Podcasts about transnational threats project

Daniel Byman is a professor and Vice Dean at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and the director of the Security Studies Program there and a Senior Fellow with the Transnational Threats Project at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He's also a part-time Senior Advisor to the Department of State as part of the International Security Advisory Board and a senior fellow at the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, as well as a Professional Staff Member with both the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States (“The 9-11 Commission”) and the Joint 9/11 Inquiry Staff of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. He's written widely on a range of topics related to terrorism, insurgency, intelligence, social media, artificial intelligence, and the Middle East. He is the author of nine books, and his most recent is Spreading Hate: The White Power Movement Goes Global. Professor Byman shares his keen insights on the Israel-Hamas war; the threat of escalation from Hezbollah/Lebanon and Iran; the need for Egypt to broker peace; post-war Gaza; Israel's and Bibi Netanyahu's political future; the rise in rabid anti-Semitism; Donald Trump, Trumpism and domestic terrorism; the threat to America from China; and more. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

In Diplomatic Immunity's new format, Headlines and History, we take listeners through a roundup of the most important headlines you may have missed in foreign policy and diplomacy, and take a deep dive into our most pressing topic with an expert conversation. Each week, we will alternate between Headlines and History and our regular Diplomatic Immunity format. In our first episode, we discuss the recent elections in Liberia and Poland, Russia's failed attempt to reclaim its spot on the UN's Human Rights Council, and talk with Georgetown Professor and terrorism expert Dan Byman for an update on the situation in Gaza. Daniel Byman is a senior fellow with the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a professor at Georgetown University, where he serves as director of the Security Studies Program. He has authored nine books covering terrorism and hate groups of all stripes, and serves part-time as an advisor to the State Department on its International Security Advisory Board. The opinions expressed in this conversation are strictly those of the participants and do not represent the views of Georgetown University or any government entity. Episode recorded: October 23, 2023. Produced by Jarrett Dang and Freddie Mallinson. Diplomatic Immunity, a podcast from the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, brings you frank and candid conversations with experts on the issues facing diplomats and national security decision-makers around the world.  Funding support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.  For more, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter @GUDiplomacy. Send any feedback to diplomacy@georgetown.edu.  

Ron Dermer, Israel Minister of Strategic Affairs, says Israel has a clear goal to cripple the capabilities of Hamas. Ellen Wald, Atlantic Council Senior Fellow & Author of "Saudi Inc.", discusses oil surging after Hamas' attack on Israel. Steve Chiavarone, Federated Hermes Head of Multi-Asset Solutions, says if you start to see any terrorist activity in non-Middle Eastern countries, that is something that could shake confidence in the world. Norman Roule, Center for Strategic & International Studies Senior Adviser for the Transnational Threats Project, says Iran was unlikely to have played a "robust, active role in planning attacks" on Israel but they do enable proxiesGet the Bloomberg Surveillance newsletter, delivered every weekday. Sign up now: https://www.bloomberg.com/account/newsletters/surveillance  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past two decades, major powers including Russia, China, and the U.S. have significantly increased their engagement with countries on the African continent. These activities—including trade, investment, infrastructure development, and military cooperation— can influence regional conflicts, resource allocation, and international alliances. With China's growing global influence and Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, how do African countries perceive the influence of these powers? And how do governments and people across the continent perceive the United States' more recent attention? What is the U.S. perspective on both China and Russia's engagement in Africa, and what strategies does it aim to counterbalance initiatives in the region? Join us for a discussion with Catrina Doxsee, Associate Director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Dr. Joseph Sany, the Vice President of the Africa Center at the United States Institute of Peace; and Ambassador David Shinn, Professorial Lecturer at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University and the co-author of China and Africa: A Century of Engagement.Follow us at:Network2020.orgTwitter: @Network2020LinkedIn: Network 20/20Facebook: @network2020Instagram: @network_2020"Sunrise Expedition" by Joseph McDadeFollow us at:Network2020.orgTwitter: @Network2020LinkedIn: Network 20/20Facebook: @network2020Instagram: @network_2020

Catrina Doxsee, associate director and associate fellow for the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), discusses the Wagner mutiny, Wagner's relationship to the Russian state, the relationship between Yevgeny Prigozhin and Putin, and the future of Wagner activities in Africa and elsewhere.  More about Catrina Doxsee's work: CatrinaDoxsee.com Previous episode with Catrina on background and activities of the Wagner group: Episode 124. ANALYSIS: Catrina Doxsee on the Wagner group Catrina on twitter / X: @catrinadoxsee Jessica Genauer on twitter / X: @jessicagenauer More about the host: Jessica Genauer 

Mvemba is joined by CSIS's Catrina Doxsee, Associate Director and Associate Fellow with the Transnational Threats Project, and ICG's Delaney Simon, Senior Analyst with the U.S. Program to discuss the Wagner Group's African operations. They highlight the quasi-independent Russian paramilitary group's atrocious activities and how they have caused social, humanitarian, and economic harm in Africa. Contrary to the widely held belief that the group is all over Africa, the discussants indicate it is active in Mali, Libya, Sudan, and Central African Republic. They illustrate how the private military company's operations in those African countries have left a trail of instability, allowing Russia to expand its military footprint in Africa without accountability. They argue that it is a mistake for the United States to designate the Wagner Group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) because the designation would trigger far-reaching and counterproductive reactions that would adversely affect critical facets of U.S. engagement in Africa.   

