Podcasts about intelligence studies project

Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is remembered for many things, among them his iconic observation that, "There are known knowns--there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns--that is to say, we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know." The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine is full of reminders of the importance of understanding what we know, recognizing what we don't know, and being open to the idea that there is likely more we don't yet know. In order to help make sense of it, the Clements Center for National Security, Asia Policy Program, LBJ School of Public Affairs, Strauss Center for International Security and Law, Intelligence Studies Project, and Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies at the University of Texas, Austin hosted "War in Ukraine: An Expert Panel Discussion" on Wednesday, March 2. The experts included Will Inboden, executive director of the Clements Center (and editor-in-chief of TNSR); Bobby Chesney, director of the Strauss Center; Jeremi Suri, Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin; Sheena Greitens, founding director of the Asia Policy Program; Stephen Slick, director of the Intelligence Studies Project; Alexandra Sukalo, postdoctoral fellow at the Clements Center; and, Zoltán Fehér, predoctoral fellow at the Clements Center, and a former Hungarian diplomat. This discussion is essential listening for a better understanding of the ongoing aggressive war being waged by Russia and its implications for international security.

In the late 1980's a Ukrainian-born immigrant to the United States who took the stage name Yakov Smirnoff became a brief comedy sensation with lines such as, "In Russia, we have only two TV channels. Channel 1 is propaganda. Channel 2 is a KGB officer telling you to turn back to channel one." This week's Horns of a Dilemma podcast explores the uncomfortable ways in which jokes about stifled expression in the Soviet Union still resonate in Russia today. Vladimir Kara-Murza is a Russian politician and opposition leader who was twice poisoned and left in a coma by agents of Vladimir Putin's regime. Kara-Murza speaks with Professor Kiril Avramov of the Strauss Center's Intelligence Studies Project and the Global Disinformation Laboratory at the University of Texas, Austin, about freedom of expression and political dissent in contemporary Russia under Putin.  Kara-Murza and Avramov discuss the role of propaganda, the rigging of elections, and the effect of social media on Putin's control of information. They conclude with an analysis of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. This event was held at the University of Texas, Austin.

This week's Horns of a Dilemma may be a first in that it deals with a work of fiction.  Author David McCloskey joins Stephen Slick of the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas, Austin, to discuss his new novel, Damascus Station. In the novel, McCloskey draws on his years as a CIA analyst to lend realism to both the civil war in Syria (the setting for the novel) and to the culture and activities of the CIA. The book talk is followed by a discussion between McCloskey and Slick about McCloskey's perspective on intelligence and the CIA in particular. This talk was held at the University of Texas, Austin.

In this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, Amb. (ret.) Bonnie Jenkins discusses the array of treaty obligations, international law, and other agreements that make up the arms control and nuclear non-proliferation regime.   Paul Pope, senior fellow at the Intelligence Studies Project, introduces Marigny Kirschke-Schwartz, a Brumley fellow at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, to moderate the talk with Amb. Jenkins.

This episode of Horns of a Dilemma is a powerhouse of intelligence knowledge. Adm. (Ret.) William McRaven, former chancellor of the University of Texas at Austin and retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral, sits down with John Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, to discuss Brennan’s new book, Undaunted: My Fight Against America’s Enemies, At Home and Abroad. This is a wide-ranging discussion that covers the history of the CIA, the decision-making styles of the presidents Brennan worked for, the events of 9/11, and some of the more controversial projects with which the CIA was involved.   McRaven and Brennan were introduced by Stephen Slick, director of the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas at Austin.

