In politics, right and left are relative terms. Most people may self-describe as 'centrist', but we all have issues on which we lean more right (conservative) or more left (liberal). This is all natural, but what is not - and more importantly worrisome - is when either side goes further right/leftward and starts to think violence is an acceptable expression of their views and/or demands. In the US today there is a lot of talk about 'political' extremism, but not about one aspect of it: the far right? Is the US sleepwalking into a disaster by ignoring this threat? I talk to a former US counterterrorism specialist on this issue. 

 Dr. Sara Harmouch is the CEO of H9 Defense, a research and advisory consultancy specializing in counterterrorism, national security, geopolitical risk, threat assessment, and open-source intelligence (OSINT). She is also an Adjunct Professor at George Washington University and a Non-Resident Fellow in its Program on Extremism, where she focuses on global jihadism. She is a Security Fellow at the Frontier Security Institute, where she works on the intersection of AI and terrorism.  

 We have all seen terrorist incidents unfolding before our very eyes, even if it is in the form of newscasts. Take 9/11, for instance. It is hard - if not impossible - to forget the image of fully-laden passenger aircraft commandeered by Al Qaeda terrorists steered into the two towers and the subsequent collapse of those buildings. But as more time passes, does the average person become numb to those events? Not if you are related to a victim who died or was injured in one of them. 

 Remember the Northern Alliance? Founded in 1996, this group, led by Ahmad Shah Massoud, fought the Taliban jihadis until 2001 but seemed to disappear after Massoud was killed, two days before 9/11. Well, the group is back, sorta, and is led now by Massoud's son. I talk to a Jamestown analyst about this new instantiation of the organisation known as the National Resistance Front (NRF) to see just how much they can push back against the misogynist Taliban. 

 National security is one of those sectors that is normally shrouded in secrecy and that is frustrating to many. Spy agencies do their jobs in the shadows and don't disclose much but there is a need to know. Some of the gaps can be covered by those who work in journalism and we in Canada have had some very fine men and women who report on this beat. I talk to one of those giants in Canada about his career reporting on things that go bump in the night. 

 One of the most popular buzzwords in the post 9/11 period is 'radicalisation'. Though it has been around a long time, it has come to refer to the 'process' whereby individuals and/or groups adopt extreme ideas upon which they may plan acts of violence (i.e. terrorism). While there are a lot of theories about what to do about this, one of the most renowned programmes is the UK's CONTEST, which has four pillars: prevent, pursue, protect and prepare. How has the programme evolved over the decades? I talk with a UK academic on this issue. 

 I am not a military specialist but I am aware of the great Prussian strategist Carl von Clausewitz. Among his many famous statements were this gem: "War is the realm of uncertainty; three quarters of the factors on which action is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty." Afghanistan certainly seems to fit that phrase. What began as an inevitable need to find Usama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda cohorts after 9/11 and punish the Taliban for hosting them, turned into two decades of war, hundreds of thousands of casualties and billions of dollars spent. In August 2021 the US finally left and the Taliban came back to power; so what was the point? I speak with the author of an upcoming book on those years. 

 Just when you think you have heard enough about foreign interference in Canada something else pops up. This time, it is not about diaspora harassment or "police stations", but whether Alberta will vote in a referendum to leave Canada. As in other cases of FI, Russia is at the forefront, but there is also a surprising actor. I talk with the head of a Regina-based centre looking at this national security threat. 

 If you follow the news at all you know that China has been very aggressive over the past decade or so in trying to spread its influence internationally. Much of that is economic - think of the so-called Belt and Road Initiative - but some of it is tied to security. Some nations see China as a model to emulate and the PRC is all too happy to export its way of doing security (mass surveillance for instance). Why are they doing this and why should we care? I speak with a US professor on this issue. 

 China is a big country - really big! It may no longer have the most people - it seems to have been passed by India in that regard - but it still exerts a lot of power and influence. Within the country itself there are many ethnic groups, although the Han dominate, and the government wants to subject minorities to majoritarian rule. Part of this effort involves forcing children to attend Mandarin language schools and forget this culture. And these efforts are taking place not just in the PRC. I talk to a Canadian Tibetan activist on Chinese TNR. 

 James Bond. Jason Bourne. Jack Reacher. Johnny English. All men who have names starting with 'J' and all spies - at least of the fictional variety. Nary a female among them. Where are all the women in intelligence? They have played critical roles historically and are beginning to show up in recent fiction. I speak with a Canadian author whose protagonist is a former member of Britain's WWII military spy network. 

 Mali. Niger. Burkina Faso. Nigeria. All these Sahelian and West African states are beset by violence emanating from jihadi groups tied to Al Qaeda and Islamic State. A little further west, Togo, Benin and Senegal have also seen incidents tied to these actors. What about Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)? Is it next? I talk to a specialist from ACLED (Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project) on this matter. 

 Ah the Taliban, everyone's favourite antediluvian misogynist jihadis. Not only have public executions been on the rise and the complete erasure of women and girls from any real life been institutionalised, but they have lowered the country into a state of disease, starvation and despair. Not surprisingly, this has pissed some off, some which are fighting back. But, who are these groups? I talk with an Australian journalist about these brave souls. 

 Iran really likes to sponsor Shia groups worldwide. As the world's largest Shia state, Iran sees itself as a protector of sorts, given that Shiites are far outweighed by Sunni Muslims. One of those benefactors is the Houthi group (known by some as Ansarallah) in Yemen, listed by many, including Canada, as a terrorist group. The Houthis have long been involved in fighting within Yemen, but since the Hamas attack in southern Israel in October 2023, and especially since the US-Israeli war on Iran, it has pushed the boundaries by attacking shipping in the Red Sea and even a few missiles launched at Israel. Iran and the Houthis may be at loggerheads now: how bad is it? I speak with a fellow at the New Lines Institute on these matters. 

 Imagine you are a cop or a paramedic. On a daily basis, you are likely to have to deal with some very nasty stuff: severely wounded people or dead ones, and some truly evil individuals who like to inflict pain and suffering. Not surprisingly, this leads to some very serious effects in those whose job it is to provide assistance. What is being done to help these important contributors to our safety? I talk with a leading practitioner in this field. 

 After a successful Spies and Spirits event at the Luckhurst Distillery in Kelowna BC, the lads weigh in on the role Sir William Stephenson (a.k.a. 'Intrepid') played in the creation of the Canadian intelligence community and the 5 eyes, the centenary of the Royal Canadian Legion, why it took the Canadian government a quarter century to act on CSIS intel on Chinese spying in the resource sector, and why it is important to recognise sources through the purchase of their wares. 

 Anti-Semitic acts are not new, unfortunately. Hatred of Jews goes back millennia, culminating in the Holocaust which led to the industrialisation of mass murder of Jews. Since the Hamas terrorist attack in October 2023 and the subsequent Israeli response in Gaza, it appears that anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise. What can be done to challenge this? I speak with the Director of Parents for Peace on a new helpline. 

 Canada, like many other nations, needs robust immigration. Our fertility rates are dropping below the 2.1 minimum to keep our population stable and immigrants can help grow our economy. The vast majority of those who seek to move here do so for the right reasons: starting a new life, taking advantage of opportunities, seeing Canada as a great place to live and work. A few, however, have other ideas in mind (criminals, terrorists, those seeking to play out homeland conflicts on our soil). These need to be screened out and prevented from arriving on our shores in the first place. What happens, then, when a government kneecaps security screening? Bad things ensue... 

 Humans are fallible: that we know. One hopes that those in specialised trades - doctors, lawyers, etc. - get more things right than wrong. If not, it is a legitimate question: should they be in those professions? What about intelligence agencies? Should they have perfect records (no one else does)? Why do we hold these to a higher standard? The public needs to accept that these organisations will make errors on occasion but still listen up when they issue warnings. 

 The stereotypical view of pirates is undoubtedly heavily influenced by Hollywood. These depictions do not show the very violent actions carried out by pirates. Despite international treaties that define this phenomenon it does get the attention it deserves, especially when it comes to areas where terrorist groups are also active (especially Somalia). I speak with a practitioner with years of experience in this threat. 

 Of late there have been many attempts - some successful some not - to add more groups to lists of terrorist entities. Those behind such efforts may have good intentions, although I suspect some are just trying to get their own work recognised, but they do have real world implications for law enforcement and security intelligence agencies (resource allocation for instance). One of the latest set of organisations fit the general definition of 'nihilism'. What does this even mean and is this development a good idea? I talk with a specialist in countering violent extremism (CVE). 

 As a country of immigrants by definition, most Canadians have a positive view on newcomers. I would imagine that the public believes that the proper checks are done to ensure - where possible - we are not importing threats to national security and public safety (criminals, terrorists, etc.). But when immigration under Justin Trudeau went off the scale these views began to change. What is worse, those entrusted with doing security checks were told to 'skip steps' to help get through the backlog (which was unsustainable). What serious country does it this way? Are things better with a new Prime Minister? I talk with a leading Canadian political commentator on these issues. 

 Ok, I get it. The media want to be first to get a story out and be definitive on what it all means. As a consequence, they tend to reach out to (self-styled) 'experts' to weigh in and provide explanations. Even if not all the facts are in, there are those who want to seem sure, as the 'go-to' person on a particular issue. But what if these aces are wrong? Will they admit to their error? Here is a plea for everyone to check their sources before drawing conclusions and allow the proper authorities to finish the work they are mandated to carry out. 

 If you were to ask the average person about terrorists you would probably hear that the consensus is that there is strong underlying mental illness. Is this true (hint: no)? What, then, can psychologists and other academics do to help counter terrorism professionals identify and prevent such acts from occurring. I speak with a leading psychologist on these issues and co-author of a new handbook on the psychology of terrorism. 

 After the horror of 9/11 it was logical - and completely justifiable - to go after those behind the attacks. As it turned out, the group responsible - Al Qaeda (AQ) - was based in Afghanistan and was protected and enabled by the Taliban. The US and many of its allies sent military troops and intelligence operatives to that country to locate AQ leader Usama bin Laden and his minions and either bring them to justice or eliminate them. Despite huge successes (UBL was found and killed a decade later, albeit in Pakistan), the US left the country in 2021 and the Taliban regained power. Where is Afghanistan now and what level of threat does it pose regionally and internationally? I speak with a former CIA targeting officer on these issues. 

 Hip hip hooray for Syria! The hated Assad regime is done, hopefully for ever. The country could enter a new era - fingers crossed - but the new leader is a man who is a ?former? terrorist, Ahmed Al-Sharaa. Is he indeed someone who has left terrorism behind? I am not so sure, and I want to explore this issue at greater depth. 

 To prove that three old guys - ok, in Neil's case old-ish - are with it and hip with technology we go video this week! You can actually hear AND see us - how cool is that? Phil learns that the Shanghai sweetheart on LinkedIn may not be who she claims to be, Canada drops the terrorist ball once again on removing threats to public safety - what else is new? And a good news by the five eyes to share intel (and not the five eyes found in creatures on Phil's favourite B-sci fi films!). The bar is open even if all three are eschewing alcohol this time. 

 I am fairly certain that most people have either never heard of Oman or could not find it on a map. This small sultanate does not garner many headlines but is, oddly enough, one of the more stable Middle East regimes (hence the lack of headlines I guess!). Located at the mouth of the Straits of Hormuz, which have played a huge role in the US/Israel-Iran war, it has traditionally had good relations with both Iran and the West. Given this, should it be brought in to find a solution to the conflict? I talk about this with a specialist in the region. 

 Adults who choose freely to join terrorist groups such as ISIS have made dumb decisions and these decisions have led to serious consequences. One of those consequences is subsequent arrest and incarceration for what they did and I imagine most people have no issue with treating these terrorists harshly. In many cases, however, ISIS moms and dads brought children with them to the so-called 'Caliphate' and exposed them to brutal sights and events (beheadings, slavery, sexual exploitation, etc.). These kids did not decide to join ISIS and even if some are 'radicalised' they need separate treatment (away from their terrorist parents perhaps?). But what should be done and where? I speak again with an Australian specialist in this matter. 

 As Phil sips on a "Lumbersexual" IPA - whatever that means - and jet-lagged Al is barely comatose (and Neil is, well, Neil) - the lads weigh in on why should NOT bring ISIS terrorists home, including those who go to a firing range on their wedding day, why legal access challenges for security intelligence and law enforcement agencies are looming, and why a jihadi impersonating a woman (hey, don't laugh, it has happened!) should wear gloves (thanks Hardy Boys for the hint). The sun is shining, the birds are singing and the bar is open! 

 When it comes to terrorism, some groups are simply more successful than others. There are those which skyrocket to fame only to wither and disappear: the FLQ in Canada in the 1960s and early 1970s comes to mind. Then there are those which seem to last decades: Al Shabaab in Somalia is a good example, as it has been active for going on two decades. Despite Somali government claims of success against these jihadis, they are still quite lethal. What does this mean for the Horn of Africa? I talk with a Canadian specialist on these issues. 

 With Al's triumphant return from wherever he was - don't ask, don't tell! - the lads weigh in on Canada's joke of a citizenship removal system despite obvious fraud and terrorism links, the US counter-terrorism ?strategy? that somehow missed all the right-wing wankers down south, and CT czar Sebastian Gorka's obsession with low-hanging fruit. Always on topic, never boring. It's time for Spies Like Us! 

 Canada is sorrily used to talk of separation. We went through two referendums (referenda? neverendums?) on Quebec independence in the 1980s and 1990s and are now faced with a possible vote to split in Alberta. That oil-rich province is already coveted by Emperor Cheetoh down south (a.k.a. Donald Trump) and it appears that Russian state actors (or trolls: is there a difference) are getting involved in the issue. Canada's spies say it is going on but its cops say it is not. Whose right? 

 You would think the world already has enough terrorist groups. While jihadi ones like Al Qaeda and Islamic State - and their affiliates, provinces and wannabes - predominate, there are others out there as well. And in what is an interesting development, new ones can pop up rather quickly in response to world events. Are we seeing such a phenomenon with Harakat Ashab Al-Yamin Al-Islamiya (HAYI)? I talk with a terrorism researcher about this parvenu. 

 After a short hiatus the Al-less boys - does this make us a duet? - are back and it's all about China. Neil and Phil talk with Canada's top Sinologist (that means China watcher for you non-China watchers) Charles Burton about why exactly the Canadian government under Prime Minister Mark Carney is kowtowing (how's that for a Chinese term??) to the PRC and ignoring the obvious national security threats despite what the security services are saying to the country. A sneak peak at an upcoming Pillar Society Speakers' Series talk in late May! 

 Well, the world is in a state these days, isn't it? War in Iran. War in Gaza. War in Lebanon. Closure of the Straits of Hormuz. An ongoing civil war in Yemen. And that is just the Middle East! When it comes to terrorism in the West, acts usually - if not always - spreads far and wide as Western involvement in these conflicts is seen as interference which must be published. We have already seen acts carried out and more are likely to occur. How bad can this get? I talk to former FBI special agent about this threat. 

 Terrorist groups come and go, like just about everything else. And yet, some seem to last a long time, pronouncements of their deaths notwithstanding (I want to channel my inner Mark Twain here but...). Boko Haram in Nigeria is a good example, having entered its 17th year of mayhem in that country, and there are many others. What should we make of claims that a given terrorist group is moribund? 

 For decades, the one Western nation that seemed most beset by terrorism was Ireland, as the IRA (Irish Republican Army) was bent on using violence to coerce the six counties of the north to join the Republic. The Troubles, as they were known, stretched from 1968 to 1998 and resulted in the deaths of almost 2,000 civilians and a total casualty count of somewhere in the neighbourhood of 50,000. A recent incident in Belfast raises the spectre of a re-rise in IRA violence, but is it really terrorism? Do terrorist leopards every change their spots? I talk once again with a former Scottish police superintendant on this and other matters. 

 Prisons serve several purposes, or so it seems to me (I am not a incarceration specialist). First and foremost it is a system that can help keep the public safe from truly dangerous people. Second, it is part of a series of institutions that seek to punish those who do wrong. And thirdly, it can provide opportunities to those convicted to see the light and reform themselves in order to reintegrate into society one day. But what if that person does not rehabilitate, is not a good candidate for a return to freedom, and still poses a significant threat to the public? What if that person is a convicted ISIS terrorist whom the system says can be set free? Not a good idea folks 

 Imagine you are the one on the hotseat who has to tell the President of the US what is happening in the world - on a daily basis. What do you tell him? Where do you get the information from? How does personality enter into the equation? How did different presidents take these briefings? All very good questions and I have just the guy to answer them, an old CIA friend who has written a very interesting book on the topic. 