The conflict in Ukraine has revealed what conventional war looks like in this day and age. It has also made clear just how extensively the US defense industrial base has atrophied in the post-Cold War era. We are struggling to keep pace with arming Ukraine, even when drawing from stockpiles that have not been replenished since Reagan's buildup in the 1980s. We are failing to put in place today contracts that will produce critical munitions by 2026 and beyond, but the reality is that the entire system is so broken (from the supply chain, to research vs. procurement imbalances, to budget hurdles) that American leadership in future great power conflict is a question mark, not a given. What does this mean looking ahead? Our guest ran over a half dozen war games to simulate what a US conflict with China over Taiwan would look like; he discovered that we will run out of some of our most advanced precision weapons in less than a week. This should be a wake-up call – why are we seeing sobering lessons from Ukraine but failing to learn them?Seth G. Jones is senior vice president, Harold Brown Chair, director of the International Security Program, and director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Prior to joining CSIS, Dr. Jones was the director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation. He also served as representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations. Before that, he was a plans officer and adviser to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan (Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan).Download the transcript here.

With the deadly mercenary organization Wagner Group playing a key role in the Ukraine war, Justin and John sit down with Catrina Doxsee, associate director and associate fellow for the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).Catrina explains Wagner's opaque structure and murky dealings in countries from Mali and Madagascar to Ukraine. She describes the rise of Yevgeny Prigozhin from a restaurant owner to global mass murderer, evaluating his ties to Vladmir Putin and his agenda in openly mocking Russia's military elite.More from Catrina here: https://www.csis.org/people/catrina-doxsee

Support the podcast, become a patron, get additional benefits: https://bit.ly/3nMGeYjIn this episode Adam and Aga start by discussing the latest updates from Bakhmut and the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. We then tackle Russia's most infamous private military company and its powerful and ambitious chief Yegveny Prigozhin. Helping us understand the way in which the Wagner Group operates and manages to get away with its many crimes and human rights violations is Catrina Doxsee - an associate director and associate fellow for the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).In the bonus section of the interview for our patrons, Catrina discusses Wagner's adventurism in African countries, something less covered in international media. Join our patreon page and listen to the full interview here: https://bit.ly/3JlRfNPYou can find Catrina's research and recent publications on:https://www.csis.org/programs/transnational-threats-projecthttps://www.ispionline.it/en/publication/wagner-cornerstone-russias-strategy-africa-37141https://www.csis.org/analysis/massacres-executions-and-falsified-graves-wagner-groups-mounting-humanitarian-cost-malihttps://www.csis.org/analysis/tracking-arrival-russias-wagner-group-malihttps://www.csis.org/analysis/russias-corporate-soldiers-global-expansion-russias-private-military-companiesCheck out the latest from New Eastern Europe: www.neweasterneurope.eu

Catrina Doxsee, Associate Director and Associate Fellow for the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), outlines the relationship between Wagner and the Russian state, why PMCs are not likely to be legalized in Russia, founding and evolution of Wagner, changes in Prigozhin's behavior, and global security implications of Wagner actiivty beyond Russia.  'The fact that PMCs are not legal in Russia... gives Putin a tremendous amount of leverage over those PMCs...'  'You have dissent within the ranks... as [Wagner] brings in populations out of prisons there's an intense social stigma between non-prisoners and prisoners in the ranks - as well as between the prisoners themselves given the very strict hierarchy socially in Russian prisons...'  Catrina Doxsee on Putin's Proxies: Examining Russia's Use of Private Military Companies Catrina Doxsee and Jared Thompson on The Wagner Group's Mounting Humanitarian Cost in Mali  Jared Thompson, Catrina Doxsee and Joseph Bermudez on Tracking the Arrival of Russia's Wagner Group in Mali More on the Transnational Threats Project Catrina Doxsee on twitter: @catrinadoxsee Jessica Genauer on twitter: @jessicagenauer More about the host: Jessica Genauer 

On this episode of Reaganism, Roger sits down with Dr. Seth Jones, who is the senior vice president, Harold Brown Chair, director of the International Security Program, and director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Roger and Seth talk about Seth's book, A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland.

