Podcasts about sage international australia sia

The Idlib balance of power is threatened as the last rebellion holdout in Syria by threatened by conflicting and complex interests. There is a current cease-fire, but as the "Battle for Idlib" is the last stand against the Syrian regime's sovereignty, it seems only a matter of time until violence breaks out once again. This an extraordinary Civil war which has attracted the strategic and tactical interests of Iran, Turkey, and Russia, bringing the conflict to the attention of NATO and other European multilateral alliances. With so much tension spread so far wide, the question really is, when will the cease-fire collapse. and who stands to benefit from what outcomes may eventuate? To discuss these issues, we'll be joined today by SAGE International Australia's Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is the Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non-Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media. Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Idlib balance of power is threatened as the last rebellion holdout in Syria by threatened by conflicting and complex interests. There is a current cease-fire, but as the "Battle for Idlib" is the last stand against the Syrian regime's sovereignty, it seems only a matter of time until violence breaks out once again. This an extraordinary Civil war which has attracted the strategic and tactical interests of Iran, Turkey, and Russia, bringing the conflict to the attention of NATO and other European multilateral alliances. With so much tension spread so far wide, the question really is, when will the cease-fire collapse. and who stands to benefit from what outcomes may eventuate? To discuss these issues, we’ll be joined today by SAGE International Australia’s Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is the Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non-Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media. Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you! Support the show.

Yemen is a benighted country just south/southwest of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi monarchy has overseen a 2004 Shiite uprising, and directly connected to its existential foe in the Middle East – Iran. The Saudi monarchy pointed its accusatory finger at Iran for stirring up unrest in Yemen, a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Saudis, fearing that the Houthi contagion might spread to its own significant Shiite population, decided to enter the fray in 2015 and snuff out this rebellion. But the international community has on the whole been quiet on the war in Yemen.  To discuss these issues, we’ll be joined today by SAGE International Australia’s Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media. Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you! This episode's feature artist is Hartway, with their track Beyond. Find them on Facebook, iTunes and Spotify. Support the show.

Yemen is a benighted country just south/southwest of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi monarchy has overseen a 2004 Shiite uprising, and directly connected to its existential foe in the Middle East – Iran. The Saudi monarchy pointed its accusatory finger at Iran for stirring up unrest in Yemen, a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Saudis, fearing that the Houthi contagion might spread to its own significant Shiite population, decided to enter the fray in 2015 and snuff out this rebellion. But the international community has on the whole been quiet on the war in Yemen.  To discuss these issues, we'll be joined today by SAGE International Australia's Dr. Imad Harb. Dr Harb is Director of Research and Analysis at the Arab Center Washington DC. He is also Senior Non Resident Fellow Greater Middle East for SAGE International Australia (SIA) as well as Member of the SIA Advisory Board. Dr Harb often commentates on Middle Eastern issues for the US and international media. Please direct any feedback you may have to the SIA website, we look forward to hearing from you! This episode's feature artist is Hartway, with their track Beyond. Find them on Facebook, iTunes and Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. John Bruni is Founder and CEO of SAGE International Australia (SIA), an Adelaide-based private think tank specialising in the analysis of foreign policy, international and national security issues in Australia's 'defence state' of South Australia (SA). Est. in 2008, and partners of the Swiss Centre for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich, we are the only institution of its type in SA and STRATEGIKON, created in 2016, is the podcast of SIA. Recorded LIVE at The 2019 Adelaide Podcast Festival at The Elephant British Pub. Thanks to our sponsors, Omny Studio, Zoom, Young Henrys, The Elephant British Pub, Auscast Network, Studio Creations, Rumpus Room, Noticemore & Cartel Media For more info, see www.adelaidepodcastfestival.com.au

Welcome to our Halloween Special! With the US Midterms around the corner, we thought we'd put this important electoral event under the STRATEGIKON microscope. In this episode, John speaks to SIA's Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig direct from Stillwater Oklahoma. Usually, we’d take the time to put down a few helpful explanations – factoids if you will – however, as we are talking about a topic that is currently saturated with media coverage, mainstream and social, we just thought that this time around, the topic spoke for itself, so sit back, relax and enjoy this interesting episode of STRATEGIKON. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

Welcome to our Halloween Special! With the US Midterms around the corner, we thought we'd put this important electoral event under the STRATEGIKON microscope. In this episode, John speaks to SIA's Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig direct from Stillwater Oklahoma. Usually, we'd take the time to put down a few helpful explanations – factoids if you will – however, as we are talking about a topic that is currently saturated with media coverage, mainstream and social, we just thought that this time around, the topic spoke for itself, so sit back, relax and enjoy this interesting episode of STRATEGIKON. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and David interview David Khandan, Executive Director of Austability. In this episode we look at this Aussie security company's approach to a range of issues from counter-terrorism, radicalisation, cyber as well as women & child protection. Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: Retired US Army Major Jim Gant, former Green Beret, also referred to as 'Lawrence of Afghanistan' for his Village Stability Operations (VSO) approach in which US Special Forces would embed themselves among Pashtun tribes in the hope of turning these tribes against the Taliban. Supporters of VSO (also called One Tribe at a Time) said this was the only tactic that worked in Afghanistan. Obama axed the program upon implementation of the US Status of Forces Agreement (signed by President Bush and actioned by President Obama) whereby the bulk of US forces would be withdrawn from Afghanistan. Forensic linguistics, otherwise known as 'language and the law' seeks to understand how linguistic knowledge can be used to contextualise legal procedures. Human Terrain System (HTS) - an American concept for integrating academics in the social sciences, especially anthropologists, into military units in the field for a better understanding of local populations and their motivation for action. The program started in 2005 but fell out of favour in the Pentagon in 2014 because of ongoing complaints about 'academic integrity' of those embedded scholars who could not return to academic work after their work with the military had ended; and, the idea of using academic knowledge to manipulate local opinion to favour the US military in its interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Emile Durkheim was a 19th Century French sociologist focussed on how rapidly changing and modernising societies could maintain their internal coherence once the old traditions and customs became irrelevant. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

