Canadian Intelligence Eh

Quick Hits | So long and thanks for all the fish

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Borealis has had a good run since 2015 - podcasts, blogs, media interviews, etc. not to mention six books on terrorism. It is time, however, to move on. This is the last podcast... for now.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #134 - What keeps French security forces up at night?

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 06:00:00 -0400

France could be seen as the 'birthplace' of terrorism - think the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution of the 1790s. The country has seen some catastrophic attacks such as the Stade de France/Bataclan jihadi one of November 2015. A new report discusses the state of terrorism in France and Borealis talks to its author Alexandre Rodde from the Gendarmerie Nationale

Alexandre is a security consultant specialised in terrorism and mass shootings. His work includes risk assessment, threat monitoring, and research on national security subjects.

Episode #133 - What can ordinary citizens do to stop radicalisation to violence?

Thu, 31 Mar 2022 00:00:00 -0400

When an arrest is made in a terrorism case or, worst case scenario, we are doing a post-analysis of an attack, we often read about a person's 'radicalisation process'. The assumption is that terrorists are made, not born, and that there are signs to look for before it is too late. Borealis talks to Executive Director Myrieme Churchill of Parents4peace, an organisation that aims to help families identify and deal with these cases

Myrieme Churchill is the Executive Director of Parents for Peace. She has over 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist, working in variety of settings and with a range of populations in Europe and the U.S. Beginning her career in France, she intervened with first and second-generation North African immigrant sex workers on the streets of Marseille and facilitated group therapy in a juvenile detention center in Nice.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #132 - Anders Breivik: What to do with terrorist mass murderers behind bars?

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0400

There are two types of terrorists: those who die/are killed in their attacks and those who are not. The latter usually end up in prison for long periods of time. Then what? Borealis talks once again with Norwegian CT analyst Atle Mesoy on the infamous Anders Breivik case from 2011.

►Listen to my previous podcast with Atle Mesoy: Episode #126 - Is it time to revisit the mental illness/terrorism nexus?

Atle Mesoy is the founder of U-Turn, an Oslo-based NGO working to prevent violent extremism. U-Turn is based on research and fieldwork within terrorism and political violence and consists of experts from different backgrounds providing a holistic and critical approach to CVE (Countering Violent Extremism).

Episode #131 - The challenge of running a large domestic security intelligence operation

Wed, 16 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0400

Canada's intelligence agency CSIS has a national presence across the country. That it where the investigations happen and the intel is collected. What it is like to run such a shop? Borealis talks to former senior CSIS IO Dan Faughnan.

Dan Faughnan served for over 30 years with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Canadian Armed Forces, retiring as a senior director general. During his long career Dan served in multiple domestic offices and overseas missions, developing and leading a significant number of operations, as well as transformational projects and programs.

Episode #130 - Should Canada bring back ISIS fighters for prosecution here?

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Some 40,000 ISIS terrorists joined the group in the mid-2010s from over 100 nations, including Canada. Many are still alive, some languishing in prisons or camps, including women and children. There are those lobbying for their return to their homelands: is this wise? Borealis has a conversation with Dr. Alexandra Bain, a religious studies prof at St Thomas University in New Brunswick.

CORRECTION: Dr Bain noted that a returned female ISIS terrorist has been charged and will appear in court in March; In fact she has not yet been charged.

Dr. Alexandra Bain is an associate professor teaching Islamic studies at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Dr. Bain was co-founder of Families Against Violent Extremism (FAVE) a Canadian non-profit organization whose goal is to help stop the spread of groups such as ISIS by working with their families.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #129 - Why 'follow the money' applies to terrorism too

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 06:00:00 -0500

While acts of terrorism are not all expensive ventures, some terrorist groups do manage large financial empires (ISIS is a good example). Just how important is this and how do we detect/stop these money flows? Borealis talks with one of Canada's leading money laundering/terrorist financing gurus Kim Manchester

Kim R. Manchester is the Managing Director of ManchesterCF Financial Intelligence, a firm based in Toronto that supplies online financial intelligence training programs to financial institutions and civil service.

Quick Hits | Who wants to work in national security?

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 20:00:00 -0500

Borealis has a conversation with Jennifer Benmenashe in Montreal on why she wants to gain a position on national security with the Canadian government.

About the guest Jennifer Benmenashe:
After completing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto in History, Political Science and Religion, Jennifer Lauren continued her studies at King’s College London, UK, where she has just completed her Master’s degree in Intelligence and International Security. She has continued to engage in her research interests namely: the Taliban and its ability to retain power, conflict and human rights in the MENA region, and the recruitment of women into terrorist organizations. Jennifer’s focus lies in counterterrorism and human rights as well as in international security and American foreign policy.

Episode #128 - Are incels really a threat to national security?

Wed, 23 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

The most recent Canadian national threat assessment names incels as one of the most serious menaces to public safety. Are they really? Borealis chats once again with the world's premiere authority on these people, the Incel Project founder Naama Kates.

Naama Kates is an investigative journalist and host of the podcast "Incel" which dives deep inside the incel community.

Quick Hits | Terrorism: Canadian Style Eh!

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 14:00:00 -0500

The events in Canada over the last few weeks have made international headlines and even spawned similar actions abroad (France, NZ, the Netherlands). What is it all about? Borealis weighs in on language, intelligence and a little discussed troubling event in Western Canada that could be actual terrorism.

Mentionned articles:
►Gurski: The ‘truck convoy’ is many things but it is not terrorism
►CBC bias on full display in coverage of Freedom Convoy, Coastal GasLink protests

Episode #127 - What was it like to work as a spy in Canada?

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Movies about spies are a dime a dozen - think James Bond. But what is working in intelligence really like? Borealis is joined by Andrew Kirsch, author of a new book "I was never here"

Andrew Kirsch served as an intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for just under a decade. He held roles as a policy analyst and a field investigator, ultimately leading the special operations security team running covert warranted operations. Today, Kirsch runs a security consulting firm, assisting organizations and individuals identify threats and vulnerabilities and implement strategies to mitigate their risk. He was appointed to the Ontario Expert Panel on Cyber Security in 2020, advising the government on strengthening cyber security practices in the broader public sector. He is a public speaker and trainer on issues of national and cyber security. His book – I Was Never Here: My True Canadian Spy Story of Coffees, Code Names and Covert Operations in the Age of Terrorism will be released March 1 st, 2022 and is available for pre-order wherever you buy your books.

Episode #126 - Is it time to revisit the mental illness/terrorism nexus?

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Many people probably believe that anyone who plans a terrorist attack in which their own death is assured (i.e. a suicide bomb) is mentally suspect. And yet research has shown that most terrorists are as 'normal' as you or me. But are they? Borealis is joined by Norwegian practitioner Atle Mesoy to discuss these matters.

Atle Mesoy is the founder of U-Turn, an Oslo-based NGO working to prevent violent extremism. U-Turn is based on research and fieldwork within terrorism and political violence and consists of experts from different backgrounds providing a holistic and critical approach to CVE (Countering Violent Extremism).

Episode #125 - What should Canada do with Saudi Arabia?

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Three years ago a Saudi 'Tiger Team' tried to assassinate a high-ranking former intel official now living in Canada, Dr Saad Al Jabri. When that failed, the Saudis sued the official, alleging massive fraud. A similar case in the US has just been dismissed as groundless: what should Canada do now? Borealis is rejoined by former CSIS agent Al Treddenick to discuss.

Alan Treddenick is a former senior Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officer who was stationed at the Canadian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has more than 30 years domestic/international tactical & strategic experience in intelligence operations and criminal investigations with CSIS and the RCMP.

Episode #124 - Policing a capital city during a major demonstration

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:00:00 -0500

When you are the chief of police of a major city or, more narrowly a national capital, things get complicated. Not only are there everyday issues (traffic, petty crime, etc.) but also national security ones and there are often multiple police jurisdictions at play. As Ottawa is still dealing with an anti-vaccine mandate trucking convoy, Borealis talks to former Ottawa Chief of Police Charles Bordeleau.

Born and raised in Ottawa, Bordeleau began his policing career in 1984 and became police chief in 2012, serving in that role until 2019.

Quick Hits | Now there's a person on a mission

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:00:00 -0500

An interview with Christine Veer, entrepreneur & investigator. She shares a little on her background and why she’s passionate about making a difference in the world of national security, especially counter-terrorism. You can also learn more about her through her Linkedin profile at www.linkedin.com/in/christine-veer/

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #123 - Canada-China relations in the post 'two Michaels' era

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 05:00:00 -0500

When China seized the 'two Michaels' (Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig) in December 2018 it was clearly a retaliation for Canada's arrest, at the behest of the US, of the CFO of Huawei. Canadians were incensed at this violation of law and blamed China for it. A new book on this affair, entitled appropriately 'The Two Michaels', is out and Borealis has a chat with one of the authors, Canadian Press journalist Mike Blanchfield.

Mike Blanchfield is the international affairs writer for The Canadian Press based in Ottawa. Blanchfield has been a journalist on Parliament Hill since 1998. His reporting has taken him across the world, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He worked at the Ottawa Citizen for 22 years to 2009, and covered courts and police for eight years. He has graduated Carleton University twice, with his B.J. (hons) in 1987 and his M.J. in 2015.

Episode #122 - Just how bad are terrorist inmates?

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

For many citizens the macabre fascination with terrorism ends when trials are held and the bad guys are sent to jail. But is that the end of the threat? Borealis talks with former UK prison governor Ian Acheson on what happens after the barred doors are closed.

Ian Acheson spent a quarter century in prison security and counter-terrorism. He also ran the UK government’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, in Southwest England. He currently works as a senior adviser to the US-based Counter Extremism Project.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #121 - A life as a US Special Agent

Wed, 12 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

For some of us a career in intelligence/law enforcement came about almost randomly (or completely randomly in my case!). For others it was a chance to follow in the footsteps of someone admired. Borealis talks to Eric Caron, a 25-year veteran US Special Agent about his career fighting bad guys.

Eric Caron is a retired U.S. Diplomat, U.S. Special Agent, HSBC Middle East Bank Executive and author of SWITCHED ON – The Heart and Mind of a Special Agent. He held senior positions within the Department of Treasury, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and INTERPOL. Throughout his career, he successfully initiated and managed covert operations that identified and disrupted international WMD proliferation networks, terrorism, terror and financing.

►Visit Eric's website https://switchedonlife.com/

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #120 - Killing to prevent terrorism from occurring

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 06:00:00 -0500

When we talk about counter terrorism we mean all kinds of things, ranging from 'preventing' people from going down the road to potential violence to those who actually want to kill. What is at stake when we have to kill to prevent an act from occurring. Borealis has a chat with ex-Australian soldier Shane Healey on these issues and others.

Shane Healey enlisted in the Australian Army in 1995. Between 2004 and 2008 he was a private military contractor in Iraq where he initially trained Iraqi Special Operations police who fought in the second battle of Fallujah which I was also involved in as part of the CMATT program. Shane then reenlisted into the Australian Army in 2009 as a member of the Australian Intelligence Corps posted to SOCOMD.

Quick Hits | ISIS terrorists should be tried and punished over there, not over here

Sun, 02 Jan 2022 15:00:00 -0500

A curious phenomenon has arisen of late: Westerners advocating that Canada and other nations bring back ISIS terrorists. Such an act would necessitate expensive trials, the difficult gathering of evidence and the almost impossible procurement of witnesses. Borealis looks at why these people are almost the equivalent of the 'useful idiots' of the Cold War.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #119 - Could plastic recycling fund terrorism?

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

A lot of us feel good when we put the recycling bin out on garbage day, confident we are helping the environment. But did you know that organised crime is a big part of this industry? Could terrorist groups get involved too? Borealis talks with Virginia Comolli, author of a new paper "Plastic for Profit: tracing illicit plastic waste flows, supply chains and actors".

Virginia Comolli is the research manager for the GI-TOC programme ‘Anticipating and disrupting environmental crime in the globalized economy’, which focuses on South East Asia and central and East Africa. Before joining the GI-TOC, she was head of the Conflict, Security and Development programme at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Now I've seen it all: Sharks as 'terrorists'!

Sun, 26 Dec 2021 20:00:00 -0500

Shark attacks are terrifying; on that I think we all agree. So are sharks therefore 'terrorists'? If a Michigan state attorney can charge a 15-year old school shooter who 'terrified' his classmates with terrorism where does this all end? Borealis looks at the worrisome recent tendency to attach the 'terrorism' label to lots of events which have nothing to do with terrorism.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #118 - A fictional Canadian terrorism plot by a leading Canadian writer

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Terrorism is no laughing matter but on the other hand it has been said it helps to laugh at what frightens you. There are lots of spy and intrigue novels, but what is it like to make them look and sound real if the author has no background in national security? Borealis talks to Terry Fallis, award-winning Canadian writer and author of the bestselling Operation Angus.

A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of eight national bestselling novels including his latest, Operation Angus, all published by McClelland & Stewart. The Best Laid Plans was the winner of the Leacock Medal for Humour in 2008, and CBC’s Canada Reads in 2011. It was adapted as a six-part CBC- Television miniseries, and a stage musical. The High Road was a Leacock Medal finalist in 2011. Up and Down was the winner of the 2013 Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award and was a finalist for the 2013 Leacock Medal.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #117: Veteran CSIS investigator Dan Stanton

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

In the aftermath of 9/11 all the attention seemed to migrate to counter terrorism. That was a big change in the intelligence world where countering foreign spies had been the #1 task for decades. How has this shift affected the way intelligence services operate? Borealis has a discussion with veteran CSIS investigator Dan Stanton

Dan Stanton served for thirty-two years with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, including twelve years as an Executive Manager in operations. Mr. Stanton had a lengthy career in counterintelligence, counter-proliferation, and counterterrorism, with recognized expertise in human source recruitment, handling, validation, and training. A graduate of Queens University, he has an Honours B.A. in History and Philosophy.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | How reliable is Saudi Arabia as a counter terrorism partner?

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi. A Saudi Air Force pilot who had joined AQ killed 3 US servicemen in Florida in December 2019. The Saudi Crown Prince orders the assassination of those he does not like. Borealis asks the question: is Saudi Arabia a desirable partner for the West when it comes to CT?

Mentioned articles:
►Survivors of the Pensacola terror attack speak out
►Bin Salman has blood on his hands that refuses to be washed away
►The Saudi Connection: Inside the 9/11 Case That Divided the F.B.I.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #116: Mayor Brad West on the role of municipalities in national security

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

We see public safety and national security as largely federal or national responsibilities. And yet most of us are more connected with local officials - mayors and councilors. What role do they play in this? Borealis talks with Port Coquitlam (BC) Mayor Brad West about Chinese interference and influence peddling in Canada and other issues.

► Read: 'I wanted to see that room empty': Mayor slams attendees of Chinese-funded reception

Brad lives in Port Coquitlam with his wife Blaire. In 2017, the couple welcomed their first child, Liam and in 2021, their family welcomed a second son, Owen. Becoming a Dad motivates Brad every day to make Port Coquitlam a place future generations will be proud to call home. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria, St. Francis Xavier University and most recently completed a program in Leadership at Harvard University.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Way too many things are being called terrorism today

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

In the wake of another mass school shooting in the US - this time in a city near Detroit - a 15-year old teen has been charged, among other things, with 'terrorism'. The rationale? He 'terrorised' the student population. Is this a good move? Borealis looks at the ever-expanding use of terrorism in very unnecessary ways.

Mentioned articles:
►Gurski: Why 'terrorism' shouldn't be in Canada's Criminal Code
►The hypocrisy of America’s terror debate
►Parents of Michigan school shooting suspect are charged with involuntary manslaughter

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Those that can become practitioners, those that don't...

Thu, 02 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Quick Hits #180 - Why is that some academics dislike practitioners? There are some who think practitioners have nothing to offer and should actually be ignored? Borealis looks at the problem from the perspective of a (former) intelligence practitioner.

► Read Carleton criminology department cuts ties with police, prisons

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #115: Former NSA Mark Ericson - The importance of alliances in intelligence sharing

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Canada is part of what is called the '5 eyes' intelligence sharing club (Australia, New Zealand, UK and US are other four members). How important is this? How is Canada viewed in this arrangement? Borealis talks with NSA veteran linguist Mark Ericson on these matters.

Mark Ericson was a Japanese language analyst and foreign affairs officer with the National Security Agency who retired in 2017 after 37 years with NSA. Raised by missionary parents in Japan, he obtained his PhD in Japanese history from the University of Hawaii and taught at the university level before taking a position with NSA in 1980. Early in his career there, he became the first NSA language analyst to be seconded to the Canadian Communications Security Establishment (CSE).

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | It turns out Canada cannot prosecute returning foreign fighters...

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 12:00:00 -0500

Quick Hits #179 - Joining a listed terrorist entity is illegal. And yet hundreds of Canadians have done so and some are now home... but have not been charged. What should we do with these cases?

See also:
►Canadian woman freed from ISIS detention camp reunites with daughter in Canada
►Second Chance: Jailed Kazakh Islamic State Widow 'Optimistic' About Future
►Listed Terrorist Entities

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #114: Former FBI Brig Barker - Counterterrorism at the coalface

Wed, 24 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0500

With so much written about terrorism these days it is easy to forget that there is actual counter terrorism work to be done. Identifying terrorists, following them, interviewing them, stopping them - this is real CT work. Borealis talks with veteran FBI agent Brig Barker about his years helping to prevent terrorist attacks.

Brig Barker is a proven counterterrorism agent/supervisor/senior level manager, with numerous extended deployments to the Middle East and Africa. 26 years of U.S. government and military operational experience working in both domestic and overseas environments.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #113: Mike King - What is CVE and what does it actually do?

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0500

What is the world of CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) all about? Many acronyms, many mandates, many claims. What is the reality of all this? Borealis is joined by Mike King.

Mike King, a social psychologist working on violent extremism, radicalization, & CVE. Director of Research at Edmonton's Organization for the Prevention of Violence and an Adjunct Professor at University of Toronto .

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #112: Ahmed Patel - Why are many Muslims in denial over Islamist terrorism?

Wed, 10 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0500

The facts are that most terrorist attacks in the world are carried out by Muslims and most victims are Muslim. Why, then, are many in the Islamic world in denial about these facts? Borealis is joined by UK activist and Sufi Muslim Ahmed Patel to talk about these issues.

Ahmed Patel, the brother-in-law of the London 7/7 bomber Mohammed Siddique, is an excellent example of a British Muslim who stood up against religious radicalization. From an outside observer’s perspective, it would appear that people like Patel are authentic actors in the field of prevention work and should therefore be included to a greater extent in British (non-) governmental PVE approaches. Find out more about Ahmed.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Repeat after me: Satan-worshiping pedophile cannibals are NOT ruling the world!

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Quick Hits #178 - Conspiracy theories are as old as time and most are utterly ridiculous. Those who suscribe to them are for the most part harmless. On rare occasions, a person will decide to act on them in a violent way. How serious is this threat?

Borealis looks at the infamous 'Q' of QAnon to delve into this issue.

