Podcasts about fdd's center

Ukrainians continue to fight hard to defend their homes and defeat the Russian invasion, but the future is uncertain. The Ukrainian counteroffensive has not gone as well as many hoped and congressional delay is hampering the administration's efforts to provide Kyiv the weapons and munitions it needs. What are Putin's goals in Ukraine? Why should Americans care about the outcome in Ukraine? What does the administration believe success looks like in Ukraine? What is happening on the battlefield, and what are Ukraine's most urgent security needs? What are the consequences if Congress continues to delay the provision of additional security assistance funding for Ukraine?To answer these questions and more, FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts Dr. Celeste Wallander, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. FDD Founder and President, Cliff May, will moderate the conversation.

Bill is joined again by FDD's Center on Military and Political Power CMPP) senior director Bradley Bowman to discuss broader U.S. military posture in the Middle East amidst the the death of three American service members last weekend in Jordan.Housekeeping note: This was (naturally) recorded just hours before the U.S. announced that retaliatory strikes are in fact underway in Iraq and Syria on Friday, February 2.Keeping this in mind while listening, all points are still relevant. Stay tuned for LWJ and CMPP coverage and analysis of the strikes — and for real-time hot takes, follow @billroggio and @Brad_L_Bowman on X.

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MI) are the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Armed Services Committee. On January 11, they issued a noteworthy joint statement after receiving a briefing from Admiral John Aquilino, the commander of all U.S. military forces in the Indo-Pacific. The briefing's topic? The threat from China and how we should respond. The two senators called Admiral Aquilino's briefing “sobering” and said “Failure to maintain deterrence against China… would be catastrophic for American national and economic security.” They said tackling the challenges must be a top priority for the committee and called for a number of urgent steps.While many of us have been focused on the aftermath of the deplorable October 7 terror attack on Israel and growing instability and war in the Middle East, things have still been happening in the Indo-Pacific. So, what has China been up to? What has the U.S. military been doing to bolster deterrence? What additional steps must be taken?Guest host Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, asks these and related questions to Admiral Aquilino. Also joining the conversation: retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery. Admiral John AquilinoAdmiral Aquilino is the 26th Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command. That's the Pentagon oldest and largest combatant command covering 36 nations, 14 time zones, and more than 50 percent of the world's population. He oversees 380,000 service members and DOD civilians and is responsible for all U.S. military activities in the Indo-Pacific. That means he spends a lot of time thinking about the People's Republic of China. Prior to his current assignment, he's commanded a carrier strike group, led all U.S. naval forces in the Middle East, and was the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, among many other assignments. In addition to being a leader, he's also a pilot and warrior. He's accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours. He's been an F-14 and F-18 pilot and has 1,500 carrier landings. He's also a graduate of the famous TOPGUN school. Admiral Aquilino has deployed many times, including in support of Operations Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.Rear Admiral (retired) Mark MontgomeryRADM Montgomery is the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at FDD where he is also a senior fellow. Mark spent 32 years in the U.S. Navy, commanded a carrier strike group, and worked as the director of operations at U.S. Pacific Command.

Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MI) are the chairman and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Armed Services Committee. On January 11, they issued a noteworthy joint statement after receiving a briefing from Admiral John Aquilino, the commander of all U.S. military forces in the Indo-Pacific. The briefing's topic? The threat from China and how we should respond. The two senators called Admiral Aquilino's briefing “sobering” and said “Failure to maintain deterrence against China… would be catastrophic for American national and economic security.” They said tackling the challenges must be a top priority for the committee and called for a number of urgent steps.While many of us have been focused on the aftermath of the deplorable October 7 terror attack on Israel and growing instability and war in the Middle East, things have still been happening in the Indo-Pacific. So, what has China been up to? What has the U.S. military been doing to bolster deterrence? What additional steps must be taken?Guest host Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, asks these and related questions to Admiral Aquilino. Also joining the conversation: retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery. Admiral John AquilinoAdmiral Aquilino is the 26th Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command. That's the Pentagon oldest and largest combatant command covering 36 nations, 14 time zones, and more than 50 percent of the world's population. He oversees 380,000 service members and DOD civilians and is responsible for all U.S. military activities in the Indo-Pacific. That means he spends a lot of time thinking about the People's Republic of China. Prior to his current assignment, he's commanded a carrier strike group, led all U.S. naval forces in the Middle East, and was the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, among many other assignments. In addition to being a leader, he's also a pilot and warrior. He's accumulated more than 5,000 flight hours. He's been an F-14 and F-18 pilot and has 1,500 carrier landings. He's also a graduate of the famous TOPGUN school. Admiral Aquilino has deployed many times, including in support of Operations Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.Rear Admiral (retired) Mark MontgomeryRADM Montgomery is the senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at FDD where he is also a senior fellow. Mark spent 32 years in the U.S. Navy, commanded a carrier strike group, and worked as the director of operations at U.S. Pacific Command.

Modern critical infrastructure – including access to safe water, energy, communications, and transportation systems – is vital to American security and prosperity. And yet the existing private-public partnership governing framework – Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21) – is a decade old. To address the rapidly emerging technological changes and increased threats to critical infrastructure, the Biden administration has indicated it is reviewing and revising PPD-21. What are the shortcomings of PPD-21? How can improved public-private collaboration better protect U.S. national security, economic prosperity, and public health? What should the Biden administration be considering as it undergoes its important policy review?To discuss these questions, FDD and CSC 2.0 will host a panel with Kiersten E. Todt, former chief of staff of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and current senior advisor to CISA Director Jen Easterly; RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and CSC 2.0 executive director; and Mary Brooks, policy fellow at the Wilson Center. The panel will be moderated by Martin Matishak, senior cybersecurity reporter for The Record.

Today's guest is terrorism finance expert Dr. Jonathan Schanzer. Dr. Schanzer is a Senior Vice President for Research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and serves on the FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power leadership team.  Along with hundreds of articles on terrorism and the Middle East, he is the author of books including Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War, State of Failure: Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Unmaking of the Palestinian State, Hamas vs. Fatah: The Struggle for Palestine, and Al-Qaeda's Armies: Middle East Affiliate Groups and the Next Generation of Terror. Previously, Dr. Schanzer was a terrorism finance analyst in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. He also held think tank research positions at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the Middle East Forum.  You can follow him on X @JSchanzer and on Instagram @jonathan.schanzer  SPONSORS: Navy Federal Credit Union: Today's episode is presented by Navy Federal Credit Union. Learn more about them at navyfederal.org Danger Close is an IRONCLAD Original.

