Vice Season 2 Episode 5 Terrorist University and Armageddon Now

The fifth episode of Vice's second season takes on two separate yet equally disturbing topics on a global scale. The first half of the episode, titled "Terrorist University," delves into the world of jihadist training camps in Syria. Correspondent Vikram Gandhi travels to the war-torn country to investigate the training and indoctrination of young men who are being groomed as the next generation of terrorists.

Gandhi is able to gain access to one of the camps and is shown the extensive training regimen that the participants go through, including weapons training and ideological brainwashing. He speaks to some of the men who have been indoctrinated, some of whom admit to being forced to join and others who are there willingly. The episode also explores the financing and support networks for these camps, highlighting the role that foreign governments and wealthy individuals play in fueling the jihadist movement.

The second half of the episode, titled "Armageddon Now," tackles the topic of nuclear proliferation and the threat of a nuclear apocalypse. Correspondent Ben Anderson speaks to experts in the field and visits the sites of former nuclear tests to paint a picture of how devastating a nuclear war would be. He also looks at the current state of nuclear weapons technology and the potential for nuclear accidents and mishaps.

Anderson visits North Korea, a country notorious for its nuclear ambitions, and speaks with citizens and government officials about the country's nuclear program. He also visits the United States, where he meets with former Secretary of Defense William Perry, who delivers a dire warning about the potential for a nuclear catastrophe.

Overall, "Terrorist University" and "Armageddon Now" are two sobering and urgent topics that the episode tackles with nuance and depth. The episode raises important questions about the roots of terrorism and the dangers of nuclear weapons, leaving the viewer with a sense of urgency to address these global issues.