 For two decades NATO members, including Canada, were at war in Afghanistan. More than 3,000 allied soldiers died (among whom were 158 Canadians) and when the last US troops left in 2021 Afghanistan went back to the status quo ante: i.e. the Taliban regained power. Promises of democracy, freedom and rights for all (including women and girls) fell away as the Taliban reimposed their draconian interpretation of Islam on the country. Equally as importantly, terrorist groups like Al Qaeda (and many more) once again found a safe haven. What does all this mean? 

 In a world dominated by jihadi terrorism we cannot discount the minor players who are also bent on violence. We have Hindu terrorists in India, Christian terrorists in the US and, wait for it, Jewish terrorists in Israel. Violence in the West Bank and elsewhere by 'settlers' and ultra-Orthodox Jews is skyrocketing and the government of Binyamin Netanyahu is doing nothing to stop if (quite the contrary: some of his cabinet encourage it). Should we shy away from calling this phenomenon what it is: Jewish terrorism? 

 If you watch enough crime dramas on Netflix (or the streaming platform of your choice: my wife and I are watching the quirky Annika on PBS now), you are led to believe that solving crimes is a matter of time. Alas, that time can be as short as 53 minutes (i.e. one episode). In the real world it is not as easy as that. What, then, really happens when a shooting, which may be linked to the war in Iran (or Gaza or Lebanon or...), takes place and the police investigation begins? I talk with a former Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) to get the skinny. 

 If there is one profession that is badly misunderstood - or not understood at all - it is espionage. Oh sure, there are spy novels and James Bond films and all that, but these are fictional and do not portray the world of intelligence gathering that accurately. Much of what spooks do may seem mundane, but it is a necessary part of national and international security and, given the money spent on an alphabet-soup of agencies, needs to have better exposure. I talk to a documentary maker who is trying to do just that for CSIS in Canada. 

 Thanks to US President Trump Canada is forced to diversify its trade relationships. One of those partners, not new but enhanced, is China, and the government of Prime Minister Carney is busy signing deals with the PRC. One of those agreements is to bring in Chinese EVs, but a snag has come up: those EVs are manufactured in part using forced labour of Uyghur Muslims. A recent Parliamentary committee brought out the Liberal Party's not-give-a-shitness about these matters. I talk with a witness at that hearing and what it says about Canada's position on human rights abuses. 

 Yes, another week with the lads in the virtual bar as they delve into the details of yet another counter terrorism unit in Canada, why a wanker Liberal MP is questioning Chinese use of forced Uyghur labour, and why can the Canadian government not look into problematic foreign student applications? Pull up a stool, order a pint (except for Neil!) and join in the conversation 

 In a surprise announcement on March 24, the Chief of Toronto Police, Myron Demkiw, stated that his force would create a "standalone" counter-terrorism unit. Recent attacks against the US Consulate in Toronto and several Jewish institutions in the city, likely linked to rising international conflicts in the Middle East, were the probable driver for this decision. What will this unit do and how will it coordinate with other agencies already doing counter-terrorism work in the GTA? I look at the pros and cons of this move. 

 Most people think little of Yemen, a desperately poor state at the heel of the Arabian Peninsula. Wracked by civil war and a poor economy, it has nevertheless punched well above its weight, forestalling a Saudi-UAE effort to unseat its government, and launching missiles at ships in the Red Sea and even as far as Israel in retaliation for the latter's war in Gaza. And it is an ally of Iran. With Iran under siege from the US and Israel, will the Houthi-led regime jump into this war as well? I speak with a Yemen specialist on this. 

 Canada proudly proclaims that it is the 'Great White North', a reference to our long border with the Arctic (and sometimes interminable winters - like this one!). But does it really treat the region as a national security priority (it did during the Cold War). With global warming opening up previously ice-bound sea lanes and rising international tension, the Canadian government finally seems to be putting its wallet where it's mouth is - or is it? I speak with a specialist on the Arctic. 

 What happens when three ex-spies talk about national security? You get in-depth, insider views of what's happening including why two morons shoot up an empty diplomatic presence at o-dark-hundred, why Canada is level-headed when it comes to threat and an ode to Emperor Cheetoh. Pony up at the bar and have a listen! 

 To say that voters do not care about national security is stating the obvious. When they cast their ballot they are more concerned about the economy, jobs, health care, education and other issues, not on what Canada's security services are up to. Alas, politicians know this and as a consequence national security issues rarely - if ever - get raised in the public sphere. One would hope, however, that our leaders care about this behind the scenes? Do they? I talk with an academic and a former National Security Intelligence Advisor on these issues. 

 In this week's bar chat (ok, the bar is virtual but the beer is real and Al is enjoying a "Juicy Ass" - please don't pursue why!) the lads look at various aspects of the war ("Don't mention the war" - classic John Cleese in Fawlty Towers!), why the Persian Gulf is more of a swamp, and why President Trump may not want to distort his face with anger. Join us and hoist a pint! 

 Wow, what a couple of days! Israeli and US airstrikes are continuing in Iran and the country's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khamene'i, is dead. Iran is engaged in counterstrikes in the region and many are worried about where this will all end up. When it comes to Canada, many are very happy at this turn of events within the diaspora, although some have been threatened by Iranians tied to the regime in what is broadly known as Transnational Repression (TNR). I speak with a young woman from that community to gauge the pulse of the rollercoaster of feelings. 

 Not many people, I wager, follow events in Africa, let alone the Sahel, the band that spreads from Mauritania in the west to Sudan in the east. And yet this region is rapidly becoming terrorism central globally as groups aligned with both AQ and ISIS slaughter civilians and military troops with abandon. Why does no one seem to care and what if anything are local authorities doing about it? I talk again with a Belgian specialist in this matter. 

 At one point in the not too distant past Sikh Canadians were tarred with the terrorism brush. After all, the bombing of an Air India flight in 1985 in which 329 people - mostly Canadians - were killed was the single largest act of aviation terrorism in history prior to 9/11. Two Sikh organisations are still listed as terrorist entities in Canada: the Babar Khalsa International (BKI and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) but have been largely quiet for decades. It is now India that is using violence, accusing Canada of harbouring Sikh terrorists. What is the truth in all this? I speak with a Canadian Sikh activist on these issues. 

 This week the boys weigh in on a new report on transnational repression (TNR) in Canada, co-authored by one of us (hint: not Neil and not Al), why it is so hard to use intelligence in court cases, and ask whether the Hells Angels owned a shipping line. Three spies, three beers (well two since Al was drinking something called 'water'), and a virtual bar - what more can one ask for? 

 When most people think of national security they think of things like terrorism, espionage, sabotage and transnational repression. I doubt that economics comes to mind. But what if any is the link between a nation's economy and national security? I talk to a specialist in political economy on this issue. 

 In yet another chat in a virtual bar, the boys look into why a couple of Western University students were arrested on possible national security charges,  why Canadians make great targets for Cuban spies, and why hiding behind a snowman is a great way to spy on someone (and so Canadian!). 

 If we look at how many nations put down - or in the worst case scenario kill - ethnic minorities, the list would be a long one. ISIS and the Yazidis. The Ottomans and the Armenians. The Serbs and Bosnian Muslims. And there are many more. The PRC has been trying to eliminate its Uyghur population for decades and yet this gets little coverage. I explore why with a specialist on the matter at Human Rights Watch. 

  As Taylor Swift - and no I am NOT a 'Swiftie' - once sang "Haters gotta hate". Hate crimes certainly appear to be on the rise in many parts of the Western world and has a lot of people worried. Unfortunately, the definition of hate is nebulous, making investigations and criminal charges that more difficult. What is it about hate that makes this so hard? I speak with a distinguished Canadian Professor Emeritus on these issues. 

 The boys in the virtual bar celebrate Friday with a variety of real beers and have reason to cheer! Canada's Public Safety Minister Gary "the recuser" Anandasangaree finally announces a head of the soon-to-be-created Foreign Influence Transparency Registry! It may have been a long time in coming, but they needed to choose a wall colour first (enquiring minds want to know: was it Pantone's colour for 2026 - Cloud Dancer?). And will the new office have the US at the top of its list? One thing that never lists is Spies Like Us! 

 Did you play Stratego or Risk as a kid? War games have a long history. Nowadays, modern militaries put a lot of time and money into war simulations. How do these work and what effect do they have? I talk with Rex Brynen, a McGill prof in political science and an organiser of the 2026 Connections North professional wargaming conference. 

After a short hiatus, the boys are back...and they have a guest!  Andrew Kirsch is a former CSIS intelligence officer, an author and willing to talk to us!  This is so cool, more people to listen to!

 That conflict is part of the human condition goes without saying. What is challenging is determining what kinds of information to rely on when thinking about ongoing conflicts. After all, there is a lot of disinformation and misinformation out there (just think false US allegations about a Christian 'genocide' in Nigeria). I talk with the President of the Armed Conflict and Location Event Data (ACLED). 

 Fighting terrorism is complicated. My background is in security intelligence and I know a lot about what goes into a terrorism investigation. When it comes to the military, things are different. On occasions, soldiers need to use lethal force to kill a terrorist. What does that entail? I talk with two former snipers, one Canadian and one American. 

 It is hard not to be riveted to our screens with what is transpiring in Iran right now. Near a half century of rule by Shia fundamentalists appears, at least to some, to on the brink of collapse as mass demonstrations have led to hundreds - if not thousands - of deaths. Is this the beginning of the end of this vile regime? If so, what will come next? I speak with an Iranian Canadian and threat and risk analyst about these monumental events. 

 Not surprisingly, terrorism is a very emotive term. When acts take place, the media will often use words and language that vary widely in scope. Some say that we should eschew some vocabulary that may or not be inaccurate, or lead to bias. How do we manage this linguistic minefield? 

 When we think of intelligence we normally go to spy agencies, be they those which run human sources, collect signals, or do surveillance (on the ground or in the air/space). And yet the people we send abroad as diplomats have access to a lot of information as well. Can this be used to keep us safe and what are the guard rails that need to be kept in place? I talk with a former Canadian diplomat who served in some very interesting countries. 

 Happy New Year fans!! Like many sites Spies Like Us can have a look ahead episode. Here the lads prognosticate on what we can expect to happen in 2026. Oh, and advice from the Hardy Boys on how to use a cut out operative if you are a foreign state sowing mayhem in another country. 

 You cannot read just about anything these days and not come across the role of AI in everything. We may not be able to agree on whether this new technology is good or bad, but it is not going away. Like all new developments, however, it is being used by criminals and other nefarious actors to advance their own plans. So, how are those agencies responsible for keeping us safe dealing with this? I talk with a sociologist who specialises in policing on this matter. 

 There seems to be this movement that anyone should have the opportunity to try their hand at anything. This includes complicated jobs such as security intelligence agencies or law enforcement organisations. But what happens if an outsider with no relevant experience is parachuted in to assume the mantle of leadership (look what is happening in the US these days!). I talk with a former Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) commissioner on these issues. 

 As 2025 draws to a close, Al, Phil and Neil look back at what made national security headlines this year, wonder why Gary Anandasangaree is still Canada's Public Safety Minister, and figure out why Neil can't be host of the podcast. Despite a lack of good news, we end with a note of holiday cheer! 

 As a linguist (and former multilingual foreign intelligence analyst) and counter terrorism specialist, I can proudly say I had a cool career. The chance to combine language skills, a background in linguistics proper and my interest in terrorism was a remarkable opportunity. But can language/linguistics have more to say on how to prevent acts of terrorism and violence from occurring? I talk to a forensic linguistics on this fascinating nexus. 

 The boys are back - with Al having returned from a Top Secret mission to Casablanca where he ate and drank too much - and just in time to weigh in on a whole bunch of foiled and successful terrorist attacks! With Grizzly Bear's reappearance Phil no longer has to ?sing? the musical intro but he does get to mark a special birthday! 

 Have you ever been to Thailand? I have, but I cannot talk about it.... I do know, however, that it is a very popular spot for tourists - and Thai cuisine is the best! But there is a longstanding, albeit slow simmering, jihadi conflict in the south that pops up every once in a while. What is this all about? Jacob Zenn joins me to discuss. 

While Al is AWOL - didn't he just get back from vacation? - Neil and Phil fill (!) in ably and are joined by former FBI Agent Lauren Anderson to talk about what the heck if happening at the FBI.  No fake guns or challenge coins were harmed in this recording by the way.

 Joining a terrorist group has to be one of life's more complicated decisions. Do I believe in the cause? Am I aware of what the group actually does? What if I change my mind? Can I get out or will I be killed for trying? I talk to a former Taliban member who fled Afghanistan for the UK. 

 We have all become too familiar with terrorism over the decades, especially since 9/11. There are all kinds of groups which use violence in the pursuit of all kinds of goals and they all have some form of ideology they use to justify their actions. So what happens when acts of violence are not tied to a coherent ideology? Is this too terrorism? I talk with an Australian specialist on this issue. 

An Al-less trio - which makes Neil and Phil a dynamic duo! - weighs in on CSIS Director Dan Rogers first ?annual? threat overview speech and what Canadians should take away from it. From terrorism to foreign interference to transnational repression to the Canadian Arctic, we look at the landscape but refrain from singing Celine Dion's 'My heart will go on' for obvious reasons.

The Canadian Secu

 Canada is one of few nations which actually borders the Arctic (unlike China which describes itself as a 'near-Arctic nation). Long considered marginal because of snow and ice, the region is garnering more interest thanks to global warming and the pursuant mineral possibilities and shipping routes. So what is Canada and other countries doing to secure this vital area? I talk with an Arctic specialist. 

 To mark Remembrance Day, an important time to pay their respects to the Canadian women and men who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the lads talk about the role that intelligence played in the Afghan conflict. 

 It seems like the word 'genocide' is thrown around a lot these days. Whether it applies in all cases remains a contentious issue (look at the claim that Israel is engaged in a 'genocide' against Palestinians). The US now says Nigeria is allowing a genocide against its own Christian population. Is it? I talk with an African risk specialist on this issue. 

 When it comes to language there are lots of opposites: black and white, up and down, in and out, right and left. The latter terms are often thrown around when talking about political movements (and this usage apparently dates back to the French revolution!), although the borders between them are murky. There is no question that causes on both sides can escalate to the use of violence and Western terrorist history has ample examples of right-wing and left-wing groups. Normally, one or the other dominates, but are we seeing a rise in both at the same time? I talk with a US political scientist on this issue. 

 After attending an early Remembrance Day ceremony at the National Beechwood Cemetery, the guys keep the serious tone by looking at why the UAE is sponsoring genocide in Sudan, why India is sponsoring assassinations abroad and why the world's greatest game show was sponsored by a Canadian. 

 I cannot recall how many times I have heard a world leader, or a self-styled 'terrorism expert', expound that a given terrorist group has been 'totally defeated' (that is exactly what Donald Trump said about ISIS in Iraq and Syria in 2019 and look where the group is now). The truth is that terrorist groups are more resilient than many say. Take Al Qaeda (AQ) in Afghanistan. Sure, Usama bin Laden is dead (albeit killed in Pakistan, not Afghanistan) and the organisation does not garner the headlines it once did, but is very much alive and well. I speak with a former Afghan intelligence officer on this issue. 

 In a special (post) Hallowe'en edition of 'Spooks Like Us', your favourite ex-spies weigh in why the Brits are frightfully good at prosecuting sabotage, why Canada is horror-ible at removing threats to national security, and whether anyone can trust US intelligence under the abomination that is Emperor Cheetoh. Prepared to be scared out of your comfort zone! 

 To say that Canada-China relations have been rocky would be putting it mildly. From the heyday of the first Trudeau (Pierre) to the depths of the PRC's kidnapping of two Canadians several years ago, it has not been an easy road. Furthermore, China has been caught spying in Canada, trying to affect our elections and stealing sensitive technology. And yet, the current Liberal government wants to 'reset' our ties to that nation. Why? What are the implications. I am rejoined by Margaret McCuaig-Johnston to look at these issues. 

 After 9/11, the US, Canada and many other nations sent troops to Afghanistan to find and punish Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden and bring 'democracy' to the country. Thousands of casualties - on both sides - later, the US pulled out in the fall of 2021 and the Taliban, which had provided sanctuary for terrorists, regained power. The so-called 'Taliban 2.0' were nothing more than the misogynist Islamist extremists they had always been and Afghanistan is again a dictatorship run by jihadis. Why, then, is the US thinking of heading back to take over an airbase in that country? 

