Canadian Intelligence Eh: Recent Episodes
Phil Gurski
Everywhere you look these days terrorism and violent extremism dominate the headlines. Whether you follow what is happening in Afghanistan or Iraq, or in the West writ large, we are inundated with news of attacks by groups and individuals fighting for a 'cause'.In a world of multiple voices and opinions it can be very hard to know where to turn. One choice is to look to those who actually worked in counterterrorism in the national security world. In these half-hour podcasts 30-year Canadian intelligence veteran Phil Gurski is joined by a fascinating array of individuals with something meaningful to say about these issues as they provide insight into what they mean and what we need to do about them.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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?
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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
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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.
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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!).
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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?
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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'.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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....
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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'!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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".
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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….
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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?
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Anti-Semitism is one of the oldest forms of racism/hatred in the world. It has manifest itself in multiple forms across the centuries, culminating in the Holocaust of WWII. In the aftermath of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023 and the latter's war in Gaza this form of bias has grown around the globe. What is the situation like in Canada? When is criticism of Israel, a separate phenomenon, ok but when does it stray into religious hate? A chat with a Canadian professor on this issue.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
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.
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
When an arrest is made in a terrorism case or, worst case scenario, we are doing a post-analysis of an attack, we often read about a person's 'radicalisation process'. The assumption is that terrorists are made, not born, and that there are signs to look for before it is too late. Borealis talks to Executive Director Myrieme Churchill of Parents4peace, an organisation that aims to help families identify and deal with these cases
Myrieme Churchill is the Executive Director of Parents for Peace. She has over 30 years of experience as a psychotherapist, working in variety of settings and with a range of populations in Europe and the U.S. Beginning her career in France, she intervened with first and second-generation North African immigrant sex workers on the streets of Marseille and facilitated group therapy in a juvenile detention center in Nice.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
There are two types of terrorists: those who die/are killed in their attacks and those who are not. The latter usually end up in prison for long periods of time. Then what? Borealis talks once again with Norwegian CT analyst Atle Mesoy on the infamous Anders Breivik case from 2011.►Listen to my previous podcast with Atle Mesoy: Episode #126 - Is it time to revisit the mental illness/terrorism nexus?
Atle Mesoy is the founder of U-Turn, an Oslo-based NGO working to prevent violent extremism. U-Turn is based on research and fieldwork within terrorism and political violence and consists of experts from different backgrounds providing a holistic and critical approach to CVE (Countering Violent Extremism).
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
Canada's intelligence agency CSIS has a national presence across the country. That it where the investigations happen and the intel is collected. What it is like to run such a shop? Borealis talks to former senior CSIS IO Dan Faughnan.
Dan Faughnan served for over 30 years with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Canadian Armed Forces, retiring as a senior director general. During his long career Dan served in multiple domestic offices and overseas missions, developing and leading a significant number of operations, as well as transformational projects and programs.
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
Some 40,000 ISIS terrorists joined the group in the mid-2010s from over 100 nations, including Canada. Many are still alive, some languishing in prisons or camps, including women and children. There are those lobbying for their return to their homelands: is this wise? Borealis has a conversation with Dr. Alexandra Bain, a religious studies prof at St Thomas University in New Brunswick.CORRECTION: Dr Bain noted that a returned female ISIS terrorist has been charged and will appear in court in March; In fact she has not yet been charged.
Dr. Alexandra Bain is an associate professor teaching Islamic studies at St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Dr. Bain was co-founder of Families Against Violent Extremism (FAVE) a Canadian non-profit organization whose goal is to help stop the spread of groups such as ISIS by working with their families.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
While acts of terrorism are not all expensive ventures, some terrorist groups do manage large financial empires (ISIS is a good example). Just how important is this and how do we detect/stop these money flows? Borealis talks with one of Canada's leading money laundering/terrorist financing gurus Kim Manchester
Kim R. Manchester is the Managing Director of ManchesterCF Financial Intelligence, a firm based in Toronto that supplies online financial intelligence training programs to financial institutions and civil service.
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
**Borealis has a conversation with Jennifer Benmenashe in Montreal on why she wants to gain a position on national security with the Canadian government.
About the guest Jennifer Benmenashe:**After completing her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto in History, Political Science and Religion, Jennifer Lauren continued her studies at King’s College London, UK, where she has just completed her Master’s degree in Intelligence and International Security. She has continued to engage in her research interests namely: the Taliban and its ability to retain power, conflict and human rights in the MENA region, and the recruitment of women into terrorist organizations. Jennifer’s focus lies in counterterrorism and human rights as well as in international security and American foreign policy.
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
The most recent Canadian national threat assessment names incels as one of the most serious menaces to public safety. Are they really? Borealis chats once again with the world's premiere authority on these people, the Incel Project founder Naama Kates.
Naama Kates is an investigative journalist and host of the podcast "Incel" which dives deep inside the incel community.
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
The events in Canada over the last few weeks have made international headlines and even spawned similar actions abroad (France, NZ, the Netherlands). What is it all about? Borealis weighs in on language, intelligence and a little discussed troubling event in Western Canada that could be actual terrorism.
Mentionned articles:►Gurski: The ‘truck convoy’ is many things but it is not terrorism
►CBC bias on full display in coverage of Freedom Convoy, Coastal GasLink protests
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
Movies about spies are a dime a dozen - think James Bond. But what is working in intelligence really like? Borealis is joined by Andrew Kirsch, author of a new book "I was never here"
Andrew Kirsch served as an intelligence officer with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) for just under a decade. He held roles as a policy analyst and a field investigator, ultimately leading the special operations security team running covert warranted operations. Today, Kirsch runs a security consulting firm, assisting organizations and individuals identify threats and vulnerabilities and implement strategies to mitigate their risk. He was appointed to the Ontario Expert Panel on Cyber Security in 2020, advising the government on strengthening cyber security practices in the broader public sector. He is a public speaker and trainer on issues of national and cyber security. His book – I Was Never Here: My True Canadian Spy Story of Coffees, Code Names and Covert Operations in the Age of Terrorism will be released March 1 st, 2022 and is available for pre-order wherever you buy your books.
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
Many people probably believe that anyone who plans a terrorist attack in which their own death is assured (i.e. a suicide bomb) is mentally suspect. And yet research has shown that most terrorists are as 'normal' as you or me. But are they? Borealis is joined by Norwegian practitioner Atle Mesoy to discuss these matters.
Atle Mesoy is the founder of U-Turn, an Oslo-based NGO working to prevent violent extremism. U-Turn is based on research and fieldwork within terrorism and political violence and consists of experts from different backgrounds providing a holistic and critical approach to CVE (Countering Violent Extremism).
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
Three years ago a Saudi 'Tiger Team' tried to assassinate a high-ranking former intel official now living in Canada, Dr Saad Al Jabri. When that failed, the Saudis sued the official, alleging massive fraud. A similar case in the US has just been dismissed as groundless: what should Canada do now? Borealis is rejoined by former CSIS agent Al Treddenick to discuss.
Alan Treddenick is a former senior Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officer who was stationed at the Canadian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He has more than 30 years domestic/international tactical & strategic experience in intelligence operations and criminal investigations with CSIS and the RCMP.
Phil Gurskiis 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
When you are the chief of police of a major city or, more narrowly a national capital, things get complicated. Not only are there everyday issues (traffic, petty crime, etc.) but also national security ones and there are often multiple police jurisdictions at play. As Ottawa is still dealing with an anti-vaccine mandate trucking convoy, Borealis talks to former Ottawa Chief of Police Charles Bordeleau.
Born and raised in Ottawa, Bordeleau began his policing career in 1984 and became police chief in 2012, serving in that role until 2019.
Phil Gurskiis 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
An interview with Christine Veer, entrepreneur & investigator. She shares a little on her background and why she’s passionate about making a difference in the world of national security, especially counter-terrorism. You can also learn more about her through her Linkedin profile at www.linkedin.com/in/christine-veer/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
When China seized the 'two Michaels' (Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig) in December 2018 it was clearly a retaliation for Canada's arrest, at the behest of the US, of the CFO of Huawei. Canadians were incensed at this violation of law and blamed China for it. A new book on this affair, entitled appropriately 'The Two Michaels', is out and Borealis has a chat with one of the authors, Canadian Press journalist Mike Blanchfield.
Mike Blanchfield is the international affairs writer for The Canadian Press based in Ottawa. Blanchfield has been a journalist on Parliament Hill since 1998. His reporting has taken him across the world, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He worked at the Ottawa Citizen for 22 years to 2009, and covered courts and police for eight years. He has graduated Carleton University twice, with his B.J. (hons) in 1987 and his M.J. in 2015.
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
For many citizens the macabre fascination with terrorism ends when trials are held and the bad guys are sent to jail. But is that the end of the threat? Borealis talks with former UK prison governor Ian Acheson on what happens after the barred doors are closed.
Ian Acheson spent a quarter century in prison security and counter-terrorism. He also ran the UK government’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, in Southwest England. He currently works as a senior adviser to the US-based Counter Extremism Project.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
For some of us a career in intelligence/law enforcement came about almost randomly (or completely randomly in my case!). For others it was a chance to follow in the footsteps of someone admired. Borealis talks to Eric Caron, a 25-year veteran US Special Agent about his career fighting bad guys.
Eric Caron is a retired U.S. Diplomat, U.S. Special Agent, HSBC Middle East Bank Executive and author of SWITCHED ON – The Heart and Mind of a Special Agent. He held senior positions within the Department of Treasury, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and INTERPOL. Throughout his career, he successfully initiated and managed covert operations that identified and disrupted international WMD proliferation networks, terrorism, terror and financing.
►Visit Eric's website https://switchedonlife.com/
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
When we talk about counter terrorism we mean all kinds of things, ranging from 'preventing' people from going down the road to potential violence to those who actually want to kill. What is at stake when we have to kill to prevent an act from occurring. Borealis has a chat with ex-Australian soldier Shane Healey on these issues and others.Shane Healey enlisted in the Australian Army in 1995. Between 2004 and 2008 he was a private military contractor in Iraq where he initially trained Iraqi Special Operations police who fought in the second battle of Fallujah which I was also involved in as part of the CMATT program. Shane then reenlisted into the Australian Army in 2009 as a member of the Australian Intelligence Corps posted to SOCOMD.
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
A curious phenomenon has arisen of late: Westerners advocating that Canada and other nations bring back ISIS terrorists. Such an act would necessitate expensive trials, the difficult gathering of evidence and the almost impossible procurement of witnesses. Borealis looks at why these people are almost the equivalent of the 'useful idiots' of the Cold War.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
A lot of us feel good when we put the recycling bin out on garbage day, confident we are helping the environment. But did you know that organised crime is a big part of this industry? Could terrorist groups get involved too? Borealis talks with Virginia Comolli, author of a new paper "Plastic for Profit: tracing illicit plastic waste flows, supply chains and actors".
Virginia Comolli is the research manager for the GI-TOC programme ‘Anticipating and disrupting environmental crime in the globalized economy’, which focuses on South East Asia and central and East Africa. Before joining the GI-TOC, she was head of the Conflict, Security and Development programme at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Shark attacks are terrifying; on that I think we all agree. So are sharks therefore 'terrorists'? If a Michigan state attorney can charge a 15-year old school shooter who 'terrified' his classmates with terrorism where does this all end? Borealis looks at the worrisome recent tendency to attach the 'terrorism' label to lots of events which have nothing to do with terrorism.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Terrorism is no laughing matter but on the other hand it has been said it helps to laugh at what frightens you. There are lots of spy and intrigue novels, but what is it like to make them look and sound real if the author has no background in national security? Borealis talks to Terry Fallis, award-winning Canadian writer and author of the bestselling Operation Angus.
A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of eight national bestselling novels including his latest, Operation Angus, all published by McClelland & Stewart. The Best Laid Plans was the winner of the Leacock Medal for Humour in 2008, and CBC’s Canada Reads in 2011. It was adapted as a six-part CBC- Television miniseries, and a stage musical. The High Road was a Leacock Medal finalist in 2011. Up and Down was the winner of the 2013 Ontario Library Association Evergreen Award and was a finalist for the 2013 Leacock Medal.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
In the aftermath of 9/11 all the attention seemed to migrate to counter terrorism. That was a big change in the intelligence world where countering foreign spies had been the #1 task for decades. How has this shift affected the way intelligence services operate? Borealis has a discussion with veteran CSIS investigator Dan Stanton
Dan Stanton served for thirty-two years with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, including twelve years as an Executive Manager in operations. Mr. Stanton had a lengthy career in counterintelligence, counter-proliferation, and counterterrorism, with recognized expertise in human source recruitment, handling, validation, and training. A graduate of Queens University, he has an Honours B.A. in History and Philosophy.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
**15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi. A Saudi Air Force pilot who had joined AQ killed 3 US servicemen in Florida in December 2019. The Saudi Crown Prince orders the assassination of those he does not like. Borealis asks the question: is Saudi Arabia a desirable partner for the West when it comes to CT?
Mentioned articles:**►Survivors of the Pensacola terror attack speak out
►Bin Salman has blood on his hands that refuses to be washed away
►The Saudi Connection: Inside the 9/11 Case That Divided the F.B.I.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
We see public safety and national security as largely federal or national responsibilities. And yet most of us are more connected with local officials - mayors and councilors. What role do they play in this? Borealis talks with Port Coquitlam (BC) Mayor Brad West about Chinese interference and influence peddling in Canada and other issues.► Read: 'I wanted to see that room empty': Mayor slams attendees of Chinese-funded receptionBrad lives in Port Coquitlam with his wife Blaire. In 2017, the couple welcomed their first child, Liam and in 2021, their family welcomed a second son, Owen. Becoming a Dad motivates Brad every day to make Port Coquitlam a place future generations will be proud to call home. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria, St. Francis Xavier University and most recently completed a program in Leadership at Harvard University.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
In the wake of another mass school shooting in the US - this time in a city near Detroit - a 15-year old teen has been charged, among other things, with 'terrorism'. The rationale? He 'terrorised' the student population. Is this a good move? Borealis looks at the ever-expanding use of terrorism in very unnecessary ways.
Mentioned articles:►Gurski: Why 'terrorism' shouldn't be in Canada's Criminal Code
►The hypocrisy of America’s terror debate
►Parents of Michigan school shooting suspect are charged with involuntary manslaughter
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits #180 - Why is that some academics dislike practitioners? There are some who think practitioners have nothing to offer and should actually be ignored? Borealis looks at the problem from the perspective of a (former) intelligence practitioner.► Read Carleton criminology department cuts ties with police, prisons
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Canada is part of what is called the '5 eyes' intelligence sharing club (Australia, New Zealand, UK and US are other four members). How important is this? How is Canada viewed in this arrangement? Borealis talks with NSA veteran linguist Mark Ericson on these matters.
Mark Ericson was a Japanese language analyst and foreign affairs officer with the National Security Agency who retired in 2017 after 37 years with NSA. Raised by missionary parents in Japan, he obtained his PhD in Japanese history from the University of Hawaii and taught at the university level before taking a position with NSA in 1980. Early in his career there, he became the first NSA language analyst to be seconded to the Canadian Communications Security Establishment (CSE).
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
**Quick Hits #179 - Joining a listed terrorist entity is illegal. And yet hundreds of Canadians have done so and some are now home... but have not been charged. What should we do with these cases?
See also:**►Canadian woman freed from ISIS detention camp reunites with daughter in Canada
►Second Chance: Jailed Kazakh Islamic State Widow 'Optimistic' About Future
►Listed Terrorist Entities
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
With so much written about terrorism these days it is easy to forget that there is actual counter terrorism work to be done. Identifying terrorists, following them, interviewing them, stopping them - this is real CT work. Borealis talks with veteran FBI agent Brig Barker about his years helping to prevent terrorist attacks.
Brig Barker is a proven counterterrorism agent/supervisor/senior level manager, with numerous extended deployments to the Middle East and Africa. 26 years of U.S. government and military operational experience working in both domestic and overseas environments.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
What is the world of CVE (Countering Violent Extremism) all about? Many acronyms, many mandates, many claims. What is the reality of all this? Borealis is joined by Mike King.