See also:
►Are end-of-Earthers and conspiracy theorists that dangerous?
►America’s QAnon problem is infecting Canada. What should we do about it?
►Years After Being Debunked, Interest in Pizzagate Is Rising—Again

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #111: James Dorsey - An award-winning journalist's take on the Middle East, Asia and terrorism

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 06:00:00 -0400

There are so many voices out there when it comes to terrorism and what it all means. This makes it hard to know whom to talk and listen to. Borealis has a great talk with James Dorsey, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, a syndicated columnist and the author of the blog, The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | 2017 Manchester Arena bombing: What is working on counter-terrorism really like?

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 04:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits #177 - An ongoing UK inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack in which 22 died and hundreds were injured is raising serious questions about what UK intelligence knew and when regarding this ISIS-inspired plot.

Is the ensuing criticism fair? Borealis provides a former insider's perspective on how counter terrorism actually works.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #110: Archie Alafriz - What we do about about terrorist financing and money laundering

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0400

The movement of money around the world is dizzying. Not surprisingly, bad actors use these platforms to finance their operations. So what is being done about it? Borealis has an in-depth conversation with former RCMP officer and money laundering/terrorist financing specialist Archie Alafriz.

Archie Alafriz is a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who served most of his career in the National Security Program. He is a threat finance (AML/CFT) specialist and a published author. He is a senior fellow at the Global Peace Institute (UK) and sits on the Board of Directors of IOSI Global.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #109: Borealis joins Counterpoints for a wide-ranging discussion on terrorism and national security

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0400

How is the 'war on terrorism' going? What are we doing well? Not well? What are our moral obligations to those suffering under terrorist rule? Borealis President Phil Gurski talks with Conor to talk about this and more - have a listen!

►Watch Conor on Youtube

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Top 10 Dumbest Terrorists of all Time

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 03:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits #176 - Terrorists like to portray themselves as masterminds of violence. Some are pretty dumb.

See also:
►Top 10 Worst Terrorist Group Names
►Top 10 Worst Right-Wing Extremism Group Names

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #108: Vern White on how well does intelligence coordination work in Canada?

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Canada is a big county and when it comes to security there are multiple levels of jurisdiction: municipal, provincial, first nations and federal. How do all the players get along in the national security sandbox? Borealis has a fascinating discussion with Canadian Senator Vern White, former RCMP and Chief of Police in Durham and Ottawa

Senator White has worked with the RCMP, moving through the ranks from Constable to Assistant Commissioner. He has served in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and spent almost 19 years in the three northern territories. He was Chief of Police for the Durham Region as well as the City of Ottawa.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Is Neo a terrorist? Can we reclaim The Matrix from the alt-right?

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits #175 - The Matrix franchise has been around since 1999 and is a trilogy of very cool films. They are full of simulated violence in which humans are battling the machines which are using them to drain their lifeforce. Matrix Resurrections is coming out in December: what do the films tell us about terrorism and what happens when reality emulate art?

►Read mentioned article: Red-pilled: Can The Matrix Resurrections reclaim Neo from the alt-right?
►Watch video version on Youtube

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Why what we call "terrorism" matters!

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 16:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits #174 - There are those out there who want authorities to stop calling Islamist terrorism by that name. Alternatives include "faith-based terrorism" and "terrorists abusing religious motivations". In this Quick Hits podcast, Borealis argues why this is wrong-headed and counterproductive.

►Read mentioned article: Police may drop ‘Islamist’ term when describing terror attacks
►Watch video version: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/why-what-we-call-terrorism-matters/

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #107: Gavin Horner on intelligence vs evidence from a law enforcement officer's perspective

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 06:00:00 -0400

When it comes to stopping terrorism all information should be used, right? It is not as simple as that. In order to charge a potential wrongdoer the data must be in the form of evidence, not intelligence. Borealis talks about these issues with 30-year Toronto police veteran Gavin Horner.

Gavin Horner is a licenced Private Investigator for the province of Ontario. He works primarily in the Greater Toronto Area. He retired after 32½ years with the Toronto Police Service. He retired as a Detective Sergeant and managed the Operations Section at Intelligence. The unit conducted investigations and intelligence probes relating to Organized Crime members and groups.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor are back in Canada after 1020 days detention in China

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 11:00:00 -0400

Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig touched down on Canadian soil on Saturday after being arbitrarily detained in China for 1020 days. As Canada celebrates the return of the “two Michaels,” it’s worth asking what this hostage diplomacy saga tells us about Canada-China relations and global affairs more broadly.

►Listen to The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Should academics tell national security professionals how to do their jobs?

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits 173 - Why do some academics try to tell national security professionals how to do their jobs? Is there no better way to manage this relationship? Borealis looks at the Acorn TV series Outlier to examine how 'town and gown' should work better.

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #106: A conversation with former Al-Qaeda recruiter Jesse Morton

Wed, 15 Sep 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Is it possible to be an 'ex-jihadi'? How would we know? What about state-run efforts at 'de-radicalisation'? Borealis has a fascinating conversation with Jesse Morton, often described as the #1 Al Qaeda recruiter in the US in the mid 2000s and now very much involved in undermining Islamist terrorism.

Jesse Morton was once a jihadist propagandist (then known as Younes Abdullah Muhammad) who ran Revolution Muslim, a New York City-based organization active in the 2000s that connected Muslims in the west to al-Qaeda’s ideology, creating English language propaganda and collaborating with the most notorious jihadist preachers of that era. Find out more about my guest Jesse.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

"There has been hints and warnings" - Intelligence veteran remembers 9/11, 20 years later

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Jeff Sammut was joined by president and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting and author Phil Gurski on Canada Now to talk about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 20 years later.

►Catch Jeff live weekdays from 1-3pmET on Sirius XM Canada Talks channel 167

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #105: Taliban takeover, Incels and New Zealand attack - Chatting with Destiny about recent events

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Phil Gurski joins Destiny for his 4rth appearance on his livestream. They discuss Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover, the latest New Zealand attack, ISIS, Incels, Canada's mass graves and the January 6th Washington riots.

►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

More Destiny:
►Episode #29: Discussion with Twitch streamer Destiny on terrorism and radicalization
►Episode #47: A talk with Destiny - Trump, Incels, Police and more
►Episode #88: Chat with Destiny - Surveillance, Trump's role vs the DC Mayor, Entrapment and wild stories

Quick Hits | Was Afghanistan an 'intelligence failure'?

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 18:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits 172 - Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban and already the fingers are being pointed at whose fault it was. Several have called this an 'intelligence failure'. Is it? Borealis weighs in on who 'lost' Afghanistan.

Read more: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/was-afghanistan-an-intelligence-failure/

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #104: Naama Kates on the Plymouth shooting and what the media gets wrong about incels

Wed, 01 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0400

On August 12, 22-year old Jake Davison killed his mother and four others (including a 3-year old girl) in Plymouth, UK, before taking his own life. Despite initial police statements that this was not a series of acts of terrorism the 'he was an incel' bandwagon got going fairly quickly. What we know does not, however, give much support to the theory.

Phil Gurski is joined by the world's foremost authority on incels, Naama Kates, to look at this case and at more general issues surrounding what we call terrorism

Naama Kates is an investigative journalist and host of the podcast "Incel" which dives deep inside the incel community. Find out more about my guest Naama Kates

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits 171 - The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. and Joe Biden was set to complete its troop withdrawal following a costly two-decade war. Former CSIS intelligence veteran Phil Gurski looks at what we know and what’s next for Afghanistan.

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #103: Hostage taking - A conversation with Rachel Briggs

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0400

The last thing anyone wants to be told is that a loved one has been taken hostage by a criminal gang or terrorist group. What next? What can be done? Borealis talks to Rachel Briggs, former founder of Hostage UK and Hostage US on this fascinating issue!

Rachel Briggs OBE is one of the world’s leading experts on international hostage taking. She was the first Director of Hostage UK and Founding Executive Director of Hostage US, non-profits that support hostages and their families.
►Find out more about my guest Rachel Briggs

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #102: Peter Neumann on what is going on with extremists in Germany

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400

The home of the Nazi movement in the 1930s and 1940s now has a significant 'neo'-Nazi extremist movement in addition to problems with jihadis. Complicating things are 35 different security agencies. Borealis talks with ICRS's Peter Neumann to get the lowdown on what is happening there.

About my guest Peter Neumann:
Peter Neumann is Professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, and served as Founding Director of its International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) from 2008 to 2018. In 2017, he was the OSCE’s Special Representative on Countering Violent Radicalisation.
►Peter's latest book Bluster: Donald Trump's War on Terror
►Find out more about my guest Peter Neumann

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #101: Minke Meijnders on the role of strategic foresight innational security

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 06:00:00 -0400

We would all like to 'predict' the future, right? We generally can't but that does not mean we can construct and use scenarios to be better prepared for what is coming down the pipe. Borealis is joined by Minke Meijnders, instructor at the University of Ottawa's Security, Economics and Technology program to talk about the importance of these tools.

►Link to Minke's course Strategic Foresight and National Security Analysis

About my guest Minke Meijnders:
Minke Meijnders is an expert in Strategic Foresight, focusing on geopolitics, geo-economics and international security issues. She is a former Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute, the leading think tank on international relations in the Netherlands.
► Find out more about my guest Minke Meijnders.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | What if we stopped charging people with terrorism?

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits 170 - No one seems to be able to agree on what terrorism is or is not and lots of people call all things terrorism that may not be. So, why not get rid of the term and charge suspects with (attempted) murder? Former CSIS analyst Phil Gurski weighs in on the benefits of doing so. See also:

► Dutch court convicts woman for spreading IS propaganda
► Episode 100 - Borealis talks with American terrorism guru Brian Jenkins
► Cancel Canada Day: Is the country going to hell in a handbasket?

Episode #100: Borealis talks with American terrorism guru Brian Jenkins

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400

To commemorate the 100th podcast in the An Intelligent View of Terrorism/Canadian Intelligence Eh series Borealis President Phil Gurski is delighted to welcome back US terrorism specialist Brian Jenkins to answer a simple question: whither terrorism?

About my guest Brian Michael Jenkins:
Brian Michael Jenkins is a senior adviser to the president of the RAND Corporation and author of numerous books, reports, and articles on terrorism-related topics, including Will Terrorists Go Nuclear? (2008, Prometheus Books). He formerly served as chair of the Political Science Department at RAND. Find out more about my guest Brian Jenkins.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #99: Suzanne Raine on the terrorist calm before the next terrorist storm

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400

In recent years some have said that Islamist terrorism is a thing of the past. AQ, ISIS and others are not as dangerous as they once were and we can see this in the lower level of activity of late. Is this accurate? Borealis talks to former UK FCO official Suzanne Raine on why vigilance is the better strategy.

Read What should we do when the terrorists go quiet?

About my guest Suzanne Raine:
Suzanne Raine worked for 24 years in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues. This included postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism, holding a number of senior domestic appointments. Find out more about my guest Suzanne Raine.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Yes, Canada needs a foreign intelligence service, but does it want one?

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Canada is an outlier in the Western world in not having a separate foreign intelligence devoted to HUMINT. The conversation sometimes comes up that maybe we should create one - but where and how? In this Quick Hits episode, former CSIS Intelligence Analyst Phil Gurski looks at what Canada should do in this regard.

See also:
► I, spy: Does Canada need a foreign intelligence service?
► Can someone please tell me why Canada does not have a foreign intelligence service?
► How Canada makes a huge contribution to policing around the world

London truck attack: 2 weeks later, what do we know now?

Mon, 21 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0400

On June 6, 2021, a man rammed a pickup truck into Muslim Pakistani Canadian pedestrians at an intersection in London, Ontario, Canada. Four people were killed, and another was wounded; all were from the same family. The attack was the largest mass killing in London’s history.

It was condemned by Canadian leaders, and called terrorism by Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and Premier of Ontario Doug Ford. The suspect is charged with four counts of terroristic murder and one count of terroristic attempted murder.

Phil Gurski talks with CKWR’s John Maciel about the London hit and run incident earlier this month.

Episode #98: Angus Smith on intelligence vs evidence in the life of a strategic analyst

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Episode 98 - Spies and cops have related, but different, responsibilities. The former live in the shadows while they collect intelligence. The latter are more open as they collect evidence to lay charges and go to court. How do we square these two professions? Borealis is joined by former RCMP strategic analyst Angus Smith to discuss these and other issues

About my guest Angus Smith:
Angus Smith worked in the Canadian intelligence community for 30 years, a career that included work on Latin America, the Middle East, Russia and Eastern Europe, police malfeasance and corruption, organized crime, terrorism and national security. Click here to find out more about Angus.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | London truck attack: Why ''why'' is hard to fathom

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 12:00:00 -0400

The man charged in an alleged hate-motivated attack that killed four family members in London laughed as police arrested him in a mall parking lot, a traumatized taxi driver who witnessed the arrest told his boss.

Nathaniel Veltman, 20, of London is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the largest mass killing in city history, one police allege was motivated by anti-Muslim hate.

When something happens of a catastrophic nature, like a murder, everyone wants to know why. We cannot fathom how someone can do this. Why is often hard to determine however. Borealis looks at how reliable witness statements are and why we often never determine the real reasons.

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #97: Sara Kamali on what jihadis and white nationalists have in common

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Most white nationalists hate Muslims (among other immigrants and races). Jihadis hate everything. So what can these two groups of extremists have in common? Phil Gurski talks with Dr Sara Kamali, author of the new book, Homegrown Hate Why White Nationalists and Militant Islamists Are Waging War against the United States

About my guest Dr Sara Kamali
Dr Sara Kamali is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right in the UK and an expert with the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society. She is also a holistic justice activist and a scholar of systemic inequities, White nationalism, and militant Islamism.

►Find out more about my guest Sara Kamali

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Too early to say if London vehicle attack was terrorism

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 16:00:00 -0400

Phil Gurski is President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting and a former CSIS analyst. He tells CityNews' Rob Snow not enough information is available yet to say with certainty the allegedly hate-motivated London vehicle attack was an act of terrorism.

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

"We don't know the facts yet" - Former CSIS Strategic Analyst on the Ontario truck attack

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 11:00:00 -0400

Phil Gurski joins CBC's Ginella Massa to discuss the latest news about the Muslim family killed in targeted hit and run in London, Ontario.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Ontario truck attack: Murder, hate or terrorism?

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 10:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits #167 - 4 people from the same family are dead and a fifth - a 9-year old boy - is wounded after a 20-yr old man in London (ON) ran them over on Sunday evening. Local police say it was deliberate, that the man targeted his victims because they were Muslim, and suggest terrorism charges may follow. Borealis unpacks murder, hate crime and terrorism under Canadian law as he discusses this cowardly act of violence.

► Watch video version on YouTube
► See also Muslims in London, Ont., express shock, grief in wake of 'planned' hit and run

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Ideologically Motivated Violent Extremism (IMVE) - When language matters

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 22:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits 166 - The terms we elect to use to describe things have their purposes. When it comes to terrorism there is a movement to use generic words to refer to specific types of violent extremism. Borealis protests this simplification of language, calling it what it is (i.e. political correctness).

► Watch video version on YouTube.
► See also Coronavirus variants get Greek names — but will scientists use them?

Episode #96: Greg Fyffe on how good is intelligence analysis in Canada

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Canada is not normally seen as an intelligence powerhouse and is not blessed with the same intelligence 'culture' as some of its key allies (US and UK primarily). Who does intelligence analysis and how good is it?

About my guest Greg Fyffe:
Greg Fyffe was executive director of the Intelligence Assessment Secretariat in the Privy Council Office from 2000 to 2008. He is currently president of the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Quick Hits | Biden orders investigation into Covid virus origin as lab leak theory debated

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 01:00:00 -0400

Quick Hits 165 - Intelligence agencies are usually associated with issues like terrorism and espionage. They can tell us the 'inside story' on a whole host of things, when their information goes public. What about their ability to tell us about the origins of COVID? Borealis weighs in on US President Biden's call upon US intel agencies to get to the bottom of this.

Watch video version on YouTube
See also Covid: Biden orders investigation into virus origin as lab leak theory debated

Episode #95: Ben Maure on how Canada makes a huge contribution to policing around the world

Wed, 26 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400

At a time where the only news about police offices and law enforcement agencies seems to be negative it is time for a more balanced approach. Borealis talks to 30-year RCMP veteran Ben Maure about Canada's international policing missions.

Check out Ben's book Leading at the Edge: True Tales from Canadian Police in Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping Missions Around the World Paperback

About my guest Ben Maure:
Ben Maure is a serving Peace Officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He has over 30 years of police experience, most of which has been spent in BC. In 1999, Ben completed a one-year secondment tour of duty as a United Nations Peacekeeper in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #164 | Repeat after me: Saudi Crown Prince MBS is NOT a friend of the West

Mon, 24 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400

An ongoing court case in the US threatens to expose counter terrorism secrets with Saudi Arabia. In order to send a message to Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, known as MBS or 'Mister Bone Saw', these secrets may have to be disclosed. Borealis asks whether we in the West should deal with a royal who sends assassins abroad.

See also:

Episode #94: Frank Furedi - Are we living in a culture of fear?

Wed, 19 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Ever since 9/11 many are obsessed with terrorism and have disproportionate fear of more events of this nature. Is this a healthy attitude? Borealis talks to Canadian sociologist Frank Furedi on these and other matters.

About my guest, sociologist Frank Furedi:
Frank Furedi is a Hungarian-Canadian academic and emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent. He is well known for his work on sociology of fear, education, therapy culture, paranoid parenting and sociology of knowledge. Click here to find out more about my guest Frank Furedi!

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in

QH #163 | Should Canadian MPs decide who is and who is not a terrorist?

Tue, 18 May 2021 20:00:00 -0400

Everyone seems to have an opinion these days on terrorism these days. Who should you listen to, especially when it comes to the current 'moral panic' over right wing terrorism? Borealis weighs in on this, advising us all to just chill a bit.

Watch video version on Youtube.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #93: Matthew Zegar on how to get a career in counter-terrorism

Wed, 12 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400

I am often asked by younger listeners how to get a career as a spy. In this episode, I am chatting with Matthew Zegar, computer science student at Simon Fraser University about how to get a career aiding the Canadian government against terrorist threats.

►Click here to find out more about my guest Matthew Zegar
►Listen to Matthew Zegar's Career Path Podcast

About the host Phil Gurski:

Episode #92: Simon Cottee on Trinidad and Tobago as the #1 source for ISIS jihadis

Wed, 05 May 2021 06:00:00 -0400

We all know that tens of thousands of people from over 100 countries went to join ISIS in 2014. The feeder nations are all over the map (literally!) but the #1 per capita was…Trinidad. Trinidad? Phil Gurski talks with UK scholar Simon Cottee who just published a book on this fascinating finding.

Click here to find out more about my guest Simon Cottee!

Black Flags of the Caribbean, How Trinidad Became an ISIS Hotspot

Simon Cottee investigates how ISIS came to gain such an unlikely, yet significant foothold in Trinidad. Based on a three-year investigation in the country, featuring interviews the families and friends of those who left to join the jihad, Muslim activists and community leaders, imams, politicians, and intelligence agents, this book presents the social forces and communities in Trinidad that have been affected by ISIS. Check Simon's latest book.

