one of the Balkans' most incisive geopolitical minds, argues it's neither chess nor grand design. It's a desperate gamble by a declining empire that didn't fully understand what it was getting into — and the consequences may reshape the entire global order. In this conversation, we go deep on: 🔥 Why the US-Iran war may have been driven by panic, not strategy 💵 How this conflict could kill the Petrodollar and birth the Petro-Yuan 🌍 What Europe should actually do — and why it's making all the wrong moves 🏛️ The coup that already happened in America — and why no one is calling it that ⚔️ The Balkans as a microcosm of great power competition — and when war there becomes likely again This is the conversation the mainstream media won't have. 🎙️ Guest: Prof. Zlatko Hadžidedić — Professor of International Relations, Sarajevo; author and Balkan geopolitical commentator 🔔 Subscribe for weekly deep dives into the untold stories of war, power, and geopolitics.

The Iran war is no longer contained. As tensions escalate across the Middle East, Iraq is emerging as a critical battleground — caught between Iran, the United States, Israel, and armed groups operating within its own borders. This episode breaks down the Iran war, Iraq conflict, Middle East war dynamics, PMF Iraq, Kataib Hezbollah, US forces in Iraq, and the growing risk of regional escalation. In this episode of The Voices of War, I speak with Iraqi political adviser Dr Ghassan Jawad Kadhim to unpack what this means for Iraq, regional stability, and the wider geopolitical order. We explore how Iraq is being ‘hit from four sides’, why the distinction between the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) and Iranian-aligned factions is so often misunderstood, and how that confusion could further destabilise the Iraqi state. We also examine the economic fallout — oil crisis in Iraq, Basra oil exports, and the impact of disrupted energy flows — and what a prolonged conflict could mean for everyday Iraqis. This is a grounded, on-the-ground analysis of the Iran-Israel war, US-Iran tensions, and why Iraq may be the tipping point.

Trump, Iran, global order, rules-based order, Mark Carney, US decline, world order, China, Russia, BRICS, international law, and Western decline. This episode examines whether Trump’s Iran confrontation reflects strategic calculation or the breakdown of the US-led order. I look at American hegemony, global power shifts, spheres of influence, and what a post-Western order could mean for international politics. If American hegemony is fading, what comes next?   #TheVoicesOfWar #Trump #Iran #Geopolitics #WorldOrder #MarkCarney #USDecline #BRICS #China #Russia #InternationalRelations

As the fallout from the US and Israel's ongoing Iran war spreads, we examine the broader regional impact, particularly for Lebanon. Lebanese economist and political analyst Nadim Shehadi joins me to discuss the implications of the Iran US war for the country, deeply exposed to the middle east war's shifting power dynamics. This episode explores the complex geopolitics news surrounding the conflict and its effects on Lebanon. In this conversation we cover: 🌍 Why this war's consequences extend far beyond Iran ⚖️ The collapse of international law — and who it hurts most 🔄 How proxy conflicts trap entire populations with no say in the fight 🌐 Two competing visions for the Middle East — and why both carry enormous risk 🇱🇧 Lebanon's impossible position: caught between outside powers and internal fractures 🤝 What a stable Middle East would actually require — and how far away it is 🇺🇸 Trump, the old world order, and the dangerous vacuum being created Nadim Shehadi is a Lebanese economist, political analyst, and associate fellow at Chatham House. He is one of the most measured and incisive voices on Lebanese politics, Iran's regional role, and the future of the Middle East — bringing insider perspective without partisan framing. 🎙️ The Voices of War — scratching below the surface of war's simple narratives. 📌 Subscribe for deep-dive analysis on conflict, geopolitics, and the stories the headlines miss. 📲 Follow us: Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram:   / the_voices_of_war   LinkedIn:   / the-voices-of-war   Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com