Mike King, a social psychologist working on violent extremism, radicalization, & CVE. Director of Research at Edmonton's Organization for the Prevention of Violence and an Adjunct Professor at University of Toronto .
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
The facts are that most terrorist attacks in the world are carried out by Muslims and most victims are Muslim. Why, then, are many in the Islamic world in denial about these facts? Borealis is joined by UK activist and Sufi Muslim Ahmed Patel to talk about these issues.Ahmed Patel, the brother-in-law of the London 7/7 bomber Mohammed Siddique, is an excellent example of a British Muslim who stood up against religious radicalization. From an outside observer’s perspective, it would appear that people like Patel are authentic actors in the field of prevention work and should therefore be included to a greater extent in British (non-) governmental PVE approaches. Find out more about Ahmed.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits #178 - Conspiracy theories are as old as time and most are utterly ridiculous. Those who suscribe to them are for the most part harmless. On rare occasions, a person will decide to act on them in a violent way. How serious is this threat?
Borealis looks at the infamous 'Q' of QAnon to delve into this issue.
See also:►Are end-of-Earthers and conspiracy theorists that dangerous?
►America’s QAnon problem is infecting Canada. What should we do about it?
►Years After Being Debunked, Interest in Pizzagate Is Rising—Again
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
There are so many voices out there when it comes to terrorism and what it all means. This makes it hard to know whom to talk and listen to. Borealis has a great talk with James Dorsey, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.James M. Dorsey is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, a syndicated columnist and the author of the blog, The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer. Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits #177 - An ongoing UK inquiry into the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack in which 22 died and hundreds were injured is raising serious questions about what UK intelligence knew and when regarding this ISIS-inspired plot.Is the ensuing criticism fair? Borealis provides a former insider's perspective on how counter terrorism actually works.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
The movement of money around the world is dizzying. Not surprisingly, bad actors use these platforms to finance their operations. So what is being done about it? Borealis has an in-depth conversation with former RCMP officer and money laundering/terrorist financing specialist Archie Alafriz.Archie Alafriz is a retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who served most of his career in the National Security Program. He is a threat finance (AML/CFT) specialist and a published author. He is a senior fellow at the Global Peace Institute (UK) and sits on the Board of Directors of IOSI Global.Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
How is the 'war on terrorism' going? What are we doing well? Not well? What are our moral obligations to those suffering under terrorist rule? Borealis President Phil Gurski talks with Conor to talk about this and more - have a listen!
►Watch Conor on Youtube
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits #176 - Terrorists like to portray themselves as masterminds of violence. Some are pretty dumb.
See also:►Top 10 Worst Terrorist Group Names
►Top 10 Worst Right-Wing Extremism Group Names
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Canada is a big county and when it comes to security there are multiple levels of jurisdiction: municipal, provincial, first nations and federal. How do all the players get along in the national security sandbox? Borealis has a fascinating discussion with Canadian Senator Vern White, former RCMP and Chief of Police in Durham and Ottawa
Senator White has worked with the RCMP, moving through the ranks from Constable to Assistant Commissioner. He has served in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario and spent almost 19 years in the three northern territories. He was Chief of Police for the Durham Region as well as the City of Ottawa.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits #175 - The Matrix franchise has been around since 1999 and is a trilogy of very cool films. They are full of simulated violence in which humans are battling the machines which are using them to drain their lifeforce. Matrix Resurrections is coming out in December: what do the films tell us about terrorism and what happens when reality emulate art?
►Read mentioned article: Red-pilled: Can The Matrix Resurrections reclaim Neo from the alt-right?
►Watch video version on Youtube
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits #174 - There are those out there who want authorities to stop calling Islamist terrorism by that name. Alternatives include "faith-based terrorism" and "terrorists abusing religious motivations". In this Quick Hits podcast, Borealis argues why this is wrong-headed and counterproductive.
►Read mentioned article: Police may drop ‘Islamist’ term when describing terror attacks
►Watch video version: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/why-what-we-call-terrorism-matters/
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
When it comes to stopping terrorism all information should be used, right? It is not as simple as that. In order to charge a potential wrongdoer the data must be in the form of evidence, not intelligence. Borealis talks about these issues with 30-year Toronto police veteran Gavin Horner.
Gavin Horner is a licenced Private Investigator for the province of Ontario. He works primarily in the Greater Toronto Area. He retired after 32½ years with the Toronto Police Service. He retired as a Detective Sergeant and managed the Operations Section at Intelligence. The unit conducted investigations and intelligence probes relating to Organized Crime members and groups.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig touched down on Canadian soil on Saturday after being arbitrarily detained in China for 1020 days. As Canada celebrates the return of the “two Michaels,” it’s worth asking what this hostage diplomacy saga tells us about Canada-China relations and global affairs more broadly.
►Listen to The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits 173 - Why do some academics try to tell national security professionals how to do their jobs? Is there no better way to manage this relationship? Borealis looks at the Acorn TV series Outlier to examine how 'town and gown' should work better.
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Is it possible to be an 'ex-jihadi'? How would we know? What about state-run efforts at 'de-radicalisation'? Borealis has a fascinating conversation with Jesse Morton, often described as the #1 Al Qaeda recruiter in the US in the mid 2000s and now very much involved in undermining Islamist terrorism.Jesse Morton was once a jihadist propagandist (then known as Younes Abdullah Muhammad) who ran Revolution Muslim, a New York City-based organization active in the 2000s that connected Muslims in the west to al-Qaeda’s ideology, creating English language propaganda and collaborating with the most notorious jihadist preachers of that era. Find out more about my guest Jesse.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Jeff Sammut was joined by president and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting and author Phil Gurski on Canada Now to talk about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 20 years later.
►Catch Jeff live weekdays from 1-3pmET on Sirius XM Canada Talks channel 167
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Phil Gurski joins Destiny for his 4rth appearance on his livestream. They discuss Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover, the latest New Zealand attack, ISIS, Incels, Canada's mass graves and the January 6th Washington riots.
►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
More Destiny:►Episode #29: Discussion with Twitch streamer Destiny on terrorism and radicalization
►Episode #47: A talk with Destiny - Trump, Incels, Police and more
►Episode #88: Chat with Destiny - Surveillance, Trump's role vs the DC Mayor, Entrapment and wild stories
Quick Hits 172 - Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban and already the fingers are being pointed at whose fault it was. Several have called this an 'intelligence failure'. Is it? Borealis weighs in on who 'lost' Afghanistan.
Read more: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/was-afghanistan-an-intelligence-failure/
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
On August 12, 22-year old Jake Davison killed his mother and four others (including a 3-year old girl) in Plymouth, UK, before taking his own life. Despite initial police statements that this was not a series of acts of terrorism the 'he was an incel' bandwagon got going fairly quickly. What we know does not, however, give much support to the theory.
Phil Gurski is joined by the world's foremost authority on incels, Naama Kates, to look at this case and at more general issues surrounding what we call terrorism
Naama Kates is an investigative journalist and host of the podcast "Incel" which dives deep inside the incel community. Find out more about my guest Naama Kates
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits 171 - The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. and Joe Biden was set to complete its troop withdrawal following a costly two-decade war. Former CSIS intelligence veteran Phil Gurski looks at what we know and what’s next for Afghanistan.
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
The last thing anyone wants to be told is that a loved one has been taken hostage by a criminal gang or terrorist group. What next? What can be done? Borealis talks to Rachel Briggs, former founder of Hostage UK and Hostage US on this fascinating issue!
Rachel Briggs OBE is one of the world’s leading experts on international hostage taking. She was the first Director of Hostage UK and Founding Executive Director of Hostage US, non-profits that support hostages and their families.
►Find out more about my guest Rachel Briggs
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
The home of the Nazi movement in the 1930s and 1940s now has a significant 'neo'-Nazi extremist movement in addition to problems with jihadis. Complicating things are 35 different security agencies. Borealis talks with ICRS's Peter Neumann to get the lowdown on what is happening there.
About my guest Peter Neumann:Peter Neumann is Professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, and served as Founding Director of its International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) from 2008 to 2018. In 2017, he was the OSCE’s Special Representative on Countering Violent Radicalisation.
►Peter's latest book Bluster: Donald Trump's War on Terror
►Find out more about my guest Peter Neumann
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
We would all like to 'predict' the future, right? We generally can't but that does not mean we can construct and use scenarios to be better prepared for what is coming down the pipe. Borealis is joined by Minke Meijnders, instructor at the University of Ottawa's Security, Economics and Technology program to talk about the importance of these tools.
►Link to Minke's course Strategic Foresight and National Security Analysis
About my guest Minke Meijnders:Minke Meijnders is an expert in Strategic Foresight, focusing on geopolitics, geo-economics and international security issues. She is a former Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute, the leading think tank on international relations in the Netherlands.
► Find out more about my guest Minke Meijnders.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits 170 - No one seems to be able to agree on what terrorism is or is not and lots of people call all things terrorism that may not be. So, why not get rid of the term and charge suspects with (attempted) murder? Former CSIS analyst Phil Gurski weighs in on the benefits of doing so. See also:
► Dutch court convicts woman for spreading IS propaganda
► Episode 100 - Borealis talks with American terrorism guru Brian Jenkins
► Cancel Canada Day: Is the country going to hell in a handbasket?
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
To commemorate the 100th podcast in the An Intelligent View of Terrorism/Canadian Intelligence Eh series Borealis President Phil Gurski is delighted to welcome back US terrorism specialist Brian Jenkins to answer a simple question: whither terrorism?
About my guest Brian Michael Jenkins:Brian Michael Jenkins is a senior adviser to the president of the RAND Corporation and author of numerous books, reports, and articles on terrorism-related topics, including Will Terrorists Go Nuclear? (2008, Prometheus Books). He formerly served as chair of the Political Science Department at RAND. Find out more about my guest Brian Jenkins.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
In recent years some have said that Islamist terrorism is a thing of the past. AQ, ISIS and others are not as dangerous as they once were and we can see this in the lower level of activity of late. Is this accurate? Borealis talks to former UK FCO official Suzanne Raine on why vigilance is the better strategy.
Read What should we do when the terrorists go quiet?
About my guest Suzanne Raine:
Suzanne Raine worked for 24 years in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues. This included postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism, holding a number of senior domestic appointments. Find out more about my guest Suzanne Raine.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Canada is an outlier in the Western world in not having a separate foreign intelligence devoted to HUMINT. The conversation sometimes comes up that maybe we should create one - but where and how? In this Quick Hits episode, former CSIS Intelligence Analyst Phil Gurski looks at what Canada should do in this regard.
See also:► I, spy: Does Canada need a foreign intelligence service?
► Can someone please tell me why Canada does not have a foreign intelligence service?
► How Canada makes a huge contribution to policing around the world
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
On June 6, 2021, a man rammed a pickup truck into Muslim Pakistani Canadian pedestrians at an intersection in London, Ontario, Canada. Four people were killed, and another was wounded; all were from the same family. The attack was the largest mass killing in London’s history.
It was condemned by Canadian leaders, and called terrorism by Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and Premier of Ontario Doug Ford. The suspect is charged with four counts of terroristic murder and one count of terroristic attempted murder.
Phil Gurski talks with CKWR’s John Maciel about the London hit and run incident earlier this month.
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Episode 98 - Spies and cops have related, but different, responsibilities. The former live in the shadows while they collect intelligence. The latter are more open as they collect evidence to lay charges and go to court. How do we square these two professions? Borealis is joined by former RCMP strategic analyst Angus Smith to discuss these and other issues
About my guest Angus Smith:
Angus Smith worked in the Canadian intelligence community for 30 years, a career that included work on Latin America, the Middle East, Russia and Eastern Europe, police malfeasance and corruption, organized crime, terrorism and national security. Click here to find out more about Angus.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
The man charged in an alleged hate-motivated attack that killed four family members in London laughed as police arrested him in a mall parking lot, a traumatized taxi driver who witnessed the arrest told his boss.
Nathaniel Veltman, 20, of London is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the largest mass killing in city history, one police allege was motivated by anti-Muslim hate.
When something happens of a catastrophic nature, like a murder, everyone wants to know why. We cannot fathom how someone can do this. Why is often hard to determine however. Borealis looks at how reliable witness statements are and why we often never determine the real reasons.
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Most white nationalists hate Muslims (among other immigrants and races). Jihadis hate everything. So what can these two groups of extremists have in common? Phil Gurski talks with Dr Sara Kamali, author of the new book, Homegrown Hate Why White Nationalists and Militant Islamists Are Waging War against the United States
About my guest Dr Sara Kamali
Dr Sara Kamali is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Analysis of the Radical Right in the UK and an expert with the Canadian Network for Research on Terrorism, Security and Society. She is also a holistic justice activist and a scholar of systemic inequities, White nationalism, and militant Islamism.
►Find out more about my guest Sara Kamali
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Phil Gurski is President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting and a former CSIS analyst. He tells CityNews' Rob Snow not enough information is available yet to say with certainty the allegedly hate-motivated London vehicle attack was an act of terrorism.
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Phil Gurski joins CBC's Ginella Massa to discuss the latest news about the Muslim family killed in targeted hit and run in London, Ontario.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits #167 - 4 people from the same family are dead and a fifth - a 9-year old boy - is wounded after a 20-yr old man in London (ON) ran them over on Sunday evening. Local police say it was deliberate, that the man targeted his victims because they were Muslim, and suggest terrorism charges may follow. Borealis unpacks murder, hate crime and terrorism under Canadian law as he discusses this cowardly act of violence.
► Watch video version on YouTube
► See also Muslims in London, Ont., express shock, grief in wake of 'planned' hit and run
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits 166 - The terms we elect to use to describe things have their purposes. When it comes to terrorism there is a movement to use generic words to refer to specific types of violent extremism. Borealis protests this simplification of language, calling it what it is (i.e. political correctness).
► Watch video version on YouTube.
► See also Coronavirus variants get Greek names — but will scientists use them?
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
Canada is not normally seen as an intelligence powerhouse and is not blessed with the same intelligence 'culture' as some of its key allies (US and UK primarily). Who does intelligence analysis and how good is it?
About my guest Greg Fyffe:
Greg Fyffe was executive director of the Intelligence Assessment Secretariat in the Privy Council Office from 2000 to 2008. He is currently president of the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Quick Hits 165 - Intelligence agencies are usually associated with issues like terrorism and espionage. They can tell us the 'inside story' on a whole host of things, when their information goes public. What about their ability to tell us about the origins of COVID? Borealis weighs in on US President Biden's call upon US intel agencies to get to the bottom of this.
Watch video version on YouTube
See also Covid: Biden orders investigation into virus origin as lab leak theory debated
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
At a time where the only news about police offices and law enforcement agencies seems to be negative it is time for a more balanced approach. Borealis talks to 30-year RCMP veteran Ben Maure about Canada's international policing missions.
Check out Ben's book Leading at the Edge: True Tales from Canadian Police in Peacebuilding and Peacekeeping Missions Around the World Paperback
About my guest Ben Maure:
Ben Maure is a serving Peace Officer with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He has over 30 years of police experience, most of which has been spent in BC. In 1999, Ben completed a one-year secondment tour of duty as a United Nations Peacekeeper in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
An ongoing court case in the US threatens to expose counter terrorism secrets with Saudi Arabia. In order to send a message to Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, known as MBS or 'Mister Bone Saw', these secrets may have to be disclosed. Borealis asks whether we in the West should deal with a royal who sends assassins abroad.
See also:
- Video: Is Saudi Arabia sending hit squads to Canada? | Al Tredennick
- Article: MBS’s lawsuit against a Saudi spy threatens to spill secrets. The U.S. is considering whether to intervene.
- Video: Saudi Arabia Hit Squad - Is it ok for one nation to send a hit squad to another?
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
Ever since 9/11 many are obsessed with terrorism and have disproportionate fear of more events of this nature. Is this a healthy attitude? Borealis talks to Canadian sociologist Frank Furedi on these and other matters.
About my guest, sociologist Frank Furedi:
Frank Furedi is a Hungarian-Canadian academic and emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Kent. He is well known for his work on sociology of fear, education, therapy culture, paranoid parenting and sociology of knowledge. Click here to find out more about my guest Frank Furedi!