Why tulips are better than one in intimate intelligence sharing

This week your favourite Canadian ex-spies weigh in on why the Dutch are not paying for their dates with the US, yet again why Canada cannot decide on the paint colour for the walls of the Foreign Register and why moxie matters (a la Nancy Drew).

 In 2019 then US President Trump stated that ISIS had been 'totally defeated'. While it was true that the so-called 'Caliphate' had for all intents and purposes been destroyed, the group was anything but gone. It is still very active in Iraq and Syria and has spawned multiple 'provinces' around the world and 'inspired' lone actors to carry out attacks in its name. What are we to make of all this? I talk with a terrorism specialist on these matters from the Soufan Group. 

 After the Thanksgiving break, the lads are back to talk about 'eternal' peace in the Middle East thanks to Emperor Cheetoh, why are Canadian spy agencies subject to so much review and would you go to an Indian crime syndicate for community relations? As usual, the boys in the virtual bar share their views in a candid fashion. 

 Security intelligence and law enforcement agencies do very important jobs in investigating threats to our nations. As a consequence, they have to have the resources to do that, without interference for political reasons. What is happening in the US, however, seems to go against this, from the appointment of completely unqualified leaders to the firing of qualified professionals. What are the implications of all this? I talk with a former member of the USIC. 

 Remember the Hogue Inquiry? Canada went through a soul search into Chinese actions in our country, what we knew and what we ignored (i.e. decades of intelligence that was rejected or not even read) and came up with a whole bunch of recommendations (most of which will probably also be ignored). Despite concrete evidence of the threat China poses to Canada, the Carney government wants to expand economic relations with the PRC. What are the national and international implications of this? I talk again with China specialist Charles Burton on these issues. 

 In episode 3 of season 3 the lads weigh in on the implications of the Canadian government's recognition of Palestine, why Canada kneed an Irish hip hop band in the...knee, and what has Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said now? 

If it is one thing jihadi terrorists are known for it is their hatred of women. While they claim to be 'pure' Muslims who treat women in accordance with Islamic law they are in fact vile misogynists. Of these extremists there is no better example than the Taliban in Afghanistan. Not only have they restricted women's movements in public, fired women from jobs and closed schools for girls after the sixth grade, but have prevented women from speaking in public. Luckily, some women have escaped this Islamic totalitarian state to resume a normal life outside Afghanistan. I speak with two such women in this podcast.

 While drug-addled Al deals with a centipede from the seventh layer of hell, the boys (sober for once) delve into the rhetoric over the far left/far right in the West, why labeling organised crime groups terrorists is a 'terror-ible' idea and offer some great advice to crooks from Frank and Joe Hardy. 

 The US is, alas, no stranger to political violence. Three presidents have been assassinated as have several public figures like Martin Luther King. The political atmosphere of hate and retribution is magnified in today's world of social media and dis/misinformation where calls for revenge are all too common. Factually incomplete statements by political leaders also feed this demand for blood. In the wake of the fatal shooting of Republican star Charlie Kirk what is next for the US? I am joined once again by a specialist in the US far right to look into these issues. 

 The guys are back in the virtual bar for another season! After two months of R&R they delve into the arrest of a self-appointed 'Queen of Canada/World", counselling sessions for ISIS terrorists ('couch jihadis'?) and why 'native extremist' investigations were warranted. Oh, and another poem by Phil where he finds rhymes for 'ISIS'. 

The Philippines has long been beset by jihadi groups such as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Front (BIFF) and the one bunch with the unintended acronym MILF - the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Of late, one does not hear a lot about these groups' activities in the region. What then, has the Philippines done to 'defeat' them? I talk with a Jamestown Foundation specialist on terrorism. 

 Almost 15 years ago the world awoke to an amazing event. A Tunisian fruit vendor had his wares seized and was insulted by a police officer, leading to his later suicide and a call for change in Tunisia. This spawned a whole bunch of analogous uprisings (Egypt, Syria, Libya...) and a hope that true democracy would get established in the region. Today it is hard to see any real lasting effects of these movements. With the ongoing Israeli war in Gaza and the images of mass civilian casualties and starvation we have yet to see anything similar occur? Why not? I talk with a Middle East specialist on this issue. 

 That China has infiltrated Canadian society at so many levels is beyond doubt. "Police" stations, harassing dissidents, interfering in our elections, the list goes on and on. And, despite reports and inquiries these anti-democratic activities do not seem to garner the necessary response by the government. The obvious question is: why not? I talk with a former RCMP and money laundering specialist who has been looking at these issues for decades. 

 You cannot get far these days without some article and warning about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the possible extermination of humanity. How close are we to that and what can we do about it? Are there good sides to AI? I am joined by a true expert in all things AI. 

 You cannot go a day, it seems, without a mass shooting in the US. Far too many deaths and injuries have been caused so much that the leading cause of death for people between one and 17 is at the end of a gun. What is worse is that this culture is being exported to other nations, and some are actively and deliberately emulating US mass shootings. Why is this happening and what can be done to lessen the impact. I talk with a US-based researcher on these matters. 

 Saudi Arabia is desperately trying to change its image from an ultraconservative Middle East oil power to a modern state. Much of this change is at the hands of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman (MBS) who is the darling of the international community and a rarity: a young royal in a family of octogenarians. But all is not roses as MBS also ordered the assassination of a critic in Turkey and tried to eliminate a former intelligence official in Canada. As a consequence, relations between the Kingdom and Canada are frosty. Is this going to change? I talk with a veteran Saudi watcher on these issues. 

 If there is one conflict I have tried to stay away from, because it is so intractable, it is Israel-Palestine. The two have been at each other's throats for decades and terrorist attacks have been carried out on each other's territory by individuals and groups in both Palestine and Israel. And yet, probably in response to the massive suffering and starvation in Gaza, several Western governments are considering recognising a Palestinian state, including Canada (and France, the UK and Portugal). Critics, among whom are the US and Israel, say this is a 'reward' for terrorism. Is it really? 

 The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is one of the oldest Islamist organisations, dating back to 1928. It is conservative in its outlook and is seen by some as the inspiration for terrorist groups such as Hamas. And yet, few countries have designated it as a listed terrorist entity, despite its frequent anti-Semitic statements. Why is this so? I speak with an anti-Semitism specialist on this issue. 

 During the Cold War, Canada maintained radar stations in its north to warn against Soviet ballistic missiles coming over the pole, in an arrangement with the US called the DEW Line (distant early warning). Now with the Northwest Passage becoming ice-free more and more, states like Russia and China may see this route, which neither recognises as Canadian internal waterways, as exploitable. As both nations are inimical to Canadian interests this issue has a military and national security nexus. Furthermore, climate change mass migration will likely feed far right white nationalist and anti-immigrant movements, again posing a threat to national security. 

 When we talk national security the same few challenges come up: terrorism, espionage, cyber attacks, sabotage, foreign interference, etc. These are 'traditional' in the sense that they are open to investigation, information gathering and, in the worst case scenario, arrests and criminal charges. Other threats, however, are not so easy to deal with. Some say that climate change constitutes a very real national security threat. What does that mean and what are the implications? 

 Ah the Cold War! Those were the good old days when we knew the enemy and he knew us. Few know that the decades-long slowly simmering conflict began in Ottawa when Igor Gouzenko defected from the Soviet Embassy with a treasure trove of secret documents detailing the USSR's network of moles and useful idiots in Canada and the West. A new book by a local historian sheds some light on this era and the author joins me for a chat.  

 To say that the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia) is unstable is an understatement. Whether we are talking about war, famine or terrorism, the region has had its challenges for decades. Now a working relationship between Al Qaeda-affiliated Al Shabaab in Somalia and the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen is complicating matters ever further. What does this Sunni-Shia amalgam mean? I talk with a specialist on the matter from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. 

 If you listen to many 'experts' the biggest threat to world safety emanates from the far right (what normal people call right-wing terrorism (RW) but the Canadian government calls IMVE - ideologically-motivated violent extremism). Recent RCMP arrests in Quebec hit the news yesterday and undoubtedly shocked a lot of Canadians. How serious was the 'plot' that these wankers were planning? Here is a perspective you are not hearing enough of. 

 When it comes to major terrorist attacks that grab the world's attention a few rise to the top. 9/11 (of course!), the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, the Bataclan/Stade de France massacre and the Madrid metro attack in 2004 would be among them. For the UK, the Al Qaeda-inspired bombs on the Tube in which 52 died and hundreds were wounded on July 7, 2005 ranks very high in a country which has dealt with terrorism for decades. Was it preventable? 

 When we talk about national security and public safety most people would likely go immediately to issues such as terrorism and espionage. And yet, there are many other things that pose a more immediate threat in most societies. Drug trafficking and gang violence are surely among them. So, what is happening on that front in Canada? I talk with a U of Alberta criminologist doing ground-breaking research on these issues. 

What do pigeons and Farsi-speaking parrots have in common?  You will find out when you listen to the periodic question episode!  Seriously, a Farsi-speaking parrot?

 Mozambique achieved independence in 1974 after a long civil war with its former Portuguese colonial power. Like most African nations, however, peace and stability are not that common in the post European power era. The southeastern country has been facing down a jihadi movement affiliated with ISIS for a number of years, a war that does not appear to be ending any time soon. Borealis talks with a Canadian security consultant with experience in the region. 

 For those of us who work(ed) in national security the job boils down to one thing and one thing only: stop bad things from happening. So what gives if we screw up and a bomb on an aircraft kills 329 innocent people? My personal reflections on the terrorist attack on an Air India airplane forty years ago. 

 You would have to be asleep over the past year and a half to not notice a precipitous rise in anti-Semitic attacks in the West. Some of this is tied to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the deaths of thousands of civilians and some is just plain, decades-old hatred. What, if anything, can be done to prevent this? I speak yet again with storied US terrorism scholar Bruce Hoffman. 

 Everyone remembers 9/11. That single event has become a 'where were you when' moment in human history. Few know, however, that prior to that cataclysmic attack, a bomb on an Air India flight placed by Canadian Sikh extremists was the single greatest terrorist incident on aviation in history. And although Sikh terrorism may not be the hot topic it once was, it still exists. Ask India, which allegedly arranged the killing of a Sikh activist/terrorist in BC in 2023. Where does this leave Canada-India ties? I talk with a journalist from The Hub on these issues.

 This week the lads weigh in on the killing of two politicians in Minnesota, US Emperor Cheetoh's dismissal of his own nation's intelligence and what to do if a peeler dressed as a cop shows up at your bachelorette party (hint, hint, ask for ID!). Oh and why carrier pigeons are not reliable messengers....according to The Hardy Boys. 

 Federal police. Provincial police. Regional Police. Municipal police. A real dog's breakfast in Canada. Does in work? Does it need a re-think? Phil talks with a former RCMP officer and municipal police chief about these issues. 

 The guys talk about Israel's decision to take out Iranian nuclear facilities, why the Carney government decided to appoint a Public Safety minister who is unwilling to look at certain files, and why is Al speaking in a faux German accent? 

 Of all the frustrations in life red tape has to be one of the worst. Whether it is renewing your driver's licence or registering your dog, being faced with bad bureaucracy is frustrating for sure. But can it actually be a factor in lifting terrorism? Phil talks with two US academics and authors of a recent paper on this correlation. 

 This week the lads are joined by a fan (yes we DO have them), Eric von Stackelburg, and we chat about all things hybrid warfare, government inaction on national security and public-private interactions. Oh and what Phil likes in a blonde (blueberry!). You are going to love this interaction! 

 Israel has faced an existential threat for decades from jihadis in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon, as well as further abroad. The country's security intelligence and military communities are amongst the best and one would assume that they have spent much money and treasure in understanding the nature of their enemies. But are they as good as we think? Borealis talks with a former Israeli defence officer and author of a book on inter-cultural understanding. 

 Disinformation is a growing scourge around the world as states and sub-state actors try to get people to believe in certain things. Much coverage has been devoted to what Russia and others are doing to mislead citizens to further the former's interests. But what if the distributors are closer to home? Borealis looks into a case where the US' Department of Homeland Security amateurish invented a presidential assassination plot to convince Americans to support their anti-immigration policies. 

 This week the guys bask in new-found attention by selfie-seeking fans and, on a more serious level, talk about a humungous increase in terrorism arrests and Israel warning Jews not to travel to Canada. Oh and Al ends up being the optimist in the trio - go figure! 

 Terrorism has been dominated for ages by well-defined groups and ideas ranging from far right, far left and jihadi proponents. These days, it seems, we are seeing more acts carried out by people who seem to adhere very loosely to ideology or political grievances. Many want to call all these actual forms of terrorism - but are they? Borealis weighs in on two recent attacks which raise more questions than answers. 

 The world rightly celebrated the ouster of Bashar al Assad, the brutal Syrian dictator, in December 2024 when a motley crew, including jihadis, took the capital, Damascus. Syrians who had engaged their autocrats in a bid for freedom since the Arab Spring, were finally liberated. But are they? The President is the "former: head of an Al Qaeda (AQ) affiliated group, Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS) but now claims he no longer believes in jihad. What should we make of this? Borealis talks to a US specialist on the topic. 

 This week the guys talk cast off the covers on cover names, challenge CT success claims, and honour the best-known guy to hang out in a bar talking about life with his buddies. 

 We are inundated with information at levels impossible to process. Much of this is dis- or misinformation and it is a full-time job just trying to distinguish fact from fiction (AI-generated garbage and deep fakes, both of which are becoming more sophisticated, are not helping). In the intelligence world, however, much care is taken to ensure that the finished product is the best it can be and it is shared to help senior officials make better decisions. So why are these officials blaming the spies for telling them things that they don't like? Borealis weighs in on the worrisome trend to force professionals to tailor their analysis to satisfy egos. 

 That extremist/terrorist groups can form political parties - and in some cases actually govern - is not unknown. Hamas ran Gaza until the Israeli invasion in October 2023, Hizballah controlled much of southern Lebanon and even ISIS created a so-called 'Caliphate' in Iraq and Syria in the 2010s. In Germany, the Alternativ fuer Deutschland (AfD - Alternative for Germany) has become very popular in recent elections but, because of some of its anti-immigrant positions the German security service (BfV - Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz) said the party is an “extremist” organisation. Borealis talks with Atlantic reporter Graeme Wood on this issue. 

 Back in the saddle after a short last week, the guys delve into the undermining of the US intelligence community by the Trump administration, the dangers of accepting airplanes as 'gifts' and why Latvia is helping its citizens identify Russian spies. And lots of golden references.... 

Yes I am biased - as a 32-year veteran of intelligence - but I do think (ex)-practitioners have a lot to say when it comes to national security and international affairs. Those who were 'at the coalface' have a lot to say and have the advantage of having worked in these areas. So what is it like to go from an author of non-fiction books on military matters to a new fiction of military and intelligence intrigue? Borealis talks with a well-published former Canadian officer on these issues. 

 Unfortunately, Phil decided to swim in 10 degree Celsius water this week and as a consequence the episode is much shorter than usual. The guys weigh in on the vehicular attack in Vancouver 

 If the war in Ukraine is teaching us anything it is that drones - both surveillance ones as well as those that fire missiles at the enemy - are changing the landscape. Their small size, cheapness (i.e. they are not expensive to build unlike fighter aircraft and bombers), and increasing sophistication allow forces to do things they could not do before. But are they 'dehumanising' their victims and reducing killing to a video game-like affair? Borealis talks with the author of a new fiction on drone use in Afghanistan and the implications for conflict. 

 The Hamas incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023 was a horrendous blow to that nation and proportionately bigger than 9/11. And yet, unlike the attack on the US, it was celebrated by many in the West as a legitimate action. College campuses and other venues saw demonstrations carried out by a dog's breakfast of actors which saw Hamas' act as legitimate, combined with blatant anti-Semitic acts. Where is this going? Borealis talks with a documentary maker on this phenomenon. 

 In the guys' election episode they talk about where the debate on national security has been during the campaign (hint, hint: nowhere) and why you should not mark your ballot with the eraser end of the pencil. Also why Spies Like Us is 'inSITEful'! 