Trump's Iran War: Strategic Confusion With No Way Out | Dr. Samir Puri What happens when the world's most powerful military goes to war with no clear objective and no exit strategy? Dr. Samir Puri — former UK diplomat, Chatham House director, and bestselling author of Westlessness — joins Maz fresh from the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, where he sat in the room with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister as the attacks began. In this episode, Samir breaks down why the US is playing both arsonist and firefighter in the Middle East — and why that contradiction may define America's strategic position for years to come. What we cover: Why Israel has a clear objective in this war, and the US has only confusion How Iran is winning the global sympathy battle despite being an odious regime The moment India quietly broke with Washington — and why Modi wasn't told about the attack How the Strait of Hormuz becomes a pressure point without Iran firing a single shot Why Europe is "moving like a snail while everyone else runs laps" China's calculated silence — and what they're actually gaining from this The "forever war" trap: why the US may be policing these waters indefinitely A standout line from Samir: "This is not just a live fire weapons display. What it will show is that the United States is liable to engage in military activities for misconstrued goals — and is not a stabilizing force." If you want analysis that goes beyond the headlines, this is the episode. 🎙️ The Voices of War is your gateway to the untold stories and nuanced perspectives of conflict. Hosted by Vedran 'Maz' Maslic — military leader, entrepreneur, and strategic thinker. Subscribe | Leave a Review | Share with someone who needs to hear this

*** As this episode contains clips from other sources, I recommend watching it on YouTube on this link: https://youtu.be/uenKNmiHP10 Australia has just passed sweeping new "hate-speech" laws. Former Army officer and Bosnia war refugee Vedran ‘Maz’ Maslic warns they could be used to silence criticism of Israel even from Jewish scholars and peace activists. In this solo monologue, Vedran breaks his silence on the Bondi attack aftermath, the "Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026," and what he sees as an escalating campaign to reshape what Australians can say about Israel, Gaza, and Zionism. 🔍 WHAT HE COVERS: • How the Israel lobby shapes Australian politics (ASPI data on political trips, Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism) • Why Bob Carr warned about disproportionate foreign influence on Australia's foreign policy • Penny Wong refusing to rule out prosecuting "genocide" accusations under the new law • How Western allies (UK, Canada, France, Australia) are recognising Palestinian sovereignty and why that matters • Media ownership shift: Ellison family controlling CBS News, TikTok US, with explicit Israel advocacy • Why Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Megyn Kelly have all turned against Israel and what that signals • A Bosnian refugee's warning: "We didn't grow up hating each other. We were manipulated." ⚖️ THE QUESTION: Are Australia's new hate-speech laws genuinely about protecting communities from violence or are they about reshaping what we can say about Israel at the exact moment its closest allies are stepping back? 📹 KEY CLIPS REFERENCED: • Bob Carr on Israel lobby influence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4psBTp6CVk • Michael West investigation: https://michaelwest.com.au/sponsoring-the-gold-coast-antisemitism-junket-for-mayors-and-councillors/ • Penny Wong on Today Show: https://youtu.be/kc-xLKertvU?t=285 • Netanyahu's domestic speech (no Palestinian state): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E5j0CPLZJ9o • Tucker Carlson on Israel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd_LN4fDf6s 🎙️ ABOUT VEDRAN MASLIC: Bosnian war refugee (1990s), Australian Army veteran, and host of The Voices of War podcast. Has interviewed genocide scholar William Schabas, Israeli historian Ilan Pappé, and dehumanisation scholar David Livingstone Smith all Jewish experts critical of Israel's Gaza operations. 📌 SUBSCRIBE for expert analysis on war, conflict prevention, and the politics of violence. 🔗 FOLLOW: Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_voices_of_war/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war/ Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com #Australia #FreeSpeech #Israel #Gaza #Palestine #HateSpeechLaws #VedranMaslic #TheVoicesOfWar #BobCarr #Netanyahu #CivilLiberties #Politics