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in
Everyone seems to have an opinion these days on terrorism these days. Who should you listen to, especially when it comes to the current 'moral panic' over right wing terrorism? Borealis weighs in on this, advising us all to just chill a bit.
Watch video version on Youtube.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
I am often asked by younger listeners how to get a career as a spy. In this episode, I am chatting with Matthew Zegar, computer science student at Simon Fraser University about how to get a career aiding the Canadian government against terrorist threats.
►Click here to find out more about my guest Matthew Zegar
►Listen to Matthew Zegar's Career Path Podcast
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in
We all know that tens of thousands of people from over 100 countries went to join ISIS in 2014. The feeder nations are all over the map (literally!) but the #1 per capita was…Trinidad. Trinidad? Phil Gurski talks with UK scholar Simon Cottee who just published a book on this fascinating finding.
Click here to find out more about my guest Simon Cottee!
Black Flags of the Caribbean, How Trinidad Became an ISIS Hotspot
Simon Cottee investigates how ISIS came to gain such an unlikely, yet significant foothold in Trinidad. Based on a three-year investigation in the country, featuring interviews the families and friends of those who left to join the jihad, Muslim activists and community leaders, imams, politicians, and intelligence agents, this book presents the social forces and communities in Trinidad that have been affected by ISIS. Check Simon's latest book.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in
Terrorism is violent for sure. But why are some terrorists, i.e. Islamist ones, so utterly cruel and inhuman? Former CSIS intelligence veteran Phil Gurski weighs in on this while discussing a recent interview with Canadian historian Margaret MacMillan
Watch video version on Youtube.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Politics is a nasty business and not for the faint of heart. Still there are rules and some practices should be off base. African governments say that opposition leaders are terrorists to prevent them from running for office. Borealis weighs in on this in today’s Quick Hits.
Watch video version on Youtube.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Why is China harassing Canadian Uyghurs and why is the government not doing anything to stop it? The Canadian Parliament recently voted to denounce China for its genocide in East Turkestan (what China calls Xinjiang) against the Uyghurs. And yet China is still harassing Uyghur Canadians and pressuring them to shut up. Why is more not being done to stop this? Borealis President Phil Gurski talks to Kayum Masimov, Project Manager at Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project.
Click here to find out more about my guest Kayum Masimov!
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
It is safe to say that most people would avoid being anywhere near a terrorist attack. Some, however, seem to have a fascination with these events to the point where they distort their own experiences. Borealis weighs in on this curious phenomenon.
Watch video version on Youtube.
New York Time article: Port Authority Bomber Is Sentenced to Life in Prison.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Belgium is not normally a nation one associates with terrorism. And yet, a number of large-scale attacks unfolded in the 2010s in which dozens were killed. How does someone who does not work in counter terrorism view these events? Borealis has a fascinating talk with Louisa Rogers on these issues.
Click here to find out more about my guest Louisa Rogers!
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Watch video version on Youtube.
Afghanistan has often been called the ‘graveyard of empires’. Over the past 20 years it has also been at the forefront of the ill-named ‘war on terrorism’. What can we do – if anything – to get out of that nation and consider ourselves ‘safer’?
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
In Iron Man 3 we were introduced to a not so convincing 'terrorist' called the Mandarin: I gave that part of the film a two thumbs down. Now Marvel is coming out with another attempt in Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Do the producers do any better this time? Have a listen as former CSIS intelligence analyst Phil Gurski gives his review!
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Watch video version on YouTube
Iron Man 3 is all about terrorism, odd for a Marvel film. Oddly, however, the writers chose to portray a Chinese-looking leader as the spokesperson for what looks for all intents and purposes like a bunch of jihadis. Borealis weighs in on what this film gets right and what it gets wrong when it comes to terrorism.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Terrorism has been around for a long time but we have been especially captivated by it since 9/11. At first, EVERYTHING was terrorism, more so if it could be tied to Islam. Now, the far right seems to be the flavour of the month. What's up?
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
In the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s the predominant form of terrorism was Irish in nature. Those who wanted a unitary Irish state fought those who wanted to remain part of the UK, often with tragic results. With the Good Friday Accords of 1998 that is all over - or is it?
Phil Gurski talks with Irish analyst Lorcan Owens on the potential for future violence on the Emerald Isle.
►Find out more about my guest Lorcan Owens
►Listen to Lorcan's podcast Nazra: Politics, Society and Extremism
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
The 2018 Marvel film Black Panther is a truly spectacular movie that features black actors and culture. And yet one of the main characters resorts to terrorism to right historical wrongs.
Why would the producers do this? Borealis President Phil Gurski reviews Black Panther from a practitioner’s perspective.
See also:Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Iron Man (2008)
Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Captain Marvel (2019)
Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Intelligence Veteran Reviews - Extremism and Radicalisation: Is JOKER a Terrorist?
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
For those who missed the live-stream on March 16, here is a replay of my latest discussion with Youtube personality Destiny (Steven Bonnell).
►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ
When it comes to talking about terrorism it is not enough to limit the discussion to specific terrorist groups or terrorist acts. Things are much more complicated than that. Terrorism does not occur in a vacuum: it exists in a context (or better: multiple contexts). Terrorism happens when multiple players make multiple moves on multiple chessboards: some of these moves provide terrorists with incentives.
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
More Destiny:►Episode #29: Discussion with Twitch streamer Destiny on terrorism and radicalization
►Episode #47: A talk with Destiny - Trump, Incels, Police and more
►Episode #88: Chat with Destiny - Surveillance, Trump's role vs the DC Mayor, Entrapment and wild stories
►Episode #105: Taliban takeover, Incels and New Zealand attack - Chatting with Destiny about recent events
ASIO to avoid ‘left’, ‘right’ and ‘Islamic’ in an overhaul of its descriptions of extremism. There is a movement afoot to change the way we talk about terrorism. Instead of 'Islamist extremism' we get 'ideologically-motivated extremism' or 'religiously-motivated extremism'. Necessary coinage or political correctness?
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Bond films are exciting, fast-paced and fun to watch. But how accurate are they and does it matter that they are not? Former CSIS intelligence analyst Phil Gurski gives his own review of this latest offering. The new James Bond film No Time to Die - is this what spies really do?
Watch video version on Youtube
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Relations with a country like Saudi Arabia will always be complicated in light of what the Kingdom stands for, what it produces, and where it is located. So, if the Saudis send a hit squad to Canada to take out a 'dissident' what should our response be? Borealis talks with colleague and friend Al Treddenick on this touchy subject
About my guest Al Treddenick:Alan Treddenick is a former senior Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officer who was stationed at the Canadian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Find out more about my guest Al Treddenick
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
It is becoming clearer that, at least in some ways, Africa is supplanting the traditional Asia (including the Middle East) as the locus of jihadi terrorism. What should we do about it?
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Everywhere you turn you come across an ‘expert’. This happens in national security as well. But are these people REALLY experts? Borealis takes issue with the term and provides some background on his experience in national security to provide followers with context.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Chris Lewis served as a police officer for 36 years and ended up as the Commissioner of the OPP. Now he acts as a national security analyst on Canadian television. Phil Gurski talks to him about his career and about ‘experts’ in the media.
About my guest Chris Lewis:Chris D. Lewis became Commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) on August 1, 2010 assuming leadership of one of North America’s largest deployed police services. As Commissioner, he oversaw front-line policing, traffic and marine operations, emergency response and specialized and multijurisdictional investigations throughout the Province of Ontario, delivered through over 9,000 OPP personnel. Find out more about my guest Chris Lewis
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Two more mass shootings recently took place in the US - one in Atlanta and one in Georgia - making 103 since Jan 1 of this year. The motives for either are unclear according to police, and yet some are already labeling both terrorism: white nationalist in the first case and Islamist in the second. Borealis takes issue with this constant 'instant analysis'.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Have you heard of the term 'gaslighting'? Did you know it comes from a 1944 Ingrid Bergman film. Discover how a movie about a manipulative husband gave us a new word to describe information control in the 2020s.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
La France vient de promulguer une loi pour protéger la laïcité et combattre le séparatisme, mais certains y voient une loi contre l’Islam. Quel est l’ampleur de la menace extrémiste en France et que prévoir pour les années à venir?
Phil Gurski discute avec Alexandre Rodde, chercheur Français et consultant en sécurité intérieure.
About my guest Alexandre Rodde:Alexandre is a security consultant specialised in terrorism and mass shootings. His work includes risk assessment, threat monitoring, and research on national security subjects.►Find out more about my guest Alexandre Rodde
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
A recent Norwegian series called Wisting looked at a serial killer and a joint FBI/local police investigation. Borealis reviews the series looking at two main issues: the link between serial killing and terrorism, and what happens when multinational forces have to collaborate to solve a case.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the 2016 Marvel film Captain America: Winter Soldier the evil HYDRA has created a super (bad) soldier called the Winter Soldier who kills a bunch of people. But is he a terrorist? Borealis looks at the film from a security intelligence perspective
Intelligence Veteran Reacts | Marvel's Iron Man (2008) and the "War on Terrorism";
Intelligence Veteran Reacts | Captain Marvel (2019) and Lessons on Terrorism;
Intelligence Veteran Reacts | Extremism and Radicalisation: Is JOKER a Terrorist?;
Cold War Intelligence Veteran Reacts | Official Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Trailer;
Intelligence Veteran Reviews | Caliphate Netflix Series Episode 1
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
A small group of reactionary terrorists known as the Black Clad took over the Old Bailey Courthouse, taking several hostages including a school field trip. Wonder Woman storms the building, uses the Lasso of Hestia to compel one of the terrorists to tell her their plans. She then takes out the terrorists and neutralizes the bomb. Is that realistic?
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Phil Gurski and Destiny discuss the RCMP 'entrapment' of B.C. couple in the Canada Day Bomb Plot and the differences between entrapment laws in Canada vs the USA.►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ
When it comes to talking about terrorism it is not enough to limit the discussion to specific terrorist groups or terrorist acts. Things are much more complicated than that. Terrorism does not occur in a vacuum: it exists in a context (or better: multiple contexts). Terrorism happens when multiple players make multiple moves on multiple chessboards: some of these moves provide terrorists with incentives.
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
More Destiny:►Episode #29: Discussion with Twitch streamer Destiny on terrorism and radicalization
►Episode #47: A talk with Destiny - Trump, Incels, Police and more
►Episode #88: Chat with Destiny - Surveillance, Trump's role vs the DC Mayor, Entrapment and wild stories
►Episode #105: Taliban takeover, Incels and New Zealand attack - Chatting with Destiny about recent events
Most societies treat young offenders separately from adults when it comes to crime in general. But what about terrorism? Is terrorism so different that we need to treat young terrorists as adults? Borealis is joined by Australian practitioner Peta Lowe to discuss these issues and more.
About my guest Peta Lowe:
Peta Lowe is a Principal Consultant with Phronesis Consulting and Training. She is the former Director, Countering Violent Extremism for Juvenile Justice in the NSW Department of Justice. Peta has over 15 years experience working with young people involved with the justice system and has worked with individuals, families and communities to address offending behaviours and criminogenic risks.
►Find out more about my guest Peta Lowe
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
When the Cold War ended with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 the West declared ‘victory‘ and downed tools on Russia. Recent events have shown that decision to be premature. Borealis cautions against jumping to conclusions about intelligence requirements and priorities.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Join me on YouTube Live Mondays and Thursdays at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Join me on YouTube Live every week day at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
It often helps to poke fun at people who want us to take them seriously. As a follow-up to the popular Top Ten Worst Terrorist Group names, here is Borealis' take on the Top Ten Worst Right-Wing Extremists Group Names.
See also:►Top 10 Dumbest Terrorists of all Time
►Top 10 Worst Terrorist Group Names
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
French teacher Samuel Paty was brutally killed last October after leading a discussion in his class over the so-called Muhammad cartoons: his murderer was not even a student. What is acceptable when it comes to controversial material?
Join me on YouTube Live every week day at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Join me on YouTube Live every week day at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
The Canadian parliament just voted to label Chinese policies and actions towards Uyghur Muslims in northwestern Xinjiang province a genocide. Is this the right term? Borealis talks to Concordia University's Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies to unpack these issues.
About my guest Kyle MatthewsKyle is the Executive Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) at Concordia University. He joined MIGS as Lead Researcher of the Will to Intervene Project in 2008 and was appointed Senior Deputy Director in 2011. At Concordia he founded the Raoul Wallenberg Legacy of Leadership project as well as the Digital Mass Atrocity Preventing Lab, which works to counter online extremism and study how social media platforms are being used as a weapon of war.►Find out more about my guest Kyle Matthews
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
It seems that everyone is calling everything terrorism these days. It is almost as if the word is in the eye (brain?) of the beholder. Borealis pushes back against this uncareful use in this podcast.
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
A year ago today a German racist killed 9 people in Hanau because of who they were. Furthermore, 208 people have been killed by far right elements in Germany since 1990. Those numbers are horrific: what is happening elsewhere by comparison? Watch this with video on YouTube.
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the first military action undertaken by the Biden administration, the US carried out an air strike targeting Iran-backed militias in Syria. Former CSIS Analyst Phil Gurski shares his opinion on the situation.
Join me on YouTube Live every week day at 8 PM EST. I will discuss the latest terrorism and national security news of the day and answer your questions!
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
A court has found Alek Minassian guilty on 26 counts of murder and attempted murder and rejected the autism defence. The judge also rejected the assumption Minassian was an 'incel' and that this was an act of terrorism. What does this all mean? Borealis weighs in!
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Why do people join white supremacist/new-Nazi movements? Why do they get out? Tony McAleer spent 15 years in the white supremacist and neo-nazi movements starting as a skinhead and evolving to leadership positions and was instrumental in ushering in the internet building one of the first white supremacist websites for Resistance Records in the mid 90’s.
►Check out The Cure for Hate by Tony McAleer
About my guest Tony McAleer:Tony has been involved in Life After Hate since its inception in 2011 and served as Executive Director from 2013-2017 while Life After Hate developed its online support groups and the EXIT USA program (based on EXIT Sweden’s model). In 2017 he became Board Chair until his departure in December 2019.►Find out more about my guest Tony McAleer
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Shamima Begum was a UK citizen who joined ISIS. Now she wants to come home but the government cancelled her citizenship. So now what?
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
The release of a CIA report holding Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the brutal death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 matters to Canadians, because the same sort of thing can happen here. We've already seen the evidence.
►Read Canada needs to act on Saudis' targeting of dissidents on The Ottawa Citizen
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
There is a growing tendency to claim that RWE is an existential threat to the world, especially the West. Some are saying that RWE is worse than the threat posed by ISIS. Is this even remotely true? Borealis pushes back against the increased hyperbole over the terrorist reality.
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
No, I am not at all dismissing the seriousness of terrorism or the pain and suffering they cause but sometimes laughter (and satire) are indeed the 'best medicine'.
With that in mind, I'd like to present my Top Ten Worst Terrorist Group names. I came up with the list by thinking of all the groups I have come across over the years as well as by looking at 'listed terrorist entities' concocted by various governments (Finally! An actual use for such tools!). Some of the names are, well, how to put this, 'riddikulus'! Have a look for yourself.
See also:►Top 10 Dumbest Terrorists of all Time
►Top 10 Worst Right-Wing Extremism Group Names
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
We hear all the time about 'intelligence failures', the most recent being the attack on the US Capitol in January. But it turns out there was advanced warning about the possibility, if not probability, of violence. Borealis looks at how such failures are anything but.
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Episode 82 - Most Canadians know that we sent thousands of soldiers to Afghanistan beginning in 2002 to help fight Al Qaeda. Far fewer know we sent hundreds of police officers as well. This is the story of one of them, an RCMP officer who spent time there in 2011-12 and wrote a book about it.
►Check out Cops in Kabul by William C. Malone
About my guest William C. Malone:William C. Malone is no stranger to international policing, having served in Africa and Haiti, and he relies upon those experiences regularly in dealing with the political and foreign service efforts of the other contributing partner countries, whose good intentions are respected but tempered by Malone’s pragmatic operational experience.
