How America Made Al-Shabaab - Declassified

What this episode covers

The Bush administration classified Somalia as part of the "Global War on Terror." They saw a failed state, an Islamist movement taking power, and they saw a potential al-Qaeda haven. What they did next was something straight out of thrilling spy movies. A secret operation aimed at preventing terrorism in East Africa. However, things went South pretty fast and that covert action instead created the very monster now hunting them.This is the story of how the United States 'accidentally' made Al-Shabaab.My Sources:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1G86txCYx548Sf_LTftx-rgUstLOP4qlOUwdZUELkhxw/edit?usp=sharing

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Fatigue, Insomnia, Belly Fat: It’s Not You, It’s Your Cortisol

Jun 10, 2026 ·9m

Is Your Food Killing You? The Truth About Ultra-Processed Ingredients

Jun 3, 2026 ·11m

The Seed Oil Lie: Why Your Doctor Is Wrong

May 27, 2026 ·7m

The Biological Mistake That Causes Cancer

May 21, 2026 ·13m

Aftermath Introduces | The Expert Witness

May 19, 2026 ·37m

Why Scientists Say Stale Bread Outperforms Yogurt Probiotics

May 14, 2026 ·12m

Similar Podcasts

TWS Network Ken Kidney The official home of the WeekEND Show podcast, Declassified and Podcast a Week with Ken and Garrett Kidney. Each and every day, we serve up a feast of entertainment and pop culture fun! The Black Vault Radio w/ John Greenewald, Jr. John Greenewald, Jr. The Black Vault Radio with John Greenewald, Jr. dives deep into the world of secret U.S. Government and Military History spanning more than a half century. Using an archive of more than 3,000,000 declassified government documents as a starting point, Greenewald speaks to some of the most brilliant minds on the planet trying to get to the truth. Moonrise The Washington Post “Truer, but also darker.” This is the real origin story behind America’s decision to go to the moon. The story we learn starts with Sputnik, then President Kennedy’s challenge, and ends with triumph: an American flag on the lunar surface. But in the 50 years that have passed since the moon landing, as presidential documents have been declassified and secret programs have been revealed, a wilder story has begun to emerge. “Moonrise,” a new Washington Post narrative mini-series, digs into the nuclear arms race of the Cold War, the transformation of American society and politics, and even the birth of science fiction, to unearth what really drove us to the moon. Join host Lillian Cunningham (of the Presidential and Constitutional podcasts) as she uncovers a story that has so much to reveal about America -- and about the dreams and nightmares of being human on this Earth. Ancient Greece Declassified Dr. Lantern Jack The podcast that transports you to the ancient world and back, with some good conversation along the way. It's not just about ancient Greece. It's about a huge chunk of human history that the Greek texts give us access to: from Egypt and Babylon, to Persia, to Carthage and Rome, we'll sail the wine-dark sea of history with some expert guides at the helm. Topics will include archaeology, literature, and philosophy. New episode every month.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Declassified?

This episode is 38 minutes long.

When was this Declassified episode published?

This episode was published on May 5, 2026.

What is this episode about?

The Bush administration classified Somalia as part of the "Global War on Terror." They saw a failed state, an Islamist movement taking power, and they saw a potential al-Qaeda haven. What they did next was something straight out of thrilling spy...

Can I download this Declassified episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.