Protecting our government and private sector networks from state-backed hackers and cybercriminals is more important than ever and starts with having robust cybersecurity teams. However, as the demand for cybersecurity professionals rapidly grows, the supply has not matched pace, leading to hundreds of thousands of unfilled cybersecurity positions across the U.S. federal government and private sector. To address this gap, the Biden Administration released the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, a document with the ambitious goals on educating and training students and professionals to expand the cybersecurity workforce.To discuss the implementation of the strategy and strengthening the federal cyber workforce, FDD and CSC 2.0 are hosting an event with Camille Stewart Gloster, deputy national cyber director for technology and ecosystem security; Seeyew Mo, assistant national cyber director for workforce, education, and awareness; Jason Barke deputy associate director for strategic workforce planning at the Office of Personnel Management; Kristy Daphnis, senior executive in the Office of Performance and Personnel Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB); and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and CSC 2.0 executive director. The panel will be moderated by Natalie Alms, staff reporter at Nextgov/FCW.

Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel has led to war. We have to think that's what Hamas and its patrons in Tehran expected and very likely wanted.Is that because they believe they can win on the Gazan battlefields? Does Hezbollah, Tehran's Lebanese foreign legion, plan to open a second front?Or do Israel's many enemies in the Middle East, Europe, and here in America believe they can make Israel back off, agree to a ceasefire, and let Hamas live to kill Jews another day?What are Israel's options? What are the tradeoffs?To discuss these and other questions — and attempt to penetrate the fog of war a little — host Cliff May is joined by FDD Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg; Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power; and RADM (Ret) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.

Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel has led to war. We have to think that's what Hamas and its patrons in Tehran expected and very likely wanted.Is that because they believe they can win on the Gazan battlefields? Does Hezbollah, Tehran's Lebanese foreign legion, plan to open a second front?Or do Israel's many enemies in the Middle East, Europe, and here in America believe they can make Israel back off, agree to a ceasefire, and let Hamas live to kill Jews another day?What are Israel's options? What are the tradeoffs?To discuss these and other questions — and attempt to penetrate the fog of war a little — host Cliff May is joined by FDD Senior Advisor Richard Goldberg; Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power; and RADM (Ret) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation.

As key international restrictions on Iran's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are set to expire this month, Tehran supports, sponsors, and coordinates with terrorist groups like Hamas — who just brutally murdered over 1,200 Israelis. The United States and its allies are assessing how best to respond to the indiscriminate attacks on Israel while also actively seeking to mitigate fatal flaws of the 2015 nuclear deal and associated UN Security Council Resolution 2231. While the US has opted for a policy of declining pressure on Iran, the Islamic Republic has amassed enough material to produce a nuclear weapon in 12 days while simultaneously developing and testing more advanced ballistic missiles. To make matters worse, the Islamic Republic has booted inspectors from nuclear sites, leaving reduced international oversight.How can the US stand up to the murderous regime in Iran and its network of proxies? What exactly are the upcoming “sunsets” under UN Resolution 2231? How can the West mitigate the fallout of an effective greenlighting of Iranian sales of missiles and drones to Russia?To discuss Iran's military and nuclear capabilities and its ongoing coordination with its global network of terror surrogates, FDD will host an event featuring:David Albright, founder and president of the Institute for Science and International SecurityShannon Crawford, ABC News reporterBehnam Ben Taleblu, FDD senior fellowBradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political PowerRichard Goldberg, FDD senior advisor and former director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destructionEyal Hulata, FDD senior international fellow and former Israeli national security advisorAnthony Ruggiero, senior director of FDD's Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program and former deputy assistant to the president for national security affairs and National Security Council senior director for counterproliferation and biodefenseJonathan Schanzer, FDD senior vice president for researchRep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Illinois' 10th Congressional DistrictAndrea Stricker, FDD research fellow and deputy director of FDD's Nonproliferation and Biodefense Program

Joe Truzman is a research analyst at Foundation for Defense of Democracies' Long War Journal, focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. Joe joined us to talk about the recent Hamas invasion-massacre, Israel's counter-attack, and implications of a potential involvement from Hezbollah / Iran in the north. He also contributes to FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). Joe has assisted non-governmental organizations and policymakers in identifying Palestinian groups and their members. He has served on panels discussing Palestinian militant group activity in Gaza and has provided evidence to investigators at the United Nations on their activities. Joe's findings have been cited in many news articles around the world. Follow Joe on Twitter to get minute-to-minute updates of the situation as it unfolds in Israel: https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/twotalljewshow/support

#Israel: West Bank threat: Joe Truzman: Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal, focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. He also contributes to FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP).Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 https://twitter.com/JoeTruzman/status/1712253680022630827 1950 Gaza

Most Americans now recognize the serious threat the People's Republic of China (PRC) poses to the United States. But many may not be aware of the comprehensive campaign Beijing is implementing in Latin America to advance the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) interests, undermine the United States, and put our homeland at risk.What is China doing in our hemisphere? Why does it matter? How is the United States responding? And what more can be done?FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts a conversation with Commander of U.S. Southern Command General Laura J. Richardson. As the Commander of SOUTHCOM, she is responsible for U.S. contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The conversation will be moderated by CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman.

 On this special episode of The One Way Ticket Show, Host Steven Shalowitz sat down with Dr. Jonathan Schanzer to provide perspective on the barbaric invasion of Israel by Hamas terrorists on Saturday 7 October 2023.   The interview is from Steven's conversation with Dr. Schanzer on the Jewish National Fund USA podcast, IsraelCast.   Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at FDD, where he oversees the work of the organization's experts and scholars. He is also on the leadership team of FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power, a project on the use of financial and economic power as a tool of statecraft. Jonathan previously worked as a terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, where he played an integral role in the designation of numerous terrorist financiers. He has held previous think tank research positions at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the Middle East Forum.   Jonathan has written hundreds of articles on the Middle East, along with more than a dozen monographs and chapters for edited volumes. His new book, Gaza Conflict 2021: Hamas, Israel and Eleven Days of War (FDD Press 2021), challenges and corrects some of the wildly inaccurate news reported during the conflict. It is the first book published on the war. His three other books have made unique contributions to the field. State of Failure: Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Unmaking of the Palestinian State (Palgrave Macmillan 2013) argues the main roadblock to Palestinian statehood is the Palestinian Authority's political dysfunction and mismanagement. Hamas vs. Fatah: The Struggle for Palestine (Palgrave Macmillan 2008) is still the only book on the market that analyzes the ongoing Palestinian civil war. Al-Qaeda's Armies: Middle East Affiliate Groups and the Next Generation of Terror (Washington Institute for Near East Policy 2004) was the first to explore the al-Qaeda franchises of the Middle East.  Jonathan testifies often before Congress and publishes widely in the American and international media. He has appeared on American television channels such as Fox News and CNN, and Arabic language television channels such as Al-Arabiya and Al-Jazeera.   A sought-after public speaker, Jonathan has traveled widely throughout the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE, Iraq, Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.   Jonathan has studied Middle East history in four countries. He earned his PhD from King's College London, where he wrote his dissertation on the U.S. Congress and its efforts to combat terrorism in the 20th century. He speaks Arabic and Hebrew.  