Bulgaria, Belarus, books—oh my! In this exciting episode hosted by Matt and newbie host Katherine, Assistant Professor Kiril Avramov the University of Texas at Austin sits down to discuss his new book, “Russia's Hidden Armies,” the recent detainment of Russian mercenaries in Belarus, and the anti-corruption protests currently raging within Bulgaria. Tune in for an episode filled to the brim with shocking details over Post-Communist Bulgaria and secret armies! For more on the Wagner mercenaries, read the piece by SlavX blogger Lexi Jovanovic: https://www.slavxradio.com/articles/wagner ABOUT THE GUEST https://www.strausscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/Avramov.jpeg Dr. Kiril Avramov is a post-doctoral research fellow of the Intelligence Studies Project (ISP) at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Avramov was, until December 2017, the Acting Vice-Rector for International Relations and Research at the New Bulgarian University (NBU) in Sofia, Bulgaria and an Assistant Professor of Political Science at NBU. He studied previously at Gustavus Adolphus College (USA/MN), the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), University of Sofia (Bulgaria), Central European University (Hungary), and NBU. He taught in the Department of Political Science at the University of Sofia until 2005 and, from 2006-2010, was also the Director of the international consultancy and research institute “Political Capital” in Bulgaria. In 2010, he was appointed as the Director for International Relations of Political Capital at the firm's headquarters in Budapest. Dr. Avramov's main research interests are information warfare, psychological operations and mass cognitive hacking, as well as the “weaponization of information” and their respective application and effects on individual and group decision-making processes in the Central and Eastern Europe and MENA regions. Additional areas of interest include political elites' and non-elites' decision-making resilience mechanisms and radicalization in post-transition democracies during identified active “psyops” and third party information operations. He is a member of the Bulgarian Political Science Association and the ECPR's standing groups on Extremism & Democracy, Central and East European Politics, Elites and Political Leadership, Politics and the Arts, and Southeast Europe. He is also a member of the RAN-DERAD network under the Migration and Home Affairs Directorate of the European Commission. Connect with Dr. Avramov on Twitter: @avramovok Visit him on the Strauss Center website: https://www.strausscenter.org/person/kiril-avramov/ and at the Intelligence Studies Project page: https://intelligencestudies.utexas.edu/about/leadership NOTE: This episode was recorded on Monday, August 24th, 2020 via Zoom. CREDITS Co-Host/Co-Producer: Matthew Orr (Connect: facebook.com/orrrmatthew) Co-Producer: Tom Rehnquist (Connect: Twitter @RehnquistTom) Co-Host/Associate Producer: Katherine E. Birch Associate Producer: Lera Toropin Associate Producer: Cullan Bendig Assistant Producer: Samantha Farmer Assistant Producer: Milena D-K Assistant Producer/Administrator: Kathryn Yegorov-Crate Recording, Editing, and Sound Design: Michelle Daniel Music Producer: Charlie Harper (Connect: facebook.com/charlie.harper.1485 Instagram: @charlieharpermusic) www.charlieharpermusic.com (Main Theme by Charlie Harper. Additional background music by Charlie Harper, Michelle Daniel, and Blue Dot Sessions) Executive Producer & Creator: Michelle Daniel (Connect: facebook.com/mdanielgeraci Instagram: @michelledaniel86) www.msdaniel.com DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this episode do not necessarily reflect those of the show or the University of Texas at Austin. Special Guest: Kiril Avramov.

Former CIA officer Stephen Slick joins us to talk about his nearly three decades in intelligence, spent largely overseas in Ukraine, the Balkans, and East Germany. Professor Slick also discusses his return Stateside to a position in Langley just one week before 9-11 occurred and his present role as an educator at the University of Texas at Austin in building the Intelligence Studies Project--a first of its kind in the United States. We hope you enjoy! ABOUT THE GUEST https://lbj.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/styles/faculty_bio_image__258x344_/public/profilephotos/CCR_Slick_web.jpg?itok=FMyHks_P Stephen Slick was appointed in January 2015 as director of The University of Texas at Austin's Intelligence Studies Project and clinical professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Before moving to Austin, he served for 28 years in the CIA's clandestine service, including five assignments abroad. Between 2005 and 2009, he was a special assistant to the president and the senior director for intelligence programs and reform on the staff of the National Security Council. He received a B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University, a J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law and a Master in Public Policy degree from Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. NOTE: This episode was recorded on April 26th, 2020 via Zoom. Professor Slick appears courtesy of the LBJ School of Public Policy and the Intelligence Studies Project at UT Austin. For more information please visit: https://intelligencestudies.utexas.edu/ CREDITS Co-Producer: Tom Rehnquist (Connect: facebook.com/thomas.rehnquist) Co-Producer: Matthew Orr (Connect: facebook.com/orrrmatthew) Host/Associate Producer: Lera Toropin Associate Producer: Cullan Bendig Associate Producer: Samantha Farmer Associate Producer: Milena D-K Assistant Producer/Social Media Manager: Kathryn Yegorov-Crate Development Assistant: Luis Camarena Recording, Editing, and Sound Design: Michelle Daniel Music Producer: Charlie Harper (Connect: facebook.com/charlie.harper.1485 Instagram: @charlieharpermusic) www.charlieharpermusic.com (Main Theme by Charlie Harper and additional Background music by Charlie Harper, John Bartmann, and Blue Dot Sessions) Executive Producer & Creator: Michelle Daniel (Connect: facebook.com/mdanielgeraci Instagram: @michelledaniel86) www.msdaniel.com DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this episode do not necessarily reflect those of the show or the University of Texas at Austin. Special Guest: Stephen Slick.