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #162 | Why are jihadis so barbaric?

Thu, 29 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Terrorism is violent for sure. But why are some terrorists, i.e. Islamist ones, so utterly cruel and inhuman? Former CSIS intelligence veteran Phil Gurski weighs in on this while discussing a recent interview with Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan

Watch video version on Youtube.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #161 | Labelling opposition parties as terrorists is dirty politics

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 11:00:00 -0400

Politics is a nasty business and not for the faint of heart. Still there are rules and some practices should be off base. African governments say that opposition leaders are terrorists to prevent them from running for office. Borealis weighs in on this in today’s Quick Hits.

Watch video version on Youtube.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #91: Kayum Masimov on why is China harassing Canadian Uyghurs

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 08:00:00 -0400

Why is China harassing Canadian Uyghurs and why is the government not doing anything to stop it? The Canadian Parliament recently voted to denounce China for its genocide in East Turkestan (what China calls Xinjiang) against the Uyghurs. And yet China is still harassing Uyghur Canadians and pressuring them to shut up. Why is more not being done to stop this? Borealis President Phil Gurski talks to Kayum Masimov, Project Manager at Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project.

Click here to find out more about my guest Kayum Masimov!

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #160 | Why on earth would someone lie about being in a terrorist attack?

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 07:00:00 -0400

It is safe to say that most people would avoid being anywhere near a terrorist attack. Some, however, seem to have a fascination with these events to the point where they distort their own experiences. Borealis weighs in on this curious phenomenon.

Watch video version on Youtube.

New York Time article: Port Authority Bomber Is Sentenced to Life in Prison.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #90: Louisa Rogers - A Belgian citizen's view on terrorism

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Belgium is not normally a nation one associates with terrorism. And yet, a number of large-scale attacks unfolded in the 2010s in which dozens were killed. How does someone who does not work in counter terrorism view these events? Borealis has a fascinating talk with Louisa Rogers on these issues.

Click here to find out more about my guest Louisa Rogers!

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #159 | What to do about Afghanistan?

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Watch video version on Youtube.

Afghanistan has often been called the ‘graveyard of empires’. Over the past 20 years it has also been at the forefront of the ill-named ‘war on terrorism’. What can we do – if anything – to get out of that nation and consider ourselves ‘safer’?

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Intelligence Veteran Reacts - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings Trailer

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0400

In Iron Man 3 we were introduced to a not so convincing 'terrorist' called the Mandarin: I gave that part of the film a two thumbs down. Now Marvel is coming out with another attempt in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Do the producers do any better this time? Have a listen as former CSIS intelligence analyst Phil Gurski gives his review!

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Iron Man 3

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 23:00:00 -0400

Watch video version on YouTube

Iron Man 3 is all about terrorism, odd for a Marvel film. Oddly, however, the writers chose to portray a Chinese-looking leader as the spokesperson for what looks for all intents and purposes like a bunch of jihadis. Borealis weighs in on what this film gets right and what it gets wrong when it comes to terrorism.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #158 | Are we losing our ability to label terrorism accurately?

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Terrorism has been around for a long time but we have been especially captivated by it since 9/11. At first, EVERYTHING was terrorism, more so if it could be tied to Islam. Now, the far right seems to be the flavour of the month. What's up?

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #89: Lorcan Owens, is a return to ‘The Troubles’ in Ireland in the cards?

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

In the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s the predominant form of terrorism was Irish in nature. Those who wanted a unitary Irish state fought those who wanted to remain part of the UK, often with tragic results. With the Good Friday Accords of 1998 that is all over - or is it?

Phil Gurski talks with Irish analyst Lorcan Owens on the potential for future violence on the Emerald Isle.

►Find out more about my guest Lorcan Owens
►Listen to Lorcan's podcast Nazra: Politics, Society and Extremism

About the host Phil Gurski:

Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Black Panther

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

The 2018 Marvel film Black Panther is a truly spectacular movie that features black actors and culture. And yet one of the main characters resorts to terrorism to right historical wrongs.

Why would the producers do this? Borealis President Phil Gurski reviews Black Panther from a practitioner’s perspective.

See also:
Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Iron Man (2008)
Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Captain Marvel (2019)
Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Extremism and Radicalisation: Is JOKER a Terrorist?

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Episode #88: Chat with Destiny - Surveillance, Trump's role vs the DC Mayor, Entrapment and wild stories

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

For those who missed the live-stream on March 16, here is a replay of my latest discussion with Youtube personality Destiny (Steven Bonnell).

►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ

When it comes to talking about terrorism it is not enough to limit the discussion to specific terrorist groups or terrorist acts. Things are much more complicated than that. Terrorism does not occur in a vacuum: it exists in a context (or better: multiple contexts). Terrorism happens when multiple players make multiple moves on multiple chessboards: some of these moves provide terrorists with incentives.

QH #157 | Language matter when talking about terrorism

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

ASIO to avoid ‘left’, ‘right’ and ‘Islamic’ in an overhaul of its descriptions of extremism. There is a movement afoot to change the way we talk about terrorism. Instead of 'Islamist extremism' we get 'ideologically-motivated extremism' or 'religiously-motivated extremism'. Necessary coinage or political correctness?

About the host Phil Gurski:

Intelligence Veteran Reacts - James Bond 007: No Time To Die Trailer 2 (2020)

Thu, 08 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Bond films are exciting, fast-paced and fun to watch. But how accurate are they and does it matter that they are not? Former CSIS intelligence analyst Phil Gurski gives his own review of this latest offering. The new James Bond film No Time to Die - is this what spies really do?

Watch video version on Youtube

About the host Phil Gurski:

Episode #87: Al Treddenick on Saudi Arabia sending hit squads to Canada

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Relations with a country like Saudi Arabia will always be complicated in light of what the Kingdom stands for, what it produces, and where it is located. So, if the Saudis send a hit squad to Canada to take out a 'dissident' what should our response be? Borealis talks with colleague and friend Al Treddenick on this touchy subject

About my guest Al Treddenick:
Alan Treddenick is a former senior Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officer who was stationed at the Canadian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Find out more about my guest Al Treddenick

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #156 | Is Africa the new “Jihadist central”?

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

It is becoming clearer that, at least in some ways, Africa is supplanting the traditional Asia (including the Middle East) as the locus of jihadi terrorism. What should we do about it?

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #155 | Are experts as good as they say they are?

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Everywhere you turn you come across an ‘expert’. This happens in national security as well. But are these people REALLY experts? Borealis takes issue with the term and provides some background on his experience in national security to provide followers with context.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Episode #86: Chris Lewis - From cop to commentator

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Chris Lewis served as a police officer for 36 years and ended up as the Commissioner of the OPP. Now he acts as a national security analyst on Canadian television. Phil Gurski talks to him about his career and about ‘experts’ in the media.

About my guest Chris Lewis:
Chris D. Lewis became Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on August 1, 2010 assuming leadership of one of North America’s largest deployed police services. As Commissioner, he oversaw front-line policing, traffic and marine operations, emergency response and specialized and multijurisdictional investigations throughout the Province of Ontario, delivered through over 9,000 OPP personnel. Find out more about my guest Chris Lewis

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #154 | Why are we in such a hurry to call mass murder terrorism?

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Two more mass shootings recently took place in the US - one in Atlanta and one in Georgia - making 103 since Jan 1 of this year. The motives for either are unclear according to police, and yet some are already labeling both terrorism: white nationalist in the first case and Islamist in the second. Borealis takes issue with this constant 'instant analysis'.

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #153 | What does a 1940s Hollywood movie tell us about disinformation?

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Have you heard of the term 'gaslighting'? Did you know it comes from a 1944 Ingrid Bergman film. Discover how a movie about a manipulative husband gave us a new word to describe information control in the 2020s.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Episode #85: Alexandre Rodde - Analyse de la menace extremiste en France

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

La France vient de promulguer une loi pour protéger la laïcité et combattre le séparatisme, mais certains y voient une loi contre l’Islam. Quel est l’ampleur de la menace extrémiste en France et que prévoir pour les années à venir?

Phil Gurski discute avec Alexandre Rodde, chercheur Français et consultant en sécurité intérieure.

About my guest Alexandre Rodde:
Alexandre is a security consultant specialised in terrorism and mass shootings. His work includes risk assessment, threat monitoring, and research on national security subjects.►Find out more about my guest Alexandre Rodde

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #152 | Intelligence Veteran Reviews Wisting - Are serial killers terrorists?

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

A recent Norwegian series called Wisting looked at a serial killer and a joint FBI/local police investigation. Borealis reviews the series looking at two main issues: the link between serial killing and terrorism, and what happens when multinational forces have to collaborate to solve a case.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Do players of violent video games become terrorists?

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #151 | The Winter Soldier: Did HYDRA create the ultimate terrorist?

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

In the 2016 Marvel film Captain America: Winter Soldier the evil HYDRA has created a super (bad) soldier called the Winter Soldier who kills a bunch of people. But is he a terrorist? Borealis looks at the film from a security intelligence perspective

Intelligence Veteran Reacts | Marvel's Iron Man (2008) and the "War on Terrorism";
Intelligence Veteran Reacts | Captain Marvel (2019) and Lessons on Terrorism;
Intelligence Veteran Reacts | Extremism and Radicalisation: Is JOKER a Terrorist?;
Cold War Intelligence Veteran Reacts | Official Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Trailer;
Intelligence Veteran Reviews | Caliphate Netflix Series Episode 1

About the host Phil Gurski:

Zack Snyder's Justice League gets terrorism wrong!

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 19:00:00 -0400

A small group of reactionary terrorists known as the Black Clad took over the Old Bailey Courthouse, taking several hostages including a school field trip. Wonder Woman storms the building, uses the Lasso of Hestia to compel one of the terrorists to tell her their plans. She then takes out the terrorists and neutralizes the bomb. Is that realistic?

About the host Phil Gurski:

Quick Hits | Entrapment laws: Destiny stunned by massive difference between Canada and the USA

Thu, 18 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Phil Gurski and Destiny discuss the RCMP 'entrapment' of B.C. couple in the Canada Day Bomb Plot and the differences between entrapment laws in Canada vs the USA.

►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ

About Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

More Destiny:
►Episode #29: Discussion with Twitch streamer Destiny on terrorism and radicalization
►Episode #47: A talk with Destiny - Trump, Incels, Police and more
►Episode #88: Chat with Destiny - Surveillance, Trump's role vs the DC Mayor, Entrapment and wild stories
►Episode #105: Taliban takeover, Incels and New Zealand attack - Chatting with Destiny about recent events

Episode #84: Peta Lowe - Young offenders and terrorism - What can we do?

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Most societies treat young offenders separately from adults when it comes to crime in general. But what about terrorism? Is terrorism so different that we need to treat young terrorists as adults? Borealis is joined by Australian practitioner Peta Lowe to discuss these issues and more.

About my guest Peta Lowe:
Peta Lowe is a Principal Consultant with Phronesis Consulting and Training. She is the former Director, Countering Violent Extremism for Juvenile Justice in the NSW Department of Justice. Peta has over 15 years experience working with young people involved with the justice system and has worked with individuals, families and communities to address offending behaviours and criminogenic risks.

►Find out more about my guest Peta Lowe

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #150 | Why declaring 'premature victory' is rarely a good idea

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

When the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 the West declared ‘victory‘ and downed tools on Russia. Recent events have shown that decision to be premature. Borealis cautions against jumping to conclusions about intelligence requirements and priorities.

About the host Phil Gurski:

The Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence 2021 doesn't feature any panel on Islamist extremism...

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Join me on YouTube Live Mondays and Thursdays at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!

About the host Phil Gurski:

Germany Places Entire Far-Right AfD Party Under Surveillance for Extremism

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 07:00:00 -0400

Join me on YouTube Live every week day at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!

About the host Phil Gurski:

Quick Hits | Top 10 Worst Right-Wing Extremism Group Names

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

It often helps to poke fun at people who want us to take them seriously. As a follow-up to the popular Top Ten Worst Terrorist Group names, here is Borealis' take on the Top Ten Worst Right-Wing Extremists Group Names.

See also:
►Top 10 Dumbest Terrorists of all Time
►Top 10 Worst Terrorist Group Names

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #149 | Is it OK to show cartoons that offend?

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

French teacher Samuel Paty was brutally killed last October after leading a discussion in his class over the so-called Muhammad cartoons: his murderer was not even a student. What is acceptable when it comes to controversial material?

Join me on YouTube Live every week day at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!

About the host Phil Gurski:

Mogadishu attack: Car bomb explodes in Somalia's capital and kills at least 20

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Join me on YouTube Live every week day at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!

About the host Phil Gurski:

Episode #83: Kyle Matthews - Is what China is doing to the Uyghurs 'genocide'?

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

The Canadian parliament just voted to label Chinese policies and actions towards Uyghur Muslims in northwestern Xinjiang province a genocide. Is this the right term? Borealis talks to Concordia University's Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies to unpack these issues.

About my guest Kyle Matthews
Kyle is the Executive Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) at Concordia University. He joined MIGS as Lead Researcher of the Will to Intervene Project in 2008 and was appointed Senior Deputy Director in 2011. At Concordia he founded the Raoul Wallenberg Legacy of Leadership project as well as the Digital Mass Atrocity Preventing Lab, which works to counter online extremism and study how social media platforms are being used as a weapon of war.►Find out more about my guest Kyle Matthews

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #148 | Can anything be a terrorist attack?

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

It seems that everyone is calling everything terrorism these days. It is almost as if the word is in the eye (brain?) of the beholder. Borealis pushes back against this uncareful use in this podcast.

► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #147 | RWE in Germany is bad, but how does it stack up against other forms of terrorism?

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

A year ago today a German racist killed 9 people in Hanau because of who they were. Furthermore, 208 people have been killed by far right elements in Germany since 1990. Those numbers are horrific: what is happening elsewhere by comparison? Watch this with video on YouTube.

► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

CSIS Intelligence Analyst on Biden's Syria Airstrike: "A knee-jerk reaction to an ongoing problem"

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

In the first military action undertaken by the Biden administration, the US carried out an air strike targeting Iran-backed militias in Syria. Former CSIS Analyst Phil Gurski shares his opinion on the situation.

Join me on YouTube Live every week day at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #146 | Canadian court decision on Alek Minassian case undermines incel terrorism fear

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 14:00:00 -0500

A court has found Alek Minassian guilty on 26 counts of murder and attempted murder and rejected the autism defence. The judge also rejected the assumption Minassian was an 'incel' and that this was an act of terrorism. What does this all mean? Borealis weighs in!

► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

Episode #82: Tony McAleer on what is it like to be a former neo-Nazi

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Why do people join white supremacist/new-Nazi movements? Why do they get out? Tony McAleer spent 15 years in the white supremacist and neo-nazi movements starting as a skinhead and evolving to leadership positions and was instrumental in ushering in the internet building one of the first white supremacist websites for Resistance Records in the mid 90’s.

►Check out The Cure for Hate by Tony McAleer

About my guest Tony McAleer:
Tony has been involved in Life After Hate since its inception in 2011 and served as Executive Director from 2013-2017 while Life After Hate developed its online support groups and the EXIT USA program (based on EXIT Sweden’s model). In 2017 he became Board Chair until his departure in December 2019.►Find out more about my guest Tony McAleer

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

Canada needs to act on Saudis' targeting of dissidents

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 23:00:00 -0500

The release of a CIA report holding Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the brutal death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 matters to Canadians, because the same sort of thing can happen here. We've already seen the evidence.

►Read Canada needs to act on Saudis' targeting of dissidents on The Ottawa Citizen
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

UK woman who joined ISIS in Syria is denied return home by High Court

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 23:00:00 -0500

Shamima Begum was a UK citizen who joined ISIS. Now she wants to come home but the government cancelled her citizenship. So now what?

► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #145 | Who says RWE is worse than ISIS?

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

There is a growing tendency to claim that RWE is an existential threat to the world, especially the West. Some are saying that RWE is worse than the threat posed by ISIS. Is this even remotely true? Borealis pushes back against the increased hyperbole over the terrorist reality.

► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

Quick Hits | Top 10 Worst Terrorist Group Names

Sat, 27 Feb 2021 19:00:00 -0500

No, I am not at all dismissing the seriousness of terrorism or the pain and suffering they cause but sometimes laughter (and satire) are indeed the 'best medicine'.

With that in mind, I'd like to present my Top Ten Worst Terrorist Group names. I came up with the list by thinking of all the groups I have come across over the years as well as by looking at 'listed terrorist entities' concocted by various governments (Finally! An actual use for such tools!). Some of the names are, well, how to put this, 'riddikulus'! Have a look for yourself.

See also:
►Top 10 Dumbest Terrorists of all Time
►Top 10 Worst Right-Wing Extremism Group Names

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #144 | Why do we have intelligence if it is not acted on?

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

We hear all the time about 'intelligence failures', the most recent being the attack on the US Capitol in January. But it turns out there was advanced warning about the possibility, if not probability, of violence. Borealis looks at how such failures are anything but.

► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

William C. Malone: What was it like to be a Canadian police officer in Afghanistan?

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Episode 82 - Most Canadians know that we sent thousands of soldiers to Afghanistan beginning in 2002 to help fight Al Qaeda. Far fewer know we sent hundreds of police officers as well. This is the story of one of them, an RCMP officer who spent time there in 2011-12 and wrote a book about it.

►Check out Cops in Kabul by William C. Malone

About my guest William C. Malone:
William C. Malone is no stranger to international policing, having served in Africa and Haiti, and he relies upon those experiences regularly in dealing with the political and foreign service efforts of the other contributing partner countries, whose good intentions are respected but tempered by Malone’s pragmatic operational experience.

►Find out more about my guest William Malone

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #143 | Is Canada's terrorist listing process politically motivated?

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 13:00:00 -0500

Canada listed the Proud Boys as a right wing terrorist group recently in the wake of the Jan 6 riot at the US Capitol. Some saw this as an over reaction. New information has surfaced that pressure was brought to name them despite a lack of evidence. Borealis looks at this issue - again!!

► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #142 | So now the Canadian government is telling us what it terrorism and what is not?

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

The debate over the events of Jan 6 in Washington continues. Was it terrorism? A riot? A coup? Well, a Canadian Member of Parliament has decided it was most definitely terrorism. Is that OK? Do we want the government to tell us how to think? Borealis weighs in on this trend.

► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #141 | Doctor charged with 'terrorism' for embarrassing Turkish government over true COVID figures

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

A doctor in Turkey has been charged with terrorism for embarrassing the government over true COVID figures. How is that terrorism? Borealis looks at how many are widening the scope of the term terrorism to ridiculous ends.

► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

Alexandre Rodde: The terrorist threat to France

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Episode 81 - France has suffered a disproportionate number of terrorist attacks, mostly Islamist in nature, in the 2010s and 2020s when compared to other Western nations. Why is this? Borealis is joined by Alexandre Rodde, a French terrorism researcher and trainer for that country's law enforcement to discuss the situation in France.