Dr. Samantha Ravich, Chairman for the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation at Foundation for Defense of Democracies joins the podcast this week. She shares insights from her many years on the geopolitical and economic front lines of cyber, and work with many renowned government leaders, on developing a plan of action to address today's cyber threat landscape and looming threat against critical infrastructure and essential services. She also provides perspective on building resiliency, what we can learn from natural disasters relative to cyber attacks, as well as the opportunity and impact of states creating and driving their own continuity of the economy plans. Dr. Samantha Ravich, Chairman, Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, Foundation for Defense of Democracies ---- Dr. Samantha Ravich is the chairman of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and its Transformative Cyber Innovation Lab and the principal investigator on FDD's Cyber-Enabled Economic Warfare project. She is also a senior advisor at FDD, serving on the advisory boards of FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) and Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). Samantha serves as a commissioner on the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission and as a member of the U.S. Secret Service's Cyber Investigation Advisory Board. Samantha served as deputy national security advisor for Vice President Cheney, focusing on Asian and Middle East Affairs as well as on counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation. Following her time at the White House, Samantha was the Republican co-chair of the congressionally mandated National Commission for Review of Research and Development Programs in the United States Intelligence Community. Most recently, she served as vice chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB) and co-chair of the Artificial Intelligence Working Group of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board. She is advisor on cyber and geo-political threats and trends to numerous technology, manufacturing, and services companies; a managing partner of A2P, a social data analytics firm; and on the board of directors for International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT). Her book, Marketization and Democracy: East Asian Experiences (Cambridge University Press) is used as a basic textbook in international economics, political science, and Asian studies college courses. Samantha is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and advises the U.S. Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. She is a frequent keynote speaker on: What Corporate Boards need to know about Cyber Security and Warfare; The Longer-Term Trends in International Security; and the Future of Intelligence Collection and Analysis. Samantha received her PhD in Policy Analysis from the RAND Graduate School and her MCP/BSE from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. --- https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-ravich-7b5aa08b/ For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e254

On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Israelis awoke to a multi-front, Iran-backed attack on Israel's southern border today. Dozens of Hamas terrorists infiltrated the border and invaded Israeli towns, going door to door killing Israelis and taking hostages back into Gaza to be held as bargaining chips. Simultaneously, terrorists fired thousands of rockets at Israel with Hamas claiming 5,000 rockets launched. Several hours into the attack, residents of southern Israel were still barricaded in their homes waiting for IDF reinforcements.FDD experts joined an exclusive on-the-record media event to provide their latest analysis. The conversation featured FDD Chief Executive Mark Dubowitz, Senior Vice President Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power Bradley Bowman, and FDD's Long War Journal Analyst Joe Truzman. The conversation was moderated by FDD Vice President of Communications Elizabeth Robbins.

Americans, our elected officials in Congress, and individuals aspiring to be the next U.S. president are debating whether the United States should continue to support Ukraine. Some Republican presidential candidates are arguing against aid for Ukraine, while several others warn that abandoning Ukraine would be a costly mistake. In Congress, Republican leaders of key committees continue to support aid for Ukraine, but a vocal minority faction of the Republican party in the House of Representatives that opposes aid for Ukraine seems to be growing.To complicate matters, Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russian forces is going more slowly than many hoped, and the battlefield outcome remains uncertain.In short, Ukraine is in the balance and Americans have questions.To get answers, Brad Bowman (Senior Director of FDD's Center for Military and Political Power, filling in for host Cliff May) is joined by Celeste Wallander. Celeste WallanderCeleste serves as the Biden Administration's Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Pentagon. Previously, she served in the Obama administration's National Security Council from 2013 to 2017 as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia. She's a longtime Russia scholar, former professor at Harvard and Georgetown University, and the author of more than 80 publications.

Congress has long been at the forefront of efforts to bolster America's tools of economic statecraft. Parallel to the Biden administration's long-awaited executive order on outbound investment, for example, the Senate recently passed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act proposing new powers and policies to further regulate the screening of outbound investment heading to China and other foreign adversaries.FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) hosts Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) for an on-the-record event to discuss ways to safeguard America's economy and national security and ensure Washington has the capabilities necessary to build a more unified understanding of investment risks with appropriate screening mechanisms.The event is moderated by Juan C. Zarate, CEFP chairman and co-founder, and features a discussion with Elaine K. Dezenski, CEFP senior director and head, and Nova Daly, senior public policy advisor at Wiley Rein, LLP and CEFP advisor.

China is sprinting to field military might that can defeat U.S. forces and conquer Taiwan. Putin continues to wage his brutal war against Ukraine – the largest invasion Europe has witnessed since World War II. The regime in Tehran continues to oppress the Iranian people, export terrorism, and inch toward a nuclear weapon capability, while building closer relationships with Moscow and Beijing. Nuclear-armed North Korea is strengthening its missile arsenal to threaten the United States, South Korea, and Japan. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has rolled back many gains of Afghan women and girls and has deepened its partnership with al-Qaeda.While this list of threats and challenges is extraordinary, the United States enjoys unparalleled advantages, including a resilient democratic system, a large and innovative economy, a powerful military, and a strong network of allies and partners. So, what is the security situation in East Asia, Europe, and the wider Middle East? What is the Biden administration doing to address threats in these vital regions? And how can the US and its allies better secure national security interests while deterring aggression?FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts a conversation with CMPP Chairman LTG (Ret.) H.R. McMaster, 34-year-veteran of the U.S. Army and former U.S. National Security Advisor, and The Hon. Elaine Luria, 20-year-veteran of the U.S. Navy and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives and its Committee on Armed Services. The panel is moderated by CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman.