Is 2026 the year of global conflict escalation? In this in-depth conversation, Richard Atwood, Executive VP of International Crisis Group and host of Hold Your Fire! podcast, discusses the top 10 conflicts to watch in 2026 and how Trump's foreign policy is reshaping global order. Richard Atwood, one of the world's leading conflict analysis and prevention experts, draws on 20+ years of field research across 50+ war zones (Ukraine, Gaza, Venezuela, Syria) to explain: • Venezuela: a dramatic US raid, but no clear ‘day after’ • Latin America: pressure politics over intervention wars • Greenland: how seriously should Europe take Trump? • Europe & NATO: defence burden-shifting and US unpredictability • Ukraine: diplomacy stalled, deterrence doing the heavy lifting • China-Taiwan: mixed signals, high stakes • Iran: regime under pressure, options narrowing • Israel-Palestine: ceasefire without resolution, West Bank escalation • Syria: Assad gone, opportunity or new instability? • Gulf politics: Saudi-UAE tensions beneath the surface • Sudan-Yemen: neglected wars reshaping the region Advising UN, EU, US State Dept and cited by world leaders, Atwood delivers unfiltered analysis on rules-based order collapse, Trump 2.0 impact, and which wars pose the greatest global threat. For geopolitics analysts, policymakers, and anyone tracking 2026 flashpoints, this is essential predictive intel. If you value independent analysis like this, please like , comment, share, and subscribe to The Voices of War for long-form interviews with top geopolitics experts. Resources & Links 🎧 The Voices of War Website (episodes, notes): https://thevoicesofwar.com Full episodes: https://thevoicesofwar.com/episodes 📰 Newsletter Weekly geopolitics insights: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com 📺 Subscribe Long-form geopolitics: @thevoicesofwar 📱 Social Twitter/X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_voices_of_war LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war 📘 About Richard Atwood Executive VP International Crisis Group | Hold Your Fire! host | Oxford IR expert | UN/State Dept advisor 🎙️ Related episodes Crisis Group reports, Trump policy, great power competition: thevoicesofwar.com #10ConflictsToWatch #TrumpForeignPolicy #GreatPowerCompetition #RichardAtwood #CrisisGroup #Geopolitics #Ukraine #Venezuela #ChinaTaiwan #Iran #Gaza #RulesBasedOrder

In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz speaks with Brigadier (Ret.) Dan Fortune, DSC and Bar, a retired SASR commander and one of Australia’s most decorated special operations officers, reflecting on leadership, accountability, and the human cost of Australia’s war in Afghanistan. Dan served extensively within SASR Sabre Squadrons as both an enlisted operator and later a commissioned officer. His career includes multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan, senior targeting and command roles, counter-terrorism operations, combat freefall missions, and leadership appointments within Australian and NATO Special Operations Task Groups. He also served alongside US Tier One special forces and commanded the ADF Tactical Assault Group during the Sydney Olympics. Building on themes raised in the award-winning documentary Bravery and Betrayal and Episode 1 on this topic with Vando and Brett, this conversation explores the effects of relentless operational tempo, repeated rotations, and prolonged exposure to violence on moral judgement and decision-making. Dan discusses how cultural mismatch and partner force dynamics shaped operational realities on the ground, including green-on-blue incidents and force protection failures. The episode examines the conduct and consequences of the IGADF and Brereton processes, including findings later characterised by the Royal Commission as ‘weaponised injustice’. Dan reflects on how bureaucratic risk aversion, strategic distance, and institutional self-protection displaced accountability downward, leaving tactical operators to absorb blame, reputational damage, and long-term moral injury. Rather than focusing on individual wrongdoing, this episode interrogates systems: how wars are managed from afar, how leadership decisions cascade, and how justice, recognition, and responsibility are applied after conflict. It offers a sober, first-hand perspective on command, culture, and the enduring costs of a war of choice. Key Moments: DSC and Bar SASR commander reveals moral compass shift in combat Civilian casualties & how tolerance hardened over deployments Fat Lady's Arms hypocrisy: PMs drank, troops demonized IGADF as weaponized injustice - Royal Commission critique Green-on-blue murders & partner force cultural clashes O6 and below values vs One Star and above interests: Leadership cowardice exposed Healing through truth: Veteran recognition & future lessons