About my guest Alexandre Rodde:
Alexandre is a security consultant, specialized in terrorism and mass shootings issues. His work includes risk assessment, threat monitoring, and research on national security subjects.

►Find out more about my guest Alexandre Rodde

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #140 | Can someone please tell me why Canada does not have a foreign intelligence service?

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Every major Western power has a foreign intelligence service that collects information on the intents and capabilities of foreign states. Except Canada. We do allow CSIS to collect FI as it is called, but in a very constrained way - why?

In this Quick Hits episode, Borealis looks at a recent court ruling and comments on this silliness.

► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #139 | What is next for QAnon? Should we be worried?

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

QAnon has been shown to not be very good at predictions. Trump lost the election, there is no satanic pedophile cult in the White House, etc. So will it now turn violent... or disappear. Borealis speculates on where this all goes and how much attention we need to pay to it.

► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

Lessons on Terrorism | What can IRON MAN tell us about the 'war on terrorism'?

Fri, 12 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

The 2008 film Ironman starts in Afghanistan where the main character, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), ends up wounded by shrapnel from one of the weapons his company made. How well does the movie portray the military deployment to Afghanistan and does it show why we should not see counter terrorism as primarily a problem for the army/air force to solve.

►Watch video version on YouTube
►See also, Lessons on Terrorism | How Captain Marvel badly uses the word 'terrorism'

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Canada adds 13 groups to terror list - What does it mean?

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 22:00:00 -0500

The federal government has added 13 groups to its list of terror groups, including five ISIS affiliates, and a handful of far-right extremist groups, including the Proud Boys.

The move comes after parliament voted to call on the government to add the Proud Boys to the list in the wake of its involvement in the Jan. 6 events at the U.S. Capitol.

But what does the terror designation actually do?

Author and former CSIS terrorism analyst Phil Gurski joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the purpose of Canada’s terror group list, where it can be helpful in dealing with extremist groups, but where politics can muddy the process.

► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

Richard Brisson: Is there anything cooler than a codebreaker?

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Episode 80 - The race between codemakers and codebreakers is an ancient one. Success in breaking the enemy's codes often turns defeat into victory on the battlefield. Borealis sits down with former Canadian cryptologist Richard Brisson to talk about this fascinating field.

About my guest Richard Brisson:
Richard Brisson is a graduate from the University of Ottawa (B.Sc. Math-Physics in 1978 and M.Sc. Systems Science in 1980). Upon graduation, he was hired by the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) from which he retired in 2011. Over the last 25 years, he has been collecting vintage cryptographic and clandestine artifacts dating up to and including the Cold War.

►Find out more about my guest Richard Brisson

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #138 | We need to call religious extremism what it is - extreme!

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Religion can inspire heights of magnificence and depths of violence. Each faith has a wide range of interpretations from 'normative' to 'extreme'. 'Extreme' does not mean violent, but extreme views can endanger the public. Borealis looks at extreme views that may not be violent but which still can an effect on public safety.

► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #137 | When a government 'delists' a terrorist group, it shows how political the process really is

Fri, 05 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

20 years ago the Canadian government decided to list the Iranian group MeK as a terrorist group. Ten years later a different government elected to 'delist' it. Why? Had it changed its ways? If not, what does this say about the whole process? Borealis comes out against the whole process of listings, calling it more or less useless.

► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #136 | Yes, the Canadian terrorist listing process is political and it is not necessary

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

So, the Canadian government just listed 13 more groups to its terrorist entities list, including the Proud Boys, 3 Al Qaida affiliates and 5 ISIS franchises. To what end? Borealis weighs in on the usefulness or lack thereof of this process.

► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #135 | Do we need Canadian MPs to tell us what is a terrorist group

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 22:00:00 -0500

Canadian parliamentarians recently voted unanimously to name the Proud Boys a terrorist group. What does this mean? Is it necessary? Borealis discusses the usefulness or lack thereof of the 'terrorist listing' process in Canada.

Read MPs agree to call on feds to declare Proud Boys a terrorist entity on CTV News
Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present

About the host Phil Gurski:

Christopher Parsons: How non-government agencies give us some insight into bad things online

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

We are all used to hearing how the FBIs, CSISs and GCHQs of this world monitor online activity to help keep us safe and protect critical infrastructure. What, then, is the role of the private sector? Borealis sits down with Chris Parsons of Canada's Citizen Lab to have a chat on these issues.

In this episode:
► What is the Citizen Lab and how did it come about;
►"Canada does not have a ‘Huawei problem’ per se";
► Where are digital threats headed and what can the average Canadian do .

About my guest Christopher Parsons:
Dr. Christopher Parsons is a Senior Research Associate with the Citizen Lab, at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto. His research focuses on third-party access to telecommunications data, data privacy, data security, and national security.

►Find out more about my guest Christopher Parson

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #134 | Is woke culture affecting counter-terrorist efforts in the West?

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Everywhere you read these days you see references to right wing terrorism as the predominant threat to the West. This flies in the face of all the data which shows that at least on a worldwide basis Islamist terrorists kill and wound people, most of whom are Muslims, at orders of magnitude greater than right wing actors. Borealis weighs in on this shift in attention and argues that it is wrong.

►Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present (2021, Phil Gurski)
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #133 | Borealis has a new book on terrorism in Canada - here's a preview!

Sat, 30 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

While Canada has not been menaced by terrorism like some countries it is not immune. A new book on terrorism in that land over the past 150 years - The Peaceable Kingdom: A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the present - is now out! Borealis takes you behind the scenes of this book.

►Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present (2021, Phil Gurski)

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #132 | What will right-wing extremists do after Trump?

Fri, 29 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Many in the so-called right-wing extremist (RWE) are confused now that Trump is no longer the 'oil' that greases their movements. QAnon, the Proud Boys and others are registering disappointment and anger at their lack of success. Whither the far-right? Borealis looks at what may be next for RWE.

My new book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present is now available for pre-order! Get your copy today!

Mentionned articles:

► Biden's inauguration sows doubt among QAnon conspiracy theorists on CBC
► Quebec QAnon followers question beliefs after Trump leaves office on The Ottawa Citizen
► Proud Boys give up support of ‘weak’ Donald Trump on The Times

About the host Phil Gurski:

Lessons on Terrorism | How CAPTAIN MARVEL badly uses the word 'terrorism'

Thu, 28 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Many people use the word terrorism to refer to all kinds of things. Not all these uses are good ones. Borealis looks at the 2019 film Captain Marvel to see how the word is deployed badly.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Tom Parker: Respect for human rights is the key to defeating terrorism. Can we get there?

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

What is the role of respect for human rights in counterterrorism? Borealis talks to UK practitioner Tom Parker on what we have done well and what not so well.

In this episode:
►The obstacles been in getting consensus on defining terrorism in international law;
►How can we do counter-terrorism better by taking human rights into account in a more systematic way?
►Targeted killing seems to have become a favourite counter-terrorism strategy – should it be?
►Respect for human rights is the key to defeating terrorism. Can we get there?

About my guest Tom Parker:
Tom Parker has spent the past three years as a European Union-sponsored adviser to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Baghdad, Iraq, prior to which he served as a Counter-Terrorism Strategist at the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) and as the Adviser on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), where he co-authored the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.

►Find out more about my guest Tom Parker

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

QH #131 | So what's up with Christian extremism?

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

The 30 Years' War was one in which Christians on one side slaughtered Christians on the other. The massacres were perpetrated based on difference in religious interpretation. Today of course we talk a lot about religious terrorism, especially of the Islamist variety. What about Christian extremism, both violent and non-violent? Borealis looks at this brand of terrorism and the links between Christians and the far right.

My new book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present is now available for pre-order! Get your copy today!

Mentionned articles:

►Erasmus’s teachings are still pertinent today on The Economist
►Proud Boys find refuge — and money — on Christian fundraising website on The National Post
►Henry Hildebrandt: From religious firebrand to COVID-19 provocateur on The London Free Press

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #130 | Why I do what I do

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Borealis has been in business for almost 6 years, providing content on national security and public safety. Why does he do it? In this podcast, Borealis provides some insight into why an old retired guy is dedicated to creating this material and for whom.

About the host Phil Gurski:

John Ferris: Why would the Brits ask a Canadian to write their official SIGINT history?

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

GCHQ is a famous British signals intelligence (SIGINT) agency perhaps best known for its work at Bletchley Park during WWII. The spy service decided to have its official history written – and chose a Canadian to do so!

►Find out more about my guest John Ferris
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About my guest John Ferris
John Ferris is a Professor of History at The University of Calgary, where he also is a Fellow at The Centre for Military and Strategic Studies. He received an MA (1980) and a PhD (1986) in War Studies, from King’s College, The University of London, United Kingdom. Find out more about my guest.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #129 | Can we be more consistent in our use of language when talking about terrorism?

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Headlines are the first thing we see when we consume news. They thus help us form a first impression. Should they then not be carefully written? Borealis looks at this issue in the context of RWE and the US military.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Are we calling too many things ‘terrorism’?
Phil Gurski | January 11, 2020
Terrorism means many things to many people and we may be heading down an unhelpful pathway
Listen to episode

Once inside the Capitol, it was like a frat party
Phil Gurski | January 8, 2020
Listen to my interview on Canada Now with Jeff Sammut
Listen to episode

QH #128 | No, the Capitol riot was not an 'intelligence failure'

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 02:00:00 -0500

Security intelligence agencies are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Stop an act of violence from happening and they are called overbearing: fail to do so and they are called incompentent. In this podcast Borealis pushes back that the US intelligence community 'failed' on January 6.

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #127 | The hubris of 'prediction'

Thu, 14 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Humans are notoriously unpredictable. Why would anyone try to say that something will most definitely happen? Borealis looks at attempts to be sure about terrorism and why this is a bad idea.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Gregory Johnsen: What is happening in Yemen and why does it matter?

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Most people have either never heard of Yemen or know very little about it. The country is one of the world's poorest, is home to Islamist terrorist groups and is beset by a war with the involvement of foreign actors. Borealis is joined by Yemen specialist Gregory Johnsen to get a better understanding of how we got there and what the stakes are.

►Find out more about my guest Gregorry Johnsen
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About my guest Gregory Johnsen
Gregory D. Johnsen, a former Fulbright Fellow in Yemen, is a PhD candidate at Princeton University and the Michael Hastings National Security Fellow at BuzzFeed. A frequent guest on NPR, he has contributed essays to the New York Times. He lives in Ithaca, New York. Find out more about my guest.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

QH #126 | What is the point of 'terrorist group listings'?

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

In the wake of the January 6 attacks in Washington, many are calling for the Proud Boys, a white supremacist group, to be added to the 'listed terrorist entities' in Canada. What is a 'terrorist entity list' and what does it do? Borealis argues that this is an unnecessary tool that does not add much to counter terrorism efforts.

Read more:
►Listed Terrorist Entities - Public Safety Canada
►NDP calls for right-wing group Proud Boys to be banned, labelled as terrorists - Global News
►Feds looking at declaring Proud Boys a terrorist organization in wake of U.S. rioting - CTV

About the host Phil Gurski:

INTERVIEW | Former CSIS Analyst: Once inside the Capitol, it was like a frat party

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Terrorism specialist Phil Gurski tells Canada Now more about who exactly the protestors were in Washington, US law enforcement agencies' response, whether we can expect more of the same moving forward and what lessons can be learned coming out of all this. Canada Now with Jeff Sammut is live weekdays from 12-2pmET on Sirius XM Canada Talks channel 167.

►Listen to yesterday's episode What the hell happened in Washington today?

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #125 | Trump protestors storm the Capitol: What to make of Washington DC violence?

Fri, 08 Jan 2021 01:00:00 -0500

In the wake of the events of January 6 in the US capital, Borealis is joined once again by Barbara Perry, Canadian academic who specialises on the far right as to what it all means and what we can expect moving forward.

►Listen to yesterday's episode What the hell happened in Washington today?

About my guest Dr. Barbara Perry

Dr. Barbara Perry is the Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism. She has written extensively in the area of hate crime and right-wing extremism. Dr. Perry has also written on policing diverse communities, including work on social control in Native American communities. She has made substantial contributions to the limited scholarship on hate crime in Canada.

►Listen to my October interview with Barbara Perry How serious is the far-right extremist threat in Canada? Are we taking it seriously enough?

About the host Phil Gurski:

QH #124 | What the hell happened in Washington today?

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 01:00:00 -0500

A mog storms the US Senate. Sessions are ended, tear gas is strewn, chaos reigns. So what was this? An act of terrorism? A riot? A coup? A mob? Borealis weighs in with what we know so far.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Sophia Moskalenko: How does the sharing of images and memes online contribute to radicalisation?

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

We have seen iconic images online: such as MAGA hats, swastikas and ISIS flags. What do these do to us and how do they lead is some cases to violent extremism? Borealis is joined by Dr. Sophia Moskalenko to delve into these questions

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About my guest Sophia Moskalenko

Sophia Moskalenko researches terrorism and radicalization at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (NC-START) where she has worked on research projects commissioned by the Department of Defence, Department of Homeland Security and Department of State. Find out more about Dr Sophia Moskalenko

QH #123 | Nashville explosion: Do conspiracy theories constitute an 'ideology'?

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

In the wake of information that the Christmas Day Nashville bomber believed in conspiracy theories, including the conviction that world leaders are actually extraterrestrial 'lizard people', does this now make his act one of terrorism? Borealis weighs in on this new info and whether the bomber was treated differently because he was white.

Read more on this topic:
►Nashville explosion: Just what do we mean by ‘terrorism’? | Phil Gurski
►The Nashville explosion is looking more and more like a spectacular suicide, not an act of terrorism | Phil Gurski
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

QH #122 | The Nashville explosion is looking more and more like a spectacular suicide, not an act of terrorism

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

As we impatiently wait for more details on what happened in Nashville on Christmas Day we are now aware that the perpetrator said the world would never forget him. Does that make him a terrorist? Probably not.

Borealis looks at serious acts of violence, including 'suicide bombings', that are not terrorist in nature.

Mentionned articles:

Sometimes an explosion is just an explosion by Phil Gurski
What we know about the 63-year-old Nashville bomber on CNN
simoncottee.org
Dying Without Killing: Self‐Immolations, 1963–2002 by Diego Gambetta

QH #121 | Terrorism in 2021: What to expect?

Thu, 31 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

The 2020 Global Terrorism Index had a bit of good news: terrorist deaths are down for the 4th year in a row. Will that continue into 2021? Borealis provides some ideas on what will be making terrorism headlines next year.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

QH #120 | Nashville bombing: Just what do we mean by 'terrorism'?

Wed, 30 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

The recent explosion in Nashville has been deemed a 'suicide bombing'. Was it? We don't have a motive and we tend to see suicide bombings as acts of terrorism. Are we using the word terrorism consistently?

Borealis looks at ways in which states and individuals twist the term to suit their purposes.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Mustafa Akyol: Is Islam in crisis? What to do about it?

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

In the wake of terrorist attacks in France, President Emmanuel Macron said that Islam was 'in crisis'. Not surprisingly, Muslim leaders pushed back, calling for boycotts of French goods. So what is this all about?

Borealis is joined by Mustafa Akyol to look at the nuances of these issues.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About my guest Mustafa Akyol

Mustafa Akyol is a Turkish journalist and author. SInce the early 2000's, he has been writing regular opinion columns for Turkish publications like Hurriyet Daily News, and recently for the Middle-East focused Al-Monitor.com. Since the fall of 2013, he is also a regular contributing opinion writer for The New York Times.

QH #119 | Muslim states are pissed about cartoons and ok with concentration camps

Mon, 28 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Many Muslim states went apoplectic when French President said that Islam was in crisis: French flags were burned and boyocotts of French goods were planned. And yet when it comes to what the PRC is doing with the incarceration of up to a million Uyghur Muslims there is no protest among these same states.

What gives? Borealis looks into this odd discrepancy.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

QH #118 | Should we keep jihadis locked up for our own safety?

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

A Somali ISIS wannabe just stabbed two Australian octogenarians to death. He had been arrested in 2019 for seeking to travel for terrorist purposes but was released for lack of evidence (although his passport was taken).

Now he has killed two innocent people. What is going on here? Borealis takes our judicial system to task.

►Read
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Joshua Krasna: What national security issues keep Israelis awake at night?

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0500

Israel has been at the forefront of violence since its creation and this violence once threatened its very existence. What is happening these days in that nation?

Israeli analyst Joshua Krasna joins Borealis to look at these issues.

About my guest Joshua Krasna

Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Program on the Middle East, is an analyst specializing in Middle East political and regional developments and forecasting, as well as in international strategic issues. Find out more about Joshua on my website.

QH #117 | I'm right, you're wrong, GO TO HELL!

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Religion is a very personal thing and, for many, very important. That it can make someone a better person is indeed a good thing, but that is not always the case. For some, faith is something to impose on others, and, in some cases, kill for.

Borealis looks at blasphemy accusations and links to religious terrorism.

►Read Blasphemy laws are still common around the world
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

QH #116 | Does who we are define what we do?

Fri, 18 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

In the aftermath of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, everyone is asking why Brenton Tarrant did what he did. Was it is violent household? His racist views? His online habits? Was any of this 'predictable'?

Borealis pushes back against the notion that we can detect these events in advance.

►Read The warning signs in the Christchurch terrorist's Australian upbringing
►Read How should security services handle threat information
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Yannick Veilleux-Lepage: What do aircraft hijackings tell us about terrorist innovation?

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Remember 'take this plane to Cuba"? What if I told you that airplane hijackings as a technique go back to the 1930s! Canadian scholar Yannick Veilleux-Lepage walks us through the 'evolution' of this phenomenon.

About my guest Dr. Yannick Veilleux-Lepage

Dr. Yannick Veilleux-Lepage is an Assistant Professor of Terrorism and Political violence at Leiden University in The Netherlands. He holds a doctorate in International Relations from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. His research interests include the creation of online narratives and propaganda which fosters or normalizes terrorism; historical antecedents to terrorism; far-right extremism and the transnational links of far-right groups; ideological and technical diffusion, and the application of evolutionary theory to social sciences.

►Check out Yannick's book How Terror Evolves - The Emergence and Spread of Terrorist Techniques

QH #115 | So now our spies need a warrant to use Google?

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 16:00:00 -0500

We in the West rightfully demand that our spy agencies obey the law and are not allowed to do a 'runaround'. We would also expect them to use any information they have access to help keep us safe. So, what to make of a new NSIRA report criticising CSIS for using open source info to help it do its job?

►Read CSIS use of geolocation data could be unlawful, says watchdog on CBC
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

QH #114 | What if deradicalisation programs are serving to BOLSTER violent extremism?

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Many countries engage in programs to 'deradicalise' violent extremists or act to prevent them from going down the terrorism road in the first place. So what happens when other extremists show up seeking to recruit those being helped? In light of a case in Australia Borealis reflects on his own experience when a jihadi came to town.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

INTERVIEW | Architect of Toronto 18 terror plot granted "day parole"

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 07:00:00 -0500

This past Tuesday, an architect of an extraordinary Toronto 18 terrorism plot to detonate truck bombs in the city’s downtown core was granted day parole. And the outcome of the three hour parole hearing went against the recommendation of the Correctional Service of Canada.