John and David interview David Khandan, Executive Director of Austability. In this episode we look at this Aussie security company's approach to a range of issues from counter-terrorism, radicalisation, cyber as well as women & child protection. Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: Retired US Army Major Jim Gant, former Green Beret, also referred to as 'Lawrence of Afghanistan' for his Village Stability Operations (VSO) approach in which US Special Forces would embed themselves among Pashtun tribes in the hope of turning these tribes against the Taliban. Supporters of VSO (also called One Tribe at a Time) said this was the only tactic that worked in Afghanistan. Obama axed the program upon implementation of the US Status of Forces Agreement (signed by President Bush and actioned by President Obama) whereby the bulk of US forces would be withdrawn from Afghanistan. Forensic linguistics, otherwise known as 'language and the law' seeks to understand how linguistic knowledge can be used to contextualise legal procedures. Human Terrain System (HTS) - an American concept for integrating academics in the social sciences, especially anthropologists, into military units in the field for a better understanding of local populations and their motivation for action. The program started in 2005 but fell out of favour in the Pentagon in 2014 because of ongoing complaints about 'academic integrity' of those embedded scholars who could not return to academic work after their work with the military had ended; and, the idea of using academic knowledge to manipulate local opinion to favour the US military in its interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Emile Durkheim was a 19th Century French sociologist focussed on how rapidly changing and modernising societies could maintain their internal coherence once the old traditions and customs became irrelevant. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John & David is joined by Special Guest Prof. Julian Lindley-French as they look deep into Russia's contemporary grand strategy. Was the fuss about Russian military exercise Vostok 2018 justified? Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: General Valery Gerasimov - Russian Chief of the General Staff Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye (GRU) - Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Запад (ZAPAD) - is the name given to routine Russian military manoeuvres that started during the Soviet Union (1973). The largest ZAPAD Exercise was conducted by the USSR in 1981. The latest ZAPAD Exercise was conducted last year (2017) to much media alarm. See STRATEGIKON Ep 36 feat SIA Chairman CDRE P.J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret'd) AirLand Battle - A US military concept designed for the defence of Western Europe from Soviet aggression. It called for the close coordination of Western (ie US-European forces under the auspices of NATO) forces. Land units to manoeuvre aggressively against a Soviet ground attack while Western air power attacked rear echelon Soviet formations to disrupt their offensive operations Exercise Saif Sareea (Swift Sword) - A British military exercise conducted with the armed forces of Oman. It is the largest out of area military deployment conducted by the UK. There has been three such exercises, 1986, 2001 and 2018 RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John & David is joined by Special Guest Prof. Julian Lindley-French as they look deep into Russia's contemporary grand strategy. Was the fuss about Russian military exercise Vostok 2018 justified? Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: General Valery Gerasimov - Russian Chief of the General Staff Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye (GRU) - Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation Запад (ZAPAD) - is the name given to routine Russian military manoeuvres that started during the Soviet Union (1973). The largest ZAPAD Exercise was conducted by the USSR in 1981. The latest ZAPAD Exercise was conducted last year (2017) to much media alarm. See STRATEGIKON Ep 36 feat SIA Chairman CDRE P.J. Tyrrell OBE RN (Ret'd) AirLand Battle - A US military concept designed for the defence of Western Europe from Soviet aggression. It called for the close coordination of Western (ie US-European forces under the auspices of NATO) forces. Land units to manoeuvre aggressively against a Soviet ground attack while Western air power attacked rear echelon Soviet formations to disrupt their offensive operations Exercise Saif Sareea (Swift Sword) - A British military exercise conducted with the armed forces of Oman. It is the largest out of area military deployment conducted by the UK. There has been three such exercises, 1986, 2001 and 2018 RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

In this episode John & David interview Prof Albert Wolf. Albert recently moved to the KRG from his last posting in Afghanistan. Here, we discuss issues surrounding KRG, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Israel. Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: Hashd al Shabi - also known as the Popular Mobilisation Units, largely Shia Iraqi, but has some Sunni, Christian and Yazidi Iraqis as well Sairoon Alliance of the Shiite Iraqi leader, Muqtada al Sadr. Al Sadr's seat of power is in Shiite-majority Basra Hadi al Amiri - a Shiite Iraqi politician (parliamentarian in Baghdad), formerly the head of the pro-Iranian Badr Organisation. He heads the Fateh Alliance electoral bloc. Al Amiri is a rival of Al Sadr Golden Division (also referred to the Golden Brigade) - Iraqi special forces focussed on counter-terrorism missions. Their rise to fame came about through their role in liberating the Kurdish city of Mosul from ISIS rule (2016-17) Basel 1 Rules - minimum capital requirements for banks Dayton Agreement 1995 - put an end to the Bosnian War in the former Yugoslavia JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (more commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal) est. 2015 OBOR - One Belt One Road - also known by the acronym (BRI) Belt and Road Initiative. The strategic transportation network formulated by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in order to overcome America's dominance of global maritime trade routes. RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