►Find out more about my guest William Malone
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Canada listed the Proud Boys as a right wing terrorist group recently in the wake of the Jan 6 riot at the US Capitol. Some saw this as an over reaction. New information has surfaced that pressure was brought to name them despite a lack of evidence. Borealis looks at this issue - again!!
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
The debate over the events of Jan 6 in Washington continues. Was it terrorism? A riot? A coup? Well, a Canadian Member of Parliament has decided it was most definitely terrorism. Is that OK? Do we want the government to tell us how to think? Borealis weighs in on this trend.
► Check out my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
A doctor in Turkey has been charged with terrorism for embarrassing the government over true COVID figures. How is that terrorism? Borealis looks at how many are widening the scope of the term terrorism to ridiculous ends.
► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Episode 81 - France has suffered a disproportionate number of terrorist attacks, mostly Islamist in nature, in the 2010s and 2020s when compared to other Western nations. Why is this? Borealis is joined by Alexandre Rodde, a French terrorism researcher and trainer for that country's law enforcement to discuss the situation in France.
About my guest Alexandre Rodde:Alexandre is a security consultant, specialized in terrorism and mass shootings issues. His work includes risk assessment, threat monitoring, and research on national security subjects.
►Find out more about my guest Alexandre Rodde
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Every major Western power has a foreign intelligence service that collects information on the intents and capabilities of foreign states. Except Canada. We do allow CSIS to collect FI as it is called, but in a very constrained way - why?
In this Quick Hits episode, Borealis looks at a recent court ruling and comments on this silliness.
► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
The 2008 film Ironman starts in Afghanistan where the main character, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), ends up wounded by shrapnel from one of the weapons his company made. How well does the movie portray the military deployment to Afghanistan and does it show why we should not see counter terrorism as primarily a problem for the army/air force to solve.
►Watch video version on YouTube
►See also, Lessons on Terrorism | How Captain Marvel badly uses the word 'terrorism'
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
QAnon has been shown to not be very good at predictions. Trump lost the election, there is no satanic pedophile cult in the White House, etc. So will it now turn violent... or disappear. Borealis speculates on where this all goes and how much attention we need to pay to it.
► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
The federal government has added 13 groups to its list of terror groups, including five ISIS affiliates, and a handful of far-right extremist groups, including the Proud Boys.
The move comes after parliament voted to call on the government to add the Proud Boys to the list in the wake of its involvement in the Jan. 6 events at the U.S. Capitol.
But what does the terror designation actually do?
Author and former CSIS terrorism analyst Phil Gurski joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss the purpose of Canada’s terror group list, where it can be helpful in dealing with extremist groups, but where politics can muddy the process.
► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Episode 80 - The race between codemakers and codebreakers is an ancient one. Success in breaking the enemy's codes often turns defeat into victory on the battlefield. Borealis sits down with former Canadian cryptologist Richard Brisson to talk about this fascinating field.
About my guest Richard Brisson:Richard Brisson is a graduate from the University of Ottawa (B.Sc. Math-Physics in 1978 and M.Sc. Systems Science in 1980). Upon graduation, he was hired by the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) from which he retired in 2011. Over the last 25 years, he has been collecting vintage cryptographic and clandestine artifacts dating up to and including the Cold War.
►Find out more about my guest Richard Brisson
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Religion can inspire heights of magnificence and depths of violence. Each faith has a wide range of interpretations from 'normative' to 'extreme'. 'Extreme' does not mean violent, but extreme views can endanger the public. Borealis looks at extreme views that may not be violent but which still can an effect on public safety.
► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
20 years ago the Canadian government decided to list the Iranian group MeK as a terrorist group. Ten years later a different government elected to 'delist' it. Why? Had it changed its ways? If not, what does this say about the whole process? Borealis comes out against the whole process of listings, calling it more or less useless.
► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
So, the Canadian government just listed 13 more groups to its terrorist entities list, including the Proud Boys, 3 Al Qaida affiliates and 5 ISIS franchises. To what end? Borealis weighs in on the usefulness or lack thereof of this process.
► Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Canadian parliamentarians recently voted unanimously to name the Proud Boys a terrorist group. What does this mean? Is it necessary? Borealis discusses the usefulness or lack thereof of the 'terrorist listing' process in Canada.
- Read MPs agree to call on feds to declare Proud Boys a terrorist entity on CTV News
- Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
We are all used to hearing how the FBIs, CSISs and GCHQs of this world monitor online activity to help keep us safe and protect critical infrastructure. What, then, is the role of the private sector? Borealis sits down with Chris Parsons of Canada's Citizen Lab to have a chat on these issues.
In this episode:► What is the Citizen Lab and how did it come about;
►"Canada does not have a ‘Huawei problem’ per se";
► Where are digital threats headed and what can the average Canadian do .
About my guest Christopher Parsons:Dr. Christopher Parsons is a Senior Research Associate with the Citizen Lab, at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto. His research focuses on third-party access to telecommunications data, data privacy, data security, and national security.
►Find out more about my guest Christopher Parson
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
Everywhere you read these days you see references to right wing terrorism as the predominant threat to the West. This flies in the face of all the data which shows that at least on a worldwide basis Islamist terrorists kill and wound people, most of whom are Muslims, at orders of magnitude greater than right wing actors. Borealis weighs in on this shift in attention and argues that it is wrong.
►Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present (2021, Phil Gurski)
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
While Canada has not been menaced by terrorism like some countries it is not immune. A new book on terrorism in that land over the past 150 years - The Peaceable Kingdom: A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the present - is now out! Borealis takes you behind the scenes of this book.
►Buy my latest book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present (2021, Phil Gurski)
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Many in the so-called right-wing extremist (RWE) are confused now that Trump is no longer the 'oil' that greases their movements. QAnon, the Proud Boys and others are registering disappointment and anger at their lack of success. Whither the far-right? Borealis looks at what may be next for RWE.
My new book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present is now available for pre-order! Get your copy today!
Mentionned articles:
► Biden's inauguration sows doubt among QAnon conspiracy theorists on CBC
► Quebec QAnon followers question beliefs after Trump leaves office on The Ottawa Citizen
► Proud Boys give up support of ‘weak’ Donald Trump on The Times
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Many people use the word terrorism to refer to all kinds of things. Not all these uses are good ones. Borealis looks at the 2019 film Captain Marvel to see how the word is deployed badly.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
What is the role of respect for human rights in counterterrorism? Borealis talks to UK practitioner Tom Parker on what we have done well and what not so well.
In this episode:►The obstacles been in getting consensus on defining terrorism in international law;
►How can we do counter-terrorism better by taking human rights into account in a more systematic way?
►Targeted killing seems to have become a favourite counter-terrorism strategy – should it be?
►Respect for human rights is the key to defeating terrorism. Can we get there?
About my guest Tom Parker:Tom Parker has spent the past three years as a European Union-sponsored adviser to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Baghdad, Iraq, prior to which he served as a Counter-Terrorism Strategist at the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) and as the Adviser on Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism to the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), where he co-authored the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism.
►Find out more about my guest Tom Parker
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
The 30 Years' War was one in which Christians on one side slaughtered Christians on the other. The massacres were perpetrated based on difference in religious interpretation. Today of course we talk a lot about religious terrorism, especially of the Islamist variety. What about Christian extremism, both violent and non-violent? Borealis looks at this brand of terrorism and the links between Christians and the far right.
My new book The Peaceable Kingdom? A history of terrorism in Canada from Confederation to the Present is now available for pre-order! Get your copy today!
Mentionned articles:
►Erasmus’s teachings are still pertinent today on The Economist
►Proud Boys find refuge — and money — on Christian fundraising website on The National Post
►Henry Hildebrandt: From religious firebrand to COVID-19 provocateur on The London Free Press
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Borealis has been in business for almost 6 years, providing content on national security and public safety. Why does he do it? In this podcast, Borealis provides some insight into why an old retired guy is dedicated to creating this material and for whom.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
GCHQ is a famous British signals intelligence (SIGINT) agency perhaps best known for its work at Bletchley Park during WWII. The spy service decided to have its official history written – and chose a Canadian to do so!
►Find out more about my guest John Ferris
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About my guest John Ferris
John Ferris is a Professor of History at The University of Calgary, where he also is a Fellow at The Centre for Military and Strategic Studies. He received an MA (1980) and a PhD (1986) in War Studies, from King’s College, The University of London, United Kingdom. Find out more about my guest.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Headlines are the first thing we see when we consume news. They thus help us form a first impression. Should they then not be carefully written? Borealis looks at this issue in the context of RWE and the US military.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Listen to my ongoing coverage of the Washington riots:
Listing the Proud Boys as a ‘terrorist entity’ is mostly about politicsPhil Gurski | January 13, 2020Those who keep us safe do not need a list to tell them whom and what to investigate.
Listen to episode
Are we calling too many things ‘terrorism’?Phil Gurski | January 11, 2020Terrorism means many things to many people and we may be heading down an unhelpful pathway
Listen to episode
Once inside the Capitol, it was like a frat partyPhil Gurski | January 8, 2020Listen to my interview on Canada Now with Jeff Sammut
Listen to episode
Security intelligence agencies are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Stop an act of violence from happening and they are called overbearing: fail to do so and they are called incompentent. In this podcast Borealis pushes back that the US intelligence community 'failed' on January 6.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Listen to my ongoing coverage of the Washington riots:
Listing the Proud Boys as a ‘terrorist entity’ is mostly about politicsPhil Gurski | January 13, 2020Those who keep us safe do not need a list to tell them whom and what to investigate.
Listen to episode
Are we calling too many things ‘terrorism’?Phil Gurski | January 11, 2020Terrorism means many things to many people and we may be heading down an unhelpful pathway
Listen to episode
Once inside the Capitol, it was like a frat partyPhil Gurski | January 8, 2020Listen to my interview on Canada Now with Jeff Sammut
Listen to episode
Humans are notoriously unpredictable. Why would anyone try to say that something will most definitely happen? Borealis looks at attempts to be sure about terrorism and why this is a bad idea.
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Most people have either never heard of Yemen or know very little about it. The country is one of the world's poorest, is home to Islamist terrorist groups and is beset by a war with the involvement of foreign actors. Borealis is joined by Yemen specialist Gregory Johnsen to get a better understanding of how we got there and what the stakes are.
►Find out more about my guest Gregorry Johnsen
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About my guest Gregory Johnsen
Gregory D. Johnsen, a former Fulbright Fellow in Yemen, is a PhD candidate at Princeton University and the Michael Hastings National Security Fellow at BuzzFeed. A frequent guest on NPR, he has contributed essays to the New York Times. He lives in Ithaca, New York. Find out more about my guest.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of the January 6 attacks in Washington, many are calling for the Proud Boys, a white supremacist group, to be added to the 'listed terrorist entities' in Canada. What is a 'terrorist entity list' and what does it do? Borealis argues that this is an unnecessary tool that does not add much to counter terrorism efforts.
Read more:
►Listed Terrorist Entities - Public Safety Canada
►NDP calls for right-wing group Proud Boys to be banned, labelled as terrorists - Global News
►Feds looking at declaring Proud Boys a terrorist organization in wake of U.S. rioting - CTV
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Terrorism specialist Phil Gurski tells Canada Now more about who exactly the protestors were in Washington, US law enforcement agencies' response, whether we can expect more of the same moving forward and what lessons can be learned coming out of all this. Canada Now with Jeff Sammut is live weekdays from 12-2pmET on Sirius XM Canada Talks channel 167.
►Listen to yesterday's episode What the hell happened in Washington today? About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of the events of January 6 in the US capital, Borealis is joined once again by Barbara Perry, Canadian academic who specialises on the far right as to what it all means and what we can expect moving forward.
►Listen to yesterday's episode What the hell happened in Washington today? About my guest Dr. Barbara PerryDr. Barbara Perry is the Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism. She has written extensively in the area of hate crime and right-wing extremism. Dr. Perry has also written on policing diverse communities, including work on social control in Native American communities. She has made substantial contributions to the limited scholarship on hate crime in Canada.
►Listen to my October interview with Barbara Perry How serious is the far-right extremist threat in Canada? Are we taking it seriously enough?
About the host Phil Gurski:
Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
A mog storms the US Senate. Sessions are ended, tear gas is strewn, chaos reigns. So what was this? An act of terrorism? A riot? A coup? A mob? Borealis weighs in with what we know so far.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
We have seen iconic images online: such as MAGA hats, swastikas and ISIS flags. What do these do to us and how do they lead is some cases to violent extremism? Borealis is joined by Dr. Sophia Moskalenko to delve into these questions
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About my guest Sophia Moskalenko
Sophia Moskalenko researches terrorism and radicalization at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (NC-START) where she has worked on research projects commissioned by the Department of Defence, Department of Homeland Security and Department of State. Find out more about Dr Sophia Moskalenko
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of information that the Christmas Day Nashville bomber believed in conspiracy theories, including the conviction that world leaders are actually extraterrestrial 'lizard people', does this now make his act one of terrorism? Borealis weighs in on this new info and whether the bomber was treated differently because he was white.
Read more on this topic:
►Nashville explosion: Just what do we mean by ‘terrorism’? | Phil Gurski
►The Nashville explosion is looking more and more like a spectacular suicide, not an act of terrorism | Phil Gurski
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
As we impatiently wait for more details on what happened in Nashville on Christmas Day we are now aware that the perpetrator said the world would never forget him. Does that make him a terrorist? Probably not.
Borealis looks at serious acts of violence, including 'suicide bombings', that are not terrorist in nature.
Mentionned articles:
- Sometimes an explosion is just an explosion by Phil Gurski
- What we know about the 63-year-old Nashville bomber on CNN
- simoncottee.org
- Dying Without Killing: Self‐Immolations, 1963–2002 by Diego Gambetta
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
The 2020 Global Terrorism Index had a bit of good news: terrorist deaths are down for the 4th year in a row. Will that continue into 2021? Borealis provides some ideas on what will be making terrorism headlines next year.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
The recent explosion in Nashville has been deemed a 'suicide bombing'. Was it? We don't have a motive and we tend to see suicide bombings as acts of terrorism. Are we using the word terrorism consistently?
Borealis looks at ways in which states and individuals twist the term to suit their purposes.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of terrorist attacks in France, President Emmanuel Macron said that Islam was 'in crisis'. Not surprisingly, Muslim leaders pushed back, calling for boycotts of French goods. So what is this all about?
Borealis is joined by Mustafa Akyol to look at the nuances of these issues.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About my guest Mustafa Akyol
Mustafa Akyol is a Turkish journalist and author. SInce the early 2000's, he has been writing regular opinion columns for Turkish publications like Hurriyet Daily News, and recently for the Middle-East focused Al-Monitor.com. Since the fall of 2013, he is also a regular contributing opinion writer for The New York Times.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Many Muslim states went apoplectic when French President said that Islam was in crisis: French flags were burned and boyocotts of French goods were planned. And yet when it comes to what the PRC is doing with the incarceration of up to a million Uyghur Muslims there is no protest among these same states.
What gives? Borealis looks into this odd discrepancy.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
A Somali ISIS wannabe just stabbed two Australian octogenarians to death. He had been arrested in 2019 for seeking to travel for terrorist purposes but was released for lack of evidence (although his passport was taken).
Now he has killed two innocent people. What is going on here? Borealis takes our judicial system to task.
►Read
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Israel has been at the forefront of violence since its creation and this violence once threatened its very existence. What is happening these days in that nation?Israeli analyst Joshua Krasna joins Borealis to look at these issues.
About my guest Joshua Krasna
Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Program on the Middle East, is an analyst specializing in Middle East political and regional developments and forecasting, as well as in international strategic issues. Find out more about Joshua on my website.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Religion is a very personal thing and, for many, very important. That it can make someone a better person is indeed a good thing, but that is not always the case. For some, faith is something to impose on others, and, in some cases, kill for.
Borealis looks at blasphemy accusations and links to religious terrorism.
►Read Blasphemy laws are still common around the world
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the aftermath of the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings, everyone is asking why Brenton Tarrant did what he did. Was it is violent household? His racist views? His online habits? Was any of this 'predictable'?
Borealis pushes back against the notion that we can detect these events in advance.