In this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, we listen to a discussion moderated by Steve Slick of the Strauss Center and the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas at Austin about the role of intelligence in the COVID-19 pandemic. Slick is joined by Bobby Chesney, director of the Strauss Center for International Security and Law, Paul Pope, senior fellow at the Intelligence Studies Project, and Calder Walton, assistant director of the Applied History Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Their conversation touches on whether the failure to properly anticipate and warn about the novel coronavirus constitutes an intelligence failure, what changes might be required in the intelligence community in the wake of the pandemic, and what type of investigation or inquiry might be appropriate in order to learn lessons and incorporate changes for both the intelligence community and the whole of government moving forward.

In this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, Will Inboden, executive director of the Clements Center, sits down with Professor Paul Pope and Dr. Kiril Avramov of the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas and Dr. Calder Walton, assistant director of the Applied History Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, to discuss the history of influence operations and active measures by the Soviet Union and Russia. Their wide-ranging discussion covers everything from Soviet active measures in Chile, to the theory of reflexive control that governed the Soviet strategy of conducting influence operations, to the response in the United States to Operation JADE HELM, Russian interference in the 2016 election, and the role of social media in advancing political warfare goals. Join us for a fascinating conversation about history that has urgent implications for today.

In this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, John Gans, director of communications and research at Perry World House at the University of Pennsylvania, sits down with several members of the University of Texas faculty to discuss his new book, White House Warriors: How the National Security Council Transformed the American Way of War. The discussion is led by William Inboden, editor-in-chief of the Texas National Security Review and director of the Clements Center, Steve Slick, director of the Intelligence Studies Project and former director and senior director for intelligence programs at the National Security Council, and Aaron O'Connell, a veteran of the National Sescurity Council staff and faculty fellow at the Clements Center. The discussion dives into the role of the National Security Council and the challenges it faces. They also discuss Gans' process in researching and writing White House Warriors.

In this episode of Horns of a Dilemma, retired General Amos Yadlin sits down with Steve Slick, director of the Intelligence Studies Project, to discuss Middle East security and Israeli security concerns. Slick and General Yadlin also engage in a conversation about the role of Israel in the middle east, the future of Israel, and questions regarding security in the region. General Yadlin served in the Israeli Armed Forces for over forty years as an air force officer and as the director of Israeli Military Intelligence. This talk took place at the University of Texas at Austin and was sponsored by the Intelligence Studies Project, the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, and the Clements Center for National Security.

Where are we 18 years after 9/11? What is the nature of the phenomenon of terrorism now and what challenges does America face today? What security strategies are currently in place and have they worked? Paul Pope, senior fellow at the Intelligence Studies Project, moderates a panel on counterterrorism since 9/11. Paul is joined by John Brennan, former CIA director, retired Adm. William McRaven, former commander of the Special Operations Command, Farah Pandith, author and former National Security Council and State Department official, and Nicholas Rasmussen, former National Counterterrorism Center director. This talk took place at the University of Texas at Austin and was sponsored by the Intelligence Studies Project, the LBJ School of Public Affairs, the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, and the Clements Center for National Security.

In a conversation between Paul Pope and Seth Jones, Jones talks about his latest book, A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland. He discusses Reagan's approach to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and how the CIA aided Poland's opposition movement by helping it to run an underground media campaign, which, ultimately, helped it survive the onslaught from the regime. Pope and Jones also discuss the conditions that set up covert action for success. Here's a hint: Don't try to bake the whole cake. This event was co-sponsored by the Intelligence Studies Project, the Clements Center, and the Strauss Center. Seth Jones is the Harold Brown chair at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, where he is also director of the Transnational Threats Project and senior adviser for the International Security Program. Dr. Jones teaches at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.   Produced by Tre Hester

This episode of Horns of a Dilemma is part of a special series of live episodes bringing you into the room at the 2019 Intelligence Studies Project Symposium at the University of Texas at Austin. In this final installment, Susan Gordon, principal deputy director of national intelligence, delivers the keynote address to the 2019 ISP Symposium. Following her address, she sat down with Stephen Slick, director of the Intelligence Studies Project, to discuss intelligence in transition. The event was sponsored by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law, the Clements Center for National Security, and the LBJ School of Public Affairs.   Music and Production by Tre Hester