In this episode John & David interview Prof Albert Wolf. Albert recently moved to the KRG from his last posting in Afghanistan. Here, we discuss issues surrounding KRG, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Israel. Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: Hashd al Shabi - also known as the Popular Mobilisation Units, largely Shia Iraqi, but has some Sunni, Christian and Yazidi Iraqis as well Sairoon Alliance of the Shiite Iraqi leader, Muqtada al Sadr. Al Sadr's seat of power is in Shiite-majority Basra Hadi al Amiri - a Shiite Iraqi politician (parliamentarian in Baghdad), formerly the head of the pro-Iranian Badr Organisation. He heads the Fateh Alliance electoral bloc. Al Amiri is a rival of Al Sadr Golden Division (also referred to the Golden Brigade) - Iraqi special forces focussed on counter-terrorism missions. Their rise to fame came about through their role in liberating the Kurdish city of Mosul from ISIS rule (2016-17) Basel 1 Rules - minimum capital requirements for banks Dayton Agreement 1995 - put an end to the Bosnian War in the former Yugoslavia JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (more commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal) est. 2015 OBOR - One Belt One Road - also known by the acronym (BRI) Belt and Road Initiative. The strategic transportation network formulated by the People's Republic of China (PRC) in order to overcome America's dominance of global maritime trade routes. RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prof. R. Evan Ellis, US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute discusses the problems plaguing the South American country, Venezuela with John Bruni. Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: Venezuela: Population - 31 million. Colectivos: groups of criminal paramilitaries that support the Venezuelan government. They have been around since the 1960s, espousing leftist ideology and claiming to support the Bolivarian Revolution. In reality, they use this as a mask for their criminal activity which includes extortion, murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking. MUD: Mesa de la Unidad Democrática, est. 2008. Opposition to the governing Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela. Bolivarian Revolution: A term used by Hugo Chavez to cash in on the spirit of 19th Century revolutionary figure Simon Bolivar who successfully led the wars for independence from Spain. Chavez's aim was to use socialism and Latin American nationalism as a catalyst to create an inter-American bloc. Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah: Venezuelan politician (former Minister of the Interior & Justice) accused of acting as liaison to Hezbollah RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prof. R. Evan Ellis, US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute discusses the problems plaguing the South American country, Venezuela with John Bruni. Here is extra information on some of the names/terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: Venezuela: Population - 31 million. Colectivos: groups of criminal paramilitaries that support the Venezuelan government. They have been around since the 1960s, espousing leftist ideology and claiming to support the Bolivarian Revolution. In reality, they use this as a mask for their criminal activity which includes extortion, murder, kidnapping and drug trafficking. MUD: Mesa de la Unidad Democrática, est. 2008. Opposition to the governing Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela. Bolivarian Revolution: A term used by Hugo Chavez to cash in on the spirit of 19th Century revolutionary figure Simon Bolivar who successfully led the wars for independence from Spain. Chavez's aim was to use socialism and Latin American nationalism as a catalyst to create an inter-American bloc. Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah: Venezuelan politician (former Minister of the Interior & Justice) accused of acting as liaison to Hezbollah RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

John Bruni and Col. Sandy Wade OBE (Ret'd) examine how solid the rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea is. What is the likelihood of this peace being a permanent feature of the Horn of Africa? Here is extra information on some of the terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) is the current ruling party of Ethiopia (formed in 1988 as a resistance group to the Derg military regime) Ginbot 7 - an Ethiopian opposition group (est. 2008) IGAD - an acronym for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (est. 1986) Birr - Ethiopian currency Nakfa - Eritrean currency COMESA - an acronym for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (formed in 1994) RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Bruni and Col. Sandy Wade OBE (Ret'd) examine how solid the rapprochement between Ethiopia and Eritrea is. What is the likelihood of this peace being a permanent feature of the Horn of Africa? Here is extra information on some of the terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them: The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) is the current ruling party of Ethiopia (formed in 1988 as a resistance group to the Derg military regime) Ginbot 7 - an Ethiopian opposition group (est. 2008) IGAD - an acronym for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (est. 1986) Birr - Ethiopian currency Nakfa - Eritrean currency COMESA - an acronym for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (formed in 1994) RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

John and David with Shaz absent but with us 'in spirit' take the opportunity to interview Prof. Albert Wolf again, this time on the fate of the nation he is currently working in, Afghanistan. Here is extra information on some of the terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them and also some useful terms to know when unpacking events in Afghanistan: Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) the name of the branch of the Islamic State that is active in Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of Central Asia Afghan National Army (ANA) National Directorate of Security (NDS) - the intelligence agency of Afghanistan Afghanistan-Pakistan (AfPak) theatre China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - part of China's proposed strategic One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative linking countries to China via a massive road and rail network Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formally known as Zaire and before that, the Belgian Congo. The Second Congo War (1998-2003) claimed 5.4 million lives, mainly through disease and starvation. Fighting was largely a byproduct of ethnic upheavals between the Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda that spread into the eastern DRC, eventually sucking in the whole Great Lakes region of central Africa. Unregulated private companies and interests used the war as a cover for illegal resource extraction Afghanistan's poppy crop goes into 90 percent of the world's production of heroine. Some have suggested that Afghanistan is in fact a 'narco-state' Afghanistan's population is 33.3 million. The population broken into its ethnic parts: Pashtun 47%; Tajik 27%; Hazara 9%; Uzbek 9%; Aimak 4%; Turkmen 3%; Baloch 2%; Other 4% RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and David with Shaz absent but with us 'in spirit' take the opportunity to interview Prof. Albert Wolf again, this time on the fate of the nation he is currently working in, Afghanistan. Here is extra information on some of the terms used in this episode for those who may not be familiar with them and also some useful terms to know when unpacking events in Afghanistan: Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) the name of the branch of the Islamic State that is active in Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of Central Asia Afghan National Army (ANA) National Directorate of Security (NDS) - the intelligence agency of Afghanistan Afghanistan-Pakistan (AfPak) theatre China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) - part of China's proposed strategic One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative linking countries to China via a massive road and rail network Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formally known as Zaire and before that, the Belgian Congo. The Second Congo War (1998-2003) claimed 5.4 million lives, mainly through disease and starvation. Fighting was largely a byproduct of ethnic upheavals between the Tutsis and Hutus in Rwanda that spread into the eastern DRC, eventually sucking in the whole Great Lakes region of central Africa. Unregulated private companies and interests used the war as a cover for illegal resource extraction Afghanistan's poppy crop goes into 90 percent of the world's production of heroine. Some have suggested that Afghanistan is in fact a 'narco-state' Afghanistan's population is 33.3 million. The population broken into its ethnic parts: Pashtun 47%; Tajik 27%; Hazara 9%; Uzbek 9%; Aimak 4%; Turkmen 3%; Baloch 2%; Other 4% RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

John, David (in the studio) and Shaz (not) discuss with Professor Albert Wolf the problems posed for Israel by Iran's close proximity to it in Syria. How will these enemy states traverse the Syrian landscape to fulfil their national security ambitions? Here are a couple of terms that were used in the podcast that our listeners might not be familiar with: Pasdaran - another term used to describe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the guardians of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. The IRGC were founded on the 22 April 1979 by order of Iran's then Supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. They are the strong arm of the Iranian theocracy, though they have become much more than the Iranian Mullahs' praetorian guard. It is the best equipped and most motivated part of the Iranian armed forces and is the hand behind much of Iran's widening strategic footprint in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan JCPOA - the abbreviation for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, more commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal. Aqua Stella - the name the Turkish ship that (in June 2017) attempted to send 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory of Gaza. It was impounded by Israeli authorities at the port of Ashdod since Gaza is under a strict Israeli blockade, preventing the territory from external supply. This was a provocative move by Turkish President Erdogan to antagonise the Israelis and undermine their control of Gaza. RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