►Read The warning signs in the Christchurch terrorist's Australian upbringing
►Read How should security services handle threat information
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Remember 'take this plane to Cuba"? What if I told you that airplane hijackings as a technique go back to the 1930s! Canadian scholar Yannick Veilleux-Lepage walks us through the 'evolution' of this phenomenon.
About my guest Dr. Yannick Veilleux-Lepage
Dr. Yannick Veilleux-Lepage is an Assistant Professor of Terrorism and Political violence at Leiden University in The Netherlands. He holds a doctorate in International Relations from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. His research interests include the creation of online narratives and propaganda which fosters or normalizes terrorism; historical antecedents to terrorism; far-right extremism and the transnational links of far-right groups; ideological and technical diffusion, and the application of evolutionary theory to social sciences.
►Check out Yannick's book How Terror Evolves - The Emergence and Spread of Terrorist Techniques
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
We in the West rightfully demand that our spy agencies obey the law and are not allowed to do a 'runaround'. We would also expect them to use any information they have access to help keep us safe. So, what to make of a new NSIRA report criticising CSIS for using open source info to help it do its job?
►Read CSIS use of geolocation data could be unlawful, says watchdog on CBC
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Many countries engage in programs to 'deradicalise' violent extremists or act to prevent them from going down the terrorism road in the first place. So what happens when other extremists show up seeking to recruit those being helped? In light of a case in Australia Borealis reflects on his own experience when a jihadi came to town.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
This past Tuesday, an architect of an extraordinary Toronto 18 terrorism plot to detonate truck bombs in the city’s downtown core was granted day parole. And the outcome of the three hour parole hearing went against the recommendation of the Correctional Service of Canada.
Libby Znaimer is joined by Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consultants as well as a former strategic analyst at CSIS, and Andrew House, Counsel and co-lead for the National Security Group at Fasken LLP. Andrew had carriage of the Anti-Terrorism file for the federal Attorney General in 2006 when the Toronto 18 were arrested.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of a brutal killing and beheading of a French teacher in October for his 'crime' of showing the Muhammad cartoons, a report has come out saying French security and intelligence services failed to "appreciate the gravity of the defamatory campaign on social media against the teacher".
In other words, the French blew it. Or did they? Borealis discusses what the real world of monitoring online hate is all about.
►Read Samuel Paty: French security services failed to act over incendiary social media campaign | The Guardian
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
There are a lot of sources of information available on all kinds of topics. If you want to stay abreast of what is happening from a national security/public safety angle you need to invest time and effort to find that information.
Borealis offers some hints on how to do so.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
What is it like to move from law enforcement to the private sector as head of security? What are the challenges of ensuring security for a large commercial centre? Borealis talks to Terry Chowanec, former head of National Security at Cadillac Fairview.
About my guest Terry Chowanec
Terry Chowanec is the former Vice President of National Security Operations with Cadillac Fairview Corporation, recently retiring from Cadillac Fairview after 12 years with the company. Prior to joining Cadillac Fairview, Terry led police reform projects throughout the U.S. and internationally while based in Washington, D.C. while at the pre-eminent policing think tank, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of the November 2 terrorist attack in Vienna in which 4 people died, the head of the Austrian security service resigned and the responsible minister has called for a review of the spy service. Austria apparently received but failed to act on intelligence from Germany and Slovakia.Was the attack a failure? Borealis wonders why security services are always blamed when things go wrong.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
2 American women were arrested last weekend for having placed wires across railway tracks in Washington state: they have been charged with terrorism. They apparently belong to an anarchist movement that has been sabotaging rails in protest over natural gas shipments.
Was this an 'act of terrorism'? Listen as Borealis examines this case.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Even if we cannot agree on what ‘terrorism’ is, we should be able to agree on what it isn’t. Legitimate non-violent dissent is not terrorism, and yet that label is used by many countries to outlaw this opposition.In this episode, Borealis looks at some recent abuses of the word ‘terrorism’ and calls on all countries to reject this usage.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Journalists and intelligence operatives are actually quite similar. We both recruit sources, collect data and figure out what it all means. So, what is it like to cover terrorism for one of the world's leading dailies? Borealis has a chat with New York Times reporter Eric Schmitt.
About my guest Eric Schmitt
Eric Schmitt is a senior writer covering terrorism and national security for The New York Times. Since 2007, he has reported on terrorism issues, with assignments to Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Africa, Southeast Asia among others. He is the co-author, with The Times’s Thom Shanker, of “Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda,” published in 2011.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
As a trial in Toronto of a man accused ot running down and killing 10 people in 2018 continues we are seeing various arguments about both the mental competence of the accused and whether his act could inspire others. Borealis sits down once again with incel specialist Naama Kates to look at what we can deduce from these hearings on incels.
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About my guest Naama Kates:Investigative journalist Naama Kates dives deep inside the incel community. Incel is shorthand for involuntary celibate.
►Listen to Naama's podcast The Incel Project
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
We all see things at work we don't like. We should have ways to talk about these issues, without airing dirty linen in public. So, what about those who betray intelligence secrets? What about Jonathan Pollard and Edward Snowden? Borealis looks at better ways to talk about concerns.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
It seems that all Western media want to talk about when it comes to terrorism these days is the far right. We need, or so many say, to shift out resources away from the jihadis we have been focused on for 20 years. Should we? What do the data say? Borealis looks at what facts tell us about terrorism in late 2020.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Militants, militias, insurgents, sects. These are just some of the terms used to describe what are in reality terrorists. Why the variation? Borealis weighs in on the terminology used to talk about terrorists.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
When you work in intelligence the first thing you learn is to say nothing publicly. All that knowledge is supposed to go to your grave with you. Thankfully, there are people out there who write very good books on all matters intelligence and Nigel West is one of them. He joins Borealis for a fascinating look at this murky world.
About my guest Nigel WestNigel West is an author specialising in security, intelligence, secret service and espionage issues. He is the European Editor of the World Intelligence Review, published in Washington DC, and the editorial director of The St Ermin’s Press. In 1989 he was voted ‘The Experts’ Expert’ by the Observer.
►Check Nigel's books on his website
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Canada’s cyber security agency has named China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as the ‘greatest strategic threats’ to Canada’s infrastructure, property and elections. I was invited on the Scott Thomspon Show to discuss this recent news and its impact for Canada.
►Listen to The Scott Thomspon Show
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
As the trial of a Toronto man who drove a van down a busy street killing 10 gets underway doubt is raised as to whether he is mentally responsible. More importantly, he may not be the incel (involuntary celibate) he claimed to be. Borealis looks at why we should not call violent incels 'terrorists'.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
While terrorism is an important issue it is not the only threat we face. To date, Borealis has focused almost exclusively on terrorism but it is time to broaden horizons. In this Quick Hits episode you'll hear what the new scope is as well as the new name for this short podcast!
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Tens of thousands of Western citizens left their homes to join terrorist groups abroad such as Al Qaeda and ISIS. Many died, often killing many others in the process, while others are still active. A third cohort are in some kind of captivity and some want to bring them back. Borealis talks to David Malet, who has looked at this issue at great length.
About my guest David MaletDavid Malet teaches Justice, Law and Criminology at the School of Public Affairs at American University. Previously he served as director of the Security Policy Studies Program at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. He also taught at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and at Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he was director of the Center for the Study of Homeland Security and the University Honors Program.
►Check David's book Foreign Fighters: Transnational Identity in Civic Conflicts
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Everyone seems to think Western governments need to drop everything and bring back their terrorist citizens for prosecution/counselling. Those who think this way don't seem to have any idea what it takes to investigate and prosecute a returnee. Borealis weighs in, once again, on why this is a bad idea.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
A man is decapitated and a world leader is asked what he thinks of it. Rather than denouncing it as a heinous act he referred to the danger of yelling 'fire' in a crowded theatre. The man in question is Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Borealis wonders why he was unable to do the right thing and simply reject terrorism.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Episode 100! Administrations have to deal with a lot of things: the economy, trade, diplomacy, global warming... and terrorism. The latter is not as dangerous as many think it is but it cannot be ignored. What will a Biden presidency look like on this front? Borealis looks at this aspect of the term of the 46th US President.
►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Can you find Mozambique on a map? Does this southeastern African nation come up often in your news feeds? What if you were to learn that a very dangerous Islamist terrorism campaign is taking place in northern Mozambique? Borealis talks to Jasmine Opperman, who knows a lot about what is happening there.
About my guest, Jasmine Opperman
Jasmine Opperman is a former Director of Africa Desk at Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium (TRAC). Jasmine’s areas of expertise include methodological risk analysis and the management of intelligence processes (operations, counter intelligence, covert activities and analysis). Jasmine is qualified as a risk analyst and holds a Master’s Degree in History at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa). Her aptitude emanates from 19 years employment in formal intelligence structures, at which time she attained the position of Provincial Head Eastern Cape Province.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Religious people are supposed to spread love and tolerance, not violence. So what do we do with those who advocate extremism and terrorism? Borealis has a look at this issue.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of the terrorist attack in Vienna, we learned that the perpetrator was a wannabe ISIS fighter who was sent to prison. While there he went into a 'deradicalisation' program and told the organisers he had abandoned ISIS ideology, but went on to kill five people in downtown Vienna. What does this tell us about deradicalisation programs? Borealis looks at these efforts.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
An attack in Vienna has resulted in four people dead and a 20 year old extremist killed by police. What is the latest in this situation and what do we know? Phil Gurski, President & CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting joins the Bill Kelly Show to discuss the latest developments in this story.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of an attack in Nice by an illegal Tunisian immigrant that North African country is facing a grave crisis. Thousands of Tunisians went to fight for ISIS and other terrorist groups and many more were prevented from doing so. Borealis discusses the nature of this problem in Tunisia.
Please support the podcast by sharing this episode with your contacts.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Four people have been killed and 22 injured in an attack in a busy area of Vienna, Austria, on Monday evening. The country's interior minister and chancellor called the shooting an "Islamist terror attack." Phil Gurski joins Supriya Dwivedi & guest host Greg Brady on 640 Toronto's Morning Show.
Please support the podcast by sharing this episode with your contacts.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
If you are following what is happening in Afghanistan you will know two things: one, the US is engaged in 'peace talks' with Taliban terrorists and two, Taliban terrorists are continuing to kill on a daily basis. Should we talk 'peace' with terrorists? Borealis talks to a Canadian specialist on this issue, Kamran Bokhari.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
The world has been shocked over the past few weeks over a series of knife attacks and beheadings in France, all of which appear to be terrroism related. So when two people are killed and five wounded by a man with a sword in Quebec City many assume it must be terrorism. But is it? Borealis weighs in on why we need to be careful before we jump to conclusions.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Canada has long benefitted from its membership in the so-called '5 eyes' intelligence sharing club. But when it comes to counter terrorism, the '5 eyes' are not enough. Borealis argues why it is crucial to share counter terrorism data widely with other intelligence partners.
Read Should the Five Eyes Alliance be Expanded? by Greg Fyffe.
Please support the podcast by sharing this episode with your contacts.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of heavy criticism by Muslim leaders over French President Macron's comments about Islam after a brutal beheading all fingers are pointed at France as the problem. Is it, or is the Muslim world in crisis? Borealis weighs in on this topic.
Please support the podcast by sharing this episode to your contacts.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
In the wake of a brutal beheading in France, that country's President Emmanuel Macron has called for a look at Islam in France. Saudi Arabia has responded that Islamist terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. Huh? Borealis looks at this issue in some depth.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Everyone seems to want to talk about 'Right-Wing Extremism' or RWE these days. It is a nebulous term that seems to cover an awful lot of actors. Borealis talks to Dr. Cynthia Miller-Idriss of American University in Washington DC whose latest book HATE IN THE HOMELAND: the new global far right is now today! Have a listen to this fascinating discussion!
About my guest Cynthia Miller-Idriss:Cynthia Miller-Idriss is an award-winning author and scholar of extremism and youth radicalization. She directs the Polarization and Extremism Research & Innovation Lab (PERIL) in the Center for University Excellence (CUE) at the American University in Washington, DC, where she is also Professor in the School of Public Affairs and in the School of Education.
► Hate in the Homeland: The New Global Far Right
► Check out Cynthia's website
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Most people know that terrorism is driven by one of three primary motivators: religion, politics or ideology. Some now want to add misogyny to that trio. Borealis thinks this is a bad idea - have a listen to why.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Pick up any Western newspaper or go to any Website and when it comes to terrorism it seems to be all right wing all the time. Is this an accurate analysis of where the threat really is? Borealis offers his thoughts on the matter.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Six years ago today unarmed Corporal Nathan Cirillo was killed while standing honour guard at the National Cenotaph by a Canadian Islamist terrorist. RIP Corporal Cirillo.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
A French teacher makes the difficult decision to raise the issue of the infamous 'Muhammad cartoons' to his class. People get angry and an 18-yr old student beheads this teacher. While France is no stranger to jihadi terrorism will this henous act lead to significant actions?
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Have you ever wondered what it takes to train a sniffer dog? Just how good are these dogs? Borealis talks to a Canadian who has been involved in training 'man's best friend' for four decades.
About my guest Tom Abraham:My name is Tom Abraham, I am a former volunteer Fire Fighter in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada. I started this organization not by choice but rather by chance. My primary passion has always been dogs, Service Dogs – in specific, German Shepherds for Military/Law Enforcement purposes. About 10 years ago I approached an individual who attended the same church as me, he was working at a Youth Detention facility at the time.
► BlackTrack K9 Facebook
► BlackTrack K9 website
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
It should surprise no one that most terrorists deny what they did. After all, admitting to it would mean a quick conviction were you to come to trial. What do we do with those who say they joined terrorist groups but did nothing violent? Borealis weighs in on this topic.
Read: Inmate Released from Kurdish Prison: ISIS Used Us as Human Shields
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
When terrorism cases come to court it is necessary to prove that ideology drove a (planned) act of violence. Why do we need to do that? Isn't violence simply violence? Borealis asks whether a recent Greek court decision to convict the far right Golden Dawn as a criminal organisation rather than a terrorist one has lessons for all of us.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
There are those in the US especially who say that groups like Antifa are terrorist in nature and should be banned. Antifa would be left-wing extremism, although some would take issue with that. Borealis appears as a guest on a podcast hosted by Vaush to look at these issues.
About my guest Vaush:
Hi, I'm Vaush. I believe progressive socialism is the best solution to the problems our country - all countries - face, and I'm here to make arguments in favor of that belief. I broadcast livestreams where I do debates, cover current events, critique media, and generally try not to take it all too seriously. Hope you enjoy!
►Vaush on Youtube
►Vaush on Twitter
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil's latest books ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
The FBI has charged 13 men accused of a violent plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, attack police, and start a U.S. civil war ahead of the November presidential election. Borealis talks with CHML's Bill Kelly about the FBI takedown of a right wing Michigan militia plot to kidnap and kill the state governor.
►Read more: 13 men charged in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
How serious is the far right extremist threat in Canada? Are we taking it seriously enough? Borealis talks to Canada's leading scholar on this phenomenon, Dr. Barbara Perry of Ontario Tech University.
About my guest Dr. Barbara Perry:
Dr. Barbara Perry is the Director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism. She has written extensively in the area of hate crime and right-wing extremism. Dr. Perry has also written on policing diverse communities, including work on social control in Native American communities. She has made substantial contributions to the limited scholarship on hate crime in Canada. Most recently, she has contributed to a scholarly understanding of anti-Muslim violence, hate crime against LGBTQ communities, the community impacts of hate crime, and right-wing extremism.
►Check Barbara's book Right-Wing Extremism in Canada
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
50 years ago today the FLQ terrorist group kidnapped a UK diplomat in Montreal. A few days later, they kidnapped the deputy premier Pierre Laporte whom they killed. In response the Pierre Trudeau government declared martial law and arrested hundreds. People are now demanding that the current Trudeau government apologise for this. Should it? Borealis weighs in.
►Read Today in terrorism: October 5, 1970: FLQ kidnapping of British diplomat
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
An inquiry into the 2017 Manchester suicide bombing has uncovered that MI5 had the terrorist on their 'radar' as long ago as 2010. The security service ended up dropping him from investigation. Did they screw up? Borealis weighs in on how investigations really work.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Intelligence agencies exist to help officials make better decisions. Some nations have true 'intelligence cultures' where the value of this kind of information is recognised. Then there is Canada. Borealis laments the lack of appreciation for this source of data in his own country.