Libby Znaimer is joined by Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consultants as well as a former strategic analyst at CSIS, and Andrew House, Counsel and co-lead for the National Security Group at Fasken LLP. Andrew had carriage of the Anti-Terrorism file for the federal Attorney General in 2006 when the Toronto 18 were arrested.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

QH #113 | When things go wrong fingers get pointed - is this fair?

Fri, 11 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

In the wake of a brutal killing and beheading of a French teacher in October for his 'crime' of showing the Muhammad cartoons, a report has come out saying French security and intelligence services failed to "appreciate the gravity of the defamatory campaign on social media against the teacher".

In other words, the French blew it. Or did they? Borealis discusses what the real world of monitoring online hate is all about.

►Read Samuel Paty: French security services failed to act over incendiary social media campaign | The Guardian

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

QH #112 | You gotta read - lots - if you want to stay informed

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

There are a lot of sources of information available on all kinds of topics. If you want to stay abreast of what is happening from a national security/public safety angle you need to invest time and effort to find that information.

Borealis offers some hints on how to do so.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Terry Chowanec: Intelligence gathering in the private sector

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

What is it like to move from law enforcement to the private sector as head of security? What are the challenges of ensuring security for a large commercial centre? Borealis talks to Terry Chowanec, former head of National Security at Cadillac Fairview.

About my guest Terry Chowanec

Terry Chowanec is the former Vice President of National Security Operations with Cadillac Fairview Corporation, recently retiring from Cadillac Fairview after 12 years with the company. Prior to joining Cadillac Fairview, Terry led police reform projects throughout the U.S. and internationally while based in Washington, D.C. while at the pre-eminent policing think tank, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).

Quick Hits | Why do security services get blamed when things go badly?

Mon, 07 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

In the wake of the November 2 terrorist attack in Vienna in which 4 people died, the head of the Austrian security service resigned and the responsible minister has called for a review of the spy service. Austria apparently received but failed to act on intelligence from Germany and Slovakia.

Was the attack a failure? Borealis wonders why security services are always blamed when things go wrong.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | What about environmental terrorism?

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

2 American women were arrested last weekend for having placed wires across railway tracks in Washington state: they have been charged with terrorism. They apparently belong to an anarchist movement that has been sabotaging rails in protest over natural gas shipments.

Was this an 'act of terrorism'? Listen as Borealis examines this case.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | A lot of dictatorships are using ‘terrorism’ to crack down on opponents

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Even if we cannot agree on what ‘terrorism’ is, we should be able to agree on what it isn’t. Legitimate non-violent dissent is not terrorism, and yet that label is used by many countries to outlaw this opposition.

In this episode, Borealis looks at some recent abuses of the word ‘terrorism’ and calls on all countries to reject this usage.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Eric Schmitt - Covering the terrorism beat for the New York Times

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Journalists and intelligence operatives are actually quite similar. We both recruit sources, collect data and figure out what it all means. So, what is it like to cover terrorism for one of the world's leading dailies? Borealis has a chat with New York Times reporter Eric Schmitt.

About my guest Eric Schmitt

Eric Schmitt is a senior writer covering terrorism and national security for The New York Times. Since 2007, he has reported on terrorism issues, with assignments to Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Africa, Southeast Asia among others. He is the co-author, with The Times’s Thom Shanker, of “Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda,” published in 2011.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Naama Kates on what is an ongoing trial in Canada teaching us about incels

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

As a trial in Toronto of a man accused ot running down and killing 10 people in 2018 continues we are seeing various arguments about both the mental competence of the accused and whether his act could inspire others. Borealis sits down once again with incel specialist Naama Kates to look at what we can deduce from these hearings on incels.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About my guest Naama Kates:

Investigative journalist Naama Kates dives deep inside the incel community. Incel is shorthand for involuntary celibate.

►Listen to Naama's podcast The Incel Project

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | What to do with intelligence 'whistleblowers'?

Wed, 25 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

We all see things at work we don't like. We should have ways to talk about these issues, without airing dirty linen in public. So, what about those who betray intelligence secrets? What about Jonathan Pollard and Edward Snowden? Borealis looks at better ways to talk about concerns.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Is it really time to take resources away from jihadi terrorists and move them to the far right?

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 16:00:00 -0500

It seems that all Western media want to talk about when it comes to terrorism these days is the far right. We need, or so many say, to shift out resources away from the jihadis we have been focused on for 20 years. Should we? What do the data say? Borealis looks at what facts tell us about terrorism in late 2020.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Why can’t we call terrorists what they are?

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Militants, militias, insurgents, sects. These are just some of the terms used to describe what are in reality terrorists. Why the variation? Borealis weighs in on the terminology used to talk about terrorists.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Nigel West: Shedding light on the world of intelligence

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 10:00:00 -0500

When you work in intelligence the first thing you learn is to say nothing publicly. All that knowledge is supposed to go to your grave with you. Thankfully, there are people out there who write very good books on all matters intelligence and Nigel West is one of them. He joins Borealis for a fascinating look at this murky world.

About my guest Nigel West

Nigel West is an author specialising in security, intelligence, secret service and espionage issues. He is the European Editor of the World Intelligence Review, published in Washington DC, and the editorial director of The St Ermin’s Press. In 1989 he was voted ‘The Experts’ Expert’ by the Observer.

►Check Nigel's books on his website

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

INTERVIEW | China, Russia, Iran and North Korea are Canada's 'greatest strategic threat': CSE report

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 10:00:00 -0500

Canada’s cyber security agency has named China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as the ‘greatest strategic threats’ to Canada’s infrastructure, property and elections. I was invited on the Scott Thomspon Show to discuss this recent news and its impact for Canada.

►Listen to The Scott Thomspon Show

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | No, violent incels are not terrorists

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

As the trial of a Toronto man who drove a van down a busy street killing 10 gets underway doubt is raised as to whether he is mentally responsible. More importantly, he may not be the incel (involuntary celibate) he claimed to be. Borealis looks at why we should not call violent incels 'terrorists'.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Borealis to expand podcasts to more national security issues

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

While terrorism is an important issue it is not the only threat we face. To date, Borealis has focused almost exclusively on terrorism but it is time to broaden horizons. In this Quick Hits episode you'll hear what the new scope is as well as the new name for this short podcast!

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

David Malet: What to do with Western foreign terrorist fighters - leave them abroad or bring them back?

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Tens of thousands of Western citizens left their homes to join terrorist groups abroad such as Al Qaeda and ISIS. Many died, often killing many others in the process, while others are still active. A third cohort are in some kind of captivity and some want to bring them back. Borealis talks to David Malet, who has looked at this issue at great length.

About my guest David Malet

David Malet teaches Justice, Law and Criminology at the School of Public Affairs at American University. Previously he served as director of the Security Policy Studies Program at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. He also taught at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and at Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he was director of the Center for the Study of Homeland Security and the University Honors Program.

►Check David's book Foreign Fighters: Transnational Identity in Civic Conflicts

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Those advocating the return of foreign fighters are missing a lot

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Everyone seems to think Western governments need to drop everything and bring back their terrorist citizens for prosecution/counselling. Those who think this way don't seem to have any idea what it takes to investigate and prosecute a returnee. Borealis weighs in, once again, on why this is a bad idea.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Why can't the Canadian PM denounce a brutal act of terrorism?

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

A man is decapitated and a world leader is asked what he thinks of it. Rather than denouncing it as a heinous act he referred to the danger of yelling 'fire' in a crowded theatre. The man in question is Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Borealis wonders why he was unable to do the right thing and simply reject terrorism.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | What does a Biden presidency mean for counter terrorism?

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Episode 100! Administrations have to deal with a lot of things: the economy, trade, diplomacy, global warming... and terrorism. The latter is not as dangerous as many think it is but it cannot be ignored. What will a Biden presidency look like on this front? Borealis looks at this aspect of the term of the 46th US President.

►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Jasmine Opperman: Why is Mozambique becoming a terrorist hotspot?

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Can you find Mozambique on a map? Does this southeastern African nation come up often in your news feeds? What if you were to learn that a very dangerous Islamist terrorism campaign is taking place in northern Mozambique? Borealis talks to Jasmine Opperman, who knows a lot about what is happening there.

About my guest, Jasmine Opperman

Jasmine Opperman is a former Director of Africa Desk at Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium (TRAC). Jasmine’s areas of expertise include methodological risk analysis and the management of intelligence processes (operations, counter intelligence, covert activities and analysis). Jasmine is qualified as a risk analyst and holds a Master’s Degree in History at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa). Her aptitude emanates from 19 years employment in formal intelligence structures, at which time she attained the position of Provincial Head Eastern Cape Province.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | When men of God say "Don't love your neighbour - kill him"

Mon, 09 Nov 2020 18:00:00 -0500

Religious people are supposed to spread love and tolerance, not violence. So what do we do with those who advocate extremism and terrorism? Borealis has a look at this issue.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Does 'deradicalisation' in prison work?

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

In the wake of the terrorist attack in Vienna, we learned that the perpetrator was a wannabe ISIS fighter who was sent to prison. While there he went into a 'deradicalisation' program and told the organisers he had abandoned ISIS ideology, but went on to kill five people in downtown Vienna. What does this tell us about deradicalisation programs? Borealis looks at these efforts.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

INTERVIEW | Does the Vienna attack signal a new wave of jihadist terrorism?

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 16:00:00 -0500

An attack in Vienna has resulted in four people dead and a 20 year old extremist killed by police. What is the latest in this situation and what do we know? Phil Gurski, President & CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting joins the Bill Kelly Show to discuss the latest developments in this story.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Tunisia is facing a grave Islamist extremist threat

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 15:00:00 -0500

In the wake of an attack in Nice by an illegal Tunisian immigrant that North African country is facing a grave crisis. Thousands of Tunisians went to fight for ISIS and other terrorist groups and many more were prevented from doing so. Borealis discusses the nature of this problem in Tunisia.

Please support the podcast by sharing this episode with your contacts.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

INTERVIEW | 5 dead, including suspect with ‘Islamist motive,’ after shooting in Vienna

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 12:00:00 -0500

Four people have been killed and 22 injured in an attack in a busy area of Vienna, Austria, on Monday evening. The country's interior minister and chancellor called the shooting an "Islamist terror attack." Phil Gurski joins Supriya Dwivedi & guest host Greg Brady on 640 Toronto's Morning Show.

Please support the podcast by sharing this episode with your contacts.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Kamran Bokhari - What are the real chances for peace in Afghanistan?

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 06:00:00 -0500

If you are following what is happening in Afghanistan you will know two things: one, the US is engaged in 'peace talks' with Taliban terrorists and two, Taliban terrorists are continuing to kill on a daily basis. Should we talk 'peace' with terrorists? Borealis talks to a Canadian specialist on this issue, Kamran Bokhari.

Quick Hits | Quebec sword attack: Not every act of serious violence is terrorism

Sun, 01 Nov 2020 18:00:00 -0500

The world has been shocked over the past few weeks over a series of knife attacks and beheadings in France, all of which appear to be terrroism related. So when two people are killed and five wounded by a man with a sword in Quebec City many assume it must be terrorism. But is it? Borealis weighs in on why we need to be careful before we jump to conclusions.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Good counter terrorism practices require wide sharing among international security services

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Canada has long benefitted from its membership in the so-called '5 eyes' intelligence sharing club. But when it comes to counter terrorism, the '5 eyes' are not enough. Borealis argues why it is crucial to share counter terrorism data widely with other intelligence partners.

Read Should the Five Eyes Alliance be Expanded? by Greg Fyffe.

Please support the podcast by sharing this episode with your contacts.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Islamic leaders need to look in the mirror

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0400

In the wake of heavy criticism by Muslim leaders over French President Macron's comments about Islam after a brutal beheading all fingers are pointed at France as the problem. Is it, or is the Muslim world in crisis? Borealis weighs in on this topic.

Please support the podcast by sharing this episode to your contacts.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Quick Hits | Yes, Islamist extremism has a lot to do with Islam!

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

In the wake of a brutal beheading in France, that country's President Emmanuel Macron has called for a look at Islam in France. Saudi Arabia has responded that Islamist terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. Huh? Borealis looks at this issue in some depth.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Cynthia Miller-Idriss: What do we mean by 'the far right'?

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Everyone seems to want to talk about 'Right-Wing Extremism' or RWE these days. It is a nebulous term that seems to cover an awful lot of actors. Borealis talks to Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss of American University in Washington DC whose latest book HATE IN THE HOMELAND: the new global far right is now today! Have a listen to this fascinating discussion!

About my guest Cynthia Miller-Idriss:

Cynthia Miller-Idriss is an award-winning author and scholar of extremism and youth radicalization. She directs the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) in the Center for University Excellence (CUE) at the American University in Washington, DC, where she is also Professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the School of Education.

► Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right
► Check out Cynthia's website

Quick Hits | Labelling misogyny as a form of terrorism is unhelpful

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Most people know that terrorism is driven by one of three primary motivators: religion, politics or ideology. Some now want to add misogyny to that trio. Borealis thinks this is a bad idea - have a listen to why.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Are right-wing terrorists really a bigger concern than jihadis?

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Pick up any Western newspaper or go to any Website and when it comes to terrorism it seems to be all right wing all the time. Is this an accurate analysis of where the threat really is? Borealis offers his thoughts on the matter.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Remembering Corporal Nathan Cirillo 6 years after the Ottawa attack

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 19:00:00 -0400

Six years ago today unarmed Corporal Nathan Cirillo was killed while standing honour guard at the National Cenotaph by a Canadian Islamist terrorist. RIP Corporal Cirillo.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | What will the impact of the beheading of a high school teacher be on France?

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400

A French teacher makes the difficult decision to raise the issue of the infamous 'Muhammad cartoons' to his class. People get angry and an 18-yr old student beheads this teacher. While France is no stranger to jihadi terrorism will this henous act lead to significant actions?

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Tom Abraham - How do dogs play a role in counter-terrorism?

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Have you ever wondered what it takes to train a sniffer dog? Just how good are these dogs? Borealis talks to a Canadian who has been involved in training 'man's best friend' for four decades.

About my guest Tom Abraham:

My name is Tom Abraham, I am a former volunteer Fire Fighter in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada. I started this organization not by choice but rather by chance. My primary passion has always been dogs, Service Dogs – in specific, German Shepherds for Military/Law Enforcement purposes. About 10 years ago I approached an individual who attended the same church as me, he was working at a Youth Detention facility at the time.

► BlackTrack K9 Facebook
► BlackTrack K9 website

Quick Hits | If you "just drove the bus" for ISIS, should we let you go?

Mon, 19 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0400

It should surprise no one that most terrorists deny what they did. After all, admitting to it would mean a quick conviction were you to come to trial. What do we do with those who say they joined terrorist groups but did nothing violent? Borealis weighs in on this topic.

Read: Inmate Released from Kurdish Prison: ISIS Used Us as Human Shields

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Greece shows us how to prosecute terrorism

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

When terrorism cases come to court it is necessary to prove that ideology drove a (planned) act of violence. Why do we need to do that? Isn't violence simply violence? Borealis asks whether a recent Greek court decision to convict the far right Golden Dawn as a criminal organisation rather than a terrorist one has lessons for all of us.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Vaush: Can the word terrorism be applied to groups like BLM and Antifa?

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

There are those in the US especially who say that groups like Antifa are terrorist in nature and should be banned. Antifa would be left-wing extremism, although some would take issue with that. Borealis appears as a guest on a podcast hosted by Vaush to look at these issues.

About my guest Vaush:

Hi, I'm Vaush. I believe progressive socialism is the best solution to the problems our country - all countries - face, and I'm here to make arguments in favor of that belief. I broadcast livestreams where I do debates, cover current events, critique media, and generally try not to take it all too seriously. Hope you enjoy!

►Vaush on Youtube
►Vaush on Twitter

INTERVIEW | FBI foils a right-wing terror plot to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer

Fri, 09 Oct 2020 15:00:00 -0400

The FBI has charged 13 men accused of a violent plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, attack police, and start a U.S. civil war ahead of the November presidential election. Borealis talks with CHML's Bill Kelly about the FBI takedown of a right wing Michigan militia plot to kidnap and kill the state governor.

►Read more: 13 men charged in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Barbara Perry: How serious is the far right extremist threat in Canada? Are we taking it seriously enough?

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

How serious is the far right extremist threat in Canada? Are we taking it seriously enough? Borealis talks to Canada's leading scholar on this phenomenon, Dr. Barbara Perry of Ontario Tech University.

About my guest Dr. Barbara Perry:

Dr. Barbara Perry is the Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism. She has written extensively in the area of hate crime and right-wing extremism. Dr. Perry has also written on policing diverse communities, including work on social control in Native American communities. She has made substantial contributions to the limited scholarship on hate crime in Canada. Most recently, she has contributed to a scholarly understanding of anti-Muslim violence, hate crime against LGBTQ communities, the community impacts of hate crime, and right-wing extremism.

►Check Barbara's book Right-Wing Extremism in Canada

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Lessons on Terrorism | The Canadian government should NOT apologise for its reaction to FLQ terrorists

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 04:00:00 -0400

50 years ago today the FLQ terrorist group kidnapped a UK diplomat in Montreal. A few days later, they kidnapped the deputy premier Pierre Laporte whom they killed. In response the Pierre Trudeau government declared martial law and arrested hundreds. People are now demanding that the current Trudeau government apologise for this. Should it? Borealis weighs in.

►Read Today in terrorism: October 5, 1970: FLQ kidnapping of British diplomat

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Do security services really 'get it wrong' when things go boom?

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 23:00:00 -0400

An inquiry into the 2017 Manchester suicide bombing has uncovered that MI5 had the terrorist on their 'radar' as long ago as 2010. The security service ended up dropping him from investigation. Did they screw up? Borealis weighs in on how investigations really work.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | The Canadian government still doesn't get intelligence

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Intelligence agencies exist to help officials make better decisions. Some nations have true 'intelligence cultures' where the value of this kind of information is recognised. Then there is Canada. Borealis laments the lack of appreciation for this source of data in his own country.

►Read Ottawa turned off ‘wrong tap’ on pandemic surveillance, former intelligence adviser says

Lessons on Terrorism | What to do with an ISIS wannabe?

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 15:00:00 -0400

A Canadian has been charged with terrorism hoax for lying about being part of ISIS. What should happen to him? Borealis talks to Mubin Shaikh, a Canadian who worked with Abu Huzayfah to see what he knew and when about this case.

More:
►Quick Hits Abu Huzayfah, the man who cried ISIS
►Episode 31 - Interview with Mubin Shaikh, former security intelligence and counter terrorism operative

About my guest Mubin Shaikh:

Mubin Shaikh is a former security intelligence and counter terrorism operative. He has testified as an expert for the United Nations Security Council, the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs with NATO, the National Counterterrorism Center, and Special Operations Command Central and he is an external expert with the Joint Staff SMA for CENTCOM Command Staff.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | The slow wheels of terrorist justice

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 13:00:00 -0400

What should we do with so-called returning 'foreign fighters' (i.e. terrorists)? Charge them? How hard is that? Borealis discusses the challenges behind this in light of a recent case in Calgary, Canada.