John, David (in the studio) and Shaz (not) discuss with Professor Albert Wolf the problems posed for Israel by Iran's close proximity to it in Syria. How will these enemy states traverse the Syrian landscape to fulfil their national security ambitions? Here are a couple of terms that were used in the podcast that our listeners might not be familiar with: Pasdaran - another term used to describe the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the guardians of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. The IRGC were founded on the 22 April 1979 by order of Iran's then Supreme leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. They are the strong arm of the Iranian theocracy, though they have become much more than the Iranian Mullahs' praetorian guard. It is the best equipped and most motivated part of the Iranian armed forces and is the hand behind much of Iran's widening strategic footprint in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan JCPOA - the abbreviation for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, more commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal. Aqua Stella - the name the Turkish ship that (in June 2017) attempted to send 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid to the Hamas-ruled Palestinian territory of Gaza. It was impounded by Israeli authorities at the port of Ashdod since Gaza is under a strict Israeli blockade, preventing the territory from external supply. This was a provocative move by Turkish President Erdogan to antagonise the Israelis and undermine their control of Gaza. RSS feed: http//feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John & David are joined by Prof. Purnendra Jain, internationally renowned Japan scholar & Northeast Asian security expert from the University of Adelaide, Dept. of Asian Studies Following is a list of some useful factoids regarding our Northeast Asian security special for those unfamiliar with some of the terms used: KOREA UNDER JAPANESE RULE - 1910-45 the Korean Peninsula was one indivisible territory under Japanese imperial rule. It has been considered an ambivalent period. While Japanese rule was often considered extremely harsh, it did bring with it a degree of social and economic modernity to the Korean people. COMFORT WOMEN - Between 1932-45 Japanese military conquests in Asia brought about the systemic exploitation of women from occupied territories - many forced into prostitution, but more properly, sexual slavery, to satisfy the requirements of the Japanese Imperial Army. Japan has failed to fully recognise this atrocity or adequately atone for it. DIVIDED KOREA - In 1945 Korea was divided into Soviet and American occupation zones. By 1948 the Soviets and Americans failed to reach an agreement on reunifying the country. Two forms of government, one communist, one non-communist were declared, each one stating that it was the legitimate voice of the Korean people. KOREAN WAR - 1950-53. Ended in a stalemate. ABDUCTION ISSUE - Between 1976-83, North Korean agents abducted a number of Japanese citizens. Officially acknowledged figures are low (in the teens), though unofficially there may have been hundreds of Japanese abductees. These people were allegedly brought to North Korea to teach Japanese to North Korean spies. Former North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, father of current leader Kim Jong-un admitted to 13 Japanese abductees and apologised for this. Some 5 of the 13 admitted Japanese abductees returned to Japan in 2004. Issues surrounding compensation and the full disclosure of this North Korean activity remains a sore point between Tokyo & Pyongyang. HUBS & SPOKES - This wheel-like analogy describes the network of US alliances that keep the contemporary strategic balance of power in Northeast Asia. For example, the United States being the largest strategic power in the Pacific is considered 'the hub' while America's smaller Asia-Pacific allies, such as South Korea, Japan & Australia are considered the spokes. 1994 AGREED FRAMEWORK - A Clinton era initiative designed to smooth North Korea-US relations by promising energy aid to North Korea in return for North Korea freezing its nuclear program. This agreement ended in 2002 after North Korean and American officials accused each other of violations. 6 PARTY TALKS - Established in 2003, this multilateral forum between North Korea, China, Russia, the US, Japan and South Korea was created to move forward the idea of dismantling North Korea's nuclear program. North Korea pulled out of this forum in 2009. NORTH KOREA - Becomes a nuclear power in 2006. It test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 4 July 2017. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users: 141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

John & David are joined by Prof. Purnendra Jain, internationally renowned Japan scholar & Northeast Asian security expert from the University of Adelaide, Dept. of Asian Studies Following is a list of some useful factoids regarding our Northeast Asian security special for those unfamiliar with some of the terms used: KOREA UNDER JAPANESE RULE - 1910-45 the Korean Peninsula was one indivisible territory under Japanese imperial rule. It has been considered an ambivalent period. While Japanese rule was often considered extremely harsh, it did bring with it a degree of social and economic modernity to the Korean people. COMFORT WOMEN - Between 1932-45 Japanese military conquests in Asia brought about the systemic exploitation of women from occupied territories - many forced into prostitution, but more properly, sexual slavery, to satisfy the requirements of the Japanese Imperial Army. Japan has failed to fully recognise this atrocity or adequately atone for it. DIVIDED KOREA - In 1945 Korea was divided into Soviet and American occupation zones. By 1948 the Soviets and Americans failed to reach an agreement on reunifying the country. Two forms of government, one communist, one non-communist were declared, each one stating that it was the legitimate voice of the Korean people. KOREAN WAR - 1950-53. Ended in a stalemate. ABDUCTION ISSUE - Between 1976-83, North Korean agents abducted a number of Japanese citizens. Officially acknowledged figures are low (in the teens), though unofficially there may have been hundreds of Japanese abductees. These people were allegedly brought to North Korea to teach Japanese to North Korean spies. Former North Korean leader, Kim Jong Il, father of current leader Kim Jong-un admitted to 13 Japanese abductees and apologised for this. Some 5 of the 13 admitted Japanese abductees returned to Japan in 2004. Issues surrounding compensation and the full disclosure of this North Korean activity remains a sore point between Tokyo & Pyongyang. HUBS & SPOKES - This wheel-like analogy describes the network of US alliances that keep the contemporary strategic balance of power in Northeast Asia. For example, the United States being the largest strategic power in the Pacific is considered 'the hub' while America's smaller Asia-Pacific allies, such as South Korea, Japan & Australia are considered the spokes. 1994 AGREED FRAMEWORK - A Clinton era initiative designed to smooth North Korea-US relations by promising energy aid to North Korea in return for North Korea freezing its nuclear program. This agreement ended in 2002 after North Korean and American officials accused each other of violations. 6 PARTY TALKS - Established in 2003, this multilateral forum between North Korea, China, Russia, the US, Japan and South Korea was created to move forward the idea of dismantling North Korea's nuclear program. North Korea pulled out of this forum in 2009. NORTH KOREA - Becomes a nuclear power in 2006. It test-fired its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) 4 July 2017. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users: 141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John speaks with Special Guest noted author, commentator and scholar on Latin America, Dr. R. Evan Ellis, US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute. Here is some extra information to highlight some of the terms/names and acronyms used throughout this episode: MERCOSUR - South American Trade Bloc, founded in 1991. CELAC - Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, a regional bloc founded in 2010. FOCAC - Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, founded in 2000. For more information on China-Latin American trade statistics see: https://www.bu.edu/pardeeschool/files/2014/11/Economic-Bulletin.16-17-Bulletin.Draft_.pdf A.F.K. Organski (1923-88). An Italian-born academic who pioneered 'power transition theory' which explains general trends among warring states in the international system. Essentially it argues that the international order is one of violent struggle punctuated by periods of stability. And that during cycles of war, international dominance can and usually does transfer between states. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John speaks with Special Guest noted author, commentator and scholar on Latin America, Dr. R. Evan Ellis, US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute. Here is some extra information to highlight some of the terms/names and acronyms used throughout this episode: MERCOSUR - South American Trade Bloc, founded in 1991. CELAC - Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, a regional bloc founded in 2010. FOCAC - Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, founded in 2000. For more information on China-Latin American trade statistics see: https://www.bu.edu/pardeeschool/files/2014/11/Economic-Bulletin.16-17-Bulletin.Draft_.pdf A.F.K. Organski (1923-88). An Italian-born academic who pioneered 'power transition theory' which explains general trends among warring states in the international system. Essentially it argues that the international order is one of violent struggle punctuated by periods of stability. And that during cycles of war, international dominance can and usually does transfer between states. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