►Read Ottawa turned off ‘wrong tap’ on pandemic surveillance, former intelligence adviser says
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
A Canadian has been charged with terrorism hoax for lying about being part of ISIS. What should happen to him? Borealis talks to Mubin Shaikh, a Canadian who worked with Abu Huzayfah to see what he knew and when about this case.
More:
►Quick Hits Abu Huzayfah, the man who cried ISIS
►Episode 31 - Interview with Mubin Shaikh, former security intelligence and counter terrorism operative
About my guest Mubin Shaikh:Mubin Shaikh is a former security intelligence and counter terrorism operative. He has testified as an expert for the United Nations Security Council, the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs with NATO, the National Counterterrorism Center, and Special Operations Command Central and he is an external expert with the Joint Staff SMA for CENTCOM Command Staff.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
What should we do with so-called returning 'foreign fighters' (i.e. terrorists)? Charge them? How hard is that? Borealis discusses the challenges behind this in light of a recent case in Calgary, Canada.
►Read Second Calgary man in two months charged with aiding Islamic State terrorists
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
China has used a very small terrorist threat emanating from a handful of Uyghur Islamist extremists to launch an enormous crackdown in what it calls Xinjiang - the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR). It has incarcerated up to 1 million Uyghurs in euphemistically termed 'vocational centres' and is trying very hard to erase all signs of Uyghur language and culture - all as part of the 'Global war on terrorism'. Borealis is joined by GWU's Sean Roberts to discuss his new book on this humanitarian outrage.
About my guest Sean Roberts:
Having conducted ethnographic fieldwork among the Uyghur people of Central Asia and China during the 1990s, Sean has published extensively on this community in scholarly journals and collected volumes. In addition, he produced a documentary film on the community entitled Waiting for Uighurstan (1996).
His present research is focused on China's development of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region as well as on democracy development in former Soviet Central Asia. Roberts continues his applied work on the design and evaluation of democracy and governance projects in the former Soviet Union, most recently in Ukraine where he worked on a USAID project to support decentralization and anti-corruption.
►Check Sean's book The War on the Uyghurs: China's Internal Campaign against a Muslim Minority
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Just about every job these days lists a BA as a basic requirement. That goes for national security as well. Except that knowledge and experience are much more important qualities and often come without a BA. It is time to stop ruling out great Canadians from our intelligence agencies just because they never went to university.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
In a time when many say we need to focus on right-wing terrorism, a stabbing in Paris is an uncomfortable exception. Borealis weighs in on why this attack is important and has significant implications for France and the West.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Far too many Canadians left our fair land to join terrorist groups such as ISIS. Some killed people abroad. Some came home but few have been charged. Then there is the Burlington man who maintained he killed for ISIS but lied about it. He has been charged with a terrorism 'hoax'. What should happen to him? Borealis gives some ideas.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Australia's domestic spies are ramping up their CT efforts against right wing extremists, probably at the expense of looking at jihadis; What is driving this? Is it the right move? Should other nations follow suit?
Mentionned articles:
- Asio reveals up to 40% of its counter-terrorism cases involve far-right violent extremism
- CIA letting less intelligence on Russia reach Trump: report
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Phil Gurski, Canadian intelligence veteran, author on five books about terrorism, and hosts of the podcast "An Intelligent Look at Terrorism," joins David to discuss the sources of terror, the war on terror, and much more.
About my guest David Pakman:
The David Pakman Show (TDPS) is a multi-platform politics and news talk show currently airing on television, radio, and the Internet, hosted by David Pakman. The focus of the show is modern North American politics and society, with frequent discussion of economics, science, religion in public life, culture, reason, gay rights, capital punishment and crime, policing, North-American foreign policy, technology, and other topical issues.
►Find David Pakman on Twitter
►Watch David Pakman on Youtube
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
As the trial of the New Zealand/Australian white supremacist who killed 51 Muslims at prayer in a mosque in Christchurch came to a close questions were asked. Why did this happen? What did the authorities know? Could they have prevented it? Borealis looks at how investigations are done in this regard.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
A recent US case where a pair of 'Boogaloo Bois' tried to deal with the terrorist group Hamas has raised some interesting questions on US counter terrorism practice. Why is there a distinction between 'domestic' and 'international' terrorism? Borealis has a few suggestions for his American friends.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
We all hate terrorists and terrorism, right? We all want to see these actors punished for what they do, right? So what if some accused of terrorist offences are not in fact terrorists at all?
Borealis looks at the cases of Paul Rusesabagina and Eskinder Nega in Africa where two governments are using the word 'terrorism' to stop the activities of opposition parties.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Edward Snowden and Julian Assange are painted as courageous whistleblowers and maybe they are to some extent. Yet there is little in life that is uniquely positive and this goes as well for the smashers of secrets. It is time for a much more nuanced discussion on intelligence leaks.
Read: Wikileaks, Snowden and the impact on Canadian intelligence
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
It is no secret that there is consensus on what terrorism means. Today the confusion is growing as more and more crimes are being called 'terrorism' in nature. What does this all mean? UK researcher and former PREVENT officer Liam Duffy joins Borealis in the discussion.
About my guest Liam Duffy:
Liam is a Preventing/Countering Violent Extremism (P/CVE) specialist and Director of SINCE 9/11, a London-based educational charity which aims to create a legacy of hope from the tragedy of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Liam and Tom joined forces and formed the Programme for Prevention and Counter-Terrorism to ensure that local authorities, businesses, schools and community groups had access to the best support available to prevent radicalisation and respond to the risk of terrorism.
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/LiamSD12
►Programme for Prevention and Counter-Terrorism - https://www.pact-programme.com/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Intelligence agencies exist to provide the best information possible to those who run the country. They are given general requirements, hunt for the information, and package it up for their clients. In this they must be able to act independently.
Borealis weighs in on a report that the Trump Administration told its spies not to report on Russia and right-wing extremism.
Related articles:
►D.H.S. Downplayed Threats From Russia and White Supremacists, Whistle-Blower Says
►Al Qaeda’s Franchise Reboot
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
An idea hatched over a beer one year ago today led to the ‘Today in Terrorism‘ series. How has that first year been? Are there lessons from the past for us today? Borealis reflects on 365 terrorist attacks over history, one for each calendar day.
►Read my daily blog Today in terrorism
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
When you read about an act of violence do you immediately assume that the perpetrator is mentally ill? What about terrorism? What is the link? Borealis talks to Canadian forensic psychiatrist Peter Collins to shed light on these issues.
About my guest Peter Collins:
Peter Collins is the Operational Forensic Psychiatrist with the Criminal Behaviour Analysis Section of the OPP and an Associate Professor with the Division of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
Given the enormous interest in all things terrorism we are inundated with so-called ‘expertise’. Except a lot of experts are not experts. Take the term ‘self-radicalisation’: it is a myth. Two recent cases illustrate why radicalisers are so important.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
The Fenians were Irish Americans seeking to put pressure on Britain to free Ireland and hence could be seen as 'freedom fighters'. Except that they carried out attacks in Canada and assassinated one of the leaders of Canadian independence. So, are they terrorists instead? Borealis dives into the neverending debate of freedom fighter vs terrorist.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
The rights we fought to have over centuries are worth protecting: but what if they feed terrorism?
An interesting trial is about to open this week in France. It will cover those responsible for the 2015 ‘Charlie Hebdo’ terrorist attacks in which twelve people were killed by the brothers Said and Cherif Kouachi over the journal’s decision to publish the ‘Muhammad cartoons’ (images deemed offensive by some). The brothers were in turn killed by French police and it is their accomplices who will stand trial.
►Read The free speech/terrorism conundrum
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
How can security intelligence and law enforcement agencies and communities work better together? Can they have meaningful exchanges to help keep us all safe? Borealis is joined by Kamran Bhatti, a youth outreach worker within Muslim communities in Canada to discuss these issues.
About my guest Kamran Bhatti:
Kamran Bhatti is a Canadian Muslim community leader and former head of a youth program in the Hamilton area.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
“War is not healthy for children and other living things” or so said the anti-Vietnam War slogan. We have used wars to 'resolve' things for millennia, seldom with good results. So why do many insist we are at 'war' with terrorism? Borealis discusses our need for a new paradigm.
►Buy Phil's book An End to the War on Terrorism
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
ISIS was very good at producing propaganda to entice Westerners to leave their countries and join up in the mid 2010s. That was when not much was known about how violent they were. So how can a Toronto-area couple who sought to join in 2019 not have known about the true nature of this terrorist bunch? Borealis looks at this breaking news.
►Yet another Canadian couple charged with seeking to join ISIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/yet-another-canadian-couple-charged-with-seeking-to-join-isis/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
What do we do once we try, convict, sentence and incarcerate terrorists? Leave them there or try to get them to abandon their views? Phil Gurski talks to Nancy Yammout, a Lebanese woman who goes into prisons to see if she can make a difference.
About the guest Nancy YammoutNancy and Maya Yamout, also known as the "Mulan Sisters" or the "Kamikaze Sisters," are social workers active in Beirut, Lebanon and internationally as the president and vice president of Rescue Me - Crime Prevention.
Rescue Me is a rehabilitation program for accused Islamist terrorists in Roumieh Prison. The program is based on research the sisters performed during their master's degree studies.
► Find out more about Rescue Me
► Contact Rescue Me rqme@outlook.com
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:►https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
► https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
When we read and hear about terrorism where does your mind go? Most probably to the world of Islamist terrorism/jihadism since the vast majority of attacks can be traced to them. What about environmental terrorism? Is this on the horizon? Borealis weighs on on the reality of this form of violent extremism.
►Should we be worried about ecoterrorism? - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/quick-hits-65-ecoterrorism/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Borealis weighs in on the latest Know Your History Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War trailer and discusses his own experiences working in intelligence during the Cold War. What can this trailer tell us about the threats we in the West face today, ranging from foreign espionage to foreign interference to terrorism? Can a ‘game’ help us understand these?
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
How complicated does a terrorist act have to be? Do terrorists have to master complicated technologies to achieve their ends? No, all it takes is a car. Borealis weighs in on vehicular ramming attacks.
Using a car or truck as a weapon isn’t unique to 2020. A 2018 report from San Jose State University’s Mineta Transportation Institute identified vehicle ramming as an increasingly common terrorism tactic. ISIS and Al Qaeda, in particular, encourage followers to drive into unsuspecting pedestrians. The rationale is as simple as it is ruthless: Obtaining a car is easier (and less likely to raise suspicion) than buying guns or explosives, and radicalized acolytes need little-to-no training or planning to carry out the attack.
► See also: 5 Drivers Have Hit Colorado Protesters With Vehicles This Summer
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
What would you do if you came to realise that the group your spouse was part of was one that undermined liberal democracy? And wanted to establish an Islamic State? Borealis talks to a Canadian who found herself in this situation and what she decided to do.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
► https://borealisthreatandrisk.com
Should criminology students do placements with law enforcement institutions? Their professors apparently don't think so.
Security studies are not surprisingly very popular with academics in part because they are sexy. But sometimes academics get it very wrong and make some very stupid decisions based on some kind of 'principle'. Borealis weighs in on a move by Carleton University's Institute of Criminology to end cooperation with law enforcement in Canada.
► See also: Arguing against the claim that I am anti-academic (Youtube)
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
How many of you have ever heard of the Fenian threat to Canada? Yes, there was a terrorist movement in the 1860s that threatened Canada and killed one of the 'fathers' of Confederation in 1868. University of Toronto's David Wilson joins Borealis to talk about this forgotten violent chapter of Canadian history.
About the guest, David Wilson:
With a background in modern North Atlantic history, David A. Wilson specializes in Modern Irish History and the Irish in North America. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, he is the General Editor of the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, and is currently writing a book on the Fenian underground in Canada.
►Check out David's book Thomas D'Arcy McGee, Volume 1: Passion, Reason, and Politics, 1825-1857
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
► https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Debate is the backbone of democratic society. Reasoned, civil exchanges of ideas is what we must protect. Unfortunately, there is a movement to stifle debate and silence voices (or get them fired). Borealis weighs in on this phenomenon.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
News has just come out that Saudi Arabia sent a hit squad to Canada to kill former counter terrorism officer Saad al-Jabri. Saudi has a history of this, having killed Washington Post reporter and dissident Jamal Kashoggi in Istanbul in October 2018. What should Canada do in reponse? Borealis weighs in.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
The explosion yesterday in Beirut that killed hundreds and wounded thousands sure looks like a terrorist attack. All indications point to this being a tragic accident. What does this say about our reaction to events of this nature? https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
A large blast in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, has killed at least 70 people and injured more than 4,000 others, the health minister says. Videos show smoke billowing from a fire, then a mushroom cloud following the blast at the city's port. Officials are blaming highly explosive materials stored in a warehouse for six years.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Kashmir has been a place of contention ever since the British Raj split into India and Pakistan in 1947. It seems to be getting worse and there is enough blame on both sides to go around. Borealis talks to Farhana Qazi of GWU to get the inside scoop
About the guest, Farhana Qazi :Farhana Qazi is an American scholar, an award-winning author, and an international public speaker. Her research includes conflicts in the Muslim world, women in war, and strategic communications.
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhanaqazi/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
► https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
A recent report states that there are an unprecedented number of terrorists in European prisons. What kinds of threat do they pose? What should we do with them? Borealis weighs in on this issue in this Quick Hits podcast.
For some terrorists, prison is a place for radicalisation and recruitment, in which inmates with no previous involvement in politically motivated violence can be exposed to extremist ideas – often at particularly vulnerable points in their lives. For others, it is as an ‘incubator of peaceful change and transformation’, enabling de‑radicalisation, disengagement, and – in some cases – entire peace processes. Read the ICSR report - Prisons and Terrorism: Extremist Offender Management in 10 European Countries
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
►https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Have you ever heard of the 'wave theory' of terrorism? If so, then you know David Rapoport, a retired UCLA professor who has been studying terrorism since 1970! Borealis caught up with him recently for a fascinating chat. Have a listen!
Read more about David's ''Wave Theory of Terrorism": https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/religious-terrorism-over-by-2025-a-discussion-with-legendary-david-rapoport/
About the guest, David Rapoport:David Charles Rapoport is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science at University of California, Los Angeles who focuses on the study of terrorism. He taught the first course on terrorism in the U.S. and developed a series of courses on politics in the Bible. He retired in 1995 and was the Founding Director of the Center for the Study or Religion and Chair, Interdepartmental Major in Religion UCLA 1995-7. He continued teaching at UCLA till 2011 and received the Dickson Award for work as an emeritus 2007.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
A report submitted to the UK parliament claims that British, and Western, intelligence agencies cannot combat “online psychological operations from foreign state actors — primarily Russia — aiming to influence Western politics on a mass scale“. Why can’t they? Borealis looks at this in his latest Quick Hit podcast.
Read more - British report into Russian meddling leads to uncomfortable conclusions
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter- https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Following the successful killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, the terrorist organisation was leaderless for a while. No longer. A guy called Mawla the 'Destroyer' has now assumed the helm. What is in store for ISIS going forward?
Listen also to Episode 22 - The death of Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi and its impact (if any)
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
What would a person who has been thinking and writing about terrorism for fifty years have to say about this phenomenon? A lot as it turns out. Borealis has a lengthy exchange with Rand Corporation's Brian Jenkins, a true pioneer in the study of violent extremism.
ABOUT THE GUEST BRIAN JENKINSBrian Michael Jenkins is a senior adviser to the president of the RAND Corporation and author of numerous books, reports, and articles on terrorism-related topics, including Will Terrorists Go Nuclear?. He formerly served as chair of the Political Science Department at RAND. On the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, Jenkins initiated a RAND effort to take stock of America's policy reactions and give thoughtful consideration to future strategy. He is a decorated combat veteran, having served in the Seventh Special Forces Group in the Dominican Republic and with the Fifth Special Forces Group in Vietnam.