As a kickoff to the Information Wars Social Media Conference here at the University of Texas today, we are releasing this episode featuring one of UT's own speakers, Dr. Kiril Avramov who is not only brilliant but one of the most caring and engaging educators on these Forty Acres! Dr. Avramov was until December 2017 the Acting Vice-Rector for International Relations and Research at the New Bulgarian University (NBU) in Sofia, Bulgaria and an Assistant Professor of Political Science at NBU. He studied previously at Gustavus Adolphus College (USA/MN), the University of Aberdeen (Scotland), University of Sofia (Bulgaria), Central European University (Hungary), and NBU. He taught in the Department of Political Science at the University of Sofia until 2005 and, from 2006-2010, was also the Director of the international consultancy and research institute “Political Capital” in Bulgaria. In 2010, he was appointed as the Director for International Relations of Political Capital at the firm's headquarters in Budapest. Dr. Avramov's main research interests are information warfare, psychological operations and mass cognitive hacking, as well as the “weaponization of information” and their respective application and effects on individual and group decision-making processes in the Central and Eastern Europe and MENA regions. Additional areas of interest include political elites' and non-elites' decision-making resilience mechanisms and radicalization in post-transition democracies during identified active “psyops” and third party information operations. BOOK RECOMMENDATION: "Fortress Russia: Conspiracy Theories in the Post-Soviet World" by Ilya Yablokov https://www.amazon.com/Fortress-Russia-Conspiracy-Theories-Post-Soviet/dp/1509522662/ref=sr11?crid=3EA8MAIYQ3KII&keywords=fortress+russia&qid=1556198139&s=books&sprefix=fortress+russia%2Caps%2C152&sr=1-1 Note: Dr. Kiril Avramov appears courtesy of the Intelligence Studies Project, a joint endeavor of the Clements Center for National Security and the Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin. Producer's Note: This episode was recorded on April 12th, 2019, therefore the Ukrainian presidential election had not occurred yet, deeming Volodymyr Zelensky as the uncontested winner. CREDITS Co-Producer: Matthew Orr (Connect: facebook.com/orrmatthew) Associate Producer: Tom Rehnquist (Connect: facebook.com/thomas.rehnquist) Associate Producer: Lauren Nyquist (Connect: facebook.com/lenyquist Instagram: @nyquabbit) Associate Producer: Milena D-K (Connect: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010939368892 Instagram: @thedistantsea and @milena.d.k) Music/Sound Design: Charlie Harper (Connect: facebook.com/charlie.harper.1485 Instagram: @charlieharpermusic www.charlieharpermusic.com) Producer & Creator: Michelle Daniel (Connect: facebook.com/mdanielgeraci Instagram: @michelledaniel86) Follow The Slavic Connexion on Instagram: @slavxradio, Twitter: @SlavXRadio, and on Facebook: facebook.com/slavxradio . Check out our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDqMRKmAtJRxBVxFTI82pgg Thanks for listening and please don't forget to subscribe!! Special Guest: Kiril Avramov.

This episode of Horns of a Dilemma is part of a series of special live episodes bringing you into the room at the Fifth Annual Texas National Security Forum. In this keynote conversation, Stephen Slick, Director of the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas at Austin, moderated a discussion with Senator Richard Burr, Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, and Senator John Cornyn, Member of the Select Committee on Intelligence. Gregory Fenves, President of the University of Texas at Austin, introduced the panel. This event was sponsored by the Clements Center, the Strauss Center, and the Clements-Strauss Intelligence Studies Project.

In our last episode of Horns of a Dilemma, we featured a speech by Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence. At the very same conference​, organized by the Intelligence Studies Project -- a collaborative effort of the Strauss and Clements Centers down at the University of Texas -- there was a fascinating conversation moderated by Michele L. Malvesti of Tufts University, that featured John McLaughlin, the former Acting Director of Central Intelligence, Nicholas Rasmussen, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, and Norman Roule, former National Intelligence Manager for Iran.      Music and Production by Tre Hester

SPY Historian Vince Houghton sat down with former CIA officer Steve Slick, who spent more than three decades at the Agency as a case officer, chief of station, and senior executive. He is now the inaugural Director of the Intelligence Studies Project at the University of Texas, Austin.