Authoritarian regimes, cybercriminals, and state-backed hackers prey on American individuals and businesses to sow chaos, reap financial gain, and carry out ideological agendas. Three years ago, the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) offered a new strategic approach to combat these threats and defend U.S. national security and economic interests in cyberspaceThe Commission's groundbreaking report and white papers provided more than 116 concrete recommendations to reform U.S. government structures, strengthen norms, promote national resilience, operationalize public-private collaboration, and preserve military instruments of national power. Congress and the White House have adopted many of these recommendations, but cyber threats continue to evolve. How effective is public-private collaboration today? Is the U.S. government effectively organized to defend our national security in cyberspace? What more should the federal government be doing to promote national resilience?FDD and CSC 2.0 host a conversation with Commission Co-Chairs Sen. Angus King (I-ME) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), former National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, and former Executive Director RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, who leads CSC 2.0 and serves as senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI). The conversation will be moderated by Maggie Miller, a cybersecurity reporter for Politico. The event will coincide with the release of the third annual assessment report, evaluating the implementation of the Commission's recommendations.

Tonight: The show begins in Siberia at the Vostochny Cosmodrome for the wartime meeting of the dictator Kim and the autocrat Putin. From Poland to London, from the G20 at Delhi to the earthquake of Morroco and the flood of Libya; from the Eu struggles with the Ukraine war to the impeachment inquiry in DC. Attention to the troubled transition in Guatemala, the violence threat in Quito, the runaway inflation in Argentina and the rallying rage in Santiago at the 50th anniversary of the Pinochet coup against Salvador Allende. 1913 Dayton Flood CBS EYE ON THE WORLD WITH JOHN BATCHELOR FIRST HOUR 9-915 #Ukraine: Kim to Vostochny; Poland for nukes. Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/putin-and-kim-meet-in-russia-but-what-are-the-main-takeaways/ar-AA1gGWX2 915-930 #Ukraine: Third winter of war is coming. Anatol Lieven, Quincy Institute https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/putin-and-kim-meet-in-russia-but-what-are-the-main-takeaways/ar-AA1gGWX2 930-945 #ScalaReport: #PRC slowdown in panic. Chris Riegel, Scala.com #Strtacache https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/china-2023-gdp-growth-forecast-cut-50-45-2024-economists-2023-09-12/ 945-1000 #MrMarket: Middle Class disappearing into prosperity. Veronique de Rugy, Mercatus Center https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-middle-class-is-prospering/ SECOND HOUR 10-1015 #Israel: Jonathan Schanzer: Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at FDD, where he oversees the work of the organization's experts and scholars. He is also on the leadership team of FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power, a project on the use of financial and economic power as a tool of statecraft. Malcolm Hoenlein   https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/11/middleeast/us-india-gulf-europe-corridor-mime-intl/index.html https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-why-the-g20-refused-to-condemn-russian-aggression-and-how-that-might-change-213384 https://www.maritimegateway.com/the-significance-of-imec-for-israel-us-india-and-west-asian-nations/   1015-1030 #Venezuela: #Argentina: Joseph Humire: Joseph M. Humire is the Executive Director of the Center for a Secure Free Society. A global security expert specializing on transnational threats in the Western Hemisphere, he provides regular briefings on international terrorism, transnational organized crime, Islamism and Iran's influence Latin America to various entities within the U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence community, as well as prominent think tanks and universities around the world. Malcolm Hoenlein   https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/09/13/u-s-treasury-sanctions-latin-america-based-hezbollah-financial-network/ https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1726 https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/the-maduro-hezbollah-nexus-how-iran-backed-networks-prop-up-the-venezuelan-regime/ https://apnews.com/article/china-venezuela-relationship-all-weather-0c9122e6e69c29ebe1a99356d1a4560a https://euro.eseuro.com/world/992717.html   1030-1045 #USA:  Patrick Daly: Pat Daly is the Principal Deputy Director/COO of SCN, the Secure Community Network.  Malcolm Hoenlein. https://www.timesofisrael.com/2-more-us-synagogues-targeted-by-fake-bomb-threats-ahead-of-high-holidays/   1045-1100 #NorthAfrica: David Schenker: David Schenker is the Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics. Confirmed by the Senate on June 5, 2019, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs through January 2021. In that capacity, he was the principal Middle East advisor to the secretary of state and the senior official overseeing the conduct of U.S. policy and diplomacy in a region stretching from Morocco to Iran to Yemen, with responsibility for eighteen countries, the Palestinian Authority, and Western Sahara.  Malcolm Hoenlein https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4194217-us-support-for-morocco-is-no-mistake-biden-should-reaffirm-it/ https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/algeria-morocco-relations-western-sahara/?one-time-read-code=234552169469322088229 https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/13/africa/morocco-earthquake-aid-intl/index.html     THIRD HOUR 1100-1115 1/2: #EU: G20 ducks the Ukraine War & What is to be done? Judy Dempsie, Carnegie https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/90495 1115-1130 1/2: #EU: G20 ducks the Ukraine War & What is to be done? Judy Dempsie, Carnegie https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/90495 1130-1145 1/2: #POTUS; The futile impeachment dama & What is to be done. Andrew McCarthy, NRO. Thaddeus McCotter, American Greatness https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/speaker-mccarthy-decides-an-impeachment-inquiry-doesnt-require-a-vote-of-the-full-house-after-all/     1145-1200 2/2: #POTUS; The futile impeachment dama & What is to be done. Andrew McCarthy, NRO. Thaddeus McCotter, American Greatness https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/speaker-mccarthy-decides-an-impeachment-inquiry-doesnt-require-a-vote-of-the-full-house-after-all/   FOURTH HOUR 12-1215 #NewWorldReport: Chile remembers Allende.  Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @revanellis #NewWorldReportEllis https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chilean-mexican-presidents-call-democracy-before-50th-anniversary-chilean-coup-2023-09-10/ 1215-1230 #NewWorldReport: Guatemala delecition transition disorder.  Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @revanellis #NewWorldReportEllis https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/guatemala-president-elect-arevalo-suspends-participation-transition-2023-09-13/ 1230-1245 #NewWorldReport: Libertarian for Argentina Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @revanellis #NewWorldReportEllis https://www.reuters.com/markets/argentine-shoppers-face-daily-race-deals-inflation-soars-above-100-2023-09-13/ 1245-100 AM #NewWorldReport: AMLO chooses. Sheinbaum. Latin American Research Professor Evan Ellis, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. @revanellis #NewWorldReportEllis https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexican-president-backs-ruling-party-candidate-after-disputed-selection-process-2023-09-07/