►Twitter @BrianMJenkins
►The RAND Corportation
ABOUT THE HOST PHIL GURSKIPhil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Twitter @borealissaves
►LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468
►Email borealisrisk@gmail.com
►Borealis borealisthreatandrisk.com
►Check Phil Gurski's latest books https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
ABOUT BOREALIS THREAT & RISK CONSULTINGShedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
►borealisthreatandrisk.com
China is involved in what can only be called a ‘genocide’ in the northwestern part of its territory against Uyghur Muslims.
Concentration camps, forced sterilisation, cultural destruction… it is all done in the name of ‘counter terrorism’. And yet the world’s Muslims leaders remain silent. Why? Listen as Borealis weighs in.
Sources:
►Reporter’s Notebook: Uighurs Held For ‘Extremist Thoughts’ They Didn’t Know They Had
►Sterilizations, IUDs, and Mandatory Birth Control: The CCP’s Campaign to Suppress Uyghur Birth Rates in Xinjiang
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
CSIS has been taken to task by the Federal court in Canada for displaying 'a cavalier institutional approach' to the rule of law'. What it did was to use human sources who posed as supportive of terrorism in counter terrorism investigations. Why is this a surprise to anyone? Borealis weighs in on this issue.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
In honour of Bastille Day! The French revolution is 231 years old today and yet is still a work in progress. So is the ill-named 'war on terrorism' now about to enter its 20th season. Borealis weighs in on how to measure gains and how to better go about fighting terrorism.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
The Muslim Brotherhood has had its share of controversy. Some countries have listed it as a terrorist organisation and others have not. How worried should we in the West be about the Muslim Brotherhood?
Borealis talks to Lorenzo Vidino, specialist on the Muslim Brotherhood in the West.
About the guest Lorenzo Vidino:Dr. Lorenzo Vidino is the Director of the Program on Extremism at George Washington University. An expert on Islamism in Europe and North America, his research over the past 20 years has focused on the mobilization dynamics of jihadist networks in the West; governmental counter-radicalization policies; and the activities of Muslim Brotherhood-inspired organizations in the West.
►LORENZO'S LATEST BOOK - https://cup.columbia.edu/book/the-closed-circle/9780231193672
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-vidino-0667285/
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Should convicted terrorists get a second chance? Do they really 'see the light' and reject the ideology which led them to become terrorists in the first place? I weigh in on a Canadian case in this short podcast.
A former member of a terrorist group that plotted truck bombings in Toronto to protest Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan is appealing a government decision to place him on the no-fly list.
Read Former member of Toronto 18 terrorist group asks court to take him off no-fly list
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
What is happening in Iran and how worried should we be about that nation? Is it a state sponsor of terrorism more dangerous than Sunni jihadis? Have a listen to my talk with the host of Atheist Republic, Armin Navabi.
Follow Armin Navabi
►YOUTUBE - https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAtheistRepublic
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/AtheistRepublic
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About The Atheist Republic:We are providing community, support, informative content and amplifying the voices of those who need protection especially in countries where people feel isolated simply for their lack of belief. We want to be there for them, and we are only getting started. Help us get there.
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Lots of nations are agonising over what to do with citizens who joined ISIS or other terrorist groups and now want to come home. Some say they should and should be charged or 'deprogrammed'. Others want them to stay away. Listen to this latest Quick Hits podcast to see where Borealis stands on this issue.
Evidence in terrorism cases is proving difficult to find, while experts warn that the reintegration and rehabilitation of foreign fighters is an even greater challenge. Read: Balkan States Find Prosecuting Terrorism a Challenge
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Two interesting developments in two capitals. In Ottawa an armed man drives several thousand km to drive over the gates of Rideau Hall where the PM and family are living: motive unknown.
In Washington DC, the President is told Russia is paying Taliban terrorists to kill US soldiers and does nothing. What does this tell is about intelligence and how it is used?
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Happy 153rd birthday Canada - or is it? Canadians tend to undersell their achievements and today especially - if you read the CBC - the country is going to hell in a handbasket. It is time to push back against that myth, by looking at how safe a country we are, when it comes to terrorism.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
How do foreign policy decisions and terrorism intersect? Are we making good choices? Listen as I am joined by BigTibbs78 to discuss these issues and much more.
In this episode: BigTibbs78, political streamer on Twitch and Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting**.
About the host Phil Gurski:**Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
News that Russia is paying the Taliban to kill US military in Afghanistan came out this week. How big is this and what will the Trump Administration do in response? What does it mean for the 'war on terrorism'?
The Trump administration has been deliberating for months about what to do about a stunning intelligence assessment.
Read more: Russia Secretly Offered Afghan Militants Bounties to Kill U.S. Troops, Intelligence Says
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
35 years ago today Air India flight 182 left the air traffic control radar off the coast of Ireland, killing all 329 people aboard. Canadian Sikh terrorists placed a bomb on board. Canadian security intelligence and law enforcement agencies were investigating these men but failed. It is a somber day in Canada.
Read more: Today in Terrorism: Air India Flight 182 bombing (June 23, 1985)
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
If you recall, about 5 months ago, I joined Destiny (Steven Bonnell) during his live stream. He invited me back for another discussion. The genesis was a conversation I wanted to have about why we are not seeing terrorism in the West during the COVID-19 pandemic.Have a listen! It’s about 45 minutes in lenght. Wide-ranging topics, I’m sure you’ll love it
►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ
When it comes to talking about terrorism it is not enough to limit the discussion to specific terrorist groups or terrorist acts. Things are much more complicated than that. Terrorism does not occur in a vacuum: it exists in a context (or better: multiple contexts). Terrorism happens when multiple players make multiple moves on multiple chessboards: some of these moves provide terrorists with incentives.
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
More Destiny:►Episode #29: Discussion with Twitch streamer Destiny on terrorism and radicalization
►Episode #47: A talk with Destiny - Trump, Incels, Police and more
►Episode #88: Chat with Destiny - Surveillance, Trump's role vs the DC Mayor, Entrapment and wild stories
►Episode #105: Taliban takeover, Incels and New Zealand attack - Chatting with Destiny about recent events
Canadians are supposedly really active on right wing extremism websites. How worried should we be that these will translate into terrorist attacks? Are our protectors looking at this menace?
Read Canadians among most active in online right-wing extremism, research finds on CBC.ca
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Canada just lost a vote to gain a seat on the UN Security Council. Some critics say this shows our foreign policy is all wrong. Is it? How do Canada's intelligence agencies meet the country's foreign intel priorities?
Jean-Christophe Boucher: Canada's failed Security Council bid marks the death of our traditional foreign policy
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Lots of terrorist cases never go to trial or, when they do, terrorists are acquitted. This is very frustrating for the men and women who work diligently to keep us safe. Is there a better way to prosecute terrorism? Have a listen as I weigh in on this matter.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Nadir reveals an unexpected truth. Kerima prepares to deal the final blow. Fatima fulfills her end of the bargain with Pervin - at a price.
How realist is the depiction of ISIS in this first season of the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
When it comes to Islamist terrorism most people think of the Middle East or Asia. However, one of the hotspots is Africa the entire continent. Borealis looks at terrorism in Africa: who is who, what they have been up to and what the future prospects are.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
The intersection between violent extremism and music in light of the Rage Against The Machine story.
Music means a lot for people. It can inspire us, make us sad, happy and sometimes it can be tied to political and religious extremism.
Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello took to social media on Tuesday (June 9) to hilariously school an angry fan who apparently just learned the band makes a political statement with its music.
About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►TWITTER - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LINKEDIN - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►EMAIL - borealisrisk@gmail.com
►BOREALIS - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Like this podcast? Check Phil Gurski's latest books:
https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG
About Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting:Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting can provide you with the necessary advice and training to protect you and your agency from the threat of terrorism. We offer training for those who need the latest information on threats to your security.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Music credits:Banda RADIO GORILLA - Rage Against The Machine Cover
In Pride We Stride Bound For Glory - Warriors Glory
Abu Ali - Ana Maradun (Islamic Nasheed)
Fatima is still on the run, and she knows that Nadir is on her trail. Calle and Suleiman managed to stop Sulle and Kerima at the border, but Lisha was left behind in the van and is on her way to Raqqa all alone. Calle calls Fatima in panic and demands that she and her contacts help get Lisha out. Pervin is devastated by the fight with Husam. But she doesn’t hesitate when she gets another chance to flee Raqqa.
How realist is the depiction of ISIS in the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In the 1950s, some religious leaders were behind a campaign to ban shorts in public. Today that would be seen as an extreme move. What is it about religious extremism that in the worst case scenario turns violent?
Check out Phil's latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith (2019).
Christian fundamentalists. Hindu nationalists. Islamic jihadists. Buddhist militants. Jewish extremists. Members of these and other religious groups have committed horrific acts of terrorist violence in recent decades. How is this possible? How do individuals use their religious beliefs to justify such actions? How do they manipulate the language and symbols of their faith to motivate others to commit violence in the name of the divine? Phil Gurski addresses these essential questions as he explores violent extremism across a broad range of the world’s major religions.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Raising kids is a challenge and our children do things that drive us crazy! Imagine if your child ended up leaving home to join a terrorist group and died fighting for ISIS. That is what happened to Damian Clairmont.
His mother, Christianne Boudreau, joins Borealis to talk about what she went through as well as how she is trying to help parents in similar situations.
In this episode, Christianne Boudreau, Co-Founder of Mothers for Life and Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting.Subscribe to this podcast for free:
iTunes https://apple.co/2ObFoHk
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4NTG9pHoct7Rtuhq0cXmsY
Google Podcasts https://bit.ly/30JuCJQ
Give us feedback on this podcast! Contact Phil Gurski:
@borealissaves
borealisrisk@gmail.com
borealisthreatandrisk.com/contact-us/
About the Mothers for Life Network“Mothers for Life” is a unique global network of parents who have experienced violent jihadist radicalization in their own families. In most cases, the parents in our network have seen their sons and daughters leaving for Syria and Iraq and in many cases never to return. Sometimes other family members have radicalized as well. All our parents have come together to share the burden of having seen how radicalization processes can destroy the emotional bonds within a family and feeling helpless when confronted with such a process and loss. To get in touch and become a member of Mothers for Life please send a message to contact@mothersforlife.org or visit www.mothersforlife.org.
The French military claims it has killed Abdelmalek Droukdel, the leader of the Al Qaeda terrorist affiliate AQIM in North Africa. This is indeed good news but does it mean the end of AQIM? How important is the death of a terrorist group's leader?
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/quick-hits-french-forces-kill-al-qaedas-north-africa-chief-abdelmalek-droukdel/
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Fatima runs surveillance on Nadir to see if he can lead her to information that will confirm her suspicions. Fatima has arranged Pervin's escape from Syria. When Pervin is on her way to the meeting place, the police take her. Ibbe has given Sulle and Kerima plane tickets to Syria. They are overjoyed, now they can finally go. But it turns out that everything isn't as easy as they thought.
How realist is the depiction of ISIS in the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
The US President has threatened to list Antifa as a terrorist organisation. Some say he can't do that. It seems like everything is a terrorist group these days: what if we dropped terrorism as a criminal offence? Have a listen to why this may be a good idea.
https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/quick-hits-antifa-as-a-terrorist-organisation/
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
If you think that terrorism is largely all about men behaving violently you might want to think again. Women get involved too, sometimes as actors and not victims. And then there are the children. I talk with Canadian scholar Mia Bloom from Georgia State University about her decades of work looking at women, children and terrorism.
Check out Mia's latest book Small Arms: Children and Terrorism Format Kindle
Mia M. Bloom is a Canadian academic and author and Professor of Communication at Georgia State University. She was formerly an associate Professor of International Studies at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park and a fellow at the International Center for the Study of Terrorism at Penn State.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Have you ever thought of a career in security intelligence? No, it is not like James Bond or Jason Bourne - sorry! But if you are serious have a listen to what a 32-year veteran offers in terms of advice on how to reach your goals!
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Episode 5 of the Netflix series Caliphate begins with the brutal murder of Dolores after she has recognised that Ibbe is an ISIS terrorist. The various stories also continue and Ibbe now has his fertiliser for an attack in Sweden. How accurate is all this? You'll have to listen to find out!
How realist is the depiction of ISIS in the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Hey! Ever talked to an incel? Even know what an incel is? In the wake of terrorism charges laid last week in a February killing in Toronto by a teenager/alleged incel I decided to chat with Naama Kates, who runs a podcast called 'The Incel Project'.
Did I ever learn a lot - and you will too! Have a listen!
In this episode, Naama Kates (The Incel Project) and Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting.Subscribe to this podcast for free:
iTunes https://apple.co/2ObFoHk
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4NTG9pHoct7Rtuhq0cXmsY
Google Podcasts https://bit.ly/30JuCJQ
Give us feedback on this podcast! Contact Phil Gurski:
@borealissaves
borealisrisk@gmail.com
borealisthreatandrisk.com/contact-us/
Imagine a nuclear war between Russia and China which results in a migrant wave towards Canada. What would the security impact of this be? Could it make us less safe? Listen to Borealis talk with Canadian National Security analyst and author Shawn MacWha.
In this episode, Shawn MacWah, Canadian National Security analyst and Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting.Check out Shawn's book Eastern Horizons: A Tale of Failure and Redemption
Subscribe to this podcast for free:
iTunes https://apple.co/2ObFoHk
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/4NTG9pHoct7Rtuhq0cXmsY
Google Podcasts https://bit.ly/30JuCJQ
Give us feedback on this podcast! Contact Phil Gurski:
@borealissaves
borealisrisk@gmail.com
borealisthreatandrisk.com/contact-us/
As the ISIS bomb plot in Sweden takes shape we learn more about how young Swedish Muslimas are embracing the terrorist group. In addition the terrorists seem to have 'insiders' everywhere! The plot thickens... listen as Borealis reviews episode 4 of this Netflix series!
How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews episode 4 of this Netflix series.
A youth in Toronto has been charged with terrorism for the killing of a woman at an erotic massage parlour back in February. Police have uncovered that the suspect subscribed to the 'incel' movement, a group of sexually-frustrated men. Is this the right charge? Is incel terrorism? Borealis weighs in.
Canada is a nation of immigrants. It takes in 300,000 + a year. Does immigration pose a national security threat (i.e. are we letting in terrorists)? Borealis talks with Andrew Griffith, former Director General of Citizenship and Multiculturalism in the Canadian government.
For many people a strong faith is getting them through the coronavirus. Some, however, are demanding group worship at a time when collective physical distancing is necessary. Have a listen to why I think these people are religious extremists.
See also: Where is the COVID-19 terrorism spike?
As Fatima continues to push Pervin for more information she is raped by an ISIS fighter and kills him. Sulle is still being groomed by Ibbe, an ISIS recruiter, which leads to family tension. SAEPO is trying to figure out if the terrorist plot is real or ISIS fake news. Episode #3 is compelling - have a listen!
How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews episode 3 of this Netflix series.
Of all the political parties in Canada I would bet that the Green Party is one most Canadians would see as having a small input on national security issues. Well, you would be wrong!
Here is my conversation with Dimitri Lascaris, currently running to become the leader of the party, on all things terrorism and national security. Have a listen!
As we mark the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe – VE Day – we celebrate the sacrifices of the men and women who fought – and died – fighting Nazi Germany. So what about VT Day – Victory against Terrorism? Alas that day will never be here – have a listen as to why I think so.
Read more: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/podcast-victory-in-europe-day/
In this episode, Pervin tries to find out more about the alleged upcoming terrorist attack in Sweden, pushed by her SAEPO handler. Husam's panic attacks continue and lead to tragic events. Ibbe is still grooming young women in Sweden and appears to be having some success.
How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews episode 2 of this Netflix series.
Star Trek fans are known for passion and occasional campy costumes at Trekkie conventions. The series gives us hope that in the not too distant future mass violence is behind us. But is it? There is an awful lot of violence in Star Trek – is it terrorism on occasion?
Check out Trekspertise youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/neoteotihuacan/videos
May the 4th is now known as 'Star Wars Day' (a play on 'May the Force be with you'). Star Wars is of course a classic battle of good vs evil, with good winning in the end. But are the good guys (and the bad guys) terrorists? Is the Force a terrorist ideology?