John, David and Shaz ask Special Guest, CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell on the implications of the Novichok nerve agent attack against former Russian spy & double agent, Sergei Skripal.  Here's some interesting links on the Skripal case & its implications thus far: http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/sergei-skripal-exrussian-spy-possibly-poisoned-through-bmw-vents/news-story/5b2cffd599116bc7805385ae1466fa68 http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/russia-retaliates-against-uk-in-spy-poisoning-standoff-as-threat-of-real-war-looms/news-story/7b7cfa705c078fe683ad33e0a28f74cd https://www.ft.com/content/10d8a266-2b99-11e8-9b4b-bc4b9f08f381 https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/03/skripal-theresa-may-russia/555392/ https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/19/17139338/sergei-skripal-poison-russian-spy-uk *** RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John, David and Shaz ask Special Guest, CDRE Patrick J. Tyrrell on the implications of the Novichok nerve agent attack against former Russian spy & double agent, Sergei Skripal.  Here's some interesting links on the Skripal case & its implications thus far: http://www.news.com.au/world/europe/sergei-skripal-exrussian-spy-possibly-poisoned-through-bmw-vents/news-story/5b2cffd599116bc7805385ae1466fa68 http://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/russia-retaliates-against-uk-in-spy-poisoning-standoff-as-threat-of-real-war-looms/news-story/7b7cfa705c078fe683ad33e0a28f74cd https://www.ft.com/content/10d8a266-2b99-11e8-9b4b-bc4b9f08f381 https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/03/skripal-theresa-may-russia/555392/ https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/19/17139338/sergei-skripal-poison-russian-spy-uk *** RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia (SIA) website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia, follow SIA on Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn. If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out by liking us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and by telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

Please find some interesting factoids on the year that was (2017): Trump officially begins his presidency of the US 20/01/17 Within this time, there were just too many events to note here that could adequately describe the international devolution from the post-World War II order – but here is a very short timeline to show just how disruptive 2017 was: JANUARY Mexican-US relations plummeted due to Trump's proposed Wall to prevent overland illegal migration from Central & South America to the US Russia investigation begins Bannon-Kushner war for influence over ‘Trump's brain' Trump's War Talk against North Korea begins FEBRUARY Trump's raid in Yemen MARCH Trump signs an executive order banning migrants from 6 Muslim majority countries APRIL Trump's military strike against Syria Turkey's Erdogan moves out of US orbit and moves towards Russia MAY Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia JULY Gen. John Kelly tries to impose order on the White House, to varying degrees of success. Cannot stop the Commander-in-Chief from Twittering Trump's ‘bromance' with Vladimir Putin Trump increases targeted sanctions against Iranian entities AUGUST Bannon's fall from grace and exit from the Trump team OCTOBER Canadian-US relations waver on Trump's ambivalence over NAFTA ISIS Caliphate collapses in Iraq and Syria America's lack of action over the Qatar Crisis leaves the Gulf States divided Controversy over Niger ambush in which a US soldier was killed Trump threatens to walk from the Iran nuclear deal NOVEMBER Korean ICBM missile test DECEMBER UK-US relations plummet due to British public antipathy over a proposed visit by the US president to the UK Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital Iranian mass demonstrations. Trump declares his support for protesters Note, this is not at all an exhaustive list! In this episode STRATEGIKON MC & SIA Research Assistant Ms. Shahrezad Ghayrat discusses the year that was and the road ahead for 2018 with Dr. John Bruni, CEO of SAGE International Australia & SIA's resident existentialist philosopher, David Olney *** Naval, Military and Air Force Club of South Australia The Naval, Military and Air Force Club of South Australia was formed in 1879 as "The Militia Officers' Club of South Australia" in the old barracks behind the present State Library. In 1894 the name was changed to the "Naval and Military Club of South Australia" with the introduction of the South Australian Naval Officers. To fully reflect the membership of the time, "Air Force" was added in 1943. The Club has now grown to its current format of a much wider membership that embraces professional and business men and women, as well as serving and retired officers from all three services.   *** o Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein & YouTube. o RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss o Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au o STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au   For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn.   If you're enjoying our podcast, please help us out by ‘liking' us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Please find some interesting factoids on the year that was (2017): Trump officially begins his presidency of the US 20/01/17 Within this time, there were just too many events to note here that could adequately describe the international devolution from the post-World War II order – but here is a very short timeline to show just how disruptive 2017 was: JANUARY Mexican-US relations plummeted due to Trump’s proposed Wall to prevent overland illegal migration from Central & South America to the US Russia investigation begins Bannon-Kushner war for influence over ‘Trump’s brain’ Trump’s War Talk against North Korea begins FEBRUARY Trump’s raid in Yemen MARCH Trump signs an executive order banning migrants from 6 Muslim majority countries APRIL Trump’s military strike against Syria Turkey’s Erdogan moves out of US orbit and moves towards Russia MAY Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia JULY Gen. John Kelly tries to impose order on the White House, to varying degrees of success. Cannot stop the Commander-in-Chief from Twittering Trump’s ‘bromance’ with Vladimir Putin Trump increases targeted sanctions against Iranian entities AUGUST Bannon’s fall from grace and exit from the Trump team OCTOBER Canadian-US relations waver on Trump’s ambivalence over NAFTA ISIS Caliphate collapses in Iraq and Syria America’s lack of action over the Qatar Crisis leaves the Gulf States divided Controversy over Niger ambush in which a US soldier was killed Trump threatens to walk from the Iran nuclear deal NOVEMBER Korean ICBM missile test DECEMBER UK-US relations plummet due to British public antipathy over a proposed visit by the US president to the UK Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital Iranian mass demonstrations. Trump declares his support for protesters Note, this is not at all an exhaustive list! In this episode STRATEGIKON MC & SIA Research Assistant Ms. Shahrezad Ghayrat discusses the year that was and the road ahead for 2018 with Dr. John Bruni, CEO of SAGE International Australia & SIA’s resident existentialist philosopher, David Olney *** Naval, Military and Air Force Club of South Australia The Naval, Military and Air Force Club of South Australia was formed in 1879 as "The Militia Officers' Club of South Australia" in the old barracks behind the present State Library. In 1894 the name was changed to the "Naval and Military Club of South Australia" with the introduction of the South Australian Naval Officers. To fully reflect the membership of the time, "Air Force" was added in 1943. The Club has now grown to its current format of a much wider membership that embraces professional and business men and women, as well as serving and retired officers from all three services.   *** o Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein & YouTube. o RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss o Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au o STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au   For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn.   If you’re enjoying our podcast, please help us out by ‘liking’ us on our various social media and podcasting platforms and telling your friends and colleagues about STRATEGIKON. Many thanks! Support the show.