 Of all the nations normally associated with the 'West', France is the one which seems to dominate the headlines when it comes to terrorism. Bataclan/Stade de France (2015), Nice (2016), Charlie Hebdo, teacher beheadings...the list goes on and on. Why is this one country so beset with this form of violence? Borealis is rejoined by a French police analyst to discuss. 

 Sir John A Macdonald was Canada's first Prime Minister and a 'Father' of Confederation. And yet a figure of that importance has suffered a great deal in recent years over his role in the residential schools system for First Nations children, with statues taken down, street names changed and even schools founded in his honour recast. Does he deserve this criticism? More narrowly, how did Sir John A deal with national security crises in Canadian history a century and a half ago? Borealis talks with the author of a new biography of the man. 

 The guys are joined for coffee by former Toronto 18 terrorist cell human source Mubin Shaikh to talk about what he did and why he did it. Al shares some stories about growing up in Winnipeg cutting weed with goat shit and for some reason Neil wants to rub horse manure on his teeth. Oh, and no poetry from Phil this week. 

 Can you imagine a world without the Internet and social media platforms? Pretty hard, eh? And yet for all the good it has brought us - access to information from everywhere and helpful links to solve questions, not to mention keeping much of the economy going - there are downsides: support for authoritarianism, distrust in government and mainstream news, and disinformation. So, what can we do to make things better? Borealis talks to a digital guru on these threats. 

 This week the guys look into two recent cases of 'right-wing' extremism in Canada with very different results. They also have a real beer rather than a virtual one! Oh, and Phil has a new nickname. 

 Fighting terrorists is hard work. Many countries have sought alliances, both political and military, to pool resources to engage in this struggle. In some cases, allies have been kicked out, only to be replaced by brutal criminal gangs - a.k.a. mercenaries - who commit massive human rights violations under the rubric of 'counter-terrorism'. Russia's Wagner Group (now known as the Africa Corps) is one such group that has gained status in Western Africa. Are they the right ones for the task? Borealis speaks with the author of a new book on this organisation. 

 The Al-less team digs into the recent shit show surrounding the Trump Administration's decision to use Signal to broadcast upcoming airstrikes in Yemen against the Houthis. And in poetry by Phil, yes, there is a rhyme for SCIF! 

 We are drowning in information at a rate unprecedented in human history. That is a good thing, to an extent. Unfortunately, we are also inundated with mis- and disinformation, including efforts by outside powers to influence populations. This nefarious activity is especially dangerous when it comes during elections. How can the average citizen counter these attempts? What acting like a spy can do to help. 

 If there is one country that has been at the forefront of terrorism and international meddling it is Iran. Since the revolution of 1979, in which a Shia fundamentalist regime replaced the monarchy, it has been a prime sponsor of terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hizballah and the Houthis in Yemen. And yet the mood inside the country, insofar as it can be measured, seems to indicate little support for the ayatollahs. Is the end nigh? Borealis talks with an Iranian specialist to look at what is happening. 

The guys are joined by ex-CIA analyst Dave Gioe  to talk about why Canada needs a foreign intelligence (HUMINT) agency and how we would go about it (and the guys give a solid two thumbs up to that idea).  And Nancy Drew gives Canada good advice on how to handle Donald Trump.

 The UAE is perhaps best known for its financial strength and glittering skyscrapers, including the Burj Al Khalifa, currently the tallest structure in the world. It is not generally known for its diplomacy or, more worryingly, counter terrorism actions abroad. And yet the Emirates are becoming much more active, especially in Africa. Is this a positive development? Borealis talks with a specialist in this area. 

The guys have yet another Q&A episode talking about economic security, whether President Trump is a Russian asset or agent, and learn that 'Larry from the US' listens to us!

 The UK has always been a close ally of us here in Canada, no more so than on the intelligence front. So much is shared and this enables both countries to ensure their safety. But when it comes to threat levels, the UK is menaced by terrorism at orders of magnitude higher than Canada. Why? Borealis talks to a UK counter terrorism specialist on what his country is doing, and not doing in this regard. 

 The Cold War may seem like a historic artifact to many these days but the threat from Russia, much like the threat from the former Soviet Union and its allies, is growing once again (if it ever really diminished). One would think that the West would take this menace seriously as it once did. And yet, one of our most important partners, i.e. the US, appears to be kissing up to Russia, and more narrowly US President Trump clearly has a crush on his Russian counterpart Putin. What are the implications of this for the Western alliance? 

 That terrorism is a daily phenomenon somewhere in the world in any given 24-hour period should come as a surprise to no one who follows the news. Tracking terrorist attacks and groups is a full-time job, however. Thankfully, there is the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), issued annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, a Sydney-based thinktank. Borealis talks to the Americas Director about the 2025 report. 

 It is only six weeks since the new administration in the US and already Canada has been threatened with annexation (as the '51st state'), expulsion from the 5 eyes intelligence alliance, and a 'redrawing' of the international border with the US. While it is hard to know which, if any, of these threats to take seriously, it would not be wise to ignore any of them. Borealis weighs in on what Canada should do to up its national defence, economic security, and, perhaps, its very independence. 

 Over the past quarter century a lot has been written about terrorism and why people embrace violent ideologies. Much of this literature is academic in nature but some is very practical in nature. Borealis talks to an academic who spanned the two worlds. 

The guys are joined by former colleague and ex-senior CSIS official Andy Ellis to talk about why the Canadian government has let intelligence slide and what it needs to do to get back to where it needs to be (and once was). And, importantly, the Hardy Boys give good advice on the relationship between education and trust.

 Elections are the bedrock of democracy. Having free, fair, unfettered opportunities to choose one's leaders is a privilege that not enough people on earth enjoy. There are, however, countries which claim to hold elections which are neither free nor fair. To try to monitor these occasions, observers from neutral countries travel to keep an eye and report on what goes on. Borealis is joined by a veteran Canadian election observer. 

The guys devote this episode to the case of Chiheb Esseghaier who with a partner planned to derail a train in Canada back in 2013 and is seeking to stay in Canada. Al plays the bagpipes - kinda - and we all have new nicknames!

Of all the UK counter-terrorism initiatives, the 'early detection' efforts (known as PREVENT and Channel) have been quite controversial. One of the problems lies with how we define terrorism and thus what the public should do to help authorities stop terrorist acts from occurring. The Southport, UK, stabbing of little girls in 2024 by a young man with a smorgasbord of ideas - Al Qaeda, ricin, a penchant for violence - only complicates matters more. Borealis talks with a legal specialist at Birmingham about these challenges. 

 The guys talk about what to do with ISIS returnees, the challenges of recruiting human sources with, shall we say, sketchy backgrounds, and show how Nancy Drew steals a page from Monty Python's "trying hard not to be seen". 

This week the guys talk about the latest brain fart to come from the US on joint border security, Al comes up with a complicated jurisdiction story which he worked on very hard and yes, it is again time for Poetry by Phil

 We in the Great White North proudly describe ourselves as an "Arctic" nation. In truth, we have a large portion of that part of the globe, which is lightly inhabited, but is increasingly becoming strategic in the face of global warming. Most Canadians, and , to be honest, most Canadian governments, do not give this region a second thought. In light of China's claim to be a 'near Arctic power' and Russian aggression under President Putin, is Canada doing enough to safeguard it. Borealis is re-joined by China specialist Margaret McCuaig-Johnston. 

 The field of 'radicalisation' studies has been growing quickly, especially since 9/11. Practitioners and academics have seen this process as a precursor to the actual execution of acts of terrorism. But most of those who radicalise never move on to action? Why not? Borealis talks with a Norwegian scholar and co-editor of a new book on this fascinating topic. 

 The guys are joined by investigative journalist Sam Cooper to dissect the recently released Hogue report on foreign interference in Canada. Suffice to say they ain't impressed and suspect, like the Hardy Boys, that there is much left unsaid. 

 Last year the Global Terrorism Index for the first time put an African nation, Burkina Faso, at the top of its list of terrorist attacks. A phenomenon most associate with the Middle East (and West Asia: think Pakistan and Afghanistan) is now increasingly dominated by Africa. Why? Borealis talks with an African specialist to find out what groups pose the greatest threat. 

 The guys muse about the US decision to list Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organisations, whether politicians are too timid in labeling terrorist acts as terrorism and what Nancy Drew teaches us about confusion. 

 War is part of human history alas. Our penchant for killing one another goes back millennia and, as current events demonstrate (Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan...), it shows no signs of ebbing. Terrorism, on the other hand, is a much more recent ill. Are there links between terrorism and war crimes? Borealis talks to a Canadian war crimes specialist in the wake of news that a Canadian ISIS wannabe has been charged with both terrorism and war crimes charges. 

The guys delve into Russian antagonistic moves in the West, the abuse of Canada's student visa programme, and encourage Marc Garneau to run for Prime Minister

 That TikTok is a very popular social media platform is not debatable. There are more than 1 BILLION users worldwide and 170 million in the US alone. However, the fact that TikTok is owned by a Chinese company is raising questions. What happens to your personal data on the app? Can the Chinese government, an autocratic dictatorship behind all kinds of nastiness, order the provider to give this information over? To what end? As the US contemplates forcing TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent, ByteDance, and banning the medium, what is at stake? Borealis talks with a cyber specialist on this current debate. 

 In its 2024 report The Global Terrorism Index, the Institute for Economics and Peace noted that for the first time an African country, Burkina Faso, took top spot in terrorist attacks. This came as a surprise to many who had become accustomed to nations in the Middle East or Asia as the world's worst places for these acts. But it demonstrated a trend that has been building momentum for years. What does Africa have to look forward to in 2025? Borealis talks once again with an Africa specialist Charlie Werb. 

 Setting houses on fire. Uprooting olive groves. Attacking schools. Killing civilians. These are things we have become accustomed to when we talk about jihadis but in this case we are talking about Israeli Jewish settlers in the West Bank. And is something the Israeli government of Binyamin Netanyahu is ignoring. Time to call a terrorist spade a terrorist spade and do something about it. 

The popular Q&A show is back! The guys talk about the greatest national security threats facing Canada in 2025 and what the heck is a UAP? Thanks to all who sent us their questions and comments.

 After 9/11 Canada was one of the first nations to send its forces to Afghanistan to find Al Qaeda and help Afghanistan oust the Taliban. Thousands of soldiers deployed and over a decade 159 died (in addition to seven civilians). Canada left in 2014 and our best returned to a normal life. But what does 'normal' mean when you have seen such death and destruction? Borealis talks to a Canadian soldier who has talked to military veterans who served in Afghanistan. 

 In the first episode of 2025 the guys talk about the New Orleans terrorist attack and weigh in on their own concerns for national security and public safety in the coming year. 

 Another vehicular attack, another round of questions on what happened and why. The families of those killed and injured in an ISIS-inspired incident want answers on why this occurred, what was known, and why it was not stopped. Was there anything that could have been detected in advance to prevent this wanton death and destruction. Hmm, maybe... 

 New Year's Eve is supposed to be a happy time, ushering out the old year and welcoming the new. For partygoers and revelers in New Orleans it was anything but. A truck rammed into people after midnight, killing ten (so far) and wounding at least 35. Details are still coming in but it is looking like an ISIS (-inspired) attack. What are the implications of this? 

 I would imagine most people are sick of hearing about terrorism. We read and view reports on a daily basis where individuals and groups carry out attacks or, more hopefully, are foiled by law enforcement and security intelligence agencies. Enough is enough, right? Alas, likely not. Here are some areas to keep an eye on next year. 

 Those who work in intelligence have a tough job. Whether it is HUMINT, SIGINT, IMINT or any other 'INT', the data is vast and must be collected, processed, tested for accuracy, corroborated, analysed and put into short product so that busy decision makers can use it. Getting it to those decision makers is often the hard part, if for no other reason than they have many other things on their plate. What if, however, there are those who do not like intelligence and act as blocks to its distribution? Borealis talks to a veteran Canadian intelligence customer relations officer about these issues. 

 In many areas it is acceptable to put forward a hypothesis, based on what is known, and see where it goes. Honest practitioners will change that idea once new information is made available, and not hold to it in the face of clearly contrary data. A working hypothesis, often based on very deep experiences, can be a useful tool. Why is it, then, that some see the need to insult and demean those whose theories go against the grain or challenge collected wisdom? 

 Ever since the Taliban retook Afghanistan in the fall of 2021 news out of that nation has been solidly negative. Public executions have been reinstated. Women's rights are as bad now as they were when the Taliban (Taliban 1.0) took power in 2001. The country is once again hosting terrorist groups (NB the Taliban themselves are a listed terrorist entity in Canada). Who, then, are standing up to these jihadis? Borealis talks to the foreign relations head of the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan. 

 Another mass gathering, another vehicular attack, this time in Magdeburg, Germany. This is a trend, especially amongst Islamist jihadis (Nice, Barcelona, London, Berlin...) in recent years. This case is different, though, as the alleged motive of the alleged attacker seems, at first blush, to have a dog's breakfast of 'causes' (anti-Islamic, despite being a Saudi (ex)-Muslim, a critic of the 'Islamicisation of Germany, praise for the far right...). What do we make of cases like this and do we apply the 'terrorism' label to it? 

In this last episode of 2024 the guys talk about the pluses and  minuses of calling Luigi Mangione, the killer of a US healthcare executive, a terrorist, and why Santa Claus would make a GREAT intelligence operative

 Think Pakistan and you probably think of Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden's last refuge in Abbottabad (before US Navy Seals killed him in 2011). The country is a producer of terrorists - in India - but also a receiver of them - in the form of the Tehreek-e-Taliban-Pakistan (TTP) from Afghanistan. But there is another lethal insurgency in the southwestern province of Balochistan that has been making headlines of late. Borealis talks to a Pakistani specialist on who these militants are. 

 Ever since 9/11, Western nations have devoted a lot of time and money trying to understand 'radicalisation', and more narrowly the kind of radicalisation that leads to violence. In essence, this is what causes terrorism (terrorists are made, not born). Our security services have indeed learned a lot over the past quarter century but a lot of that knowledge remains classified. A new '5 eyes' paper on this phenomenon has been released, but is it accurate? 

  As I have noted on far too many occasions no one can agree on what is terrorism and what is not. Not all acts of violence qualify as such and it is often very difficult to determine if the requisite underlying criteria (political, religious or ideological motivators) are present. The recent killing of a US healthcare executive does bear some hallmarks of a political act, although we need to learn a lot more. Borealis talks about the case with The Atlantic's Graeme Wood. 

When you don’t know nuthin’ it is best to ask someone who does know sumpin’. The guys are happy to welcome AI guru Ryan Zorn, an ex-CSIS dude, to demonstrate the challenges of AI and the threats to national security. Oh, and hope springs eternal that AI will create an avatar to make Neil look good….

 Any time a brutal dictator is ousted is a good day for the world as there are far too many still in power in the world. The Assads, father and son, were particularly inhumane, using, among other tools, chemical weapons against their own people. Their disappearance from the scene - Bashar al Assad has fled to a fellow autocrat in Moscow (Vladimir Putin) - does lead to a lot more questions however. Who will take power, and could Syria become a terrorist haven under Hizb-ut Tahrir Al Sham? Borealis talks with Elliot Tepper on what we know so far and what may unfold in the months to come. 

 The world is in a terrible mess right now. Autocracies like Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and others are running roughshod over human rights and international norms. All this has huge implications for national - and international - security. The democracies on Earth have stood by and let this happen. It is time for those of us who believe in freedom and human rights to get our shit together and push back. 

 There are undoubtedly many artifacts of historical importance that have gone missing, and the discovery of such is a meaningful event. The fact that the gun believed to have killed a leading Canadian politician shortly after the country's independence went missing should strike historians, or those interested in history, as scandalous. Despair not: it has been found and here is the story of how that happened. 

 The guys weigh in on partisan politics when it comes to national security, why it is important to vet contacts and why Xi Jinping uses honeypots (aside from the fact that he does look like Winnie the Pooh with a jar on his head). 

 If there is one thing that is consistent it is the tendency of youth to piss off their parents. They engage in activities that make the older generation pull their hair out. Do young people join terrorist groups for similar reasons? Is the Internet a game-changer? Borealis welcomes back Western University's Laura Huey to discuss? 

 We in Canada brag about being the 'peaceable kingdom' (as it turns out the title of my latest book on terrorism!). But not that long ago, a group of Quebecers, seeking independence for the province from Canada, engaged in a bombing campaign for years that culminated in the kidnapping of a British diplomat and a provincial minister (the latter was killed). In response, the (Pierre) Trudeau government brought in the War Measures Act in 1970 to end what has been since known as the October Crisis. Borealis talks to a young Canadian scholar about those days. 