►Read Second Calgary man in two months charged with aiding Islamic State terrorists

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

China and the Uyghurs: Exploiting the 'Global War on Terrorism' to engage in 'cultural genocide'

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 06:00:00 -0400

China has used a very small terrorist threat emanating from a handful of Uyghur Islamist extremists to launch an enormous crackdown in what it calls Xinjiang - the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). It has incarcerated up to 1 million Uyghurs in euphemistically termed 'vocational centres' and is trying very hard to erase all signs of Uyghur language and culture - all as part of the 'Global war on terrorism'. Borealis is joined by GWU's Sean Roberts to discuss his new book on this humanitarian outrage.

About my guest Sean Roberts:

Having conducted ethnographic fieldwork among the Uyghur people of Central Asia and China during the 1990s, Sean has published extensively on this community in scholarly journals and collected volumes. In addition, he produced a documentary film on the community entitled Waiting for Uighurstan (1996).

His present research is focused on China's development of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region as well as on democracy development in former Soviet Central Asia. Roberts continues his applied work on the design and evaluation of democracy and governance projects in the former Soviet Union, most recently in Ukraine where he worked on a USAID project to support decentralization and anti-corruption.

►Check Sean's book The War on the Uyghurs: China's Internal Campaign against a Muslim Minority

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | No, you do not need a BA to be a spy

Mon, 28 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Just about every job these days lists a BA as a basic requirement. That goes for national security as well. Except that knowledge and experience are much more important qualities and often come without a BA. It is time to stop ruling out great Canadians from our intelligence agencies just because they never went to university.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Recent stabbing in Paris proves Islamist terrorism is still a major threat

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 19:00:00 -0400

In a time when many say we need to focus on right-wing terrorism, a stabbing in Paris is an uncomfortable exception. Borealis weighs in on why this attack is important and has significant implications for France and the West.

Quick Hits | The man who cried ISIS

Sun, 27 Sep 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Far too many Canadians left our fair land to join terrorist groups such as ISIS. Some killed people abroad. Some came home but few have been charged. Then there is the Burlington man who maintained he killed for ISIS but lied about it. He has been charged with a terrorism 'hoax'. What should happen to him? Borealis gives some ideas.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Is it time to focus counter-terrorism resources on the far right

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 05:00:00 -0400

Australia's domestic spies are ramping up their CT efforts against right wing extremists, probably at the expense of looking at jihadis; What is driving this? Is it the right move? Should other nations follow suit?

Mentionned articles:

An overall look at what terrorism means in a conversation with David Pakman

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Phil Gurski, Canadian intelligence veteran, author on five books about terrorism, and hosts of the podcast "An Intelligent Look at Terrorism," joins David to discuss the sources of terror, the war on terror, and much more.

About my guest David Pakman:

The David Pakman Show (TDPS) is a multi-platform politics and news talk show currently airing on television, radio, and the Internet, hosted by David Pakman. The focus of the show is modern North American politics and society, with frequent discussion of economics, science, religion in public life, culture, reason, gay rights, capital punishment and crime, policing, North-American foreign policy, technology, and other topical issues.

►Find David Pakman on Twitter
►Watch David Pakman on Youtube

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | How should security services handle threat information?

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 23:00:00 -0400

As the trial of the New Zealand/Australian white supremacist who killed 51 Muslims at prayer in a mosque in Christchurch came to a close questions were asked. Why did this happen? What did the authorities know? Could they have prevented it? Borealis looks at how investigations are done in this regard.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | A better way to look at terrorism

Sat, 19 Sep 2020 03:00:00 -0400

A recent US case where a pair of 'Boogaloo Bois' tried to deal with the terrorist group Hamas has raised some interesting questions on US counter terrorism practice. Why is there a distinction between 'domestic' and 'international' terrorism? Borealis has a few suggestions for his American friends.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | When terrorism charges are unwarranted

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 04:00:00 -0400

We all hate terrorists and terrorism, right? We all want to see these actors punished for what they do, right? So what if some accused of terrorist offences are not in fact terrorists at all?

Borealis looks at the cases of Paul Rusesabagina and Eskinder Nega in Africa where two governments are using the word 'terrorism' to stop the activities of opposition parties.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Why is Edward Snowden still making headlines?

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 20:00:00 -0400

Edward Snowden and Julian Assange are painted as courageous whistleblowers and maybe they are to some extent. Yet there is little in life that is uniquely positive and this goes as well for the smashers of secrets. It is time for a much more nuanced discussion on intelligence leaks.

Read: Wikileaks, Snowden and the impact on Canadian intelligence

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Liam Duffy - Is the 'war on terrorism' turning into a 'war on words'?

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 05:00:00 -0400

It is no secret that there is consensus on what terrorism means. Today the confusion is growing as more and more crimes are being called 'terrorism' in nature. What does this all mean? UK researcher and former PREVENT officer Liam Duffy joins Borealis in the discussion.

About my guest Liam Duffy:

Liam is a Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) specialist and Director of SINCE 9/11, a London-based educational charity which aims to create a legacy of hope from the tragedy of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Liam and Tom joined forces and formed the Programme for Prevention and Counter-Terrorism to ensure that local authorities, businesses, schools and community groups had access to the best support available to prevent radicalisation and respond to the risk of terrorism.

►Twitter - https://twitter.com/LiamSD12
►Programme for Prevention and Counter-Terrorism - https://www.pact-programme.com/

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Why governments cannot dictate to spies

Sun, 13 Sep 2020 20:00:00 -0400

Intelligence agencies exist to provide the best information possible to those who run the country. They are given general requirements, hunt for the information, and package it up for their clients. In this they must be able to act independently.

Borealis weighs in on a report that the Trump Administration told its spies not to report on Russia and right-wing extremism.

Related articles:
►D.H.S. Downplayed Threats From Russia and White Supremacists, Whistle-Blower Says
►Al Qaeda’s Franchise Reboot

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Lessons on Terrorism | 365 Days in Terrorism: What have we learned?

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0400

An idea hatched over a beer one year ago today led to the ‘Today in Terrorism‘ series. How has that first year been? Are there lessons from the past for us today? Borealis reflects on 365 terrorist attacks over history, one for each calendar day.

►Read my daily blog Today in terrorism

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Forensic psychiatrist Peter Collins: Is there a link between mental illness and terrorism?

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 06:00:00 -0400

When you read about an act of violence do you immediately assume that the perpetrator is mentally ill? What about terrorism? What is the link? Borealis talks to Canadian forensic psychiatrist Peter Collins to shed light on these issues.

About my guest Peter Collins:

Peter Collins is the Operational Forensic Psychiatrist with the Criminal Behaviour Analysis Section of the OPP and an Associate Professor with the Division of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Putting a nail in the ‘self-radicalisation’ coffin

Sun, 06 Sep 2020 23:00:00 -0400

Given the enormous interest in all things terrorism we are inundated with so-called ‘expertise’. Except a lot of experts are not experts. Take the term ‘self-radicalisation’: it is a myth. Two recent cases illustrate why radicalisers are so important.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | How do we distinguish between 'freedom fighters' and 'terrorists'?

Thu, 03 Sep 2020 18:00:00 -0400

The Fenians were Irish Americans seeking to put pressure on Britain to free Ireland and hence could be seen as 'freedom fighters'. Except that they carried out attacks in Canada and assassinated one of the leaders of Canadian independence. So, are they terrorists instead? Borealis dives into the neverending debate of freedom fighter vs terrorist.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Charlie Hebdo: The free speech/terrorism conundrum

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 15:00:00 -0400

The rights we fought to have over centuries are worth protecting: but what if they feed terrorism?

An interesting trial is about to open this week in France. It will cover those responsible for the 2015 ‘Charlie Hebdo’ terrorist attacks in which twelve people were killed by the brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi over the journal’s decision to publish the ‘Muhammad cartoons’ (images deemed offensive by some). The brothers were in turn killed by French police and it is their accomplices who will stand trial.

►Read The free speech/terrorism conundrum

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Our continuing struggle with war analogies and terrorism

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 06:00:00 -0400

“War is not healthy for children and other living things” or so said the anti-Vietnam War slogan. We have used wars to 'resolve' things for millennia, seldom with good results. So why do many insist we are at 'war' with terrorism? Borealis discusses our need for a new paradigm.

►Buy Phil's book An End to the War on Terrorism

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Community awareness as counter terrorism: a conversation with Kamran Bhatti

Tue, 01 Sep 2020 06:00:00 -0400

How can security intelligence and law enforcement agencies and communities work better together? Can they have meaningful exchanges to help keep us all safe? Borealis is joined by Kamran Bhatti, a youth outreach worker within Muslim communities in Canada to discuss these issues.

About my guest Kamran Bhatti:

Kamran Bhatti is a Canadian Muslim community leader and former head of a youth program in the Hamilton area.

About the host Phil Gurski:

Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Quick Hits | Yet another Canadian couple charged with seeking to join ISIS

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 19:00:00 -0400

ISIS was very good at producing propaganda to entice Westerners to leave their countries and join up in the mid 2010s. That was when not much was known about how violent they were. So how can a Toronto-area couple who sought to join in 2019 not have known about the true nature of this terrorist bunch? Borealis looks at this breaking news.

►Yet another Canadian couple charged with seeking to join ISIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/yet-another-canadian-couple-charged-with-seeking-to-join-isis/

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

Nancy Yammout: Talking to terrorists in Lebanese prisons

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0400

What do we do once we try, convict, sentence and incarcerate terrorists? Leave them there or try to get them to abandon their views? Phil Gurski talks to Nancy Yammout, a Lebanese woman who goes into prisons to see if she can make a difference.

About the guest Nancy Yammout
Nancy and Maya Yamout, also known as the "Mulan Sisters" or the "Kamikaze Sisters," are social workers active in Beirut, Lebanon and internationally as the president and vice president of Rescue Me - Crime Prevention.

Rescue Me is a rehabilitation program for accused Islamist terrorists in Roumieh Prison. The program is based on research the sisters performed during their master's degree studies.

► Find out more about Rescue Me
► Contact Rescue Me rqme@outlook.com

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:

►https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

► https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Should we be worried about ecoterrorism?

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0400

When we read and hear about terrorism where does your mind go? Most probably to the world of Islamist terrorism/jihadism since the vast majority of attacks can be traced to them. What about environmental terrorism? Is this on the horizon? Borealis weighs on on the reality of this form of violent extremism.

►Should we be worried about ecoterrorism? - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/quick-hits-65-ecoterrorism/

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Lessons on Terrorism | My review of the Know Your History Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War trailer

Sat, 22 Aug 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Borealis weighs in on the latest Know Your History Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War trailer and discusses his own experiences working in intelligence during the Cold War. What can this trailer tell us about the threats we in the West face today, ranging from foreign espionage to foreign interference to terrorism? Can a ‘game’ help us understand these?

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | The new tactic driving terrorism

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 19:00:00 -0400

How complicated does a terrorist act have to be? Do terrorists have to master complicated technologies to achieve their ends? No, all it takes is a car. Borealis weighs in on vehicular ramming attacks.

Using a car or truck as a weapon isn’t unique to 2020. A 2018 report from San Jose State University’s Mineta Transportation Institute identified vehicle ramming as an increasingly common terrorism tactic. ISIS and Al Qaeda, in particular, encourage followers to drive into unsuspecting pedestrians. The rationale is as simple as it is ruthless: Obtaining a car is easier (and less likely to raise suspicion) than buying guns or explosives, and radicalized acolytes need little-to-no training or planning to carry out the attack.

► See also: 5 Drivers Have Hit Colorado Protesters With Vehicles This Summer

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

I married an extremist: My life with Hizb-ut-Tahrir

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 06:00:00 -0400

What would you do if you came to realise that the group your spouse was part of was one that undermined liberal democracy? And wanted to establish an Islamic State? Borealis talks to a Canadian who found herself in this situation and what she decided to do.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

► https://borealisthreatandrisk.com

Quick Hits | When academics get it wrong...

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 11:00:00 -0400

Should criminology students do placements with law enforcement institutions? Their professors apparently don't think so.

Security studies are not surprisingly very popular with academics in part because they are sexy. But sometimes academics get it very wrong and make some very stupid decisions based on some kind of 'principle'. Borealis weighs in on a move by Carleton University's Institute of Criminology to end cooperation with law enforcement in Canada.

► See also: Arguing against the claim that I am anti-academic (Youtube)

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

David Wilson: When Irish terrorists posed a real threat to... Canada!

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 06:00:00 -0400

How many of you have ever heard of the Fenian threat to Canada? Yes, there was a terrorist movement in the 1860s that threatened Canada and killed one of the 'fathers' of Confederation in 1868. University of Toronto's David Wilson joins Borealis to talk about this forgotten violent chapter of Canadian history.

About the guest, David Wilson:

With a background in modern North Atlantic history, David A. Wilson specializes in Modern Irish History and the Irish in North America. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he is the General Editor of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, and is currently writing a book on the Fenian underground in Canada.

►Check out David's book Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Volume 1: Passion, Reason, and Politics, 1825-1857

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

► https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | It is high time to cancel 'cancel culture'

Mon, 10 Aug 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Debate is the backbone of democratic society. Reasoned, civil exchanges of ideas is what we must protect. Unfortunately, there is a movement to stifle debate and silence voices (or get them fired). Borealis weighs in on this phenomenon.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Is it ok for one nation to send a hit squad to another?

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 22:00:00 -0400

News has just come out that Saudi Arabia sent a hit squad to Canada to kill former counter terrorism officer Saad al-Jabri. Saudi has a history of this, having killed Washington Post reporter and dissident Jamal Kashoggi in Istanbul in October 2018. What should Canada do in reponse? Borealis weighs in.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Beirut explosion: When is a terrorist attack not a terrorist attack?

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 11:00:00 -0400

The explosion yesterday in Beirut that killed hundreds and wounded thousands sure looks like a terrorist attack. All indications point to this being a tragic accident. What does this say about our reaction to events of this nature? https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

A large blast in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, has killed at least 70 people and injured more than 4,000 others, the health minister says. Videos show smoke billowing from a fire, then a mushroom cloud following the blast at the city's port. Officials are blaming highly explosive materials stored in a warehouse for six years.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Farhana Qazi: What to do about Kashmir when both sides are a problem?

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 04:00:00 -0400

Kashmir has been a place of contention ever since the British Raj split into India and Pakistan in 1947. It seems to be getting worse and there is enough blame on both sides to go around. Borealis talks to Farhana Qazi of GWU to get the inside scoop

About the guest, Farhana Qazi :
Farhana Qazi is an American scholar, an award-winning author, and an international public speaker. Her research includes conflicts in the Muslim world, women in war, and strategic communications.

►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhanaqazi/

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

► https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Unprecedented number of terrorists in European prisons

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 05:00:00 -0400

A recent report states that there are an unprecedented number of terrorists in European prisons. What kinds of threat do they pose? What should we do with them? Borealis weighs in on this issue in this Quick Hits podcast.

For some terrorists, prison is a place for radicalisation and recruitment, in which inmates with no previous involvement in politically motivated violence can be exposed to extremist ideas – often at particularly vulnerable points in their lives. For others, it is as an ‘incubator of peaceful change and transformation’, enabling de‑radicalisation, disengagement, and – in some cases – entire peace processes. Read the ICSR report - Prisons and Terrorism: Extremist Offender Management in 10 European Countries

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

My chat with UCLA professor David Rapoport

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 13:00:00 -0400

Have you ever heard of the 'wave theory' of terrorism? If so, then you know David Rapoport, a retired UCLA professor who has been studying terrorism since 1970! Borealis caught up with him recently for a fascinating chat. Have a listen!

Read more about David's ''Wave Theory of Terrorism": https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/religious-terrorism-over-by-2025-a-discussion-with-legendary-david-rapoport/

About the guest, David Rapoport:
David Charles Rapoport is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science at University of California, Los Angeles who focuses on the study of terrorism. He taught the first course on terrorism in the U.S. and developed a series of courses on politics in the Bible. He retired in 1995 and was the Founding Director of the Center for the Study or Religion and Chair, Interdepartmental Major in Religion UCLA 1995-7. He continued teaching at UCLA till 2011 and received the Dickson Award for work as an emeritus 2007.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | How do intelligence agencies stop Russian spying?

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 21:00:00 -0400

A report submitted to the UK parliament claims that British, and Western, intelligence agencies cannot combat “online psychological operations from foreign state actors — primarily Russia — aiming to influence Western politics on a mass scale“. Why can’t they? Borealis looks at this in his latest Quick Hit podcast.

Read more - British report into Russian meddling leads to uncomfortable conclusions

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Al Mawla: What will the new ISIS leader do?

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 22:00:00 -0400

Following the successful killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, the terrorist organisation was leaderless for a while. No longer. A guy called Mawla the 'Destroyer' has now assumed the helm. What is in store for ISIS going forward?

Listen also to Episode 22 - The death of Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi and its impact (if any)

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Talking terrorism with veteran US observer and practitioner Brian Jenkins

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 14:00:00 -0400

What would a person who has been thinking and writing about terrorism for fifty years have to say about this phenomenon? A lot as it turns out. Borealis has a lengthy exchange with Rand Corporation's Brian Jenkins, a true pioneer in the study of violent extremism.

ABOUT THE GUEST BRIAN JENKINS
Brian Michael Jenkins is a senior adviser to the president of the RAND Corporation and author of numerous books, reports, and articles on terrorism-related topics, including Will Terrorists Go Nuclear?. He formerly served as chair of the Political Science Department at RAND. On the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, Jenkins initiated a RAND effort to take stock of America's policy reactions and give thoughtful consideration to future strategy. He is a decorated combat veteran, having served in the Seventh Special Forces Group in the Dominican Republic and with the Fifth Special Forces Group in Vietnam.

►Twitter @BrianMJenkins
►The RAND Corportation

ABOUT THE HOST PHIL GURSKI
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Twitter @borealissaves
►LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468
►Email borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Borealis borealisthreatandrisk.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

ABOUT BOREALIS THREAT & RISK CONSULTING
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.

►borealisthreatandrisk.com

Quick Hits | Why Islamic leaders remain silent about China’s internment camps for Uyghur Muslims

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 01:00:00 -0400

China is involved in what can only be called a ‘genocide’ in the northwestern part of its territory against Uyghur Muslims.

Concentration camps, forced sterilisation, cultural destruction… it is all done in the name of ‘counter terrorism’. And yet the world’s Muslims leaders remain silent. Why? Listen as Borealis weighs in.