Please find some interesting factoids regarding the history of Israel & the Occupation of Palestine & a link on PNAC (Project of the New American Century) Jews were forced to leave Israel during the Roman occupation of ancient Judaea (70 CE). Surviving Jewish communities flourishing throughout the Mediterranean and within Europe. Modern Israel was founded on the back of the NAZI Holocaust 1942-45. Between 1945-47, an Exodus of surviving European Jewry to the British Mandate of Palestine, then a predominantly Arab land, linked up with existing local Jewish communities and began displacing local Palestinian Arabs which was capped off by the 1948 Arab-Israeli War – founding the state of Israel. Palestinians displaced by the creation of Israel fled to neighbouring Arab states. This Palestinian diaspora was called the Nakba. Arab & Muslim states became implacable enemies of Israel which they considered an illegitimate entity. The Israeli victory over an Arab military coalition during 1967 War, Israel absorbed the predominantly Palestinian Jordanian territory of the West Bank, Arab East Jerusalem as well as the predominantly Palestinian Gaza Strip from Egypt – becoming the Occupied Territories. It also absorbed the Golan Heights from Syria. Major Israeli-Palestinian peace initiatives include the 1993 Oslo Accord and the 2003 Roadmap for Peace – both of which supported a two-state solution with Occupied East Jerusalem forming the capital of a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pulled Jewish settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005. Jewish settlements in the West Bank started in 1968-77, expanding greatly from 1991 onwards complicating the idea of potential Palestinian territorial sovereignty under a two-state solution. In 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish people. Information on the Project for the New American Century can be found following this link - https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Project_for_the_New_American_Century In this episode STRATEGIKON host, Dr. John Bruni discusses the implications of President Donald J. Trump's decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognising Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital with Dr. Imad Harb, Director of Research & Analysis at the Arab Center, Washington D.C. & SAGE International Australia's resident existential philosopher, David Olney Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein & YouTube. o RSS feed:  http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss o Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au o STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au   For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn.   If you're enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Please find some interesting factoids regarding the history of Israel & the Occupation of Palestine & a link on PNAC (Project of the New American Century) Jews were forced to leave Israel during the Roman occupation of ancient Judaea (70 CE). Surviving Jewish communities flourishing throughout the Mediterranean and within Europe. Modern Israel was founded on the back of the NAZI Holocaust 1942-45. Between 1945-47, an Exodus of surviving European Jewry to the British Mandate of Palestine, then a predominantly Arab land, linked up with existing local Jewish communities and began displacing local Palestinian Arabs which was capped off by the 1948 Arab-Israeli War – founding the state of Israel. Palestinians displaced by the creation of Israel fled to neighbouring Arab states. This Palestinian diaspora was called the Nakba. Arab & Muslim states became implacable enemies of Israel which they considered an illegitimate entity. The Israeli victory over an Arab military coalition during 1967 War, Israel absorbed the predominantly Palestinian Jordanian territory of the West Bank, Arab East Jerusalem as well as the predominantly Palestinian Gaza Strip from Egypt – becoming the Occupied Territories. It also absorbed the Golan Heights from Syria. Major Israeli-Palestinian peace initiatives include the 1993 Oslo Accord and the 2003 Roadmap for Peace – both of which supported a two-state solution with Occupied East Jerusalem forming the capital of a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pulled Jewish settlers out of the Gaza Strip in 2005. Jewish settlements in the West Bank started in 1968-77, expanding greatly from 1991 onwards complicating the idea of potential Palestinian territorial sovereignty under a two-state solution. In 2015, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Jerusalem the capital of the Jewish people. Information on the Project for the New American Century can be found following this link - https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Project_for_the_New_American_Century In this episode STRATEGIKON host, Dr. John Bruni discusses the implications of President Donald J. Trump’s decision to move the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital with Dr. Imad Harb, Director of Research & Analysis at the Arab Center, Washington D.C. & SAGE International Australia’s resident existential philosopher, David Olney Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein & YouTube. o RSS feed:  http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss o Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au o STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au   For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn.   If you’re enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! Support the show.