#Israel: Jonathan Schanzer: Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at FDD, where he oversees the work of the organization's experts and scholars. He is also on the leadership team of FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power, a project on the use of financial and economic power as a tool of statecraft. Malcolm Hoenlein https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/11/middleeast/us-india-gulf-europe-corridor-mime-intl/index.html https://theconversation.com/ukraine-war-why-the-g20-refused-to-condemn-russian-aggression-and-how-that-might-change-213384 https://www.maritimegateway.com/the-significance-of-imec-for-israel-us-india-and-west-asian-nations/ 1912 Cairo

The smooth function of America's economy is critical for national security, military readiness, and geopolitical influence, making it a likely target for an adversary during a conflict. To quickly recover in the event of a widespread cyberattack on multiple industries, Congress directed the president to establish a Continuity of the Economy (COTE) plan. The Biden administration delivered its response to Congress in August 2023, but the final product provides no plan to ensure rapid economic recovery. It asserts that COTE is sufficiently covered by other emergency response plans, and as a result, fails to grapple with important questions: Does the federal government have the information it needs to determine the order of recovery in the wake of a crisis? Can emergency response plans focused primarily on public health and safety work effectively to restart the economy? Who should be responsible for ensuring existing government plans actually get updated to incorporate COTE? And, critically, what role should the private sector – the owners and operators of the U.S. economy – play in COTE planning and implementation?To address these shortcomings and provide recommendations on how to remedy them, FDD is hosting a virtual discussion with Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection; Tom Fanning, executive chairman of Southern Company; Mark Harvey, former senior director for resilience policy on the National Security Council staff, and RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, former executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission. This panel will be moderated by Dr. Samantha Ravich, chair of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI).

"It's not a sprint, it's a marathon."That was the reported assessment of a Ukrainian battalion commander recently describing Kyiv's counteroffensive against invading Russian forces. To be sure, the progress of the Ukrainian forces has been slow and the human cost incredibly high.Meanwhile, more than 40 countries — not including Russia — met in Riyadh last weekend to discuss the war. At this point in the war, what are the strategies of the two combatants? Is time on Kyiv's — or Moscow's — side?What U.S. interests are at stake on the battlefield in Ukraine?What happened at the NATO Summit in Vilnius last month?Guest host Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, poses these and related questions to two leading experts: Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Ben Hodges and Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery.

Podcast: To The Point - Cybersecurity (LS 36 · TOP 2.5% what is this?)Episode: The Cyber Satellite Threat with Mark MontgomeryPub date: 2023-08-08This week on the podcast, we're joined by Mark Montgomery, senior director of the FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and director of the CSC 2.0. Mark shares about the different physical and cyber threats faced by satellites and space networks. He also shares considerations for classifying satellites as critical infrastructure and what the legislation required to do so might look like.   Mark Montgomery serves as senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, where he leads FDD's efforts to advance U.S. prosperity and security through technology innovation while countering cyber threats that seek to diminish them. Mark also directs CSC 2.0, an initiative that works to implement the recommendations of the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission, where he served as executive director. Previously, Mark served as policy director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under the leadership of Senator John S. McCain, coordinating policy efforts on national security strategy, capabilities and requirements, and cyber policy. Mark served for 32 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer, retiring as a rear admiral in 2017. He was assigned to the National Security Council from 1998 to 2000, serving as director for transnational threats. Mark has graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oxford and completed the U.S. Navy's nuclear power training program. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e245The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Forcepoint | Global Cybersecurity Leader | Security. Simplified., which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.

This week on the podcast, we're joined by Mark Montgomery, senior director of the FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation and director of the CSC 2.0. Mark shares about the different physical and cyber threats faced by satellites and space networks. He also shares considerations for classifying satellites as critical infrastructure and what the legislation required to do so might look like.   Mark Montgomery serves as senior director of the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, where he leads FDD's efforts to advance U.S. prosperity and security through technology innovation while countering cyber threats that seek to diminish them. Mark also directs CSC 2.0, an initiative that works to implement the recommendations of the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission, where he served as executive director. Previously, Mark served as policy director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under the leadership of Senator John S. McCain, coordinating policy efforts on national security strategy, capabilities and requirements, and cyber policy. Mark served for 32 years in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer, retiring as a rear admiral in 2017. He was assigned to the National Security Council from 1998 to 2000, serving as director for transnational threats. Mark has graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Oxford and completed the U.S. Navy's nuclear power training program. For links and resources discussed in this episode, please visit our show notes at https://www.forcepoint.com/govpodcast/e245

Ukraine's effective cyber resilience – withstanding thousands of Russian attacks – is thanks in part to years-long cyber defense capacity building programs backed by both the U.S. government and industry. Washington's robust efforts – if somewhat ad-hoc – help partners build cyber resilience, mature their law enforcement tools and techniques, improve information sharing, train cyber workforces, and deploy more secure and resilient information and communications technology networks. As attacks by criminal and state-backed hackers on America and its allies grow, is Washington organized and resourced to meet the needs of tomorrow? How can the U.S. government better organize to help partners improve their cyber resilience? Why is partner capacity building important for U.S. national security?To answer these questions and discuss how to enhance partner capacity building, FDD hosts a conversation with the inaugural U.S. Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy Nathaniel C. Fick; RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation (CCTI); and Annie Fixler, director of CCTI and research fellow at FDD. The discussion is moderated by John Sakellariadis, cybersecurity reporter at Politico.

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow Israel: 19 terror gangs with shoulder patches. Joe Truzman is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal, focused primarily on Palestinian militant groups and Hezbollah. He also contributes to FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP). https://www.fdd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/fdd-visual-iran-and-its-network-of-nineteen-terrorist-organizations-on-israels-borders-1.pdf https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/07/16/post-jenin-operation-questions-linger-about-the-state-of-the-west-bank/

Major General Paul J. Rock Jr. commands United States Marine Corps Forces Central Command, or MARCENT. That makes him the top U.S. Marine in the Middle East. MajGen Rock is a Marine aviator with combat deployments to Iraq, and he was the commanding general of the 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade before his current position. He believes the biggest threat to U.S. interests in the Middle East is Iran and its proxies. Why? What are Tehran and its terror proxies up to in the region? What are China and Russia doing there? How is MARCENT helping to build a regional security architecture? And how can U.S. Congress help? Guest host Bradley Bowman — Senior Director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power – asks MajGen Rock these and related questions.