Neil-less Al and Phil weigh in on what makes a good national security advisor, what are the disadvantages of information blackouts when it comes to public safety, and are screen doors a good idea on a submarine?

 That European nations did awful things in Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries is indisputable (that they did some good things too seems to be overlooked). As a consequence, many nations want nothing to do with these countries now. Oddly, however, they have turned to China, and Russia - the latter especially for security matters. Is this a good idea? Borealis talks with an African specialist on this issue. 

 It does not take much these days to be called a 'racist' or a 'misogynist' or an 'Islamophobe'. Just question accepted woke views on any matter and you are immediately labeled an enemy of progress. As a consequence, some, including perhaps police services, are nervous about using accurate terminology to describe malicious actors. What effect is this having on national security and public safety? 

 Neil and Phil - yes again without Al - talk about ISIS teeny-boppers, why a mayor thinks honouring the dead Hamas leader is a good idea, and why Canada needs to step up on national security. 

 If there is a battle which is iconic in world history it is the Battle of Britain. In the summer of 1940 the German Luftwaffe tried to destroy Britain's air force in the lead-up to an invasion of England. The dogfights and efforts are legendary. What is less well-known is Canada's role in this defence. Borealis talks to a leading Canadian historian about this unfortunate lapse in the teaching of our history. 

This week the guys welcome a guest, Tim O'Neil, former RCMP and CSIS, to talk about the evidence/intelligence conundrum, the need to share info, and how to bring the private sector into the conversation. Oh, and a lot of chat about exposing ourselves...

 In this week's episode Phil and Neil (again, Al is 'out doin' stuff') look at Sikh and Hindu brawls in Canada and what the leak of intelligence on Chinese interference in our elections means. Also, Neil is still trying to 'handle' Phil... 

 In counter-terrorism parlance there is the term 'decapitation'. No, this is not a reference to the practice of chopping people's heads off, like ISIS does, but rather the incapacitation of a terrorist group through the killing of its leader. This tactic has been used before: think of the elimination of Usama bin Laden and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, erstwhile heads of Al Qaeda (AQ) and ISIS respectively. Now, the head honcho of Hizballah, Hassan Nasrallah, is dead, courtesy of an Israeli airstrike. Does this entail the end of the group? Borealis talks with an independent analyst on this important development. 

This week the guys welcome a guest, Tim O'Neil, former RCMP and CSIS, to talk about the evidence/intelligence conundrum, the need to share info, and how to bring the private sector into the conversation. Oh, and a lot of chat about exposing ourselves...

 I'd like to slightly alter an old phrase: "Old spies never die, they just fade away". Like all professions, people work for a time and then eventually retire. Those people need to be replaced, hopefully by good, professional, qualified individuals. How hard is it to get into these jobs? Borealis talks to a young Canadian woman on the pathway. 

 When most people think of terrorism it is probable that the Middle East comes to mind. After all, groups like Al Qaeda and Islamic State have distinct Middle East origins and they have been active in that part of the world for decades. And yet, Africa has risen in recent years as a hub of jihadi organisations: Burkina Faso was the hardest hit country on Earth last year according to the Global Terrorism Index. What is happening on the ground and what does that mean for international security? Borealis talks with a sub-Saharan specialist on these matters. 

 Intelligence agencies have one job: to keep their masters informed while keeping their citizens safe. To this end, these organisations collect data through a variety of means - SIGINT, HUMINT, surveillance, imagery, etc. - and package it up for higher-ups to read and use. Some nations, however, do not have enough resources to meet their intelligence needs and thus enter into agreements with foreign counterparts to exchange information. These agreements are important, but must be carefully struck to avoid embarrassment or outright human rights violations. What happens, then, when a dispute with another country threatens to undo these arrangements?

Security intelligence and law enforcement agencies have a whole bunch of tools to do their job.  They can recruit human sources/agents, follow people, and liaise with domestic and foreign counterparts.  In some cases, they can make application to get authority to obtain an intercept warrant for the communications of 'someone of interest'.  This is a last resort power and is very hard to get.  What, then, to make of allegations that Ottawa Police listened in on five Somali members of their force based on 'systemic racism'?  Borealis talks to an ex-RCMP officer to get the down-low on this accusation.

 When you think terrorism you think underlying political, ideological or religious (yes, religious!) cause. You don't tend to think criminality although acts of terrorism are horrific acts of criminal violence (after all, terrorists are handled in criminal courts, at least those who are not killed on the battlefield or are suicidal in nature). But do the two cross paths on occasion? Can terrorists and criminals collaborate? And are we seeing a move to less ideologically-based forms of violent extremism. Borealis talks with a veteran Scottish police officer and author of a new book on terrorism. 

 Rape is rape, no matter who carries it out. Amongst the worst perpetrators of this form of sexual crime are jihadi terrorists who brag of their acts against women and girls. And yet this part of the Islamist terrorism psyche seems to get a pass, especially among feminists. It is time to change the narrative. 

 If you believe the Somali government, the Al Qaeda (AQ)-linked Al Shabaab terrorist group is all but dead. The army regularly issues claims that a dozen are dead here, ten there in an airstrike, the list goes on and on. If all these are true, and independent verification is next to impossible, then Al Shabaab is finally on the cusp of defeat after two decades of terrorist activity in Somalia and the surrounding area. So, what is really happening? I talk to an Al Shabaab specialist to get the real story. 

 You have to be careful when it comes to using the word 'decapitation' when it comes to terrorism. Jihadi groups such as Islamic State (ISIS) regularly remove the heads of its 'enemies' as a way to strike fear around the world. Here, we are referring to the death of the leader of a terrorist group and what it means for that group moving forward. How effective is such a move and does it make a difference moving forward? Maybe not as much as some think. 

 Everywhere you turn these days you see mass protests. Anti-immigrant mobs. Climate activist demos. Pro-Palestine rallies. The list goes on and on. Some of these events can turn violent as counter-protestors show up. To prevent this from happening we need law enforcement there. How does this work? Borealis talks with a former commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). 

The recent explosion of pagers owned by Hizballah members in Lebanon came as a shocker, in my view. Upwards of 3,000 (three THOUSAND) pagers were detonated almost simultaneously on September 17, killing a dozen or so people and wounding many hundreds. While no one took credit for this operation it does not take a rocket scientist to know it was Israel and, from an intelligence/counter-terrorism lens, it was a brilliant move. So, how does Hizballah respond and what does this mean for violence in the area and internationally? 

 We are inundated with 'spy' stories - books, films, etc. A lot of these accounts are not that tied to reality (spolier alert: most spies do not sleep with gorgeous women and kill them). Yet, the profession is an interesting one and needs to be talked about more. Borealis talks to a retired CSIS intelligence officer about his career. 

 Another day another foiled attack. The RCMP arrested a Pakistani national on September 4th near the Quebec-US border as he was on his way to New York City to carry out an attack on Jewish targets in the name of ISIS. This follows a similar arrest of a father-son duo in Toronto who wanted to do something similar, but in Canada. The Pakistani man was here on a 'student visa'; the father in the other case arrived in Canada and claimed refugee status, eventually getting citizenship, despite having been seen in an ISIS video dismembering someone. It appears that our immigration system is broken and yet the government pretends that all is well. WTF? 

 When it comes to counter terrorism I would imagine most people think this is a job for security intelligence and law enforcement. While true, these bodies are overworked and understaffed. As a consequence, there are times when they get information about a possible attack at the 11th hour. How can we get further 'left of boom' better? Perhaps we need to involve more people in our efforts. A member of a parents' organisation joins Borealis to talk about this. 

 The whole world - media, academics, ordinary people - uses terms like jihadi or right-wing or left-wing terrorism without any real controversy. And yet in some circles there are movements that eschew this terminology for fear of 'offending' someone. This wrong-headed approach sacrifices accuracy for touch-feeliness and it is wrong, dead-wrong. We need to understand and label terrorism precisely if we are to have any hope of combatting it. 

 Ah, the World Wide Web! The source of all kinds of things from cat videos to other useless garbage. And yet it is also a goldmine of information both good and bad. The spread of mis- and disinformation makes it hard for people to decide what to think, especially in the wake of violent attacks. There are those who will deliberately sort lies to get the attention and reaction they are seeking, often leading to further retribution violence. What can states do to minimise this possibility without compromising investigations and trials down the road? Surprisingly, quite a bit. 

Remember the 1990s and 2000s?  That is when Al Qaeda (AQ) had a safe haven in Afghanistan from where it planned 9/11 and other attacks.  Now the Sahel area of Africa seems to a jihadi terrorist hotspot, by far the most lethal in the world.  What threat does this pose to local nations, and by extension the West?  Borealis is joined by Belgian researcher Pieter van Ostaeyen.  

 The Wagner Group (WG), a Russian 'private army' close to the Kremlin, has had a checkered past in Africa over the past few years. Nevertheless, several regimes run by military juntas have decided to align with WG to combat a number of anti-regime forces, including jihadi groups tied to Al Qaeda (AQ) and Islamic State (ISIS). A recent 'slaughter' of WG soldiers in Mali has brought the organisation to the fore. What is happening? Borealis talks with Caleb Weiss on this issue. 

 Ireland's history of terrorism is well-documented. A series of nationalist violent extremist groups, going back as far as the Fenians of the mid-19th century, have been active on the Emerald Isle and elsewhere. However, a recent attack attributed to an alleged 16-year old 'inspired' by Islamic State (ISIS) raises eyebrows. What does this mean for the jihadi threat to the world as a whole? 

 Islamist terrorism is by far the predominant form on the planet and has been for many decades, as statistics clearly show (and is showing no signs of abating). This form of religio-ideological violence is not, however, the only example. Israel has witnessed a growing surge of terrorism carried out by Jewish zealots in the West Bank against Palestinian Arabs (and even other Israelis). This violent extremism needs to be called what it is: terrorism. 

China, China, China.  It is a topic that never goes away in Canada, especially with respect to national security.  And yet despite several reports and inquiries it seems that the government is still whistling past the graveyard.  China continues to harass dissidents, interfere in our elections and yet we are still coddling it,  Why?  Borealis talks to an expert on the matter.

 Canada, like many other Western countries, has seen a rise in pro-Palestinian demonstrations to call attention to the deaths in Gaza. At the same time, the incidence in anti-Semitic tropes has also risen. Now that a Canadian has gone to Israel to carry out a terrorist attack it is high time to ask: was this inevitable? Has hatred for Jews become violent extremism? A conversation with a scholar on this important issue. 

 There is no one more famous than Taylor Swift. She commands a worldwide audience and has given rise to a following known as 'Swifties'. It should surprise no one that she also attracts those who seek to undermine her. Now Austrian police have arrested three teens, loyal to Islamic State (ISIS), planning to attack an upcoming concert in Vienna. So what else is new? 

 Of all the horrible sentiments expressed by humans there are none nastier, or longer-lasting, than anti-Semitism. The belief that Jews are evil, control the world and need to be eliminated - see the Holocaust as a particularly terrible example - is widespread and has been growing even more in the West, especially since the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and Israel's military response to find and bring to justice (or kill) the perpetrators responsible. What is it like to be Jewish and be exposed to this hatred? Borealis talks to a Canadian Jew who left to live in Israel and the reasons she felt she needed to. 

 The attack on young girls in Southport, UK attending a Taylor Swift-themed dance camp is beyond reprehensible. For someone - anyone - to target six-year-olds who want to emulate a pop singer is barbaric to the nth degree. While the attack does not appear to be terrorist in nature, the immediate gap in information on the perpetrator and MO has led to days of rioting and hate crimes against British Muslims, despite the fact that the act had nothing to do with Islam (that we know of so far). Why don't authorities seek to fill this vacuum to stave off revenge violence? 

We often read that a given terrorist group has 'given up the ghost'.  An announcement - and subsequent analysis - regarding the 'end' of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) in Southeast Asia is an example of misplaced optimism.  So, why do some believe that terrorism ends?   We would be better to assume the opposite.

 If there is any country that bills itself as open to immigration it is Canada. We have long boasted about our welcoming of newcomers from all corners of the globe and today's Canada is very much a product of this policy. There is, however, a national security aspect to immigration: bringing in the 'wrong' types (criminals, spies, terrorists) can lead to serious acts against Canada and feed the small percentage of anti-immigrant activists. How is Canada folding legitimate national security concerns into immigration decisions? Borealis talks with a veteran citizenship and immigration analyst on these issues. 

 That Canada has treated its original inhabitants - what we in the Great White North call the 'First Nations' - horribly in the past is not at question. Whether it is the placement of children in 'residential schools' or the removal of land rights, there is a lot not to be proud of. Still, even if we do acknowledge these actions, that does not mean that all the information swirling about is true: 'mass graves' at the aforementioned schools is a very good example. Furthermore, the rumours of such interments had led to violence on a grand scale, one that no one, especially the current government, wants to acknowledge and call it what it is: terrorism. Borealis talks with journalist Terry Glavin on this and other issues related to national security. 

 Canadians have alas been part of far too many terrorist attacks in recent history. The largest was a pair of bombs placed on two Air India flights which left Canada, one of which exploded off the coast of Ireland, killing 329 people. And yet that act, planned and perpetrated by Canadian Sikhs pissed off at India over their lack of openness to the creation of an independent Khalistan, is not recognised, or ever known, by most Canadians. Why is this so? Borealis talks with a Canadian journalist on the 39th anniversary of that heinous act. 

Election interference.  Harassment of dissidents and ethnic minorities.  Illegal "police stations".  Compromising members of Parliament.  And all this in Canada?  As the current government continues to ignore the issue/kick the can down the road what is next for Canadians?  Borealis talks with Tasha Kheiriddin on this important issue.

June 24 is Canada's National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, a day that most Canadians are most probably unaware of.  It marks the bombing of two Air India flights by Sikh terrorists leading to the deaths of more than 320 people.  And yet the current Canadian government seems to ignore the terrorist threat, preferring to use inaccurate terminology to define it for fear of being seen as 'racist'.   This is unacceptable.

 Russian/Soviet history in Afghanistan is not a good news story. From the 'Great Game' of the 19th century to the Soviet invasion in 1979 (and ignominious withdrawal in 1989), Moscow does not have happy memories of involvement in the country. You would think, then, that Russia would think at least twice about jumping back in, and yet that seems to be highly possible as it is considering 'delisting' the Taliban as a terrorist group. What in heaven's name is behind this strategy? Borealis talks with Alec Bertina on this fascinating turn of events. 

 Terrorism is a scary concept: hell, it is based on the word 'terror'. As a consequence the way we talk about it is important. Of late, the vocabulary used to describe terrorism has shifted and crimes not normally seen as having a nexus to terrorism are included under its canopy. In Canada there has been a significant, and not necessarily helpful, recasting of the language deployed to cover terrorism. What is happening here? Borealis talks with a former CSIS analyst about these issues. 

 The war in Gaza is heartwrenching to say the least. Then again, most wars are, as those who suffer most are civilians. This is why war is usually - not always but usually - a bad idea we should avoid at all costs. And yet there are some who seem to forget, or rather choose to ignore, that this conflict is a direct result of a massive terrorist attack by Hamas, a listed terrorist entity in Canada, on Israel in which more than 1,000 civilians were killed. Why can't those occupying university campuses across Canada and the US acknowledge this blatant fact? Borealis talks with the head of a Canadian foundation on the protest/terrorism nexus. 

 In mid April 2024 Australia witnessed two horrific acts of violence, one in a mall and one in a church. The former resulted in deaths but was not deemed to be terrorist in nature while the latter, in which an Orthodox Bishop was stabbed, was labeled as such. Why the difference and what is the terrorism landscape like in that country? Do we need to reconsider what we see as terrorism? A chat with an Australian specialist in youth radicalisation. 

 It has long been accepted that certain activities should be carried out by people who have a professional background: no one wants brain surgery performed by your Uncle Clem from Moose Jaw. And yet there is a tendency of late, especially in Canada (and perhaps elsewhere), to allow cross-fertilisation within law enforcement and intelligence agencies to the extent where those with no experience in these activities are heavily involved in making actionable decisions. Is this a good idea? Borealis talks with a former Canadian lawyer on the difference between someone who merely does a job and those who see their professions as 'vocations'. 