Sources:
►Reporter’s Notebook: Uighurs Held For ‘Extremist Thoughts’ They Didn’t Know They Had
►Sterilizations, IUDs, and Mandatory Birth Control: The CCP’s Campaign to Suppress Uyghur Birth Rates in Xinjiang

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | CSIS used information collected via illegal activities to get counter-terrorism warrants

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 01:00:00 -0400

CSIS has been taken to task by the Federal court in Canada for displaying 'a cavalier institutional approach' to the rule of law'. What it did was to use human sources who posed as supportive of terrorism in counter terrorism investigations. Why is this a surprise to anyone? Borealis weighs in on this issue.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | The French Revolution and the War on Terrorism - The jury is still out

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 18:00:00 -0400

In honour of Bastille Day! The French revolution is 231 years old today and yet is still a work in progress. So is the ill-named 'war on terrorism' now about to enter its 20th season. Borealis weighs in on how to measure gains and how to better go about fighting terrorism.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Lorenzo Vidino on how worried we should be about the Muslim Brotherhood

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400

The Muslim Brotherhood has had its share of controversy. Some countries have listed it as a terrorist organisation and others have not. How worried should we in the West be about the Muslim Brotherhood?

Borealis talks to Lorenzo Vidino, specialist on the Muslim Brotherhood in the West.

About the guest Lorenzo Vidino:
Dr. Lorenzo Vidino is the Director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. An expert on Islamism in Europe and North America, his research over the past 20 years has focused on the mobilization dynamics of jihadist networks in the West; governmental counter-radicalization policies; and the activities of Muslim Brotherhood-inspired organizations in the West.

►LORENZO'S LATEST BOOK - https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-closed-circle/9780231193672
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-vidino-0667285/

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Former Toronto 18 terrorist group member Saad Gaya asks to be removed from no-fly list

Fri, 10 Jul 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Should convicted terrorists get a second chance? Do they really 'see the light' and reject the ideology which led them to become terrorists in the first place? I weigh in on a Canadian case in this short podcast.

A former member of a terrorist group that plotted truck bombings in Toronto to protest Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan is appealing a government decision to place him on the no-fly list.

Read Former member of Toronto 18 terrorist group asks court to take him off no-fly list

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Episode 49 - Terrorism, Iran and Foreign Policy: A discussion with Atheist Republic

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 05:00:00 -0400

What is happening in Iran and how worried should we be about that nation? Is it a state sponsor of terrorism more dangerous than Sunni jihadis? Have a listen to my talk with the host of Atheist Republic, Armin Navabi.

Follow Armin Navabi
►YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAtheistRepublic
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/AtheistRepublic

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About The Atheist Republic:
We are providing community, support, informative content and amplifying the voices of those who need protection especially in countries where people feel isolated simply for their lack of belief. We want to be there for them, and we are only getting started. Help us get there.

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | What to do with citizens who joined ISIS and now want to come home?

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 04:00:00 -0400

Lots of nations are agonising over what to do with citizens who joined ISIS or other terrorist groups and now want to come home. Some say they should and should be charged or 'deprogrammed'. Others want them to stay away. Listen to this latest Quick Hits podcast to see where Borealis stands on this issue.

Evidence in terrorism cases is proving difficult to find, while experts warn that the reintegration and rehabilitation of foreign fighters is an even greater challenge. Read: Balkan States Find Prosecuting Terrorism a Challenge

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Armed suspect at Rideau Hall and Trump denies Russian bounty intelligence

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 03:00:00 -0400

Two interesting developments in two capitals. In Ottawa an armed man drives several thousand km to drive over the gates of Rideau Hall where the PM and family are living: motive unknown.

In Washington DC, the President is told Russia is paying Taliban terrorists to kill US soldiers and does nothing. What does this tell is about intelligence and how it is used?

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Cancel Canada Day: Is the country going to hell in a handbasket?

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 19:00:00 -0400

Happy 153rd birthday Canada - or is it? Canadians tend to undersell their achievements and today especially - if you read the CBC - the country is going to hell in a handbasket. It is time to push back against that myth, by looking at how safe a country we are, when it comes to terrorism.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Episode 48 - A discussion with James Tibbs on CSIS and Western Foreign Policy

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 05:00:00 -0400

How do foreign policy decisions and terrorism intersect? Are we making good choices? Listen as I am joined by BigTibbs78 to discuss these issues and much more.

In this episode: BigTibbs78, political streamer on Twitch and Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Russia paying bounties for dead US soldiers?

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 22:00:00 -0400

News that Russia is paying the Taliban to kill US military in Afghanistan came out this week. How big is this and what will the Trump Administration do in response? What does it mean for the 'war on terrorism'?

The Trump administration has been deliberating for months about what to do about a stunning intelligence assessment.

Read more: Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill U.S. Troops, Intelligence Says

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits | Air India Flight 182: Canadian Security Intelligence and Law Enforcement Failed

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 12:00:00 -0400

35 years ago today Air India flight 182 left the air traffic control radar off the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 people aboard. Canadian Sikh terrorists placed a bomb on board. Canadian security intelligence and law enforcement agencies were investigating these men but failed. It is a somber day in Canada.

Read more: Today in Terrorism: Air India Flight 182 bombing (June 23, 1985)

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Episode #47: A talk with Destiny - Trump, Incels, Police and more

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0400

If you recall, about 5 months ago, I joined Destiny (Steven Bonnell) during his live stream. He invited me back for another discussion. The genesis was a conversation I wanted to have about why we are not seeing terrorism in the West during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Have a listen! It’s about 45 minutes in lenght. Wide-ranging topics, I’m sure you’ll love it

►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ

Quick Hits: Research finds Canadians among most active in online right-wing extremism

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 16:00:00 -0400

Canadians are supposedly really active on right wing extremism websites. How worried should we be that these will translate into terrorist attacks? Are our protectors looking at this menace?

Read Canadians among most active in online right-wing extremism, research finds on CBC.ca

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits: Does Canada's foreign policy need a redo?

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 05:00:00 -0400

Canada just lost a vote to gain a seat on the UN Security Council. Some critics say this shows our foreign policy is all wrong. Is it? How do Canada's intelligence agencies meet the country's foreign intel priorities?

Jean-Christophe Boucher: Canada's failed Security Council bid marks the death of our traditional foreign policy

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits: A better way to prosecute terrorists

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0400

Lots of terrorist cases never go to trial or, when they do, terrorists are acquitted. This is very frustrating for the men and women who work diligently to keep us safe. Is there a better way to prosecute terrorism? Have a listen as I weigh in on this matter.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Intelligence Veteran Reviews Caliphate Netflix Series - Episode 8 (Season Finale)

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 22:00:00 -0400

Nadir reveals an unexpected truth. Kerima prepares to deal the final blow. Fatima fulfills her end of the bargain with Pervin - at a price.

How realist is the depiction of ISIS in this first season of the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 46 - An Intelligent Look at Terrorism in Africa

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0400

When it comes to Islamist terrorism most people think of the Middle East or Asia. However, one of the hotspots is Africa the entire continent. Borealis looks at terrorism in Africa: who is who, what they have been up to and what the future prospects are.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Quick Hits: The intersection between violent extremism and music in light of the Rage Against The Machine story

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

The intersection between violent extremism and music in light of the Rage Against The Machine story.

Music means a lot for people. It can inspire us, make us sad, happy and sometimes it can be tied to political and religious extremism.

Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello took to social media on Tuesday (June 9) to hilariously school an angry fan who apparently just learned the band makes a political statement with its music.

About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG

About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:
Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Music credits:
Banda RADIO GORILLA - Rage Against The Machine Cover
In Pride We Stride Bound For Glory - Warriors Glory
Abu Ali - Ana Maradun (Islamic Nasheed)

Intelligence Veteran Reviews Caliphate Netflix Series - Episode 7

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Fatima is still on the run, and she knows that Nadir is on her trail. Calle and Suleiman managed to stop Sulle and Kerima at the border, but Lisha was left behind in the van and is on her way to Raqqa all alone. Calle calls Fatima in panic and demands that she and her contacts help get Lisha out. Pervin is devastated by the fight with Husam. But she doesn’t hesitate when she gets another chance to flee Raqqa.

How realist is the depiction of ISIS in the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Why Religious Extremism Turns Violent?

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0400

In the 1950s, some religious leaders were behind a campaign to ban shorts in public. Today that would be seen as an extreme move. What is it about religious extremism that in the worst case scenario turns violent?

Check out Phil's latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith (2019).

Christian fundamentalists. Hindu nationalists. Islamic jihadists. Buddhist militants. Jewish extremists. Members of these and other religious groups have committed horrific acts of terrorist violence in recent decades. How is this possible? How do individuals use their religious beliefs to justify such actions? How do they manipulate the language and symbols of their faith to motivate others to commit violence in the name of the divine? Phil Gurski addresses these essential questions as he explores violent extremism across a broad range of the world’s major religions.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 45 - Christianne Boudreau: My child died fighting for a terrorist group

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 06:00:00 -0400

Raising kids is a challenge and our children do things that drive us crazy! Imagine if your child ended up leaving home to join a terrorist group and died fighting for ISIS. That is what happened to Damian Clairmont.

His mother, Christianne Boudreau, joins Borealis to talk about what she went through as well as how she is trying to help parents in similar situations.

In this episode, Christianne Boudreau, Co-Founder of Mothers for Life and Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting.

Subscribe to this podcast for free:
iTunes https://apple.co/2ObFoHk
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4NTG9pHoct7Rtuhq0cXmsY
Google Podcasts https://bit.ly/30JuCJQ

Give us feedback on this podcast! Contact Phil Gurski:
@borealissaves
borealisrisk@gmail.com
borealisthreatandrisk.com/contact-us/

About the Mothers for Life Network
“Mothers for Life” is a unique global network of parents who have experienced violent jihadist radicalization in their own families. In most cases, the parents in our network have seen their sons and daughters leaving for Syria and Iraq and in many cases never to return. Sometimes other family members have radicalized as well. All our parents have come together to share the burden of having seen how radicalization processes can destroy the emotional bonds within a family and feeling helpless when confronted with such a process and loss. To get in touch and become a member of Mothers for Life please send a message to contact@mothersforlife.org or visit www.mothersforlife.org.

Quick Hits: French forces kill al-Qaeda's North Africa chief Abdelmalek Droukdel

Sat, 06 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

The French military claims it has killed Abdelmalek Droukdel, the leader of the Al Qaeda terrorist affiliate AQIM in North Africa. This is indeed good news but does it mean the end of AQIM? How important is the death of a terrorist group's leader?

https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/quick-hits-french-forces-kill-al-qaedas-north-africa-chief-abdelmalek-droukdel/

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Intelligence Veteran Reviews Caliphate Netflix Series - Episode 6

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 04:00:00 -0400

Fatima runs surveillance on Nadir to see if he can lead her to information that will confirm her suspicions. Fatima has arranged Pervin's escape from Syria. When Pervin is on her way to the meeting place, the police take her. Ibbe has given Sulle and Kerima plane tickets to Syria. They are overjoyed, now they can finally go. But it turns out that everything isn't as easy as they thought.

How realist is the depiction of ISIS in the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Antifa as a terrorist organisation?

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 16:00:00 -0400

The US President has threatened to list Antifa as a terrorist organisation. Some say he can't do that. It seems like everything is a terrorist group these days: what if we dropped terrorism as a criminal offence? Have a listen to why this may be a good idea.

https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/quick-hits-antifa-as-a-terrorist-organisation/

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 44 - The Role(s) of Women in Terrorism (with Mia Bloom)

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 03:00:00 -0400

If you think that terrorism is largely all about men behaving violently you might want to think again. Women get involved too, sometimes as actors and not victims. And then there are the children. I talk with Canadian scholar Mia Bloom from Georgia State University about her decades of work looking at women, children and terrorism.

Check out Mia's latest book Small Arms: Children and Terrorism Format Kindle

Mia M. Bloom is a Canadian academic and author and Professor of Communication at Georgia State University. She was formerly an associate Professor of International Studies at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park and a fellow at the International Center for the Study of Terrorism at Penn State.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: What can you do to get a career in Security Intelligence?

Sun, 31 May 2020 16:00:00 -0400

Have you ever thought of a career in security intelligence? No, it is not like James Bond or Jason Bourne - sorry! But if you are serious have a listen to what a 32-year veteran offers in terms of advice on how to reach your goals!

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Intelligence Veteran Reviews Caliphate Netflix Series - Episode 5

Wed, 27 May 2020 14:57:48 -0400

Episode 5 of the Netflix series Caliphate begins with the brutal murder of Dolores after she has recognised that Ibbe is an ISIS terrorist. The various stories also continue and Ibbe now has his fertiliser for an attack in Sweden. How accurate is all this? You'll have to listen to find out!

How realist is the depiction of ISIS in the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate.

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 43 - Naama Kates and The Incel Project

Tue, 26 May 2020 17:30:03 -0400

Hey! Ever talked to an incel? Even know what an incel is? In the wake of terrorism charges laid last week in a February killing in Toronto by a teenager/alleged incel I decided to chat with Naama Kates, who runs a podcast called 'The Incel Project'.

Did I ever learn a lot - and you will too! Have a listen!

In this episode, Naama Kates (The Incel Project) and Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting.

Subscribe to this podcast for free:
iTunes https://apple.co/2ObFoHk
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4NTG9pHoct7Rtuhq0cXmsY
Google Podcasts https://bit.ly/30JuCJQ

Give us feedback on this podcast! Contact Phil Gurski:
@borealissaves
borealisrisk@gmail.com
borealisthreatandrisk.com/contact-us/

Episode 42 - Shawn MacWha: Simulating a nuclear war between Russia and China

Tue, 26 May 2020 00:41:44 -0400

Imagine a nuclear war between Russia and China which results in a migrant wave towards Canada. What would the security impact of this be? Could it make us less safe? Listen to Borealis talk with Canadian National Security analyst and author Shawn MacWha.

In this episode, Shawn MacWah, Canadian National Security analyst and Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting.

Check out Shawn's book Eastern Horizons: A Tale of Failure and Redemption

Subscribe to this podcast for free:
iTunes https://apple.co/2ObFoHk
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4NTG9pHoct7Rtuhq0cXmsY
Google Podcasts https://bit.ly/30JuCJQ

Give us feedback on this podcast! Contact Phil Gurski:
@borealissaves
borealisrisk@gmail.com
borealisthreatandrisk.com/contact-us/

Intelligence Veteran Reviews Caliphate Netflix Series - Episode 4

Wed, 20 May 2020 06:00:00 -0400

As the ISIS bomb plot in Sweden takes shape we learn more about how young Swedish Muslimas are embracing the terrorist group. In addition the terrorists seem to have 'insiders' everywhere! The plot thickens... listen as Borealis reviews episode 4 of this Netflix series!

How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews episode 4 of this Netflix series.

Quick Hits: Was the Deadly Attack at a Toronto Erotic Spa an act of 'Incel Terrorism'?

Tue, 19 May 2020 13:56:12 -0400

A youth in Toronto has been charged with terrorism for the killing of a woman at an erotic massage parlour back in February. Police have uncovered that the suspect subscribed to the 'incel' movement, a group of sexually-frustrated men. Is this the right charge? Is incel terrorism? Borealis weighs in.

Episode 41 - Andrew Griffith: Does Immigration Poses an Actual National Security Threat to Canada?

Tue, 19 May 2020 04:15:57 -0400

Canada is a nation of immigrants. It takes in 300,000 + a year. Does immigration pose a national security threat (i.e. are we letting in terrorists)? Borealis talks with Andrew Griffith, former Director General of Citizenship and Multiculturalism in the Canadian government.

Quick Hits: Not all religious extremism is violent

Mon, 18 May 2020 15:33:59 -0400

For many people a strong faith is getting them through the coronavirus. Some, however, are demanding group worship at a time when collective physical distancing is necessary. Have a listen to why I think these people are religious extremists.

Intelligence Veteran Reviews Caliphate Netflix Series - Episode 3

Wed, 13 May 2020 08:00:00 -0400

As Fatima continues to push Pervin for more information she is raped by an ISIS fighter and kills him. Sulle is still being groomed by Ibbe, an ISIS recruiter, which leads to family tension. SAEPO is trying to figure out if the terrorist plot is real or ISIS fake news. Episode #3 is compelling - have a listen!

How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews episode 3 of this Netflix series.

Episode 40 - Dimitri Lascaris: Terrorism, National Security and the Green Party of Canada

Tue, 12 May 2020 02:54:50 -0400

Of all the political parties in Canada I would bet that the Green Party is one most Canadians would see as having a small input on national security issues. Well, you would be wrong!

Here is my conversation with Dimitri Lascaris, currently running to become the leader of the party, on all things terrorism and national security. Have a listen!

Quick Hits: 75th Anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day

Fri, 08 May 2020 16:54:58 -0400

As we mark the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe – VE Day – we celebrate the sacrifices of the men and women who fought – and died – fighting Nazi Germany. So what about VT Day – Victory against Terrorism? Alas that day will never be here – have a listen as to why I think so.

Intelligence Veteran Reviews Caliphate Netflix Series - Episode 2

Wed, 06 May 2020 02:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Pervin tries to find out more about the alleged upcoming terrorist attack in Sweden, pushed by her SAEPO handler. Husam's panic attacks continue and lead to tragic events. Ibbe is still grooming young women in Sweden and appears to be having some success.

How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews episode 2 of this Netflix series.

Episode 39 - Terrorism in Star Trek (with Kyle Sullivan from Trekspertise)

Tue, 05 May 2020 02:00:00 -0400

Star Trek fans are known for passion and occasional campy costumes at Trekkie conventions. The series gives us hope that in the not too distant future mass violence is behind us. But is it? There is an awful lot of violence in Star Trek – is it terrorism on occasion?

Check out Trekspertise youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/neoteotihuacan/videos

May The 4th Be With You - Terrorism In STAR WARS: Is The Force A Terrorist Ideology?

Mon, 04 May 2020 02:00:00 -0400

May the 4th is now known as 'Star Wars Day' (a play on 'May the Force be with you'). Star Wars is of course a classic battle of good vs evil, with good winning in the end. But are the good guys (and the bad guys) terrorists? Is the Force a terrorist ideology?

> Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith

Intelligence Veteran Reviews Caliphate Netflix Series - Episode 1

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 05:27:38 -0400

The Swedish series Caliphate is getting a lot of attention. It is the story of ISIS and a planned attack in Sweden and the local intelligence effort to stop it. Here is an unofficial ‘review’ by a 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist.

Join Borealis as we walk through each episode and discuss what happened. We will look at how accurate the fictional depiction is, all seen through the lens of a 32-year Canadian intelligence veteran and author of five books on terrorism.

Episode 38 - A talk with former CSIS Director Ward Elcock

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 02:33:32 -0400

Ward Elcock was the Director of CSIS from 1994 to 2004 and saw the organisation through 9/11 and its aftermath. He joins Borealis to reflect on his years in security intelligence and where we are going next.

Subscribe to our free daily email digest

Ward P.D. Elcock is a Canadian civil servant who served as the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service from 1994 until May 2004. He remains the only Director to have ever served out his entire tenure. He served as the Deputy Minister of National Defence from August 5, 2004 to October 1, 2007.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 37 - Michael Petrou: Canadians who fought in the Spanish Civil War and the parallels with ISIS

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 04:00:00 -0400

Michael Petrou wrote a book back in 2008 on why 1,500 Canadians went to fight in the Spanish Civil War and what concerns their return raised. He joins Borealis to discuss what lessons we can apply to the worries about returning ISIS ‘foreign fighters’.