The People's Republic of China is undertaking a massive military buildup and wielding its growing might more aggressively, including in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea. At the same time, Beijing is deepening its security cooperation with Moscow and Tehran. To deter aggression in regions that are vital to American interests, Washington needs capable forward-positioned military forces. It also needs defense partners with cutting edge capabilities that can operate effectively alongside American forces and help carry the security burden. Thankfully, the United States already enjoys an impressive network of allies and partners — but growing threats require Washington to redouble efforts to build partner capacity and deepen their integration with U.S. forces. That's easier said than done, requiring hard work on basing agreements, defense trade, contingency planning, and military exercises.FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) hosts a conversation with Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Jessica Lewis on the Biden administration's ongoing security cooperation efforts in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Drawing on Assistant Secretary Lewis's recent visit to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the conversation – moderated by CMPP Senior Director Bradley Bowman – will discuss priorities, opportunities, and challenges going forward.

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow Singapore 1900  #Venezuela #Nicaragua: #Iran  Raisi and Hezbollah in Caracas. Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi is a senior fellow at FDD and an expert at FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) focused on Hezbollah's Latin America illicit threat networks and Iran's history of sanctions evasion. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-746521. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-746521 https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/06/21/in-the-tri-border-area-hezbollah-agents-are-again-in-the-wind/ https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/06/16/iran-and-venezuela-deepen-their-strategic-alliance/

One of the most important missions of the United States military is defending our homeland against a range of threats. But that mission is only becoming more difficult as China, Russia, and North Korea strengthen their means to threaten Americans here at home.What is the current military threat to the American homeland? How is that threat evolving?What does the Department of Defense need now and in the future to defend our homeland more effectively?Bradley Bowman — senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), filling in for host Cliff May — asks these and other questions to two U.S. Air Force officers who have served our country in uniform for decades and accumulated thousands of flight hours.Lieutenant General David S. NahomLt. Gen. David S. Nahom is the Commander of Alaskan Command within United States Northern Command. He's also Commander of the Eleventh Air Force within Pacific Air Forces and Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command Region. In other words, he's focused on the current threat.Brigadier General Joseph D. KunkelBrig. Gen. Joseph D. Kunkel is the Director of Plans, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs in the U.S. Air Force headquarters. That means he focuses on the future threat and what we need to be doing now to prepare.

American political scientist Joseph Nye popularized the concept of soft power decades ago. As he wrote in his 2004 book by that name, “soft power – getting others to want the outcomes that you want – co-opts people rather than coerces them.” Such soft power cooption can be less costly than hard power coercion.But we see daily reminders that soft power is insufficient and hard power often remains decisive, at least initially.Consider:Putin's unprovoked large-scale invasion of Ukraine;Beijing's saber rattling in the Taiwan Strait; andTehran's continued employment of terrorist proxies and steps toward a nuclear weapon capability....These remind us that soft power has its limits.But it would be a mistake to dismiss the role of soft power. It's a necessary but not sufficient complement to hard power that can help the U.S. secure its interests.America needs both hard and softer power tools and needs to employ and integrate them more effectively. That's one of the big ideas animating FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP).What are the tools of soft power? How do they relate to hard power?How is China using soft power tools against the United States and its allies?How can we wield our soft power tools such as international development more effectively?To discuss these topics and more, Bradley Bowman — senior director of FDD's CMPP, filling in for Cliff May as host — is joined by Daniel Runde and Elaine Dezenski.Daniel RundeDan is a senior vice president and director of the Project on Prosperity and Development (PPD) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he holds the William A. Schreyer Chair in Global Analysis. Dan has held leadership roles at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Bank Group and has significant experience in the private sector.He has written a new book: The American Imperative, Reclaiming Global Leadership Through Soft Power.Elaine DezenskiElaine is senior director of FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power. Elaine has more than two decades of leadership in public, private, and international organizations and is a recognized expert on geopolitical risk, supply chain security, anti-corruption, and national security.

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #Jordan: Gun-running. Jonathan Schanzer- Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at FDD, where he oversees the work of the organization's experts and scholars. He is also on the leadership team of FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power, a project on the use of financial and economic power as a tool of statecraft. https://thedispatch.com/article/jordans-threat-to-the-middle-eastern-order/ https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/jordan-imad-adwan-mp-critical-israel-under-arrest https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-65374743

Auburn University's McCrary Institute, FDD, and CSC 2.0, hosted a virtual event on the cyber risks in space. The event features former Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Mike Rogers; former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon; Skycorp CEO Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Steven L. Kwast; CSC 2.0 Executive Director and Senior Director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery. Moderated by McCrary Institute's Frank Cilluffo, the conversation discusses the best path forward in addressing cybersecurity challenges unique to space systems, cybersecurity as a tool to support new and emerging space-based missions, and ways to enhance the public-private partnership model with genuinely shared risk management responsibilities.

Many in Washington speculate on the nature and urgency of the military threat from China and the readiness of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific to deter and defeat aggression by Beijing. But rather than speculating from afar, it's important to hear candid, informed insights of the American military leaders and warfighters closest to the threat. They know best what's actually going on. U.S. Air Force General Kenneth S. Wilsbach is the top U.S. Air Force officer in the Indo-Pacific, where he has served as Commander of Pacific Air Forces, Air Component Commander, and Executive Director of Pacific Air Combat Operations Staff since July 2020. That means he spends a good portion of his time focusing on the threat from the People's Liberation Army and ensuring the more than 46,000 U.S. Airmen serving in the region have what they need to accomplish the missions they are given. In addition to these leadership positions, he's also accumulated more than 5,000 hours in the cockpit. In other words, he's someone leaders in Washington might want to listen to as they make important decisions related to China and the U.S. military. Why should Americans care about the Indo-Pacific and the situation in Taiwan — what's going on there? What lessons might Beijing be learning from the war in Ukraine?  How capable is China's military? What aircraft, munitions, and capabilities do our forces most need in the Indo-Pacific? How should U.S. forces be arrayed in the region? As the military threat from China grows and Congress considers the Biden Administration's fiscal year 2024 defense budget proposal, General Wilsbach discusses these and related issues with Bradley Bowman — senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP).

