Libyan and Syrian Revolution with Matthew VanDyke

Episode 142 : Media Mayhem

Episode Synopsis

The Libyan and Syrian Revolutions are discussed with former American combatant Matthew VanDyke. Having spent extensive time in North Africa and the Middle East, VanDyke shares his experience as a Freedom Fighter and POW in Libya, his take on the cultural stage for women’s rights in the Muslim world, the truth about Benghazi, and footage from his film, NOT ANYMORE: A STORY OF REVOLUTION with Media Mayhem.

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Guest Bio

Matthew VanDyke is an American documentary filmmaker and former journalist. He gained notoriety during the Libyan civil war as a foreign fighter on the side of the uprising and as a prisoner of war.

As a journalist and documentary filmmaker, VanDyke traveled throughout North Africa and the Middle East by motorcycle from 2007–2011. His experiences and observations during these four years led him to join the Libyan civil war as a rebel fighter. VanDyke has publicly announced his support of revolutions in the Arab world, and stated his intention to assist them using a variety of means, including participating as an armed combatant.

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Episode Breakdown

00:01 Welcome to Media Mayhem.

00:50 Introducing Matthew VanDyke.

03:00 VanDyke’s experiences as a war correspondent in Iraq.

08:40 VanDyke as a freedom fighter and POW in the Libyan Civil War.

14:00 Revolution in the Middle East, democracy, and fighting and reporting in the Arab Spring.

19:00 Clip: “Not Anymore: A Story Of Revolution.”

24:00 Which side would the U.S. provide aid to in war-torn Syria and would they welcome the assistance?

31:00 The role of reporters in covering women’s rights in Syria as opposed to Afghanistan.

39:30 VanDyke’s take on Benghazi, and how Americans only got part of the truth.

44:00 Thanks and goodbye.

 

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Hosted By

Allison Hope Weiner was a Century City entertainment litigator before she began writing about Hollywood as a journalist. A graduate of Columbia University and the University of Southern California Law Center, she joined the legendary firm of Wyman, Bautzer—where she represented entertainers and corporate media clients.

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