This episode is sponsored by Roofstock onChain.The crypto world has been a little different every week after the fallout with FTX and the image of Sam Bankman-Fried versus the reality of what was actually happening has created distrust in the crypto industry. So where do we begin to ask the right questions to balance the need for security with privacy for the future? On this episode of “Money Reimagined,” hosts Michael Casey and Sheila Warren speak with Juan Zarate, senior adviser for Transnational Threats Project and Human Rights Initiative at CSIS, the Center for Strategic and International Studies; to discuss how crypto companies can better prepare themselves for financial risks and what is a “rogue state.” -This episode was produced and edited by Michele Musso with announcements by Adam B. Levine and our executive producer, Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Shepard.”-Roofstock onChain allows you to instantly transfer ownership of real-world homes using standard NFT smart contracts. Buy and sell homes with one-click, pay with crypto, and access DeFi lending options. Find our web3 homes at onchain.roofstock.com or your favorite NFT marketplace.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is sponsored by Roofstock onChain.The crypto world has been a little different every week after the fallout with FTX and the image of Sam Bankman-Fried versus the reality of what was actually happening has created distrust in the crypto industry. So where do we begin to ask the right questions to balance the need for security with privacy for the future? On this episode of “Money Reimagined,” hosts Michael Casey and Sheila Warren speak with Juan Zarate, senior adviser for Transnational Threats Project and Human Rights Initiative at CSIS, the Center for Strategic and International Studies; to discuss how crypto companies can better prepare themselves for financial risks and what is a “rogue state.” -This episode was produced and edited by Michele Musso with announcements by Adam B. Levine and our executive producer, Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Shepard.”-Roofstock onChain allows you to instantly transfer ownership of real-world homes using standard NFT smart contracts. Buy and sell homes with one-click, pay with crypto, and access DeFi lending options. Find our web3 homes at onchain.roofstock.com or your favorite NFT marketplace.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode is sponsored by Roofstock onChainThe crypto world has been a little different every week after the fallout with FTX and the image of Sam Bankman-Fried versus the reality of what was actually happening has created distrust in the crypto industry. So where do we begin to ask the right questions to balance the need for security with privacy in the future? On this episode of “Money Reimagined,” hosts Michael Casey and Sheila Warren speak with Juan Zarate, senior adviser for Transnational Threats Project and Human Rights Initiative at CSIS, the Center for Strategic and International Studies; to discuss how crypto companies can better prepare themselves for financial risks and what is a “rogue state.” -This episode was produced and edited by Michele Musso with announcements by Adam B. Levine and our executive producer, Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Shepard.”-Roofstock onChain allows you to instantly transfer ownership of real-world homes using standard NFT smart contracts. Buy and sell homes with one-click, pay with crypto, and access DeFi lending options. Find our web3 homes at onchain.roofstock.com or your favorite NFT marketplace.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

About the Book In Three Dangerous Men, defense expert Seth Jones argues that the US is woefully unprepared for the future of global competition. While America has focused on building fighter jets, missiles, and conventional warfighting capabilities, its three principal rivals—Russia, Iran, and China—have increasingly adopted irregular warfare: cyber attacks, the use of proxy forces, propaganda, espionage, and disinformation to undermine American power. About Seth Jones Seth G. Jones is senior vice president, Harold Brown Chair, director of the International Security Program, and director of the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He leads a bipartisan team of over 50 resident staff and an extensive network of non-resident affiliates dedicated to providing independent strategic insights and policy solutions that shape national security. He also teaches at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Moderated by Steve Coll Dean Steve Coll is a staff writer at The New Yorker, the author of eight books of nonfiction, and a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. Coll is the author of Ghost Wars: The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, From the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 published in 2004, for which he received an Overseas Press Club Award and a Pulitzer Prize. . . Do you believe in the importance of international education and connections? The nonprofit World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth is supported by gifts from people like you, who share our passion for engaging in dialogue on global affairs and building bridges of understanding. While the Council is not currently charging admission for virtual events, we ask you to please consider making a one-time or recurring gift to help us keep the conversation going through informative public programs and targeted events for students and teachers. Donate: https://www.dfwworld.org/donate

In his second episode, Seth Jones PhD, Director, Transnational Threats Project, CSIS, discusses his new book, "Three Dangerous Men: Russia, China, Iran and the Rise of Irregular Warfare." Jones outlines how conventional warfare—clashes between large military forces—defined twentieth-century power. However, facing dominant US conventional and nuclear capabilities, our country's principal adversaries have adopted a different style of warfare that is eroding America's power. Recorded 10 Sep 2021. Host: James Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer. 