 We in Canada are proudly multilingual and multicultural. That is as Canadian as maple syrup and hockey. The ability of immigrants to keep abreast of events 'back home' and maintain their culture is an important aspect of living here. But can these media be exploited by foreign states to push their own agendas, and even constitute foreign interference/influence? Borealis talks to a Canadian working for an organisation that translates these media. 

 Canadians have been hearing and reading a lot lately about the foreign influence/interference problem through a recently-completed public inquiry. While China has stolen the show, other countries have been mentioned as equally active in exerting pressure on a variety of diasporas. Iran is one of the regimes that has received some attention and Canada has a sizeable Iranian diaspora subject to these activities. Borealis talks with a leading Iranian Canadian on this threat. 

 I would imagine very few people have much sympathy for terrorist groups (Hamas supporters in the West notwithstanding). Most believe terrorists should be investigated, monitored and stopped before they can carry out the carnage they have planned. If this means kinetic action (i.e. locating and killing them) so be it: otherwise arrests, charges and - hopefully - convictions. But terrorists often have kids whom they may seek to indoctrinate into their causes, in effect creating the next generation of violent extremists. What do we do with the children? Do we remove them from their parents and put them in safe environments (meaning splitting up families)? A difficult question to deal with to be sure. 

 If you asked a bunch of foreigners about Canada you would likely get the description 'nice'. If you asked Canadians about Canada you would hear how we 'invented' peacekeeping, punch above our weight and how the 'world needs more Canada'. Except that Canadians are wrong. We have dropped precipitously off the world stage over decades and are a mere shadow of what we once were? Why? Borealis talks to Ottawa-based journalist Andrew Cohen about this fall. 

 Many think we are capable of writing the great American (or, in my case, Canadian) novel. Some are, most aren't. What does it take to do so? And what makes a good spy thriller? Does it help to have worked in intelligence? A conversation with an ex-SIGINTER and author. 

 We have changed, the Taliban said, We are the Taliban 2.0, they promised. Women's rights will be guaranteed, they pledged. All horseshit to the surprise of no one who actually follows international jihadi terrorism. So why is this issue not getting the attention it deserves? A Canadian trying to help Afghan women have basic rights respected weighs in. 

Hollywood loves stories about spies and spycraft, especially when it comes to code-breaking.  Think The Imitation Game with Benedict Cumberbatch and the incredible successes at the UK's Bletchley Park in breaking German Enigma codes.  But technology has evolved over time and it is getting hard to decrypt messages.  Are we reaching a point of no return?  A conversation with a former Canadian cryptomathematician.

 133 dead and at least 140 wounded in a massive terrorist attack in Moscow's Crocus Concert Hall: both the number of dead and wounded are likely to rise, putting this attack in the category of the 2015 ISIS one in Paris. ISIS has claimed responsibility: the US had warned Russia that jihadis were planning something big in Moscow but Russian President Putin dismissed the advice as 'provocative'. Unsurprisingly, there are voices accusing Ukraine (and even NATO) of spearheading the action. What do we know so far and what should we believe (and why)? Borealis weighs in on this mass casualty terrorist onslaught. 

 Canada has a reputation as a pretty bland place. Nice people. Cold. Gorgeous scenery. Not much happens there. Yet when we talk national security and public safety there is a lot going on that does not generally make the headlines. One thing that is odd is the belief that Canada, according to the Prime Minister, is the world's first post-nation state. If we are such a beast, what does that mean for threats to national security. Borealis talks with journalist Terry Glavin. 

 When it comes to terrorism most people probably turn to men as the primary perpetrators. If they are involved, women are see as bystanders, unwilling participants or even victims. Is this accurate (spoiler alert: NO!). Borealis looks at the issue of what to do with female returnees to Europe and what threat they pose with Sofia Koller. 

 The atrocities committed by ISIS in the 2010s are legion: massacres, the attempted genocide of the Yazidi people, public executions, sexual slavery, the list goes on and on. And yet, we have been led to believe that ISIS was 'defeated' as of 2019 (ex US President Donald Trump used the phrase 'totally defeated'). Recent acts in many countries, including an attack on a Catholic Church in Istanbul, Turkey claimed by ISIS put this notion in doubt. What is the ISIS threat to the world, and more narrowly to Europe? A conversation with Lorenzo Vidino of the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University. 

 Illegal 'police stations'. Dissident harassement. Election interference. Technology theft. Biological agent pilfering. And it is all happening here in Canada. But nothing is done about it. Why? Borealis asks investigative reporter Sam Cooper these and other questions. 

 Systemic racism. Defund the police. We've all seen the protests and heard the 'analysis' from self-styled policing experts in Canada. Our multi-level law enforcement model - federal, provincial and municipal - is in need of some serious rethink say some. How accurate is this? A conversation with former OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis. 

 The idea of creating a 'list' of terrorist groups may seem like a strange one. Governments have had several attempts at doing so: here in Canada we did not have one until after 9/11. Given that most of us know what a terrorist group is (if it walks, talks and quacks like a terrorist...), what is the point? What are the implications. The UK recently listed Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) as one such entity, despite the fact it has been around for decades. What gives? A chat with a former HuT member 

 When it comes to religion and violence the world has a very sorry record. Just about every faith has sponsored or encouraged serious acts of violence. Hinduism is no exception. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi Hindu nationalism has risen of late and Hindu extremism is also increasing. Is this something the rest of the world needs to worry about? 

 There is an old saying in journalism: "If it bleeds, it leads". This refers to the tendency to feature news items that are negative in nature. Those articles lead us to believe that things are bad and getting worse. But are we really going to hell in a handbasket? Is terrorism that bad? Maybe not, and that also applies to terrorist trends. 

 Humans are capable of the most heinous crimes. Think the Holodomor in Ukraine, the Holocaust during WWII, the massacres of Rwanda in the 1990s and just about everything ISIS did in its self-styled 'caliphate'. The world has classified the deliberate attempt to eliminate an entire people as genocide, a truly abominable act. Given the seriousness of this atrocity, however, it cannot be used flippantly. The recent attempt by South Africa to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza is one such instance. Borealis has a chat with a true expert in all things genocide-related. 

 Working in intelligence and national security demand a lot from you. Wading through far too much data, determining what is accurate and what is not, deciding which lines to pursue and which ones to drop and, most importantly, packaging it all up succinctly for senior customers to use. Part of that succinctness is accuracy in language. We here in Canada seem to be sacrificing accuracy on the altar of political correctness and wokeism and this is not a good development. 

 A recent 'attack' on Edmonton City Hall is raising all kinds of questions about how to describe bizarre acts of violence. The alleged assailant recorded a video 'manifesto' in which he lamented 'wokeism', immigration, inflation, housing, the war in Gaza among other grievances. If this was an act of terrorism what kind? Islamist? Far-right? Far left? All of the above? None of the above? This seems to be tied to what may be a new trend of 'do it yourself' or 'cafeteria' terrorism. A few thoughts on what all this means. 

 For most people Afghanistan was 'discovered' on 9/11 when we all learned that the terrorist group behind those attacks in the US, Al Qaeda (AQ), was based there. This horrific loss of life led to the US (and allied) invasion of the country in a mission to bring those behind the attacks to justice. It also led to the ouster of the Taliban regime and an attempt to usher in democracy. Two decades later, with the US gone and the Taliban back in power, what does all this mean? 

 Iran may not garner a lot of sympathy when it comes to terrorism as it is a huge sponsor of violent extremism around the world. And yet it too has suffered from terrorist attacks, most recently on January 3 when an ISIS affiliate carried out a massive suicide bombing. Other groups also have Iran in their sights. What does all this mean? Borealis talks with Aaron Zelin on this and other matters. 

 In the wake of the George Floyd incident in 2020 and the subsequent groundswell of 'Defund the Police' movements, not to mention accusations of 'systemic racism', policing in the West has become more and more challenging. Publics expect law enforcement agencies to uphold the law and keep them safe, but at the same time criticise them for what they do - and what they don't do. Are police damned if they do and damned if they don't? What about the implications for public safety and national security? 

Governing a country is not easy.  Not only are there an infinite number of demands from the public - roads, energy networks, education, etc. - but a finite number of resources to address all these issues.  Complicating this is the need to do something ASAP.  Social media only exacerbates this problem.  Citizens learn of events on the fly and draw conclusions, often spurious, shortly afterwards despite a lack of complete information.  How does this affect government decision making, especially when it comes to national security?  A conversation with Andrew MacDougall.

In a world of too much information from too many sources it can be a challenge deciding what to believe and what to ignore.  When it comes more specifically to terrorism there are competing versions of what happens and what it means.  How can an average citizen wade through this morass?   Borealis suggests ways to become better informed.

The Canadian intelligence community has been warning about Chinese interference in our elections, harassment of members of the diaspora, and theft of our technology.  Alas, not many officials seem to care about this threat, at least  in Canada.  Can we, and should we, do better?  A discussion with a Canadian specialist on China and its efforts in our land.

 It is hard to over-estimate the impact of what Hamas achieved in southern Israel last October? 1, 200 dead. 250 taken hostage. Unspeakable sexual violence against women. Israel's response was necessary: doing nothing was simply not an option. Since that time we have seen the threat level rise across the board: in Western Europe, Africa, Asia, as attacks have occurred and some thwarted. What does all this mean for the world going forward? A conversation with the co-founder of Militantwire.com. 

 We certainly live in a world where violence dominates the headlines. Whether we are talking about war proper - Sudan, Gaza, Ukraine - garden variety criminal acts or terrorism, there is a lot of killing going on? If we narrow the conversation to terrorism we see that some countries suffer more than others and a few experience next to no terrorism at all - why? 

 Canada is an outlier in the '5 Eyes' intelligence club (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US) in that it does not have an independent foreign intelligence (FI) service. There is an FI SIGINT (signals intelligence agency) CSE (Communications Security Establishment) and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) does have a FI mandate, but a weird one, constrained to collection in Canada (how Canadian, eh?). Do we need one and how would we go about creating one? Borealis speaks with three former CSIS intelligence officers on this issue. 

Christmas time is a truly magical time.  Gift giving, family gatherings, religious services and other activities are associated with the season, even if some think it has become too commercialised.  Large numbers of people out and about represent a lot of fun, but also targets for terrorists.  Why would this be?  In the wake of arrests in Austria and the raising of the terrorism alert level in Germany and the Netherlands, Borealis looks at what is going on and why.

 Canada is a generous country. We have good social programmes (not good enough for some though), are generally open to immigration, and try to help out when the need arises during a tragedy or emergency somewhere in the world. This benevolence, alas, extends to throwing heaps of money - millions of dollars - to those I bet most Canadians would agree do not share our values (and some of whom may actually pose a threat to public safety and national security). Why do we do this? A chat with independent columnist Rahim Mohammed. 

 Humans have engaged in violence for millennia and much of that violence was perpetrated in the name of a 'religion'. Fastforwarding to now, even the Canadian Criminal Code cites 'religion' as one of the three motives for terrorism (the other two are politics and ideology). But what exactly is 'religion' and what role does it play in societies. And why are so many killing because their 'god' tells them to? Borealis has a conversation on these matters with Ray Pennings of the Cardus think tank in Canada. 

 The holiday season (Christmas and New Year's) is a big deal in the West. Christmas markets, New Year's Eve parties, etc. are usually attended by tens of thousands of people. These events make for ideal terrorist targets, especially by jihadis. Recently, warnings have been issued for Paris and Brussels and security services have upped their vigilance. What does all this mean? A conversation with a Belgian specialist in this regard. 

Humans love to declare an end to things.  Maybe it is because we like to think we have accomplished something.  Maybe it is because we get bored and want to move on.  Whatever the reason we often pretend that threats have ceased to exist, and this certainly seems to apply to Islamist extremism.  Here is why those conclusions are wrong.

 Everyone knows of the brutality of ISIS, the so-called Islamic State terrorist group. During its short-lived 'Caliphate' in parts of Iraq, Syria and Kurdistan from 2014-2019 it engaged in heinous crimes against thousands, beheading, drowning, burning alive, throwing people off buildings...real acts of depravity. One group which was a particular target were the Yazidis, who have lived in the region for centuries. Borealis talks to the president of the Canadian Yazidi Association to understand what this period meant to the global Yazidi community,  and how it feels to see Canadians who joined ISIS portrayed as 'victims' who need to be repatriated from Iraq and Syria. 

Intelligence services have a lot of structures in place to ensure that what they do is both effective and safe.  This is especially important when it comes to human sources (HUMINT), the use of human beings to collect information on your behalf.  If the targets - those on whom you are spying - find out your sources they can turn them against you...or kill them.  Who, then, should be responsible for running such programmes?  A real intelligence service or a foreign ministry where little training was provided?  Borealis talks to two former CSIS intelligence officers about the allegations that Canada's Global Security Reporting Programme (GSRP) was not playing by the rules.

 Many have noted that the single greatest concentration of jihadi terrorists lies on the African continent. Whether we are talking about the decades-long Al Shabaab scourge in Somalia, Boko Haram/ISWAP in Nigeria, or the large number of Islamist extremists in the Sahel, there is no question that Africa is suffering from the vast majority of casualties and attacks. More recently, there are fears that these violent actors are spreading into West African nations (Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, etc.). What is happening here and how dangerous is it? A chat with West African specialist Guillaume Soto-Mayor. 

 Intelligence collection on national security threats is a serious business. Gathering data abroad on terrorists can get very dicey very soon. Without proper training and opsec (operational training) in place people can get hurt or die. The Canadian Foreign Ministry's decision to play spy in the early 2000s under the rubric of the Global Security Reporting Programme (GSRP) was irresponsible to say the least. 

 Terrorism has become the hot soupe du jour in many universities, dating back to 9/11. A variety of scholars from a wide range of academic fields - political science, psychology, international relations, history, and more - have devoted a lot of their time and energy to understanding and contributing to our collective knowledge of this scourge. Some have been at this for decades: Borealis speaks with one such veteran, Martha Crenshaw. 

Journalists and intelligence professionals have a lot in common.  We both seek out information, develop sources, check out the accuracy of our data, and provide what we have learned to our clients (the public for journalists, senior government officials for spies).  What is it like to work as a journalist on the terrorism front?  A conversation with veteran Canadian reporter Stewart Bell

 Politicians are very busy people. Not only are they responsible for the day-to-day operation of government, but they have ridings (constituencies) to care for. They cannot keep up with everything. Furthermore, few have any background in intelligence and thus may have no idea what to make of the information provided by the nation's 'spies'. That is where a national security advisor (NSA) comes in. Borealis talks with former Canadian NSA Daniel Jean about the challenges of the job. 

Stade de France/Bataclan Theatre, November 2015: 130 killed and more than 400 injured by jihadis.  A priest priest brutally murdered in Rouen in 2016 by jihadis.  Schoolteacher Samuel Paty beheaded by jihadis at his school in 2020.  Now, three years almost to the day since that last attack, another teacher killed, in Arras, by a jihadi.  What is up in France?   Gendarmerie Nationale analyst Alexandre Rodde helps us understand the situation in his homeland.

 There has been a tonne of analysis over the recent Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and what the latter intends to do about it. Much of this may not be seen to go anywhere: a great study would be to see how many of the predictions turn out to be accurate. With all the voices out there it is hard to decide which one to follow. Luckily, Borealis secured, for a third time, renowned terrorism specialist Bruce Hoffman to weigh in on all this. 

ISIS established a new low for terrorist violence in the middle 2010s: mass rapes, sex slaves, throwing people off buildings, drowning people in cages, etc.  These tactics even attracted criticism from other terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda.  What then does the discovery of an ISIS flag on a Hamas terrorist on a kibbutz in southern Israel suggest?  Do some see ISIS as a standard to emulate?

Canada has some fine intelligence services, CSE (Communications Security Establishment) and CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) staffed by very capable professionals who do their best to keep senior officials informed and Canadians safe.  But what is it like to actually run such an agency?  Borealis speaks with Ward Elcock, Director of CSIS from 1994-2004 to look at Canada's intelligence culture among other matters.

We have long associated terrorism with Islamist extremists or jihadis...until recently.  Now many think the only threat worth worried about is far right terrorism, a nebulous term that includes, among others, white nationalists, neo-Nazis, fascists, etc.  Yet there have been a number of attacks of late that were carried out by far left terrorists.  Why is no one talking about it?