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
The Swedish series Caliphate is getting a lot of attention. It is the story of ISIS and a planned attack in Sweden and the local intelligence effort to stop it. Here is an unofficial ‘review’ by a 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist.
Join Borealis as we walk through each episode and discuss what happened. We will look at how accurate the fictional depiction is, all seen through the lens of a 32-year Canadian intelligence veteran and author of five books on terrorism.
Ward Elcock was the Director of CSIS from 1994 to 2004 and saw the organisation through 9/11 and its aftermath. He joins Borealis to reflect on his years in security intelligence and where we are going next.
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Ward P.D. Elcock is a Canadian civil servant who served as the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service from 1994 until May 2004. He remains the only Director to have ever served out his entire tenure. He served as the Deputy Minister of National Defence from August 5, 2004 to October 1, 2007.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Michael Petrou wrote a book back in 2008 on why 1,500 Canadians went to fight in the Spanish Civil War and what concerns their return raised. He joins Borealis to discuss what lessons we can apply to the worries about returning ISIS ‘foreign fighters’.
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Michael Petrou is an historian and journalist. His 2008 book, Renegades: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War, was described by J. L. Granatstein as “the best and most complete account of Canadians in the Spanish Civil War we are ever likely to get. The Spanish newspaper El Pais called it “beautiful.”
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
An unspeakable crime has occurred in Nova Scotia with the deaths of 18 people, including an RCMP officer. What do we know about the killer? Was this terrorism? Was it tied to COVID-19? Will we ever find out?
Read latest publication by Phil Gurski: The Nova Scotia massacre – more questions than answers
Is it ok to kill terrorists regardless of the circumstances? Is a dead terrorist a good terrorist? In this Quick Hits podcast, I look at the pros and cons of taking out terrorists using lethal force.
There is a lot of talk about terrorist use of advanced technology. How afraid should we be about this? Is the end of the world around the corner?
Subscribe to our free daily email digest: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
The podcast is now available on Spotify
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Bruce Hoffman has been studying terrorism for over 40 years and is recognised as one of the world's leading scholars on this phenomenon. He joins Borealis for a wide-ranging discussion on where terrorism has been and where it is headed.
Borealis talks with US terrorism scholar Bruce Hoffman, who has been studying violent extremism for more than four decades and is seen as one of the world's foremost specialists.
Bruce Hoffman is a political analyst specializing in the study of terrorism and counterterrorism, insurgency and counter-insurgency. He is a tenured professor at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, where between 2010 and 2017 he was the director of the Center for Security Studies and director of the security studies program. Hoffman is the second longest-serving director in the center and program's three-decade history.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Everyone is panicking about COVID-19, and there is reason for this but there is a movement to charge those claiming to spread the virus with terrorism. This is not a terrorism offence and we dilute our understanding of the word if we do so.
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
The podcast is now available on Spotify
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
borealisthreatandrisk.com
How has terrorism changed over the decades and, more importantly, where is it going in the next few years? I am joined by Dr. Colin Clarke, senior research fellow at the Soufan Center in New York, and author of After the Caliphate: the Islamic State and the future terrorist diaspora.
Colin P. Clarke is an adjunct senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, where his research focuses on terrorism, insurgency and criminal networks. At RAND, Clarke has directed studies on ISIS financing, the future of terrorism and transnational crime, and lessons learned from all insurgencies between the end of WWII and 2009. He is also an associate fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) in The Hague, a non-resident senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), an assistant teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University, and a senior research fellow at The Soufan Center in New York City.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
COVID-19 is causing a lot of fear and anxiety around the world. In India, some Hindu extremists are now blaming the country's Muslims for the outbreak. In this Quick Hits podcast we look at the potential for violence.
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
The podcast is now available on Spotify
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Many people turn to religion in times of need and we are in such a time with the coronavirus crisis. But while this is acceptable, some of the practices advocated by a few religious leaders are unhelpful and will aid in the spread of the virus. This too is religious extremism.
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
The podcast is now available on Spotify
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
borealisthreatandrisk.com
What do we know about radicalisation to violence so far? Who are the leaders in this field and how can scholars and security intelligence practitioners work better together? Have a listen as Borealis talks to the University of Waterloo's religion scholar Lorne Dawson.
Lorne L. Dawson is a Canadian scholar of the sociology of religion who has written about new religious movements, the brainwashing controversy, and religion and the Internet. His work is now focused on religious terrorism and the process of radicalization, especially with regard to domestic terrorists.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
If you commit a crime in a foreign country that country has the right to arrest, try, convict, and imprison you (or execute you for a capital offence). Why should terrorists be any different?
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Now available on Spotify
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
COVID-19 is scary, very scary. We know that it is spread from person to person. So if a person spreads it deliberately can/should that person be charged with 'terrorism'?
In this time of COVID-19 we have enough to worry about without freaking out about terrorism!
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Now available on Spotify
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Some terrorist groups are threatening to carry out terrorism during the COVID-19 crisis. How realistic is this and, more importantly, how afraid should we be in light of terrorist propaganda.
In this time of COVID-19 we have enough to worry about without freaking out about terrorism!
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Now available on Spotify
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
As the world obsesses about COVID-19 could terrorists take advantage of our lack of focus? Will we see more terrorist attacks? If so, which groups will be most active - jihadis or the far right? All this is discussed in the latest Quick Hit.
The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and governments are having a hard time keeping up with strategies to respond and react effectively to keep their citizenry safe. Some countries appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the virus for far too long, while others imposed what some felt were draconian measures (China, Singapore) that would not fly in a Western liberal democracy.
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Now available on Spotify
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
We are all worried about COVID-19 but does it constitute a 'national security' or a 'public safety' threat? How does it compare to terrorism? Have a listen!
The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and governments are having a hard time keeping up with strategies to respond and react effectively to keep their citizenry safe. Some countries appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the virus for far too long (hello Trump administration), while others imposed what some felt were draconian measures (China, Singapore) that would not fly in a Western liberal democracy.
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Now available on Spotify
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
We are not sure how bad COVID-19 will get and we are all concerned. What are the national security implications?
The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and governments are having a hard time keeping up with strategies to respond and react effectively to keep their citizenry safe. Some countries appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the virus for far too long, while others imposed what some felt were draconian measures (China, Singapore) that would not fly in a Western liberal democracy.
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
Now available on Spotify
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Who was Abdallah Azzam and what was his role in modern Islamist terrorism? Listen to my chat with Norwegian scholar Thomas Hegghammer on his new book on the jihadi ideologue.
Thomas Hegghammer is a Norwegian academic who writes about terrorism and jihadism. He work as senior research fellow at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and adjunct professor of political science at the University of Oslo. His latest book The Caravan: Abdallah Azzam and the Rise of Global Jihad was published this month.
Visit Thomas' website
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
The inevitable has happened - officials are calling for a 'war' on COVID-19. Wars on common nouns are NEVER good ideas. In this Quick Hits podcast, Phil explains why we must refrain from using military terminology during this crisis.
The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and governments are having a hard time keeping up with strategies to respond and react effectively to keep their citizenry safe. Some countries appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the virus for far too long, while others imposed what some felt were draconian measures (China, Singapore) that would not fly in a Western liberal democracy.
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
Please share your experience in the comment section below.
COVID-19: An Opening for Terrorists?
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Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
The coronavirus is causing a lot of fear and anxiety around the world and is starting to affect behaviour and choices. Is this rational? How does it compare to our fear and reaction to terrorism?
The world is in a COVID-19 (Corona virus) panic. People are living in fear and cancelling events and travel. What, if any, are the parallels with terrorism?.
The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving and governments are having a hard time keeping up with strategies to respond and react effectively to keep their citizenry safe. Some countries appeared to dismiss the seriousness of the virus for far too long (hello Trump administration), while others imposed what some felt were draconian measures (China, Singapore) that would not fly in a Western liberal democracy.
See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/
Please share your experience in the comment section below.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
The small North African nation of Tunisia was one of the largest sources of ISIS foreign fighters. Borealis speaks with Aaron Zelin, author of a new book on jihad in Tunisia to get some insights.
Aaron Y. Zelin is the Richard Borow Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a visiting research scholar at Brandeis University. He is the author of the forthcoming book Your Sons Are At Your Service: Tunisia’s Missionaries of Jihad (Columbia University Press). Zelin is also the founder of the widely acclaimed and cited website Jihadology.net and its podcast, JihadPod.
Visit Aaron's website Jihadology.net
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
How close have you been to a terrorist attack? Not too close I hope. This Quick Hits podcast looks at what it means to be near to one of these events.
From my point of view, I have been tantalisingly close to 3 acts of terrorism (2 in Canada and 1 in France) in my career as an Intelligence Analyst with the Canadian Government.
Please share your experience in the comment section below.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Near hours after police moved in to inforce an injonction and remove a rail blockade near Belleville, other poped up affecting trains and services.
To discuss the security and safety implications, as well as economic fallout from the blockade, Libby is joined by Phil Gurski and Ted Mallet (Chief Economist at the Canadian Federation of Independant Business).
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Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
A recent poll shows a majority of Canadians think this country is 'broken'. Is it? Let's look at our history of political violence to see if that is true, shall we?
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Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
In 2006 Canadians woke up to hear that 17 Muslim Canadians had been arrested in a terrorism plot. Much of the success in foiling their plans was due to a human source/agent named Mubin Shaikh. He joins me to talk about his role and related matters on this podcast.
Mubin Shaikh is a former security intelligence and counter terrorism operative. He has testified as an expert for the United Nations Security Council, the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs with NATO, the National Counterterrorism Center, and Special Operations Command Central and he is an external expert with the Joint Staff SMA for CENTCOM Command Staff.
Visit Mubin's website Parents for Peace
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
A case in Toronto where a man allegedly killed a woman with a hammer is taking an interesting twist as his murder charges have been upped to terrorism? What do we know so far and why would police do this?
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
We use the word terrorism to describe all kinds of people and groups. Sometimes the term is used frivolously. We really need to stop doing that.
Read National Post article
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Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
Many Western nations are seeing a rise in neo-Nazi extremism. What should we collectively do about these actors? Send them to moon - or is that a 'loony' idea?
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
How we define terrorism matters. Using inaccurate terminology could affect how we manage it. In this episode we see how the US system is unhelpful.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
What happens when you gather together a former AQ bombmaker, a guy who wanted to be a monk and a former CSIS analyst to talk about terrorism? You get a great Borealis podcast!
An ex-Al Qaeda jihadi turned MI6 spy and a former monk turned filmmaker, have been embedded at the heart of conflicts in the Middle East. Together Aimen Dean and Thomas Small unpack the realities of war, fundamentalism and their global implications through first-hand experience.
In this episode, Aimen and Thomas join Phil Gurski for a discussion on the rivalry between Al Qaeda and ISIS.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
A better understanding of terrorism requires that we look at a much wider set of information, like foreign affairs and foreign policy. Have a listen to me chatting with Twitch streamer Destiny on a broad range of topics all tied to terrorism (Iran, Israel-Palestine, and many more!)►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQ
When it comes to talking about terrorism it is not enough to limit the discussion to specific terrorist groups or terrorist acts. Things are much more complicated than that. Terrorism does not occur in a vacuum: it exists in a context (or better: multiple contexts). Terrorism happens when multiple players make multiple moves on multiple chessboards: some of these moves provide terrorists with incentives.
About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
More Destiny:►Episode #29: Discussion with Twitch streamer Destiny on terrorism and radicalization
►Episode #47: A talk with Destiny - Trump, Incels, Police and more
►Episode #88: Chat with Destiny - Surveillance, Trump's role vs the DC Mayor, Entrapment and wild stories
►Episode #105: Taliban takeover, Incels and New Zealand attack - Chatting with Destiny about recent events
Science fiction usually is a comment on current events. In this podcast I explore how a recent novel asks important questions about whether we can really stop all forms of terrorism.
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
The arrest of Canadian Patrik Mathews, a member of The Base, in conjunction with a terrorist plot demonstrates that there are almost always signs of violent radicalisation. We should not ignore them.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Reports that the Somali terrorist group Al Shabaab may be in a 'tactical alliance' with Iran are an extraordinary claim and such require extraordinary evidence. None is forthcoming
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
There are lots of regimes that are odious and which we would we better off without. But if we act to overthrow them are we ready to deal with the consequences?
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who 'worked at the coalface' for many years.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
"Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it". We are forgetting our history and thus making terrorism worse.
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
What will the world of terrorism bring us in 2020? Spoiler alert - more terrorism. In this podcast, Borealis looks at terrorist trends this year.
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Intelligence is an important part of decision making but what happens when the officials using intelligence can't be trusted?
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
The Iran-US mini-conflict seems to have ebbed - what is really at stake here?
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Many people take religion seriously but is it ok to take violent action against someone who makes fun of your faith?
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Phil Gurski from Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting joins The Morning Rush to break down the latest breaking news from Iran.
A Kyiv-bound Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737 plane crashed minutes after takeoff from Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board. The cause of the crash, which came hours after Iran launched retaliatory missile strikes on U.S. positions in Iraq for the killing of Gen. Qasem Soleimani, was not immediately known.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
Iran attack: US troops targeted with ballistic missiles. 'This is localized conflict, not WWIII' says Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting, former Iranian analyst at CSE and CSIS.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
Dave talks to former CSIS analyst Phil Gurski of Borealis Threat & Risk Consulting about the short-term and long-term implications of the killing of Iranian General Qassem Suleimani.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
The assassination of IRGC General Soleimani in a US airstrike will make terrorism worse, not better, and takes our eye off a larger threat: Sunni terrorism.
I am the only one having a problem with a foreign military ordering, planning, directing and carrying out a missile strike on an international airport?
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
Is there a link between mental illness and terrorism? Yes, sometimes,but not as often as you would think. Have a listen to this Borealis quick hit podcast to find out why!
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
Read more post about terrorism and mental illness
- Finally some data about the mental health-terrorism link (July 7, 2018)
- The difference between mental illness and radicalisation (August 22, 2017)
- Terrorism and mental illness make poor bedfellows (July 20, 2017)
Does the military have a significant role to play in counter terrorism? Yes....and no. Have a listen to this quick hits episode!
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Check out Phil's NEW BOOK When Religion Kills> Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
Two recent stories about Chinese and Russian activities in Canada raise real questions about how concerned our government is about national security. Have a listen!
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
In the spirit of the 1984 Band Aid concert, don't the terrorists know it's Christmas? Why these groups target the Christmas season with their brand of violence?
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
Luke Skywalker is a freedom fighter right? Or is he a terrorist? On the eve of the opening of the latest Star Wars film, The Rise of Skywalker, listen to Borealis Quick Hits for a cheeky look at terrorism and science fiction.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
There is an ISIS-affiliated terrorist group in the DRC that is killing civilians and wreaking havoc with Ebola containment. This Quick Hit discusses the actions of the Allied Democratic Forces jihadists.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
A man who tried to kill a police officer then mowed down four pedestrians in downtown Edmonton in what RCMP characterized as a terrorist attack was sentenced Friday to 28 years in prison.
borealisthreatandrisk.com
> Like this podcast? Check out Phil Gurski's latest books!
Read Phil's daily blog Today in Terrorism
In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three decades in intelligence. From Canada to the greater West to the world, subscribe to listen to the thoughts of a person who ‘worked at the coalface’ for many years.
An Intelligent Look at Terrorism is created and produced by Phil Gurski and Borealis Threat & Risk Consulting.
Please contact Phil with any comments, inquiries and topic suggestions at borealisrisk@gmail.com
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
► See also Episode #43: Naama Kates and The Incel Project
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►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
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
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
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
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
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
Want to learn more about religious extremism? Check out Phil's book "When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith": https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/when-religion-kills/
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's 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
Want to learn more about religious extremism? Check out Phil's book "When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith": https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/when-religion-kills/
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's 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
Want to learn more about religious extremism? Check out Phil's book "When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith": https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/when-religion-kills/
Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's 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
Want to learn more about religious extremism? Check out Phil's book "When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith": https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/when-religion-kills/Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.
►Check Phil's book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/
►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves
►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/
►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com
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
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
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
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
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.comn Terrorism
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
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
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
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