During this episode, Dr. Greg Treverton, who was the Director of the National Intelligence Council during the second Obama Administration, provides an Intelligence Community perspective on the information problem. Our wide ranging conversation covers findings contained in the 2017 Global Trends Report including vivid warnings about disease and climate-related national security matters. Greg has also written extensively about data governance and how data should be at the very top of our management concerns going forward. The episode concludes with a discussion about patriotism, shared responsibility, and and #wholeofsociety efforts designed to counter threats to democracy. Link to show notes Bio: Dr. Gregory Treverton is the Chair of the Global TechnoPolitics Forum. He stepped down as chairman of the National Intelligence Council in January 2017. He is a senior adviser with the Transnational Threats Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and a professor of the practice of international relations and Spatial Sciences at the University of Southern California. Earlier, he directed the RAND Corporation’s Center for Global Risk and Security and before that its Intelligence Policy Center and its International Security and Defense Policy Center. Also, he was associate dean of the Pardee RAND Graduate School. He has served in government for the first Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. He has taught at Harvard and Columbia universities, in addition to RAND, been a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, and deputy director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. He holds an AB summa cum laude from Princeton University and a Master’s in Public Policy and PhD in economics and politics from Harvard. IPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring the role of information activities, such as influence and cognitive security, within the national security sector and helping to bridge the divide between operations and research. Its goal is to increase interdisciplinary collaboration between scholars and practitioners and policymakers with an interest in this domain. For more information, please contact us at communications@information-professionals.org. Or, connect directly with The Cognitive Crucible podcast host, John Bicknell, on LinkedIn.

Seth Jones PhD, Director, Transnational Threats Project, CSIS details one of CIA's most successful operations during the Cold War. Codenamed QRHELPFUL, the Solidarity campaign was vital in establishing a free Poland and undermining the KGB's global disinformation campaign. Recorded 3 Nov 2020. Host: James Hughes, AFIO President and former CIA Operations Officer. 

Seth Jones is a Senior Adviser at CSIS and terrorism researcher discusses the growing terror threat from domestic political extremists - a threat that played out in the assault of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 This episode references: The ABA President's Statement on the violence at the Capitol https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2021/01/statement-of-aba-president-patricia-lee-refo-re--violence-at-the/ "Pro-Trump mob storms US Capitol in bid to overturn election" AP, January 7, 2021 https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818 Senate Hearing "Does Section 230’s Sweeping Immunity Enable Big Tech Bad Behavior?" October 28, 2020 https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2020/10/does-section-230-s-sweeping-immunity-enable-big-tech-bad-behavior Seth Jones "The War Comes Home: The Evolution of Domestic Terrorism in the United States" October 22, 2020 https://www.csis.org/analysis/war-comes-home-evolution-domestic-terrorism-united-states Hunting in the Shadows The Pursuit of Al Qa'ida Since 9/11 https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393081459 In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan https://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Empires-Americas-War-Afghanistan/dp/0393338517 A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland https://www.amazon.com/Covert-Action-Reagan-Struggle-Poland/dp/0393247007 How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering al Qa'ida https://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG741-1.html Seth Jones is the Director of the Transnational Threats Project and a Senior Adviser in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studied (CSIS) https://www.csis.org/people/seth-g-jones

Guest host Beverly Kirk hosts a discussion on recent developments in the Department of Defense and early national security challenges the Biden administration will face after taking office. She is joined by Seth Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project and Harold Brown Chair at CSIS; Todd Harrison, director of Defense Budget Analysis and the Aerospace Security Project at CSIS; and Kori Schake, director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.

Seth Jones discusses the changing landscape of terrorism over the past decades and why it is domestic extremists not international terror cells that are now the greatest threat to our national security. This episode references: Senate Hearing "Does Section 230’s Sweeping Immunity Enable Big Tech Bad Behavior?" October 28, 2020 https://www.commerce.senate.gov/2020/10/does-section-230-s-sweeping-immunity-enable-big-tech-bad-behavior Seth Jones "The War Comes Home: The Evolution of Domestic Terrorism in the United States" October 22, 2020 https://www.csis.org/analysis/war-comes-home-evolution-domestic-terrorism-united-states Hunting in the Shadows The Pursuit of Al Qa'ida Since 9/11 https://wwnorton.com/books/9780393081459 In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan https://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Empires-Americas-War-Afghanistan/dp/0393338517 A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland https://www.amazon.com/Covert-Action-Reagan-Struggle-Poland/dp/0393247007 How Terrorist Groups End: Lessons for Countering al Qa'ida https://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG741-1.html Seth Jones is the Director of the Transnational Threats Project and a Senior Adviser in the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies(CSIS) https://www.csis.org/people/seth-g-jones