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #Israel:  Internal security alarms. Jonathan Schanzer: Israel's diplomatic relations with its neighbors, in the wake of the judicial reform drama of the past few weeks. And security considerations through Ramadan.  Dr. Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at FDD, where he oversees the work of the organization's experts and scholars. He is also on the leadership team of FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power, a project on the use of financial and economic power as a tool of statecraft. Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-735553 https://www.timesofisrael.com/uks-bp-teams-up-with-abu-dhabi-state-oil-group-to-buy-50-of-israels-newmed-energy/ https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-03-20/ty-article/.premium/jordan-condemns-smotrich-racist-statements-that-violate-peace-agreement-with-israel/00000186-ff79-d31e-a9ef-ff7bd2830000 https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2023/03/26/interview-next-iranian-threat-israel/

With the implosion of FTX and the arrest of its founder, Washington finally woke up to the need for more effective regulation of cryptocurrency. Yet as government agencies and legislators take up the challenge of crypto regulation, the associated national security challenges need to be front and center, too. Relative anonymity or pseudonymity make crypto currency naturally attractive to those seeking to avoid government oversight and intervention — like criminals, terrorists, and the states that sponsor them. From cybercrime, terror finance, and sanctions busting to domestic extremism and drug and human trafficking, Washington needs a plan to tackle the unique challenges posed by crypto. To unpack everything, guest host and FDD Senior Advisor Rich Goldberg is joined by economic and national security experts Alex Levitov and Elaine Dezenski. Alex Levitov Alex is an associate managing director at K2 Integrity where he works with financial institutions, technology firms, and jurisdictional authorities to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with money laundering, terrorist financing, bribery and corruption, sanctions evasion, and other forms of illicit financial activity. He recently co-authored with Rich an FDD report on the risks of digital assets: The Underside of the Coin. Elaine Dezenski Elaine is the senior director and head of FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power. She's a powerhouse and leading thinker on geopolitical risk, supply chain security, anti-corruption, and national security. Richard Goldberg Rich is the former Director for Countering Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction at the White House National Security Council. Prior to that, he focused on U.S. foreign assistance, including foreign military financing, international security assistance, development, and economic support funds as a staffer on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations. He also worked in the U.S. Senate, where he emerged a leading architect of the toughest sanctions on Iran. He was also the lead Republican negotiator for three rounds of sanctions targeting the Central Bank of Iran, the SWIFT financial messaging service, and entire sectors of the Iranian economy.  

General James C. McConville is the 40th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, filling a critical position for our nation once occupied by individuals such as General John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, George Marshall, Dwight Eisenhower, and Omar Bradley. A West Point graduate, soldier, leader, and aviator, General McConville has commanded the famous 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and led in combat including in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, as Army Chief of Staff, his job is to ensure our soldiers have the training and equipment they need to accomplish their missions and return home safely. In this position, he's also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, helping to advise some of our nation's senior civilian leaders on vital national security decisions. General McConville sat down with Bradley Bowman — senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP), filling in for host Cliff May — just days after the one-year anniversary of Putin's unprovoked large-scale invasion of Ukraine and amidst reports of Beijing considering the provision of lethal aid to Moscow for use against Ukrainians. Bradley and General McConville discuss the war in Ukraine and what's at stake for Americans, how to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base, the nature of the threat from China, and what the Army is doing to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Bradley also asks him for an update on the Army's ongoing modernization efforts — the most significant the service has conducted in four decades and one that will determine whether Americans can prevail on future battlefields.

Vladimir Putin expected to conquer Ukraine in three days. But the brutal and bloody war he launched against his neighbor has dragged on for one year. The factors that gave rise to this war are still widely misunderstood. How or when it will end remains unclear, too. To unpack everything, Foreign Podicy host Cliff May — FDD's Founder and President and Chairman of its Russia Program — is joined by three FDD experts. RADM (ret) Mark Montgomery Mark Montgomery serves as senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, countering cyber threats that seek to diminish America's national security. Mark also directs CSC 2.0, an FDD initiative that works to implement the recommendations of the congressionally mandated Cyberspace Solarium Commission, where he was executive director. Mark previously served as policy director for the Senate Armed Services Committee under the leadership of Senator John McCain, coordinating policy efforts on national security strategy, capabilities and requirements, and cyber policy. Before that, Mark served for 32 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a rear admiral in 2017. Bradley Bowman Bradley Bowman is senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, focusing on U.S. defense strategy and policy. Brad spent nearly nine years as a national security and defense advisor in the U.S. Senate. Prior to that, he served more than 15 years on active duty in the U.S. Army, including as a company commander, helicopter pilot, congressional affairs officer in the Pentagon, and staff officer in Afghanistan. He also was an assistant professor at West Point, teaching foreign policy and grand strategy. John Hardie John Hardie serves as deputy director of FDD's Russia Program, focusing on Russian foreign and security policy, U.S. policy toward Russia and the post-Soviet space, and transatlantic relations. John holds an M.A. in security studies from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.

The Islamic Republic of Iran possesses the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, and Tehran is working hard to increase its size and quality by pursuing improvements in precision, range, mobility, warhead design, and survivability. That's one of the conclusions drawn by FDD Senior Fellow and Iran expert Behnam Ben Taleblu in his major new FDD Monograph, "Arsenal: Assessing the Islamic Republic of Iran's Ballistic Missile Program." Leveraging an impressive array of English and Persian-language sources, Behnam has produced one of the most comprehensive publicly available assessments to date of Iranian ballistic missile program. In it, he warns that we should expect more missile attacks and transfers from Iran in the future. In his foreword for the monograph, Vice Admiral (Ret.) James D. Syring, Former Director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, writes that Behnam's “findings and recommendations will stimulate a productive policy discussion regarding the steps Washington must take to counter the rising Iranian ballistic missile threat.” So, what are the origins of Tehran's ballistic missile program? How has it evolved? What are its current capabilities? How does the Islamic Republic view and use its missile arsenal? And what should the U.S. and its allies and partners do about it? To discuss these questions and more, Behnam and Lieutenant General (retired) H.R. McMaster — soldier, former White House National Security Advisor, and Chairman of the Board of Advisors at FDD's Center on Military and Political Power — join CMPP Senior Director and guest host Bradley Bowman.    

Mike Waltz is a warrior and a diplomat. In 2014, he wrote a fascinating book called “Warrior Diplomat: A Green Beret's Battles from Washington to Afghanistan.” In 2015, he was a non-resident senior fellow at FDD. In 2018, he became the first Green Beret elected to Congress, taking the seat that had belonged to the now-Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis. In the current session of Congress, Rep. Waltz serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Relations Committee, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. These assignments suggest that he's thinking harder than ever about national security and foreign policy at a critical and dangerous moment. He joins host Cliff May along with Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, to discuss. MORE: https://www.fdd.org/podcasts/2023/02/10/warrior-diplomat-on-the-hill/

The Eastern Mediterranean has been an epicenter of great power competition for over two millennia. Located at the nexus of Africa, Asia, and Europe, the region's strategic location, cultural significance, and vast natural resources require the United States to implement a coherent approach.In what ways have recent developments, including the historic Abraham Accords normalization agreements and the launch of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, impacted the region? How does a more integrated Eastern Mediterranean advance U.S. interests and what can be done to support such efforts? What can the United States do to meet the rising challenges and take advantage of the emerging opportunities in region?The event features introductory remarks from Hellenic American Leadership Council Executive Director Endy Zemenides with a panel discussion featuring Senior Director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power Bradley Bowman, FDD Senior Advisor Amb. Eric S. Edelman, Member of the Hellenic Parliament Dimitris Keridis, and FDD Senior Vice President for Research Jonathan Schanzer. The conversation is moderated by Washington Correspondent for Greek Public TV ERT Lena Argiri.This event, hosted by FDD's Turkey Program and Center on Military and Political Power, was a breakout session of the Delphi Economic Forum.