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Michael Petrou is an historian and journalist. His 2008 book, Renegades: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War, was described by J. L. Granatstein as “the best and most complete account of Canadians in the Spanish Civil War we are ever likely to get. The Spanish newspaper El Pais called it “beautiful.”

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Nova Scotia Mass Shooting

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 18:21:07 -0400

An unspeakable crime has occurred in Nova Scotia with the deaths of 18 people, including an RCMP officer. What do we know about the killer? Was this terrorism? Was it tied to COVID-19? Will we ever find out?

Read latest publication by Phil Gurski: The Nova Scotia massacre – more questions than answers

Quick Hits: Is a dead terrorist a good terrorist?

Mon, 20 Apr 2020 16:52:27 -0400

Is it ok to kill terrorists regardless of the circumstances? Is a dead terrorist a good terrorist? In this Quick Hits podcast, I look at the pros and cons of taking out terrorists using lethal force.

Quick Hits: Terrorists using drones and technology?

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:07:06 -0400

There is a lot of talk about terrorist use of advanced technology. How afraid should we be about this? Is the end of the world around the corner?

Subscribe to our free daily email digest: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/

> Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
> The podcast is now available on Spotify
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
> borealisthreatandrisk.com

Episode 36 - Borealis talks with US terrorism scholar Bruce Hoffman, one of the world's foremost specialists on violent extremism

Mon, 13 Apr 2020 23:26:11 -0400

Bruce Hoffman has been studying terrorism for over 40 years and is recognised as one of the world's leading scholars on this phenomenon. He joins Borealis for a wide-ranging discussion on where terrorism has been and where it is headed.

Borealis talks with US terrorism scholar Bruce Hoffman, who has been studying violent extremism for more than four decades and is seen as one of the world's foremost specialists.

Bruce Hoffman is a political analyst specializing in the study of terrorism and counterterrorism, insurgency and counter-insurgency. He is a tenured professor at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, where between 2010 and 2017 he was the director of the Center for Security Studies and director of the security studies program. Hoffman is the second longest-serving director in the center and program's three-decade history.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Spreading the Coronavirus is NOT terrorism!

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 16:24:38 -0400

Everyone is panicking about COVID-19, and there is reason for this but there is a movement to charge those claiming to spread the virus with terrorism. This is not a terrorism offence and we dilute our understanding of the word if we do so.

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

Episode 35 - Where is terrorism going? Borealis talks to US academic Colin Clarke

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 06:57:44 -0400

How has terrorism changed over the decades and, more importantly, where is it going in the next few years? I am joined by Dr. Colin Clarke, senior research fellow at the Soufan Center in New York, and author of After the Caliphate: the Islamic State and the future terrorist diaspora.

Colin P. Clarke is an adjunct senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, where his research focuses on terrorism, insurgency and criminal networks. At RAND, Clarke has directed studies on ISIS financing, the future of terrorism and transnational crime, and lessons learned from all insurgencies between the end of WWII and 2009. He is also an associate fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) in The Hague, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), an assistant teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and a senior research fellow at The Soufan Center in New York City.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: COVID-19: A rise in Hindu extremism against Muslims?

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 09:15:00 -0400

COVID-19 is causing a lot of fear and anxiety around the world. In India, some Hindu extremists are now blaming the country's Muslims for the outbreak. In this Quick Hits podcast we look at the potential for violence.

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

Quick Hits: COVID-19: Is your faith putting you in danger?

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 21:41:20 -0400

Many people turn to religion in times of need and we are in such a time with the coronavirus crisis. But while this is acceptable, some of the practices advocated by a few religious leaders are unhelpful and will aid in the spread of the virus. This too is religious extremism.

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

Episode 34 - Discussing Radicalization with Lorne L. Dawson

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 02:52:35 -0400

What do we know about radicalisation to violence so far? Who are the leaders in this field and how can scholars and security intelligence practitioners work better together? Have a listen as Borealis talks to the University of Waterloo's religion scholar Lorne Dawson.
Lorne L. Dawson is a Canadian scholar of the sociology of religion who has written about new religious movements, the brainwashing controversy, and religion and the Internet. His work is now focused on religious terrorism and the process of radicalization, especially with regard to domestic terrorists.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Should we bring back Canadian citizens who have fought for ISIS?

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 08:37:00 -0400

If you commit a crime in a foreign country that country has the right to arrest, try, convict, and imprison you (or execute you for a capital offence). Why should terrorists be any different?

In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.

> Now available on Spotify
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Is spreading the coronavirus an act of terrorism?

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 19:21:15 -0400

COVID-19 is scary, very scary. We know that it is spread from person to person. So if a person spreads it deliberately can/should that person be charged with 'terrorism'?

In this time of COVID-19 we have enough to worry about without freaking out about terrorism!

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

> Now available on Spotify
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: When bad guys take advantage of international crisis

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 21:26:46 -0400

Some terrorist groups are threatening to carry out terrorism during the COVID-19 crisis. How realistic is this and, more importantly, how afraid should we be in light of terrorist propaganda.

In this time of COVID-19 we have enough to worry about without freaking out about terrorism!

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

> Now available on Spotify
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: COVID-19 and Terrorism - Will we see more attacks?

Sun, 22 Mar 2020 21:22:16 -0400

As the world obsesses about COVID-19 could terrorists take advantage of our lack of focus? Will we see more terrorist attacks? If so, which groups will be most active - jihadis or the far right? All this is discussed in the latest Quick Hit.

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and governments are having a hard time keeping up with strategies to respond and react effectively to keep their citizenry safe. Some countries appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the virus for far too long, while others imposed what some felt were draconian measures (China, Singapore) that would not fly in a Western liberal democracy.

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

> Now available on Spotify
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: COVID-19 and Public Safety

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 15:16:29 -0400

We are all worried about COVID-19 but does it constitute a 'national security' or a 'public safety' threat? How does it compare to terrorism? Have a listen!

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and governments are having a hard time keeping up with strategies to respond and react effectively to keep their citizenry safe. Some countries appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the virus for far too long (hello Trump administration), while others imposed what some felt were draconian measures (China, Singapore) that would not fly in a Western liberal democracy.

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

> Now available on Spotify
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: COVID-19 and National Security

Thu, 19 Mar 2020 03:01:10 -0400

We are not sure how bad COVID-19 will get and we are all concerned. What are the national security implications?

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and governments are having a hard time keeping up with strategies to respond and react effectively to keep their citizenry safe. Some countries appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the virus for far too long, while others imposed what some felt were draconian measures (China, Singapore) that would not fly in a Western liberal democracy.

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

> Now available on Spotify
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 33 - Who was Abdallah Azzam? A discussion with Norwegian Scholar Thomas Hegghammer

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 21:52:36 -0400

Who was Abdallah Azzam and what was his role in modern Islamist terrorism? Listen to my chat with Norwegian scholar Thomas Hegghammer on his new book on the jihadi ideologue.

Thomas Hegghammer is a Norwegian academic who writes about terrorism and jihadism. He work as senior research fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and adjunct professor of political science at the University of Oslo. His latest book The Caravan: Abdallah Azzam and the Rise of Global Jihad was published this month.

> Visit Thomas' website
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: The 'War' on Coronavirus

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 21:32:44 -0400

The inevitable has happened - officials are calling for a 'war' on COVID-19. Wars on common nouns are NEVER good ideas. In this Quick Hits podcast, Phil explains why we must refrain from using military terminology during this crisis.

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

Please share your experience in the comment section below.

> COVID-19: An Opening for Terrorists?
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Coronavirus, Terrorism and Fear

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 16:04:25 -0400

The coronavirus is causing a lot of fear and anxiety around the world and is starting to affect behaviour and choices. Is this rational? How does it compare to our fear and reaction to terrorism?

The world is in a COVID-19 (Corona virus) panic. People are living in fear and cancelling events and travel. What, if any, are the parallels with terrorism?.

The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and governments are having a hard time keeping up with strategies to respond and react effectively to keep their citizenry safe. Some countries appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the virus for far too long (hello Trump administration), while others imposed what some felt were draconian measures (China, Singapore) that would not fly in a Western liberal democracy.

See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/

Please share your experience in the comment section below.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 32 - Talking with Aaron Zelin about terrorism in Tunisia, heart of the democratic 'Arab Spring'

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 15:13:47 -0400

The small North African nation of Tunisia was one of the largest sources of ISIS foreign fighters. Borealis speaks with Aaron Zelin, author of a new book on jihad in Tunisia to get some insights.

Aaron Y. Zelin is the Richard Borow Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a visiting research scholar at Brandeis University. He is the author of the forthcoming book Your Sons Are At Your Service: Tunisia’s Missionaries of Jihad (Columbia University Press). Zelin is also the founder of the widely acclaimed and cited website Jihadology.net and its podcast, JihadPod.

> Visit Aaron's website Jihadology.net
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Have you ever witness an act of terrorism?

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 15:12:11 -0500

How close have you been to a terrorist attack? Not too close I hope. This Quick Hits podcast looks at what it means to be near to one of these events.

From my point of view, I have been tantalisingly close to 3 acts of terrorism (2 in Canada and 1 in France) in my career as an Intelligence Analyst with the Canadian Government.

Please share your experience in the comment section below.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

INTERVIEW | Phil Gurski and Ted Mallet discuss the implications of the ongoing rail blockade

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 21:28:48 -0500

Near hours after police moved in to inforce an injonction and remove a rail blockade near Belleville, other poped up affecting trains and services.

To discuss the security and safety implications, as well as economic fallout from the blockade, Libby is joined by Phil Gurski and Ted Mallet (Chief Economist at the Canadian Federation of Independant Business).

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: No, Canada is not Broken!

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 13:05:08 -0500

A recent poll shows a majority of Canadians think this country is 'broken'. Is it? Let's look at our history of political violence to see if that is true, shall we?

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 31 - Interview with Mubin Shaikh, former security intelligence and counter terrorism operative

Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:35:59 -0500

In 2006 Canadians woke up to hear that 17 Muslim Canadians had been arrested in a terrorism plot. Much of the success in foiling their plans was due to a human source/agent named Mubin Shaikh. He joins me to talk about his role and related matters on this podcast.

Mubin Shaikh is a former security intelligence and counter terrorism operative. He has testified as an expert for the United Nations Security Council, the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs with NATO, the National Counterterrorism Center, and Special Operations Command Central and he is an external expert with the Joint Staff SMA for CENTCOM Command Staff.

> Visit Mubin's website Parents for Peace
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: When is it right to press terrorism charges?

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 11:20:35 -0500

A case in Toronto where a man allegedly killed a woman with a hammer is taking an interesting twist as his murder charges have been upped to terrorism? What do we know so far and why would police do this?

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: No, not everything is terrorist in nature

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 16:26:54 -0500

We use the word terrorism to describe all kinds of people and groups. Sometimes the term is used frivolously. We really need to stop doing that.

> Read National Post article
> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Sending Neo-Nazis to the Moon

Thu, 20 Feb 2020 01:19:26 -0500

Many Western nations are seeing a rise in neo-Nazi extremism. What should we collectively do about these actors? Send them to moon - or is that a 'loony' idea?

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Domestic vs International Terrorism

Sat, 15 Feb 2020 18:20:31 -0500

How we define terrorism matters. Using inaccurate terminology could affect how we manage it. In this episode we see how the US system is unhelpful.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 30 - Counter terrorism expert discusses with former Al Qaeda top bomb maker

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 20:02:33 -0500

What happens when you gather together a former AQ bombmaker, a guy who wanted to be a monk and a former CSIS analyst to talk about terrorism? You get a great Borealis podcast!

An ex-Al Qaeda jihadi turned MI6 spy and a former monk turned filmmaker, have been embedded at the heart of conflicts in the Middle East. Together Aimen Dean and Thomas Small unpack the realities of war, fundamentalism and their global implications through first-hand experience.

In this episode, Aimen and Thomas join Phil Gurski for a discussion on the rivalry between Al Qaeda and ISIS.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode #29: Discussion with Twitch streamer Destiny on terrorism and radicalization

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 14:54:18 -0500

A better understanding of terrorism requires that we look at a much wider set of information, like foreign affairs and foreign policy. Have a listen to me chatting with Twitch streamer Destiny on a broad range of topics all tied to terrorism (Iran, Israel-Palestine, and many more!)

►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ

Episode 28 - Are the answers in Science-Fiction?

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 22:39:54 -0500

Science fiction usually is a comment on current events. In this podcast I explore how a recent novel asks important questions about whether we can really stop all forms of terrorism.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits - The Base

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 21:36:49 -0500

The arrest of Canadian Patrik Mathews, a member of The Base, in conjunction with a terrorist plot demonstrates that there are almost always signs of violent radicalisation. We should not ignore them.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Al Shabaab and Iran

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 12:04:00 -0500

Reports that the Somali terrorist group Al Shabaab may be in a 'tactical alliance' with Iran are an extraordinary claim and such require extraordinary evidence. None is forthcoming

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Regime Changes

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 22:45:52 -0500

There are lots of regimes that are odious and which we would we better off without. But if we act to overthrow them are we ready to deal with the consequences?

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Forgetting our History Makes Terrorism Worst

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 17:55:02 -0500

"Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it". We are forgetting our history and thus making terrorism worse.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 27 - Global Terrorism Index: 10 Trends to Watch in 2020

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 20:45:22 -0500

What will the world of terrorism bring us in 2020? Spoiler alert - more terrorism. In this podcast, Borealis looks at terrorist trends this year.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 23:03:22 -0500

Intelligence is an important part of decision making but what happens when the officials using intelligence can't be trusted?

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Iranian Missiles

Sat, 11 Jan 2020 13:51:34 -0500

The Iran-US mini-conflict seems to have ebbed - what is really at stake here?

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Gay Jesus in Rio?

Thu, 09 Jan 2020 11:49:55 -0500

Many people take religion seriously but is it ok to take violent action against someone who makes fun of your faith?

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

INTERVIEW | Boeing jet crashes in Iran hours after missile strike on U.S. base: “One hell of a coincidence”

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 12:58:18 -0500

Phil Gurski from Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting joins The Morning Rush to break down the latest breaking news from Iran.

A Kyiv-bound Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 plane crashed minutes after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board. The cause of the crash, which came hours after Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes on U.S. positions in Iraq for the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, was not immediately known.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

INTERVIEW | Former Iranian Analyst for CSIS weighs in on Iran's Missile Attack

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 12:00:45 -0500

Iran attack: US troops targeted with ballistic missiles. 'This is localized conflict, not WWIII' says Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting, former Iranian analyst at CSE and CSIS.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

INTERVIEW | Tensions rising in Middle East in wake of drone strike on Iranian General Qassem Soleimani

Sat, 04 Jan 2020 20:44:07 -0500

Dave talks to former CSIS analyst Phil Gurski of Borealis Threat & Risk Consulting about the short-term and long-term implications of the killing of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 26 - What bothers me about the airstrike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani

Fri, 03 Jan 2020 21:46:13 -0500

The assassination of IRGC General Soleimani in a US airstrike will make terrorism worse, not better, and takes our eye off a larger threat: Sunni terrorism.

I am the only one having a problem with a foreign military ordering, planning, directing and carrying out a missile strike on an international airport?

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Mental Illness

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 21:52:47 -0500

Is there a link between mental illness and terrorism? Yes, sometimes,but not as often as you would think. Have a listen to this Borealis quick hit podcast to find out why!

Read more post about terrorism and mental illness

Finally some data about the mental health-terrorism link (July 7, 2018)
The difference between mental illness and radicalisation (August 22, 2017)
Terrorism and mental illness make poor bedfellows (July 20, 2017)

Quick Hits: Military Role In Counter Terrorism

Fri, 27 Dec 2019 07:37:03 -0500

Does the military have a significant role to play in counter terrorism? Yes....and no. Have a listen to this quick hits episode!

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Check out Phil's NEW BOOK When Religion Kills
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: China and Russia

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 23:10:02 -0500

Two recent stories about Chinese and Russian activities in Canada raise real questions about how concerned our government is about national security. Have a listen!

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 25 - Why Terrorists are Scrooges at Christmas?

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 06:00:00 -0500

In the spirit of the 1984 Band Aid concert, don't the terrorists know it's Christmas? Why these groups target the Christmas season with their brand of violence?

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 24 - Is the Joker a Terrorist?

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 23:00:00 -0500

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Lessons on Terrorism | Is Luke Skywalker a Freedom Fighter?

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 15:40:24 -0500

Luke Skywalker is a freedom fighter right? Or is he a terrorist? On the eve of the opening of the latest Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker, listen to Borealis Quick Hits for a cheeky look at terrorism and science fiction.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 03:59:48 -0500

There is an ISIS-affiliated terrorist group in the DRC that is killing civilians and wreaking havoc with Ebola containment. This Quick Hit discusses the actions of the Allied Democratic Forces jihadists.

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Episode 23 - Terrorism analysis and open source information

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 23:00:00 -0500

> borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

Quick Hits: Edmonton

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:11:22 -0500

A man who tried to kill a police officer then mowed down four pedestrians in downtown Edmonton in what RCMP characterized as a terrorist attack was sentenced Friday to 28 years in prison.

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> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism

In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.

An Intelligent Look at Terrorism is created and produced by Phil Gurski and Borealis Threat & Risk Consulting.

Please contact Phil with any comments, inquiries and topic suggestions at borealisrisk@gmail.com

Episode #22: The death of Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi and its impact (if any)

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0500

Episode #21: Are INCELS terrorists?

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 22:00:00 -0500

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Episode #20: Is Turkey really a true ally of the West?

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 22:00:00 -0500

Episode #19: Who should we REALLY worry about in the Middle-East?

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0400

Episode #18: The 'right' resources focused on the 'right' problems

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 22:00:00 -0400

Episode #16: A journalism grad looks back at how a 12-year old saw 9/11

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 18:00:00 -0400

Episode #15: Ask Phil (Answering your questions)

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 18:00:00 -0400

Episode #14: Religious extremism series - Christian Extremism

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 18:00:00 -0400

Episode #13: Religious extremism series - Jewish extremism

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 18:00:00 -0400

Episode #12: Religious extremism series - No, Buddhist extremism is not an oxymoron!

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 18:00:00 -0400

Episode #11: Religious extremism series - Hindu extremism in India

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 18:00:00 -0400

Want to learn more about religious extremism? Check out Phil's book "When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith": https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/when-religion-kills/

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Episode #10: Radicalization in prison

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 18:00:00 -0400

Episode #9: Is Saudi Arabia really our ally?

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 18:00:00 -0400

Episode #7: The conundrum of foreign fighters

Tue, 14 May 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Episode #6: New Zealand terror attack and the threat of Far-Right extremism

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Episode #5: China is getting terrorism all wrong

Tue, 23 Apr 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Episode #4: W(i)ther Al Qaeda?

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Episode #3: W(i)ther Islamic State?

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Episode #2: Whatever happened to Sikh extremism?

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 16:00:00 -0400

Episode #1: What now? Road terrorists?

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 16:00:00 -0500

Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.

►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com