The news cycle has recently been full of stories about the Russian Wagner Group, especially since its late leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was 'defenestrated' from his private aircraft, probably at the order of Russian President Putin. The WG is a paramilitary bunch of mercenaries who have a vast presence in Africa, having been engaged by several governments to help with jihadi groups. Are these actors really effective at counter terrorism or are they involved in activities far removed from finding and killing terrorists? Borealis talks with Canadian CT practitioner Royce de Melo on this issue. 

 Satire is a powerful tool. Think of Jonathan Swift's novel of 1726 Gulliver's Travels, a brilliant swipe at British society in the 18th century. Laughing at someone, or something, can make us feel better about situations where we may feel powerless. In this vein, should we laugh at terrorism, a form of political violence that kills thousands of people every year? Is it OK to mock death?  Is it OK to do so on the 22nd anniversary of the single greatest terrorist attack in history or is it unconscionable?  Borealis looks at the role of satire when we discuss terrorism. 

Intelligence agencies exist to serve governments: that much is a given.  Spies gather raw data (be it signals intelligence, the human variety or pictures), assess it for accuracy and present it to officials at various levels in response to requirements levied by those governments.   Outside the stated needs, however, how much influence should senior mandarins, especially not elected ones, exert on intelligence?  Borealis looks at the 1970 FLQ crisis in Canada with Brunel University's Philip Davies.

 It has been two years since the Taliban retook Afghanistan after twenty years of foreign military and security presence. Some thought that the group had softened its hardline fundamentalist approach, and that this was a sort of 'Taliban 2.0'. That wishful thinking has quickly been shown to be daft. Afghanistan under these religious zealots is again a terrorist haven. Borealis is joined by Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler of the Counter Extremism Project to discuss these issues. 

 The Muslims living in the northwestern Rakhine state of Myanmar (also known as Burma) are called the Rohingya. They have resided in the area for centuries but are seen as 'outsiders' by the largely Buddhist state currently under military rule. The last few decades has seen massive violence against them and many have fled to neighbouring countries, especially Bangladesh, where they languish in crime-ridden refugee camps. To complicate matters, an Islamist terrorist group called the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA - Arakan is another name for Rakhine state) has arisen in the camps. Borealis talks to a Rohingya activist about the situation. 

Not many organisations can say that they have been around for 150 years.  Canada's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is one.  From it's start as a police force in the vastness of northwest Canada to today's modern law enforcement agency, the 'Mounties' have seen a lot.  To commemorate this important milestone, Borealis is joined by Sam Jaroudi, a 23-year veteran of the Force.

Humans have never had access to so much information.  The advent of the World Wide Web may be analogous to the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenburg in 1436 or thereabouts, but that comparison is off by several orders of magnitude.  Creating information is not, however, the same as ensuring it gets to those who need it.  This is especially true when it comes to national security, as agencies hide behind 'need to know' obstacles.  Can we do better?  A conversation with Michele Harrigan on law enforcement in Canada.

 "Wars have typically been fought against proper nouns (Germany, say) for the good reason that proper nouns can surrender and promise not to do it again. Wars against common nouns (poverty, crime, drugs) have been less successful. Such opponents never give up. The war on terrorism, unfortunately, falls into the second category." That quote from Grenville Byford two decades ago still reigns supreme. How are the world's militaries doing on this front and can we believe claims of successful actions?   Borealis weighs in on this issue.

 Many value freedom of expression and speech as one of the pillars of liberal, democratic societies. These are hard-won rights that many will defend to the nth degree (Voltaire wrote something along these lines: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"). So, what do we do when what is sold as freedom of expression includes burning a copy of the Quran? Incidents along these lines have led to massive protests throughout the Muslim world, and the Swedish security service SAEPO now says its nation is a 'prioritised' terrorism target because of these actions. Borealis looks into what this all means. 

 Those of us who worked in intelligence are often accused of holding our cards too close to our chests. You know, the old "I could tell you but I'd have to then kill you" line. And yet, intelligence not shared in a timely and adequate manner can lead to all kinds of negative results (up to and including death). How then to do this better? What about the intelligence vs. evidence conundrum? How is Canada doing in this regard? Can it learn from others? Borealis breaks down these issues with Kelly Wong, analyst at the Canadian Senate, with particular reference to European practices. 

For decades the world talked about Islamist and jihadist terrorism using very specific terminology.  Not everyone was happy with those words, suggesting that they cast Islam in a bad light.  As a consequence, perhaps, the Canadian government and  others have decided to stop using them, replacing them with the phrase RMVE - religiously motivated violent extremism.  Alas, this term is very inaccurate and may hinder counter terrorism efforts.  Borealis talks with Professor Emeritus Lorne Dawson on the 'disappearance' of religion from terrorism studies.

 We are all familiar with James Bond, Jason Bourne and others, fictional 'spies' who thrill and chill us in the movies and in novels. And yet, we recognise that there is a healthy distance between the real world of espionage and intelligence and fiction. What does it take to write a good spy thriller? Borealis is joined by Canadian author John Gelder to talk about his latest novel The Endurant. 

Blasphemy was once a common crime in many lands and those accused /found guilty of it were killed, often in horrible ways.  This being 2023, many would think think this way of thinking has been consigned tot the ash heap of history.  And those many would be wrong.  Violence against blasphemers continues and has been dominated in recent decades by Islamists (including extremists).   Is there a link to terrorism?  What should nations where freedom of speech is sacrosanct do about this?  A conversation with Liam Duffy

 For decades, during the Cold War, we in the West were obsessed about one primary threat: the USSR, its allies and the fear of MAD - mutually assured destruction (i.e. nuclear war). Then, miraculously, it all went away when the Berlin Wall fell (1989) and later the Soviet Union dissolved (1991). We declared victory ("thousand points of light" in the words of President Bush) and decided that threat had disappeared. Furthermore we actually engaged the Russia successor as an ally of sorts (especially in counter terrorism) and saw them as part of the solution as opposed to THE problem. In the last few decades, however, Russia has risen again to pose a threat, at least to its immediate neighbours (Ukraine, Chechnya, Georgia, perhaps the Baltic States), and by extension to the West/world. Why did we draw this conclusion that matters had changed to this extent? Borealis is joined by former RCMP strategic analyst Angus Smith to look at what we can learn about threat assessment over time. 

 Police investigations are complicated things. Lots of information from a variety of sources - human, intercept, surveillance, etc. - needs to be collected, processed, verified, and used to eventually lay charges (if feasible). During this process it may be necessary to hold on to some information so as not to jeopardise a court case. But if someone is arrested and accused of support for a terrorist group does naming that group compromise legal action? 

We are constantly talking about terrorism and where it is most predominant. We also worry about different 'kinds' of terrorism (jihadi, right-wing, eco, etc.) and which is the most serious. But what do we do with threats that manifest themselves over decades, and never seem to truly end? A brief discussion on how long certain terrorist 'motivations' can last. 

The Somali government has been claiming of late that the Somali National Army has been enjoying great success against Al Shabaab terrorists. It seems that it is just a matter of time before the group no longer poses a threat to the country.  But is this true?

We seem to have terrorism on the brain these days.  There are innumerable stories about it in the media and we are constantly bombarded with news of the latest attack and the responsible perpetrators.  Consequently, the term 'terrorist' is applied to all kinds of people and groups by all kinds of commentators for all kinds of reasons.  But is this application accurate and consistent?

 On June 23, 1985 an Air India flight enroute from Montreal to Mumbai exploded off the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 people aboard. Except this was no accident. A bomb had been placed in luggage by Sikh terrorists living in Canada. This was the single greatest act of aviation history prior to 9/11. What ever happened to Sikh terrorism? Borealis explores this issue with veteran CBC reporter Terry Milewski. 

 Terrorism studies have 'exploded' since 9/11.  What was once a niche field has been inundated with hundreds of millions of dollars and seen the creation of new thinktanks and academic programmes around the world.  But are they all useful?  A conversation with Dr. Joshua Sinai from Capitol Technology University in Laurel, Maryland. 

Leaked intelligence suggests that the PRC/Chinese Communist Party interfered in federal elections in 2019 and 2021 to get the results more favourable to its interests.  The Trudeau government has not taken the information seriously and appears to want the whole thing to disappear.  What does this say about Canada's use - or lack thereof - of intelligence and what are the implications for its relations with Western allies?

We in the West, and especially in Canada, are living in an era where what we have come to call 'wokism' has also come to dominate conversations about terrorism and national security.  The nature of threat has been re-interpreted and some are trying to convince us that the broadly-defined 'far right' threat is larger than that of Islamist terrorism.  This is having an impact on counter terrorism efforts, including those at the very early stage (what is sometimes referred to as 'prevention').  Borealis talks with UK professional Ian Acheson on these issues.

 Intelligence and evidence may sound like synonyms but they are not necessarily, at least in Canada. In fact, information that is collected by our intelligence agencies is not gathered to what is known as an 'evidentiary' standard and is not, and cannot, be used in a court of law. This complicates national security cases where both intelligence and law enforcement organisations both work to stop bad things from happening. Is there a better way to handle this mess and can Canada learn from the best practices of their allies in this regard? 

 To say that Pakistan lives in a dangerous part of the world is a vast understatement. Afghanistan (and the Taliban) to the left, India (and the Hindu nationalists/extremists) to the right, and violent actors in Balochistan to the south. As a consequence, it suffers from a high number of terrorist attacks. It too, is accused of sponsoring terrorism in the contested Jammu & Kashmir territory in India. What is this all about? A conversation with a former Pakistani law enforcement officer. 

 Canada is luckily somewhat immune from terrorism. And yet when it does occur we expect the state - security intelligence and national agencies, governments and courts - to take it seriously. It does not, though, at least at some levels, particularly in the judicial system. How can we make this better so that terrorists serve significant time in prison? 

 When Igor Gouzenko defected from the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa in September 1945 with concrete evidence of extensive Soviet spying in Canada his information was initially ignored. Luckily, he was found to be accurate and the WWII alliance between the West and East foundered, leading to the Cold War. 75 years later, yet another federal government is poohpoohing intelligence pointing to extensive Chinese interference in national elections in 2019 and 2021. What is wrong with these officials? Borealis delves into this issue. 

 Well, the panda is out of the bag now! Canadians have been on the receiving end of a lot of information, including leaked 'CSIS' reports, on the extent to which China is interfering in our affairs, even our elections. And the reaction of the federal government? Meh. How is this possible? A conversation with Canadian journalist Sam Cooper, who has been following these matters for a long time. 

 The 1994 'McDonald's coffee' case was seen by many as a ridiculous lawsuit. There are definitely times where lawyers seem to be over-enthusiastic in suing bodies for all kinds of things. Two US cases of late seem to be of this ilk. What, if any, should courts do when it comes to looking at terrorism? 

 When we think of religion and terrorism our minds usually go immediately to Islamist, or jihadi, extremism. And yet Islam is not the only faith to be (mis)used to justify killing. A recent attack in Australia has been described by officials as having been inspired by "Christian extremist ideology". What does that mean and how prevalent is it? Is it really religious or is it more complicated by that? A conversation with Peta Lowe. 

So many countries are struggling with what to do with their citizens who thought joining ISIS was a good idea.  While many died over in Iraq and Syria many survived and want to come home.  Not surprisingly, what policy is best to follow is not an easy decision and various countries have adopted various approaches, one of which is Germany.  Borealis talks with German practitioner Sofia Koller on these issues.

 Journalists and intelligence analysts are two peas in a pod: they deal with lots of information, try to divide the good stuff from the junk, and distill it for customers - readers in the former case and senior government officials in the latter. Spies usually work in areas where unrest and risk to life is clear and some journalists also are assigned to lands where one must be careful. What is it like, then, to find oneself in such circumstances as a journalist? An in-depth conversation with BBC reporter Hugh Sykes. 

 When we think of the term 'foreign fighter' our minds immediately go to those of our citizens who left to fight (and kill) with jihadi groups like ISIS o r Al Qaeda. And yet the phenomenon is much older than most realise. There has been an exodus of people from the West who went to Ukraine - to fight on both sides! Oslo-based researcher Kacper Rekawek walks us through who is who in this lethal zoo. 

Jihadi terrorism has long been associated with the Middle East/West Asia (i.e. Afghanistan).  Yet of late Africa is coming to the fore so much that the UN has been saying that Islamist terrorism is 'intensifying' across the continent.  How did this develop?  A conversation with Africa terrorism specialist Caleb Weiss.

 Countering terrorism has a lot of moving parts. At the pointy end of the stick there are 'kinetic' actions to kill terrorists before they can kill us. In security intelligence and law enforcement we try to investigate these actors and bring them to court for sentencing. At a much earlier juncture we have CVE - countering violent extremism - a way to identify those at risk of becoming terrorists. The UK's Prevent programme is one of the best known of these. But has it gone off the rails in part because of woke culture? 

Canada's decision to name a special representative on combatting Islamophobia, Amira Elghawaby has been controversial to say the least.  Some have criticised the move on  a number of levels and others have in turn been called Islamophobic for their opposition.  And yet the elephant in the room is that the single greatest Islamophobes are jihadis, aka Islamist terrorists.  Borealis looks at this issue in the context of how to frame Islamophobia.

 A year ago Ottawa, and a few other locales, saw the arrival of a veritable dog's breakfast of actors protesting an equally veritable dog's breakfast of issues (COVID lockdowns, vaccine mandates, etc.). Many Canadians saw the police response to these challenges as less than optimal. How bad/good was it? Former Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) commissioner Chris Lewis discusses these and other matters. 

I once read somewhere that the average lifespan of a terrorists group was about 1.5 years.  Some groups, however, hang around and are 'successful' for much longer periods of time.  Al Shabaab (AS) in Somalia is one such entity, spreading mayhem for a decade and a half, i.e. ten times the average.  The Somali government and army now claims they have AS on the ropes.  Is this true?  Borealis talks to Katie Zimmerman from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI).

Canada is not alone in having seen its citizens go abroad to join ISIS.  Several dozen did so and a number died for the group.  A number were rounded up and housed in refugee camps like Al Hol and there have been calls on governments to bring them home.  After dragging its feet for years, Canada has announced it is bringing home 19 ISIS women and their children.  This is wrong and here's why.

Ever since 9/11 terrorism has been on everyone's brain.  We have taken that one significant event and extrapolated that the threat was everywhere (in fact there was indeed a threat but it was not as big as many maintained), especially when it came to Islamist terrorism.  As a consequence Islam was erroneously portrayed as something to be investigated and Muslims were all seen as terrorists.  Are we doing the same thing with the far right?  An in-depth conversation on 'panic porn' with Canadian academic Mia Bloom.

 Lots of Canadians served in Afghanistan with the military/intelligence world or in the aid/NGO sector. A few have reflected on their experiences in books and articles. One in particular, not only produced a screenplay, a fiction and a non-fiction on events over there, but created a publishing house. A conversation with Phil Halton, founder of Double Dagger Press, Canada's only company that focuses on military and security issues. 

 In a world defined largely by Islamist, and to a much lesser extent, right wing terrorism it is important to remember that there are other forms that dominate in some regions. Hindu extremism/terrorism is a good example in India...and outside South Asia. Whether it is accusations by Hindu nationalists of 'love jihad' within the Indian Muslim community or attacks by 'cow vigilantes', the violence is serious. Borealis has a discussion with Professor Paul Marshall, Senior Fellow at the Religious Freedom Institute and the Hudson Institute, and Wilson Professor of Religious Freedom at Baylor University.  

Despite the convictions of some, terrorism did not decrease significantly this year, although final statistics have yet to come in.  There are non-final numbers that over 10,000 people were killed by terrorists this year.  By far the greatest percentage were at the hand of jihadis - Islamist extremists.  This trend is likely to continue in 2023.  A year-end podcast from Borealis.

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation - by far. Some 230 MILLION of its citizens - almost 90% of the population - subscribe to that faith. The interpretation of Islam most usually associated with Indonesia is tolerant - but is that changing. Recent changes to laws on extramarital sex and 'blasphemy' suggest a turn towards intolerance. With its history of Islamist terrorism should we be worried about this? Borealis weighs in with his thoughts on the matter.

 In the wake of 9/11 there was an explosion - no pun intended! - of interest in terrorism: what it was, what caused it, and, most importantly, what could we do to stop it. One of the niche efforts was that of 'risk assessment', a field that predated the events of September 2001, but was adapted to identify people at risk of adopting violent ideologies and acting upon them. Several such tools were created - but do they actually work and are they useful for practitioners (i.e. security intelligence and law enforcement agencies upon which we rely to act BEFORE terrorist acts occur). Borealis looks at this issue with Emily Corner, a professor of criminology at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. 