The United States and Israel conducted the Juniper Oak 23 multi-domain military exercise in late January. The Pentagon calls it the “largest” and “most significant” bilateral U.S.-Israel exercise in history. This exercise comes as the Islamic Republic of Iran deepens its relationship with China and Russia, continues to export terrorism, inches toward a nuclear weapon, and expands the missile means to deliver a weapon of mass destruction to its target. So, what was this military exercise all about? What makes it unique? Why does it matter? What comes next? Filling in for Cliff May, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power Bradley Bowman asks Lieutenant General Gregory Guillot. Lt. Gen. Gregory Guillot is the Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command, which is the Pentagon's regional combatant command responsible for the Middle East. CENTCOM was established a few years after the  revolution in Iran in 1979 and views deterring Iran as its number one command priority. Lieutenant General Gregory Guillot General Guillot received his commission from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1989 and has commanded a flying squadron, operations group, and two flying wings. Most recently, he served as the commander of the Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central), Combined Force Air Component Commander within CENTCOM. He's a senior air battle manager with more than 1,380 flying hours.

The security situation in the West Bank is volatile. A mosaic of terrorist groups — many backed by the Islamic Republic of Iran — have found the West Bank ripe ground for plotting violence and attacking Israelis. A major increase in terrorist attacks in Israel in early 2022 has made clear the Palestinian Authority has lost control of parts of the West Bank. What sparked the rising tensions? Can the Palestinian Authority regain control? What role does the Islamic Republic of Iran play in the violence? How has Israel been responding to the attacks? And what can Washington and allied nations do to deescalate the situation? To discuss these questions and more, FDD hosts an on-the-record event on the rising tensions in the West Bank.The event features a panel discussion with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus, former international spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces and a member of the Israel Defense and Security Forum; Jonathan Schanzer, senior vice president for research at FDD and former terrorism finance analyst at the U.S. Department of the Treasury; and Enia Krivine, senior director of FDD's Israel Program and National Security Network. The conversation will be moderated by Bradley Bowman, senior director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power.

Many Americans recognize the threat emanating from the People's Republic of China. But some may assume that Beijing's malign activities are relegated to the Indo-Pacific. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Beijing is increasingly active in Latin America — right here in our own hemisphere.  What are Beijing and other adversaries up to in this region? Why do these activities matter? How should we respond? U.S. Army General Laura Richardson is a leader, soldier, aviator, and combat veteran. She has commanded an assault helicopter battalion in Iraq, served as military aide to the Vice President, and led the Army component of U.S. Northern Command. Now, she is the Commander of U.S. Southern Command, the first woman to serve in that position. SOUTHCOM is one of the Pentagon's six geographic commands and is responsible for U.S. contingency planning, operations, and security cooperation in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. She joins guest host Bradley Bowman, Senior Director of FDD's Center on Military and Political Power, to discuss. 

Perhaps you've heard of the Wagner Group? They're Russian mercenaries. They claim they're not taking orders from Vladimir Putin, but you should be skeptical. At this moment, the Wagner Group is fighting on Putin's side in Ukraine — but not as effectively as many expected. Less well known is the Mozart Group, which consists mostly of special operations soldiers from 11 countries who are training, advising, assisting, and equipping Ukrainians as they attempt to defend their independence and freedom against an imperialist and colonialist tyrant who also, by the way, regards America as his enemy. The Mozart Group is led by retired United States Marine Corps Colonel Andrew Milburn. In his last assignment, Col. Milburn served as the Deputy Commander of Special Operations Command Central, the headquarters responsible for all U.S. special operations in the Middle East. He and Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery, senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, join host Cliff May to discuss Russia's war in Ukraine. 

About Americans must be prepared to defend themselves from hostile armies, navies, air forces – and, not least, soldiers in cyberspace. With that in mind, in 2019, Congress created the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, the CSC. It's mission: “to develop a strategic approach to defending the United States in cyberspace against cyber-attacks of significant consequences.” The CSC operated successfully for two and a half years, publishing its flagship report in March 2020. It issued more than 80 recommendations to reform U.S. government structures and organization, promote national resilience, operationalize public-private collaboration, and preserve and employ military instruments of national power. Many of those recommendations have been implemented — but not all. At the CSC's planned sunset, the commissioners launched "CSC 2.0" to support the implementation of outstanding recommendations, provide annual assessments of progress, and conduct further research and analysis on cybersecurity issues. It's a critical project because there are still many gaping holes in America's cyberspace defense capabilities. To better understand what is being done and what still must be done to defeat this evolving threat, host Cliff May is joined by RADM (Ret) Mark Montgomery — former executive director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, now senior director of FDD's Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, CCTI, which houses “CSC 2.0” — and Jiwon Ma, a program analyst at CCTI, where she focuses on this new project.  They recently co-authored the project's 2022 Annual Report on Implementation which examines the progress of efforts to harden our national security in cyberspace.

Photo: No known restrictions on publication. @Batchelorshow #Chile: Reversing.  Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi is a senior fellow at FDD and an expert at FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP). Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1 https://www.npr.org/2022/09/04/1121065756/chile-constitution-referendum

Photo:  Tobacco harvest, near Villarrica in Paraguay #Paraguay: Assassination on the beach. Emanuele Ottolenghi, senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies; expert at its Center on Sanctions and Illicit Finance.  Malcolm Hoenlein @Conf_of_pres @mhoenlein1.    https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2022/05/17/murder-on-the-beach/ Dr. Emanuele Ottolenghi is a senior Fellow at FDD and an expert at FDD's Center on Economic and Financial Power (CEFP) focused on Hezbollah's Latin America illicit threat networks and Iran's history of sanctions evasion. His research has examined Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including its links to the country's energy sector and procurement networks.