"Terrorism has now become much more than religious Jihadist groups. We now see far right, far left, we certainly see ethno-nationalists...it's a broad concept now." On this special episode on the 19th anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001, counter-terrorism expert Seth Jones joins the podcast for a look at the time leading up to 9/11 and what happened in the aftermath, both immediately and gradually. Where did Osama bin Laden come from? Was he the perfect leader to emerge at just the right time to bring Al Qaeda the worldwide infamy it achieved? How did we wake up altered as a nation on September 12th, 2001? Seth Jones and Daniel also take a look at how terrorism itself has evolved in the past nineteen years. Besides the obvious --the rise of social media and its dominance in communication--what else has fundamentally changed? Where are we headed this fall? Seth G. Jones holds the Harold Brown Chair, is director of the Transnational Threats Project, and is a senior adviser to the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He teaches at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Prior to joining CSIS, Dr. Jones was the director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation. He also served as representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations. Before that, he was a plans officer and adviser to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan (Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan). In 2014, Dr. Jones served on a congressionally mandated panel that reviewed the FBI’s implementation of counterterrorism recommendations contained in the 9/11 Commission Report. Dr. Jones specializes in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, and covert action, including a focus on al Qaeda and ISIS. He is the author of A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland, Waging Insurgent Warfare, Hunting in the Shadows: The Pursuit of al Qa'ida after 9/11, and In the Graveyard of Empires: America’s War in Afghanistan. Dr. Jones has published articles in a range of journals, such as Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and International Security, as well as newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. Dr. Jones is a graduate of Bowdoin College and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

In this episode, Seth Jones is back to further analyze the increase of violence that has occurred across America in the last couple of weeks. He draws on more data from his CSIS brief, "The Escalating Terrorism Problem in the United States," to discuss extremist groups and their use of social media, what violence might occur after this November's presidential election, and the transnational spread of white supremacism. Dr. Seth Jones holds the Harold Brown Chair, is director of the Transnational Threats Project, and is a senior adviser to the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

In this episode, Andrew invites Seth Jones to discuss what CSIS data reveals on the increasing terrorism problem in the U.S. Seth draws on his CSIS brief, "The Escalating Terrorism Problem in the United States," to unpack where the most significant threats are likely to come from and what factors will likely cause those threats to rise throughout the rest of 2020. Dr. Seth Jones holds the Harold Brown Chair, is director of the Transnational Threats Project, and is a senior adviser to the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

About the book: The dramatic, untold story of one of the CIA's most successful Cold War intelligence operations. December, 1981—the CIA receives word that the Polish government has cut telephone communications with the West and closed the Polish border. The agency's leaders quickly inform President Ronald Reagan, who is enjoying a serene weekend at Camp David. Within hours, Prime Minister Wojciech Jaruzelski has appeared on Polish national television to announce the establishment of martial law. A new era in Cold War politics has begun: Washington and Moscow are on a collision course. In this gripping narrative history, Seth G. Jones reveals the little-known story of the CIA's subsequent operations in Poland, which produced a landmark victory for democracy during the Cold War. While the Soviet-backed Polish government worked to crush a budding liberal opposition movement, the CIA began a sophisticated intelligence campaign, code-named QRHELPFUL, that supported dissident groups. The most powerful of these groups was Solidarity, a trade union that swelled to a membership of ten million and became one of the first legitimate anti-Communist opposition movements in Eastern Europe. With President Reagan's support, the CIA provided money that helped Solidarity print newspapers, broadcast radio programs, and conduct a wide-ranging information warfare campaign against the Soviet-backed government. QRHELPFUL proved vital in establishing a free and democratic Poland. Long overlooked by CIA historians and Reagan biographers, the story of QRHELPFUL features an extraordinary cast of characters—including spymaster Bill Casey, CIA officer Richard Malzahn, Polish-speaking CIA case officer Celia Larkin, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, and Pope John Paul II. Based on in-depth interviews and recently declassified evidence, A Covert Action celebrates a decisive victory over tyranny for U.S. intelligence behind the Iron Curtain, one that prefigured the Soviet collapse. About the speaker: Seth G. Jones holds the Harold Brown Chair, is director of the Transnational Threats Project, and is a senior adviser to the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He teaches at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS) at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Prior to joining CSIS, Dr. Jones was the director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation. He also served as representative for the commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations. Before that, he was a plans officer and adviser to the commanding general, U.S. Special Operations Forces, in Afghanistan (Combined Forces Special Operations Component Command–Afghanistan). In 2014, Dr. Jones served on a congressionally mandated panel that reviewed the FBI's implementation of counterterrorism recommendations contained in the 9/11 Commission Report. Dr. Jones specializes in counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, unconventional warfare, and covert action, including a focus on al Qaeda and ISIS. He is the author of A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland (W.W. Norton, 2018), Waging Insurgent Warfare (Oxford University Press, 2016), Hunting in the Shadows: The Pursuit of al Qa'ida after 9/11 (W.W. Norton, 2012), and In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan (W.W. Norton, 2009). Dr. Jones has published articles in a range of journals, such as Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and International Security, as well as newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal. Dr. Jones is a graduate of Bowdoin College and received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite CSIS’s Seth G. Jones, Harold Brown Chair, director of the Transnational Threats Project, and senior adviser to the International Security Program. They discuss the latest news about the Ukrainian aircraft that was shot down by Iranians, as well as President Trump’s address to the nation, and Iran’s vulnerabilities. This episode was recorded on January 9th at 2pm, prior to The House of Representatives approving a war powers resolution that would prevent President Trump from taking military action against Iran without congressional consent.