Some interesting links regarding MBS & Saudi domestic and foreign policy: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, power behind the throne, BBC, 6/11/17 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40354415 How the War in Yemen Explains the Future of Saudi Arabia, The Atlantic, 8/11/17 https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/11/saudi-arabia-iran-yemen-houthi-salman/545336/ Qatar blockade and Saudi Arabia: could there be a power shift in Doha? The Conversation, 5/11/17 https://theconversation.com/qatar-blockade-and-saudi-arabia-could-there-be-a-power-shift-in-doha-86592 Syria crisis: Where key countries stand, BBC, 30/10/15 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-23849587 In this episode STRATEGIKON host, Dr. John Bruni discusses the rise of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and his impact on the state of Saudi Arabia as well as the broader Middle East with Dr. Imad Harb, Director of Research & Analysis at the Arab Center, Washington D.C. Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein & YouTube. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. If you're enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some interesting links regarding MBS & Saudi domestic and foreign policy: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, power behind the throne, BBC, 6/11/17 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40354415 How the War in Yemen Explains the Future of Saudi Arabia, The Atlantic, 8/11/17 https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/11/saudi-arabia-iran-yemen-houthi-salman/545336/ Qatar blockade and Saudi Arabia: could there be a power shift in Doha? The Conversation, 5/11/17 https://theconversation.com/qatar-blockade-and-saudi-arabia-could-there-be-a-power-shift-in-doha-86592 Syria crisis: Where key countries stand, BBC, 30/10/15 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-23849587 In this episode STRATEGIKON host, Dr. John Bruni discusses the rise of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and his impact on the state of Saudi Arabia as well as the broader Middle East with Dr. Imad Harb, Director of Research & Analysis at the Arab Center, Washington D.C. Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein & YouTube. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! Support the show.

Some interesting links regarding observations on modern China: Ikenberry G.J., The Rise of China and the Future of the West: Can the Liberal System Survive? Foreign Affairs, January/February 2008 Issue: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/asia/2008-01-01/rise-china-and-future-west Luce E., The Changing of the Global Economic Guard, The Atlantic, 29/04/2017: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/04/ china-economy-populism/523989/ Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, ‘Changes our world forever': Paul Keating warns of breakdown in US-China relations, news.com.au, 15/11/2017: http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/ changes-our-world-forever-paul-keating-warns-of-breakdown- in-uschina-relations/news-story/411bbe8fb9e946f54d0131d96d5f60ab Dibb P. & Brabin-Smith R., Strategic Insights ASPI, Australia's management of strategic risk in the new era, 15/11/2017: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ad-aspi/2017-11/ SI123%20Australias%20management%20of%20strategic%20risk.pdf ?lUIbV_Q9FeuM_lYwudWYEqD9FfgmUS9x "Communism with a human face" — a slightly amended version of 'Socialism with a Human Face" first termed by Czechoslovakian leader Alexander Dubček in 1968, calling for reform of the iron grip of the Czechoslovakian communist party. Democratic Peace is a concept that argues that democracies do fight wars against other democracies. Its philosophical roots go back to 18th Century philosophers, Immanuel Kant & Thomas Paine. *** In this episode STRATEGIKON host, Dr. John Bruni discusses Chinese international leadership in the international community. Has the West's time come? Do Enlightenment values matter anymore? Or has autocratic capitalism, as represented by the PRC, replaced Enlightenment values and its sense of civilisational importance? Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein and YouTube. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. If you're enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some interesting links regarding observations on modern China: Ikenberry G.J., The Rise of China and the Future of the West: Can the Liberal System Survive? Foreign Affairs, January/February 2008 Issue: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/asia/2008-01-01/rise-china-and-future-west Luce E., The Changing of the Global Economic Guard, The Atlantic, 29/04/2017: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/04/ china-economy-populism/523989/ Former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating, ‘Changes our world forever’: Paul Keating warns of breakdown in US-China relations, news.com.au, 15/11/2017: http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/australian-economy/ changes-our-world-forever-paul-keating-warns-of-breakdown- in-uschina-relations/news-story/411bbe8fb9e946f54d0131d96d5f60ab Dibb P. & Brabin-Smith R., Strategic Insights ASPI, Australia's management of strategic risk in the new era, 15/11/2017: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ad-aspi/2017-11/ SI123%20Australias%20management%20of%20strategic%20risk.pdf ?lUIbV_Q9FeuM_lYwudWYEqD9FfgmUS9x "Communism with a human face" — a slightly amended version of 'Socialism with a Human Face" first termed by Czechoslovakian leader Alexander Dubček in 1968, calling for reform of the iron grip of the Czechoslovakian communist party. Democratic Peace is a concept that argues that democracies do fight wars against other democracies. Its philosophical roots go back to 18th Century philosophers, Immanuel Kant & Thomas Paine. *** In this episode STRATEGIKON host, Dr. John Bruni discusses Chinese international leadership in the international community. Has the West’s time come? Do Enlightenment values matter anymore? Or has autocratic capitalism, as represented by the PRC, replaced Enlightenment values and its sense of civilisational importance? Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, Tunein and YouTube. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! Support the show.