We often read or listen to 'experts' tell us with utter confidence that such-and-such is going to happen to us in the days ahead.  And yet, there are few if any studies that measure the accuracy of such predictions.  If it turns out that many prognoses fall far from the mark  are these people really 'experts'?  Borealis issues the challenge for a serious look at the nature and reliability of expertise in the national security world.

Sometimes it seems that just everybody has something to say about terrorism these days.  The post 9/11 period attracted a whole slew of commentators, 'experts', and others who claim to know what they are talking about.  But what of those who actually engage in counter-terrorism ops?  Borealis speaks with Canadian specialist Royce de Melo about these issues.

The so-called fifth estate - journalism, and more recently blogging and podcasting - is an important actor in a free society.  They can, and do, speak truth to power, an absolute necessity for us.  Working in dangerous zones comes with its own challenges, and some journalists have lost their lives while engaged in their profession.  Borealis talks with award-winning UK journalist Tam Hussein who has spent years at the 'coalface' reporting on terrorism

 In the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack we all want to know about the terrorists: who were they, where did they come from, why did they do what they did? Why were they successful (i.e. why weren't the security intelligence and law enforcement agencies able to stop it)? Very few give much thought to the victims. Why not? Borealis argues that those who suffered deserve more coverage than the terrorists who carried out the violence. 

Quick Hits: Episode 209 - Is Saudi a reliable counter terrorism intelligence partner? 

Intelligence is a dirty business. When you deal with human ills such as terrorism, espionage and foreign interference you have to talk to some pretty nasty characters (terrorists, spies, etc.). So what if that nasty character is a state? Saudi Arabia's involvement in the brutal assassination of Jamal Kashoggi in Istanbul in October 2018 is a good example of behaviour that goes against Western sensitivity at a minimum. As a consequence, should we, in the West writ large, not see the Kingdom as an intelligence partner? Borealis unpacks this complicated issue.

 If you consult just about Website or self-styled 'national security' experts you would walk away convinced that right-wing extremism (RWE) is endemic. Everyone is saying that RWE trumps Islamist terrorism as far as threat goes. Well, what if 'everyone' is wrong? It turns out that they are, if you go by data rather than conjecture. Let's look at why these myths persist. 

Like most nations, Morocco has not been immune from Islamist terrorism.  In May 2003 suicide bombers in Casablanca killed dozens, and in latter years Moroccan security services have foiled many other attempts, some with the help of their Spanish partners.  The unresolved situation in the Western Sahara is also complicating things.  Borealis chats with Dr. El Yasmine Hasnaoui of the American University in Kuwait on these issues

Canada has a woefully inadequate intelligence culture and that undermines the efforts of the women and men who work in national security.  Furthermore, it now appears that intelligence has become subservient to political whims.  If so, maybe we can close these agencies as their independence is under question.  Borealis looks at the egregious behaviours of senior intelligence officers and the inability of government officials to use intelligence properly.

France has been somewhat of an outlier when it comes to terrorism in the last decade, especially when it comes to Islamist terrorism.  There have been several mass casualty attacks and the country does not seem to think that right-wing terrorism is overtaking jihadi ideology when it comes to threat level.  Borealis is joined by Alexandre Rodde, author of the recent book Le jihad en France: 2012-2022

 To say that Israel faces a terrorist threat is stating the obvious. While traditionally the perpetrators have been described as Palestinian/Islamist in nature, of late there are some concerns over Jewish extremist actions. To talk about this and more Borealis is joined by Eugene Gerstein, Managing Partner at the Aerospace & Defence Division of a leading global defence and aerospace manufacturer. 

Woke and cancel culture are rampant in the West and getting more influential.  We can agree to disagree on the need and utility of how these affect how we have conversations but when they affect how we do national security.  Recent examples show how the change in language is interfering with what must be independent agencies.  Borealis discusses why this is worrisome.

It has been a little more than a year since the Taliban took over - wait, took over again! - Afghanistan and things are not good.  The Islamist extremists are still extreme, terrorist attacks - this time against the Taliban - are ongoing, and the country is on the verge of famine.  What should we (collectively) do?  Borealis has a fascinating conversation with Naomi Kikoler, deputy director of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

 Libya has lurched from crisis to crisis in the aftermath of the death of former leader Muammar Qaddhafi in 2011 (during the so-called 'Arab Spring'). Several terrorist groups, among other actors, have been carrying out acts of violence to exert control over the nation. One of the most famous terrorist attacks was that on September 11, 2012 against the US Consulate and CIA annex in Benghazi, killing four Americans. Borealis talks with Sarah Adams, a former CIA employee and author of the new book Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy: A Cold Case Investigation

There is an unholy "quadrille" of pariah nations share the distinction of 'state sponsors' of terrorism: Iran, North Korea, Syria...and Cuba.  What are the criteria for candidacy on this list?  Is the designation of any use?  Borealis looks at this contentious issue.

Everybody wants to talk about right-wing extremism (RWE) these days, and more specifically (violent) incels (short for involuntary celibate). A small number of serious attacks in a small number of countries has led to the belief that this form of violence somehow represents a significant threat to public safety. But is it? Borealis talks with MJ Banias, a journalist who has looked into the incel 'phenomenon'.

We expect our governments and our protectors (law enforcement and security agencies) to keep us safe from threats such as terrorism.  And yet Canada seems to have trouble putting ISIS terrorists on trial: a recent US decision to sentence a Canadian terrorist is a good example.  Borealis looks at the bizarre extradition of an Edmontonian to the US for trial

'Colonialism' is a four-letter word it seems these days.  Nothing good came out of that era of history and many nations still suffer from the after effects of centuries of occupation and brutality.  And yet, the current governments of many nations, like Mali, use the history of colonialism to ignore their own ineptitude, including when it comes to counter terrorism.  It is time for these nations to pull their own socks up and recognise they need help to fight terrorists.

 The world of counter terrorism is a dirty business.   Intelligence services and law enforcement need to infiltrate terrorist cells to see what they are planning and part of those efforts involve the recruitment and running of human sources/agents.  What are these sources able to do to help the good guys defeat the bad guys?  In the wake of allegations that Canada's spy agency CSIS used a human source to 'traffick' UK 'schoolgirls'  into ISIS from Turkey a much needed overview of how human sources are deployed should help shed some light on this practice.  Borealis has an in-depth conversation with Al Treddenick, former CSIS officer, and Mubin Shaikh, former CSIS human source. 

Africa has long been beset by jihadi movements - in Somalia, Nigeria, and the Sahel.  These countries have collectively suffered thousands of casualties and hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.  Now it appears that there is a new wave of Islamist terrorism threatening West Africa - Benin, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and even Ghana.  Borealis talks to Jessica Moody,  a peacebuilding and political risk consultant who focuses on West Africa.

Counter terrorism is usually seen as an 'at the coalface' activity: security intelligence, law enforcement and military organisations investigate, monitor and do their utmost to stop terrorists from succeeding.  There is another part to this: identifying those on the pathway early on and trying to get them off it.  Borealis has an in-depth conversation with Dr. Michael King,  Director of Research at the Alberta-based Office for the Prevention of Violence (OPV).

 When the Arab Spring came across our television screens in 2011 we all thought that democracy was finally arriving in the Middle East.  No more dictatorships and unrepresentative kings - and no more Islamist terrorism (the deaths of Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden in May of that year and of US-Yemeni jihadi ideologue Anwar al -Aulaqi merely confirmed our confidence).  How wrong we were - but why?  Borealis talks to Daveed Gartenstein-Ross of Valens Global on why many over-analysed the importance of these events. 

Terrorism is a complicated term and one on which there is no universal agreement on the parametres (just look at how different nations define it).  The situation is made worse when governments unilaterally change language in ways that are unhelpful and are unsure what to do with intelligence.   Borealis has a conversation with former CSIS officer John Pyrik.

A young man in Toronto just pleaded guilty to one count of murder and two of attempted murder in a west-end spa.  He was a young offender (i.e. under 18) at the time and this has to be taken into consideration.  The Crown (prosecution in Canada) did lay 'terrorism' charges at the time and it is unclear whether it will pursue this line.  Why?  We already have a criminal admission and it is far from clear we need to keep going.  In addition, it is also not obvious that his acts were 'terrorist' in nature.  Canada has only had terrorism legislation since 9/11.  Is it even necessary or do other parts of the criminal code suffice.  Borealis weighs in on this case.

As we mark the 21st anniversary of 9/11 we see many who think that Islamophobia is getting worse - and maybe it is.  But is it really a greater threat to public safety than the continuing scourge of jihadi terrorism?  What do the statistics tell us?  Borealis weighs in on what constitutes the single largest threat of ideological, political or religious violence today (hint: it ain't Islamophobes).

 I spent 15 years at CSIS - and 32 years in total in Canadian intelligence - and loved my career. Oh sure, there were downtimes but overall I sas one very lucky Canadian in a job that I felt mattered to my country. Which is why recent rumours - and even news stories - about poor morale at CSIS are worrisome. In this respect I had a chat with a fellow former CSISite, Andrew Kirsch to discuss this problem and why it matters. 

QAnon conspiracy theorists are a real pain in the ass.  They are adept at ignoring any information that contradicts their version of the world.  What can we do when these wankers become more than a nuisance and start engaging in illegal activity?  More narrowly, what should our elected officials do?  Listen to what one such official, Mayor Diane Therrien of Peterborough, Ontario, did when followers of the self-styled Queen of Canada came to town.

 To say that Canada's policies towards the PRC (China) are in a mess is a serious understatement. Despite warnings for decades by Canadian intelligence, a succession of governments does not seem to be taking the threats the PRC poses to our economy and to Canadian Chinese citizens seriously enough.  Canada is now seen by some as irrelevant when it comes to international action on how to deal with the PRC.  To weigh in on these issues, Borealis welcomes China specialist Jonathan Berkshire-Miller to the Canadian Intelligence Eh! podcast. 

 Journalists need to go to where the news is in order to cover it. That means travel to parts of the world where violence, including terrorism, is rife. That means that these remarkable people put their lives in danger so we can learn about what is going on. Borealis has a conversation with Australian freelance reporter Lynne O'Donnell, who was recently held and threatened by Taliban terrorists. 

We are inundated by terrorism stories everyday.  Media have to choose what to cover and what not to for fear of having nothing but terrorism to focus on.  And yet, an ISIS plot in Canada got no coverage in Canadian media - why?  Borealis discusses a bizarre Alaska-based plan to attack a Canadian university.

In a world of terrorism analysis it can be hard to figure out which sources to rely on.  Some are very good, some not so.  And some can be found in the most unlikely of places - like New Brunswick, one of Canada's Maritime provinces.  A conversation with Lucas Webber, the co-founder of Militant Wire

The hope (prediction?) that Afghanistan would be somewhat different under a renewed Taliban (Taliban 2.0) government has been dashed.  The Taliban are still very much a Sunni Islamist terrorist group - the death of Al Qaeda (AQ) leader Ayman Al Zawahiri in a Taliban apartment a few weeks ago sure showed that - and beholden to a very extreme interpretation of Islam.  In other words, it's 'Deja vu all over again' to quote former NY Yankees catcher Yogi Berra.  Borealis talks with Fausia Abdul on what to expect under the renewed Taliban regime.

 If you open up just about any newspaper these days - or click on any Website - you will inevitably come across a story warning us of the terrible danger from right-wing extremism (RWE). Hateful sites are proliferating online and it is just a matter of time before we get a 9/11-style attack carried out by one (or more!) of a bunch of neo-Nazi, white supremacist, white nationalist, neo-fascist, conspiracy theorist, violent incel wanker. Or is this perceived threat exaggerated? Borealis sits down with Raffaello Pantucci to discuss whether we have convinced ourselves that this problem is bigger than it actually is. 

It would seem to be a no-brainer that we should never talk to terrorists for fear of giving them legitimacy and prestige.  What, then, if negotiating with terrorists is the only way to prevent catastrophes such as mass famine.  Is this a case of choosing a 'lesser evil'.  Borealis looks at this contentious issue, surmising that there is sometimes no good option at hand.

A US court just found a Canadian ISIS jihadi guilty of providing material support to a terrorist group and sentenced to life in jail.  If he had been in a Canadian court it is very likely he would have received a slap on the wrist.  Why the difference?  In this Quick Hits podcast Borealis President and CEO Phil Gurski weighs in on the inadequacies of the Canadian justice system when it comes to terrorism.

Terrorism threats ebb and flow. Different movements - and different individuals - rise to cause a lot of havoc and sometimes (eventually? Great question!) go away. But what if they don't? Do threats ever disappear entirely? How do we manage and thwart terrorist threats from multiple sources at the same time. Borealis re-engages legendary US terrorism scholar Bruce Hoffman on these and other issues. 

It is true that words and phrases change over time: that is the nature of language.  But when changes are imposed for reasons that have nothing to do with helping us understand it this is a bad development.  The campaign, at least in Canada, to avoid the term 'Islamist terrorism, is wrongheaded, likely driven by some elements among woke culture.  Borealis CEO Phil Gurski discusses why this is a dangerous move.

Not many people seem to pay a lot of attention to Nigeria in West Africa, although that country is the 6th largest by population in the world and a major oil producer to boot.  It is also home to one of the longest running jihadi campaigns on the planet and has produced two major violent extremist groups: Boko Haram (BH) and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).  Borealis talks with one of the premier followers of events in Nigeria, Georgetown University's Jacob Zenn

Is an act of terrorism a terrifying experience?  Undoubtedly, but that does mean the two are the same thing.  A recent allegation of terrorism in the case of a man who was desperate to get a date in Iowa shows that some have overused the 'T' word in recent years and this is not helpful.  Borealis weighs in on this issue in the latest Quick Hits podcast.

 The world is chock full of jihadist violence as our news feeds show us every day. Still, there are places that seem to escape our attention, despite the ghastly nature of the killing. Luckily there are intrepid souls who bring us this information. Borealis has a conversation with journalist and Pulitzer Breakthrough Journalism winner Neha Wadekar on the situation in Mozambique 

 As we learn a little bit more about a shooting outside a bar in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, on June 25 we now know that the suspect, a man of Iranian Kurdish origin and believed to be an Islamist extremist, was on the radar of the Norwegian Police Intelligence Service (PST) as far back as 2015. If this is the case, why was he not monitored and prevented from shooting dozens of people, killing two? Borealis weighs in with what security intelligence services do with the information they collect with special emphasis on mental health cases. 

 A shooting in Oslo, Norway outside a pub popular with that city's LGBTQ community has led to immediate comparisons with the Anders Breivik massacre of 2011 and the issue of RWE. There are, however, many questions as to motive - a senior intelligence official has labelled this an Islamist attack - and it is far too early to be jumping to conclusions. Borealis looks at the dangers of doing analysis in the absence of data. 

 When a host of truckers and others brought downtown Ottawa to a standstill in January and February this year (2022) the reaction in Canada and abroad was one of fear and alarm. Comparisons were made to the January 2021 Trump-inspired riot at the US Capitol and some even called it terrorism. So what actually happened? Borealis talks to Andrew Lawton, a broadcaster and columnist who has just written a new book on the incident. 

 Even in 2022 the charge of blasphemy is made against those who are seen to have insulted their gods or prophets. It is hard to believe, furthermore, that some go on to kill those engaged in such insults. Acts like this constitute terrorism. In this podcast Borealis looks at instances where these terrorist attacks still take place. 

 When you work in intelligence you often have to make rushed decisions about what to do with information. Sometimes you have to act on such info before you can fully determine its accuracy, particularly when it has to do with terrorism. Does this mean such action was unnecessary? Borealis looks into how this unfolds and why post facto accusations of misconduct are usually illegitimate. 

In Western societies courts grant intercept warrants after due process.  What, then, do we make of allegations that spies and cops get warrants based on racism?  Borealis unpeels a Liberal MP's private member's bill in Canada's parliament that suggests 'systemic racism' is driving investigations

In the wake of a mass shooting or terrorist attack there is inevitably a lot of commentary on why this happened, what it means, and how we can stop the next one before it occurs.  'Experts' tell us they have a plan/model/algorithm which, if used, can provide our protectors with ways to identify and forestall these violent actors.  But do they really have such a plan?  Have a listen as Borealis' Phil Gurski weighs on on this issue.

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.

►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

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.

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