The Islamic State has lost another leader, but is the decapitation strategy employed against jihadist groups working?  The Crisis Next Door host Jason Brooks talks about it with Seth Jones, Harold Brown Chair, Director of the Transnational Threats Project; and Senior Adviser with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Seth also authored “A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, & Cold War Struggle in Poland” which is available on Amazon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On our latest episode of The World Affairs Report, host Angélica Ocampo is joined by Seth G. Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project. Dr. Jones explains the impact of the U.S. “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, its effectiveness, and what the implications are for both countries and for the rest of the world. As ... Read More

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite back Seth Jones, CSIS's Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project. Seth discusses the U.S. raid on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and what it means for the future of the Islamic State as well as its implications on future relations between the U.S. and the Middle East. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite back Seth Jones, CSIS's Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project. Seth discusses the U.S. raid on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and what it means for the future of the Islamic State as well as its implications on future relations between the U.S. and the Middle East. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew invite back Seth Jones, CSIS's Harold Brown Chair and Director of the Transnational Threats Project. Seth discusses the U.S. raid on Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and what it means for the future of the Islamic State as well as its implications on future relations between the U.S. and the Middle East. Download the full transcript here.

What is the current status of ISIS worldwide? Some European countries have cancelled ISIS-travelers’ citizenship and refuse to repatriate fighters for prosecution. Terror trials in Western judicial systems face formidable procedural and evidentiary hurdles. With prison camps in Syria at risk there are concerns over the security of detainees. While organized ISIS receded as an imminent threat there are signs of resurgence. Evaluating the present status of ISIS and its affiliates before ISIS restructures is imperative, for both European countries, and the United States. Featuring: -- Seamus Hughes, Deputy Director, Program on Extremism, George Washington University-- Dr. Seth G. Jones, Harold Brown Chair; Director, Transnational Threats Project; and Senior Adviser, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)-- Robin Simcox, Margaret Thatcher Fellow, Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, The Heritage Foundation-- Moderator: Christopher K. Harnisch, Deputy Coordinator for Countering Violent Extremism, United States Department of State

What is the current status of ISIS worldwide? Some European countries have cancelled ISIS-travelers’ citizenship and refuse to repatriate fighters for prosecution. Terror trials in Western judicial systems face formidable procedural and evidentiary hurdles. With prison camps in Syria at risk there are concerns over the security of detainees. While organized ISIS receded as an imminent threat there are signs of resurgence. Evaluating the present status of ISIS and its affiliates before ISIS restructures is imperative, for both European countries, and the United States. Featuring: -- Seamus Hughes, Deputy Director, Program on Extremism, George Washington University-- Dr. Seth G. Jones, Harold Brown Chair; Director, Transnational Threats Project; and Senior Adviser, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)-- Robin Simcox, Margaret Thatcher Fellow, Margaret Thatcher Center for Freedom, The Heritage Foundation-- Moderator: Christopher K. Harnisch, Deputy Coordinator for Countering Violent Extremism, United States Department of State

In this episode, Bob and Andrew talk to Brian Katz, a fellow of CSIS's International Security Program and the Transnational Threats Project. Brian breaks down the situation on the ground following the U.S. decision to pull troops out of northern Syria, discusses where ISIS stands, and offers insights into Russia's stance of the unfolding situation and what it means for the region. Download the full transcript here.

In this episode, Bob and Andrew talk to Brian Katz, a fellow of CSIS's International Security Program and the Transnational Threats Project. Brian breaks down the situation on the ground following the U.S. decision to pull troops out of northern Syria, discusses where ISIS stands, and offers insights into Russia's stance of the unfolding situation and what it means for the region. Download the full transcript here.

In his book, A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland, Dr. Seth Jones examines the Reagan administration’s efforts during the Cold War to aid Poland’s Solidarity movement. Reagan used the CIA to support underground operations in Poland like printing leaflets, producing radio and television broadcasts, and coordinating public demonstrations. After extensive research, including review of recently declassified documents, Jones details the success of CIA’s covert activities including the emphasis on leaving no identifiable indicators of U.S. involvement. Dr. Michael Ledeen served in the Reagan administration and is an analyst and commentator on the Iranian peoples’ efforts to achieve a democratic system of government. Ledeen will interview Dr. Jones about the findings of his book and will inquire as to what comparisons may exist between the Polish Solidarity movement and the Iranian peoples’ struggle for freedom. Featuring: Dr. Seth G. Jones, Harold Brown Chair; Director, Transnational Threats Project; and Senior Adviser, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and author, A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in PolandDr. Michael Ledeen, Freedom Scholar, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Teleforum calls are open to all dues paying members of the Federalist Society. To become a member, sign up on our website. As a member, you should receive email announcements of upcoming Teleforum calls which contain the conference call phone number. If you are not receiving those email announcements, please contact us at 202-822-8138.