A number of interesting articles regarding the Centenary of the Russian Revolution have been published. Below are a couple of links to the better ones we've found, including this visual anthology from American strategic forecast company, STRATFOR: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/100th-anniversary-russian-revolution-visual-anthology http://theconversation.com/why-putin-is-shy-about-celebrating-the-centenary-of-the-russian-revolution-74394 http://carnegie.ru/2017/10/05/past-that-divides-russia-s-new-official-history-pub-73304 The English translation to the words of the song 'Revolution' by DDT: Two fingers up – that's victory! And that's – two fingers in the eyes. We fight to the death on Tuesday for Wednesday, But we do not understand Thursday. [0:28] CHORUS Is this world what we would like it to be? NO! Do we believe that we can change it? YES! But … Revolution, you taught us  To believe in the injustice of good. How many worlds do we burn per hour In the name of your holy bonfire? [1:23, including musical interlude]   Human meat is sweet in taste. Judases of the blockade winters know this. What do you need for breakfast? Again Jesus? Eat, but know this –  we will not forgive you! [1:36]   REPEAT CHORUS [2:31, including musical interlude] And what should we do? About what are we singing? Above whose shoulders is my head? What is the price of an Afghan death? If our life is not right? [2:45] REPEAT CHORUS [4:32, including musical interlude and conclusion] In this episode of STRATEGIKON, Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig, Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian, Oklahoma State University & Member of the Advisory Board, SAGE International Australia discusses with STRATEGIKON host, John Bruni the legacy of the 1917 Russian Revolution, one hundred years on. Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher and Tunein. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. If you're enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! #DFAT #RUSIDSSAust #news #Politics #LowyInstitute #DFATinSA #DeptDefence #AustralianArmy #aus_media #Australian_Navy #Aus_AirForce #NZArmy #nznavy #NZAirForce #sipol #polsec #FDI_org #GPFutures #Stratfor #Defence_SA #dccommonsense #SamHarrisOrg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of interesting articles regarding the Centenary of the Russian Revolution have been published. Below are a couple of links to the better ones we’ve found, including this visual anthology from American strategic forecast company, STRATFOR: https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/100th-anniversary-russian-revolution-visual-anthology http://theconversation.com/why-putin-is-shy-about-celebrating-the-centenary-of-the-russian-revolution-74394 http://carnegie.ru/2017/10/05/past-that-divides-russia-s-new-official-history-pub-73304 The English translation to the words of the song 'Revolution' by DDT: Two fingers up – that’s victory! And that’s – two fingers in the eyes. We fight to the death on Tuesday for Wednesday, But we do not understand Thursday. [0:28] CHORUS Is this world what we would like it to be? NO! Do we believe that we can change it? YES! But … Revolution, you taught us  To believe in the injustice of good. How many worlds do we burn per hour In the name of your holy bonfire? [1:23, including musical interlude]   Human meat is sweet in taste. Judases of the blockade winters know this. What do you need for breakfast? Again Jesus? Eat, but know this –  we will not forgive you! [1:36]   REPEAT CHORUS [2:31, including musical interlude] And what should we do? About what are we singing? Above whose shoulders is my head? What is the price of an Afghan death? If our life is not right? [2:45] REPEAT CHORUS [4:32, including musical interlude and conclusion] In this episode of STRATEGIKON, Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig, Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian, Oklahoma State University & Member of the Advisory Board, SAGE International Australia discusses with STRATEGIKON host, John Bruni the legacy of the 1917 Russian Revolution, one hundred years on. Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher and Tunein. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! #DFAT #RUSIDSSAust #news #Politics #LowyInstitute #DFATinSA #DeptDefence #AustralianArmy #aus_media #Australian_Navy #Aus_AirForce #NZArmy #nznavy #NZAirForce #sipol #polsec #FDI_org #GPFutures #Stratfor #Defence_SA #dccommonsense #SamHarrisOrg Support the show.

Show Notes In another explosive day in Washington DC, the Mueller ‘Trump-Russia’ Probe found its first two scalps – Trump 2016 campaign manager Paul Manafort & his deputy Rick Gates, both of whom were indicted on 12 counts ranging from money laundering to acting as unregistered foreign agents to the former pro-Russian Ukrainian government of Viktor Yanukovych. Presently, their alleged crimes and misdemeanours have nothing to do with the 2016 Trump campaign itself, therefore sparing the US President of any direct knowledge of their connections to Russian interests. For more information click on the following link: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/10/31/ex-trump-aides-charged-russia-probe The indictment of George Papadopoulos is another matter entirely. His connections to Russia during the Trump campaign seems likely to have been proved, and perhaps further investigations may reveal something more damning against the Trump White House, although only time will tell. For more information click on the following link: http://www.smh.com.au/world/trump-foreign-policy-adviser-george-papadopoulos-pleads-guilty-in-fbi-probe-20171030-gzbeft.html In this episode of STRATEGIKON, Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig, Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian, Oklahoma State University & Member of the Advisory Board, SAGE International Australia discusses with STRATEGIKON host, John Bruni what the ongoing ructions in Washington means for America and for those countries, like Australia, whose strategic interest will likely be guided by ‘what comes next’. Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher and Tunein. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. If you’re enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! Support the show.

Show Notes In another explosive day in Washington DC, the Mueller ‘Trump-Russia' Probe found its first two scalps – Trump 2016 campaign manager Paul Manafort & his deputy Rick Gates, both of whom were indicted on 12 counts ranging from money laundering to acting as unregistered foreign agents to the former pro-Russian Ukrainian government of Viktor Yanukovych. Presently, their alleged crimes and misdemeanours have nothing to do with the 2016 Trump campaign itself, therefore sparing the US President of any direct knowledge of their connections to Russian interests. For more information click on the following link: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/10/31/ex-trump-aides-charged-russia-probe The indictment of George Papadopoulos is another matter entirely. His connections to Russia during the Trump campaign seems likely to have been proved, and perhaps further investigations may reveal something more damning against the Trump White House, although only time will tell. For more information click on the following link: http://www.smh.com.au/world/trump-foreign-policy-adviser-george-papadopoulos-pleads-guilty-in-fbi-probe-20171030-gzbeft.html In this episode of STRATEGIKON, Dr. Jonathan Z. Ludwig, Visiting Assistant Professor of Russian, Oklahoma State University & Member of the Advisory Board, SAGE International Australia discusses with STRATEGIKON host, John Bruni what the ongoing ructions in Washington means for America and for those countries, like Australia, whose strategic interest will likely be guided by ‘what comes next'. Subscribe, rate and review STRATEGIKON on all good podcasting apps, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher and Tunein. RSS feed: http://feeds.soundcloud.com/users/soundcloud:users:141166782/sounds.rss Email: enquiries@sageinternational.org.au STRATEGIKON can also be found on the SAGE International Australia website: www.sageinternational.org.au For more information from SAGE International Australia (SIA), follow SAGE International Australia on Facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn. If you're enjoying our podcast, please help us out by sharing and telling your friends. Many thanks! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.