Canadian Intelligence Eh
Everywhere you look these days terrorism and violent extremism dominate the headlines. Whether you follow what is happening in Afghanistan or Iraq, or in the West writ large, we are inundated with news of attacks by groups and individuals fighting for a 'cause'.In a world of multiple voices and opinions it can be very hard to know where to turn. One choice is to look to those who actually worked in counterterrorism in the national security world. In these half-hour podcasts 30-year Canadian intelligence veteran Phil Gurski is joined by a fascinating array of individuals with something meaningful to say about these issues as they provide insight into what they mean and what we need to do about them.
Episodes
360 episodes
Quick Hits | So long and thanks for all the fish
Borealis has had a good run since 2015 - podcasts, blogs, media interviews, etc. not to mention six books on terrorism. It is time, however, to move on. This is the last podcast... for now.About the host Phil Gurski:<...
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12:12
Episode #134 - What keeps French security forces up at night?
France could be seen as the 'birthplace' of terrorism - think the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution of the 1790s. The country has seen some catastrophic attacks such as the Stade de France/Bataclan jihadi one of Novemb...
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Season 5
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Episode 134
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20:45
Episode #133 - What can ordinary citizens do to stop radicalisation to violence?
When an arrest is made in a terrorism case or, worst case scenario, we are doing a post-analysis of an attack, we often read about a person's 'radicalisation process'. The assumption is that terrorists are made, not born, and that ther...
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Season 5
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Episode 133
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23:44
Episode #132 - Anders Breivik: What to do with terrorist mass murderers behind bars?
There are two types of terrorists: those who die/are killed in their attacks and those who are not. The latter usually end up in prison for long periods of time. Then what? Borealis talks once again with Norwegian CT analys...
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Season 5
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Episode 132
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23:27
Episode #131 - The challenge of running a large domestic security intelligence operation
Canada's intelligence agency CSIS has a national presence across the country. That it where the investigations happen and the intel is collected. What it is like to run such a shop? Borealis talks to former senior CSIS IO D...
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Season 5
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Episode 131
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25:48
Episode #130 - Should Canada bring back ISIS fighters for prosecution here?
Some 40,000 ISIS terrorists joined the group in the mid-2010s from over 100 nations, including Canada. Many are still alive, some languishing in prisons or camps, including women and children. There are those lobbying for their r...
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Season 5
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Episode 130
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28:06
Episode #129 - Why 'follow the money' applies to terrorism too
While acts of terrorism are not all expensive ventures, some terrorist groups do manage large financial empires (ISIS is a good example). Just how important is this and how do we detect/stop these money flows? Borealis talks with...
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Season 5
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Episode 129
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31:21
Quick Hits | Who wants to work in national security?
Borealis has a conversation with Jennifer Benmenashe in Montreal on why she wants to gain a position on national security with the Canadian government.About the guest Jennifer Benmenashe:After completing her Bachelor’s degree...
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7:29
Episode #128 - Are incels really a threat to national security?
The most recent Canadian national threat assessment names incels as one of the most serious menaces to public safety. Are they really? Borealis chats once again with the world's premiere authority on these people, the Incel Proje...
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Season 5
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Episode 128
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24:42
Quick Hits | Terrorism: Canadian Style Eh!
The events in Canada over the last few weeks have made international headlines and even spawned similar actions abroad (France, NZ, the Netherlands). What is it all about? Borealis weighs in on language, intelligence and a little di...
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11:50
Episode #127 - What was it like to work as a spy in Canada?
Movies about spies are a dime a dozen - think James Bond. But what is working in intelligence really like? Borealis is joined by Andrew Kirsch, author of a new book "I...
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Season 5
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Episode 127
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34:45
Episode #126 - Is it time to revisit the mental illness/terrorism nexus?
Many people probably believe that anyone who plans a terrorist attack in which their own death is assured (i.e. a suicide bomb) is mentally suspect. And yet research has shown that most terrorists are as 'normal' as you or me. Bu...
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Season 5
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Episode 126
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28:03
Episode #125 - What should Canada do with Saudi Arabia?
Three years ago a Saudi 'Tiger Team' tried to assassinate a high-ranking former intel official now living in Canada, Dr Saad Al Jabri. When that failed, the Saudis sued the official, alleging massive fraud. A similar case in the ...
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Season 5
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Episode 125
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29:45
Episode #124 - Policing a capital city during a major demonstration
When you are the chief of police of a major city or, more narrowly a national capital, things get complicated. Not only are there everyday issues (traffic, petty crime, etc.) but also national security ones and there are often multiple...
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Season 5
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Episode 124
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26:31
Quick Hits | Now there's a person on a mission
An interview with Christine Veer, entrepreneur & investigator. She shares a little on her background and why she’s passionate about making a difference in the world of national security, especially counter-terrorism. You can also learn more...
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9:30
Episode #123 - Canada-China relations in the post 'two Michaels' era
When China seized the 'two Michaels' (Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig) in December 2018 it was clearly a retaliation for Ca...
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Season 5
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Episode 123
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24:59
Episode #122 - Just how bad are terrorist inmates?
For many citizens the macabre fascination with terrorism ends when trials are held and the bad guys are sent to jail. But is that the end of the threat? Borealis talks with former UK prison governor Ian Acheson on what happens after th...
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Season 5
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Episode 122
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36:50
Episode #121 - A life as a US Special Agent
For some of us a career in intelligence/law enforcement came about almost randomly (or completely randomly in my case!). For others it was a chance to follow in the footsteps of someone admired. Borealis talks to Eric Caron, a 25...
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Season 5
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Episode 121
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35:17
Episode #120 - Killing to prevent terrorism from occurring
When we talk about counter terrorism we mean all kinds of things, ranging from 'preventing' people from going down the road to potential violence to those who actually want to kill. What is at stake when we have to kill to prevent an a...
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Season 5
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Episode 120
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35:23
Quick Hits | ISIS terrorists should be tried and punished over there, not over here
A curious phenomenon has arisen of late: Westerners advocating that Canada and other nations bring back ISIS terrorists. Such an act would necessitate expensive trials, the difficult gathering of evidence and the almost impossible procuremen...
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10:19
Episode #119 - Could plastic recycling fund terrorism?
A lot of us feel good when we put the recycling bin out on garbage day, confident we are helping the environment. But did you know that organised crime is a big part of this industry? Could terrorist groups get involved too? ...
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Season 5
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Episode 119
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33:20
Quick Hits | Now I've seen it all: Sharks as 'terrorists'!
Shark attacks are terrifying; on that I think we all agree. So are sharks therefore 'terrorists'? If a Michigan state attorney can charge a...
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9:25
Episode #118 - A fictional Canadian terrorism plot by a leading Canadian writer
Terrorism is no laughing matter but on the other hand it has been said it helps to laugh at what frightens you. There are lots of spy and intrigue novels, but what is it like to make them look and sound real if the author has no backgr...
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Season 5
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Episode 118
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28:39
Episode #117: Veteran CSIS investigator Dan Stanton
In the aftermath of 9/11 all the attention seemed to migrate to counter terrorism. That was a big change in the intelligence world where countering foreign spies had been the #1 task for decades. How has this shift affected the way int...
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Season 5
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Episode 117
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30:58
Quick Hits | How reliable is Saudi Arabia as a counter terrorism partner?
15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were Saudi. A Saudi Air Force pilot who had joined AQ killed 3 US servicemen in Florida in December 2019. The Saudi Crown Prince orders the assassination of those he does not like. Borealis asks the question: is S...
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9:45