In his book, A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland, Dr. Seth Jones examines the Reagan administration’s efforts during the Cold War to aid Poland’s Solidarity movement. Reagan used the CIA to support underground operations in Poland like printing leaflets, producing radio and television broadcasts, and coordinating public demonstrations. After extensive research, including review of recently declassified documents, Jones details the success of CIA’s covert activities including the emphasis on leaving no identifiable indicators of U.S. involvement. Dr. Michael Ledeen served in the Reagan administration and is an analyst and commentator on the Iranian peoples’ efforts to achieve a democratic system of government. Ledeen will interview Dr. Jones about the findings of his book and will inquire as to what comparisons may exist between the Polish Solidarity movement and the Iranian peoples’ struggle for freedom. Featuring: Dr. Seth G. Jones, Harold Brown Chair; Director, Transnational Threats Project; and Senior Adviser, International Security Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and author, A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in PolandDr. Michael Ledeen, Freedom Scholar, Foundation for Defense of Democracies Teleforum calls are open to all dues paying members of the Federalist Society. To become a member, sign up on our website. As a member, you should receive email announcements of upcoming Teleforum calls which contain the conference call phone number. If you are not receiving those email announcements, please contact us at 202-822-8138.

This episode references: Beyond the Ballot: How the Kremlin Works to Undermine the U.S. Justice System https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/publication/190430_RussiaUSJusticeSystem_v3_WEB_FULL.pdf Democracy and Justice in the Age of Disinformation video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiyCZC4lnVA&feature=youtu.be Lara Flint is the Director of the Governance Program at Democracy Fund Seth Jones is the Director of the Transnational Threats Project and Senior Adviser at the International Security Program at CSIS https://www.csis.org/people/seth-g-jones Sujit Raman is an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice Suzanne Spaulding is a Senior Adviser at the Homeland Security and International Security Programs at CSIS https://www.csis.org/people/suzanne-spaulding Harvey Rishikof is the Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security Advisory Committee https://www.law.temple.edu/contact/harvey-rishikof/

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

Syria's grinding civil war got another big surprise with President Trump announcing the sudden withdrawal of U-S forces helping the Kurds and other rebels fight ISIS. The Crisis Next Door host Jason Brooks examines what this means for Syria, the Kurds and the rest of the region with Seth Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project, and a senior advisor to the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CSIS Transnational Threats Project cordially invites you to a book launch event for Director Seth G. Jones’ newly released A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle In Poland. (W. W. Norton & Company)  Moderated byKathleen H. Hicks Senior Vice President; Henry A. Kissinger Chair; Director, International Security Program  WithSeth G. Jones Harold Brown Chair; Director, Transnational Threats Project; and Senior Adviser, International Security Program   December, 1981—the CIA receives word that the Polish government has cut telephone communications with the West and closed the Polish border. The agency’s leaders quickly inform President Ronald Reagan, who is enjoying a serene weekend at Camp David. Within hours, Prime Minister Wojciech Jaruzelski has appeared on Polish national television to announce the establishment of martial law. A new era in Cold War politics has begun: Washington and Moscow are on a collision course. In this gripping narrative history, Seth G. Jones reveals the little-known story of the CIA’s subsequent operations in Poland, which produced a landmark victory for democracy during the Cold War. While the Soviet-backed Polish government worked to crush a budding liberal opposition movement, the CIA began a sophisticated intelligence campaign, code-named QRHELPFUL, that supported dissident groups. The most powerful of these groups was Solidarity, a trade union that swelled to a membership of ten million and became one of the first legitimate anti-Communist opposition movements in Eastern Europe. With President Reagan’s support, the CIA provided money that helped Solidarity print newspapers, broadcast radio programs, and conduct a wide-ranging information warfare campaign against the Soviet-backed government. QRHELPFUL proved vital in establishing a free and democratic Poland. Long overlooked by CIA historians and Reagan biographers, the story of QRHELPFUL features an extraordinary cast of characters—including spymaster Bill Casey, CIA officer Richard Malzahn, Polish-speaking CIA case officer Celia Larkin, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, and Pope John Paul II. Based on in-depth interviews and recently declassified evidence, A Covert Action celebrates a decisive victory over tyranny for U.S. intelligence behind the Iron Curtain, one that prefigured the Soviet collapse.This event was made possible through support from CSIS.

CSIS Transnational Threats Project cordially invites you to a book launch event for Director Seth G. Jones’ newly released A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle In Poland. (W. W. Norton & Company)  Moderated byKathleen H. Hicks Senior Vice President; Henry A. Kissinger Chair; Director, International Security Program  WithSeth G. Jones Harold Brown Chair; Director, Transnational Threats Project; and Senior Adviser, International Security Program   December, 1981—the CIA receives word that the Polish government has cut telephone communications with the West and closed the Polish border. The agency’s leaders quickly inform President Ronald Reagan, who is enjoying a serene weekend at Camp David. Within hours, Prime Minister Wojciech Jaruzelski has appeared on Polish national television to announce the establishment of martial law. A new era in Cold War politics has begun: Washington and Moscow are on a collision course. In this gripping narrative history, Seth G. Jones reveals the little-known story of the CIA’s subsequent operations in Poland, which produced a landmark victory for democracy during the Cold War. While the Soviet-backed Polish government worked to crush a budding liberal opposition movement, the CIA began a sophisticated intelligence campaign, code-named QRHELPFUL, that supported dissident groups. The most powerful of these groups was Solidarity, a trade union that swelled to a membership of ten million and became one of the first legitimate anti-Communist opposition movements in Eastern Europe. With President Reagan’s support, the CIA provided money that helped Solidarity print newspapers, broadcast radio programs, and conduct a wide-ranging information warfare campaign against the Soviet-backed government. QRHELPFUL proved vital in establishing a free and democratic Poland. Long overlooked by CIA historians and Reagan biographers, the story of QRHELPFUL features an extraordinary cast of characters—including spymaster Bill Casey, CIA officer Richard Malzahn, Polish-speaking CIA case officer Celia Larkin, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, and Pope John Paul II. Based on in-depth interviews and recently declassified evidence, A Covert Action celebrates a decisive victory over tyranny for U.S. intelligence behind the Iron Curtain, one that prefigured the Soviet collapse.This event was made possible through support from CSIS.

CSIS Transnational Threats Project cordially invites you to a book launch event for Director Seth G. Jones' newly released A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle In Poland. (W. W. Norton & Company)   Moderated by Kathleen H. Hicks Senior Vice President; Henry A. Kissinger Chair; Director, International Security Program   With Seth G. Jones Harold Brown Chair; Director, Transnational Threats Project; and Senior Adviser, International Security Program   December, 1981—the CIA receives word that the Polish government has cut telephone communications with the West and closed the Polish border. The agency's leaders quickly inform President Ronald Reagan, who is enjoying a serene weekend at Camp David. Within hours, Prime Minister Wojciech Jaruzelski has appeared on Polish national television to announce the establishment of martial law. A new era in Cold War politics has begun: Washington and Moscow are on a collision course. In this gripping narrative history, Seth G. Jones reveals the little-known story of the CIA's subsequent operations in Poland, which produced a landmark victory for democracy during the Cold War. While the Soviet-backed Polish government worked to crush a budding liberal opposition movement, the CIA began a sophisticated intelligence campaign, code-named QRHELPFUL, that supported dissident groups. The most powerful of these groups was Solidarity, a trade union that swelled to a membership of ten million and became one of the first legitimate anti-Communist opposition movements in Eastern Europe. With President Reagan's support, the CIA provided money that helped Solidarity print newspapers, broadcast radio programs, and conduct a wide-ranging information warfare campaign against the Soviet-backed government. QRHELPFUL proved vital in establishing a free and democratic Poland. Long overlooked by CIA historians and Reagan biographers, the story of QRHELPFUL features an extraordinary cast of characters—including spymaster Bill Casey, CIA officer Richard Malzahn, Polish-speaking CIA case officer Celia Larkin, Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, and Pope John Paul II. Based on in-depth interviews and recently declassified evidence, A Covert Action celebrates a decisive victory over tyranny for U.S. intelligence behind the Iron Curtain, one that prefigured the Soviet collapse. This event was made possible through support from CSIS.

A major battle is shaping up as the Syrian government looks to take back the last major region held by rebel groups. On The Crisis Next Door, Jason Brooks talks about the battle for Idlib with Seth Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project, and a senior adviser to the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Seth G. Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project and a senior adviser to the International Security Program at CSIS, to discuss Seth’s forthcoming book, A Covert Action: Reagan, the CIA, and the Cold War Struggle in Poland, and the legacy of Cold War political warfare. You can view Seth’s bio and recent publications, here: https://www.csis.org/people/seth-g-jones. We encourage you to pre-order his book, here: http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail.aspx?ID=4294995524. As always, keep sending us mailbag questions! If you would like to have your question answered on the podcast, send it to us! Email rep@csis.org and put “Russian Roulette” in the subject line. And, if you have one, include your Twitter handle, so we can notify you publicly when we answer your question (or, if you don’t want us to, tell us that). We look forward to hearing from you.