An Intelligent Look At Terrorism With Phil Gurski

Quick Hits #175 - The Matrix franchise has been around since 1999 and is a trilogy of very cool films. They are full of simulated violence in which humans are battling the machines which are using them to drain their lifeforce. Matrix Resurrections is coming out in December: what do the films tell us about terrorism and what happens when reality emulate art?►Read mentioned article: Red-pilled: Can The Matrix Resurrections reclaim Neo from the alt-right?►Watch video version on YoutubeAbout Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.c

Quick Hits #174 - There are those out there who want authorities to stop calling Islamist terrorism by that name.  Alternatives include "faith-based terrorism" and "terrorists abusing religious motivations". In this Quick Hits podcast, Borealis argues why this is wrong-headed and counterproductive.►Read mentioned article: Police may drop ‘Islamist’ term when describing terror attacks►Watch video version: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/why-what-we-call-terrorism-matters/About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreat

When it comes to stopping terrorism all information should be used, right?  It is not as simple as that.  In order to charge a potential wrongdoer the data must be in the form of evidence, not intelligence.  Borealis talks about these issues with 30-year Toronto police veteran Gavin Horner.Gavin Horner is a licenced Private Investigator for the province of Ontario.  He works primarily in the Greater Toronto Area. He retired after 32½ years with the Toronto Police Service. He retired as a Detective Sergeant and managed the Operations Section at Intelligence.  The unit conducted investigations and intelligence probes relating to Organized Crime members and groups. Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in vio

Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig touched down on Canadian soil on Saturday after being arbitrarily detained in China for 1020 days. As Canada celebrates the return of the “two Michaels,” it’s worth asking what this hostage diplomacy saga tells us about Canada-China relations and global affairs more broadly.►Listen to The Hamilton Today Podcast with Scott Thompson About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►Linked

Quick Hits 173 - Why do some academics try to tell national security professionals how to do their jobs?  Is there no better way to manage this relationship?  Borealis looks at the Acorn TV series Outlier to examine how 'town and gown' should work better.About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Is it possible to be an 'ex-jihadi'?  How would we know?  What about state-run efforts at 'de-radicalisation'?  Borealis has a fascinating conversation with Jesse Morton, often described as the #1 Al Qaeda recruiter in the US  in the mid 2000s and now very much involved in undermining Islamist terrorism.Jesse Morton was once a jihadist propagandist (then known as Younes Abdullah Muhammad) who ran Revolution Muslim, a New York City-based organization active in the 2000s that connected Muslims in the west to al-Qaeda’s ideology, creating English language propaganda and collaborating with the most notorious jihadist preachers of that era. Find out more about my guest Jesse. Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2

Jeff Sammut was joined by president and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting and author Phil Gurski on Canada Now to talk about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, 20 years later.►Catch Jeff live weekdays from 1-3pmET on Sirius XM Canada Talks channel 167About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Phil Gurski joins Destiny for his 4rth appearance on his livestream. They discuss Afghanistan and the Taliban takeover, the latest New Zealand attack, ISIS, Incels, Canada's mass graves and the January 6th Washington riots.►Follow Destiny on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC554eY5jNUfDq3yDOJYirOQPhil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/►Email - borealisris

Quick Hits 172 - Afghanistan has fallen to the Taliban and already the fingers are being pointed at whose fault it was. Several have called this an 'intelligence failure'.  Is it?  Borealis weighs in on who 'lost' Afghanistan.Read more: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/was-afghanistan-an-intelligence-failure/About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phi

On August 12, 22-year old Jake Davison killed his mother and four others (including a 3-year old girl) in Plymouth, UK, before taking his own life.  Despite initial police statements that this was not a series of acts of terrorism the 'he was an incel' bandwagon got going fairly quickly.  What we know does not, however, give much support to the theory.  Phil Gurski is joined by the world's foremost authority on incels, Naama Kates, to look at this case and at more general issues surrounding what we call terrorismNaama Kates is an investigative journalist and host of the podcast "Incel" which dives deep inside the incel community. Find out more about my guest Naama KatesPhil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-

Quick Hits 171 - The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. and Joe Biden was set to complete its troop withdrawal following a costly two-decade war. Former CSIS intelligence veteran Phil Gurski looks at what we know and what’s next for Afghanistan.About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/the-peaceable-kingdom/►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

The last thing anyone wants to be told is that a loved one has been taken hostage by a criminal gang or terrorist group. What next?  What can be done?  Borealis talks to Rachel Briggs, former founder of Hostage UK and Hostage US on this fascinating issue!Rachel Briggs OBE is one of the world’s leading experts on international hostage taking. She was the first Director of Hostage UK and Founding Executive Director of Hostage US, non-profits that support hostages and their families.►Find out more about my guest Rachel BriggsPhil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://b

The home of the Nazi movement in the 1930s and 1940s now has a significant 'neo'-Nazi extremist movement in addition to problems with jihadis.  Complicating things are 35 different security agencies.  Borealis talks with ICRS's Peter Neumann to get the lowdown on what is happening there.About my guest Peter Neumann:Peter Neumann is Professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, and served as Founding Director of its International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) from 2008 to 2018. In 2017, he was the OSCE’s Special Representative on Countering Violent Radicalisation.►Peter's latest book Bluster: Donald Trump's War on Terror►Find out more about my guest Peter NeumannAbout the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior s

We would all like to 'predict' the future, right?  We generally can't but that does not mean we can construct and use scenarios to be better prepared for what is coming down the pipe.  Borealis is joined by Minke Meijnders, instructor at the University of Ottawa's Security, Economics and Technology program to talk about the importance of these tools.►Link to Minke's course Strategic Foresight and National Security AnalysisAbout my guest Minke Meijnders:Minke Meijnders is an expert in Strategic Foresight, focusing on geopolitics, geo-economics and international security issues. She is a former Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute, the leading think tank on international relations in the Netherlands. ► Find out more about my guest Minke Meijnders.About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Inst

Quick Hits 170 - No one seems to be able to agree on what terrorism is or is not and lots of people call all things terrorism that may not be. So, why not get rid of the term and charge suspects with (attempted) murder? Former CSIS analyst Phil Gurski weighs in on the benefits of doing so. See also: ► Dutch court convicts woman for spreading IS propaganda► Episode 100 - Borealis talks with American terrorism guru Brian Jenkins► Cancel Canada Day: Is the country going to hell in a handbasket?About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable Kingdom'' - https://borealisthreata

To commemorate the 100th podcast in the An Intelligent View of Terrorism/Canadian Intelligence Eh series Borealis President Phil Gurski is delighted to welcome back US terrorism specialist Brian Jenkins to answer a simple question: whither terrorism?About my guest Brian Michael Jenkins:Brian Michael Jenkins is a senior adviser to the president of the RAND Corporation and author of numerous books, reports, and articles on terrorism-related topics, including Will Terrorists Go Nuclear? (2008, Prometheus Books). He formerly served as chair of the Political Science Department at RAND. Find out more about my guest Brian Jenkins. About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspi

In recent years some have said that Islamist terrorism is a thing of the past.  AQ, ISIS and others are not as dangerous as they once were and we can see this in the lower level of activity of late. Is this accurate? Borealis talks to former UK FCO official Suzanne Raine on why vigilance is the better strategy.Read What should we do when the terrorists go quiet?About my guest Suzanne Raine:Suzanne Raine worked for 24 years in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on foreign policy and national security issues. This included postings in Poland, Iraq and Pakistan. She specialised in counter-terrorism, holding a number of senior domestic appointments. Find out more about my guest Suzanne Raine. About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intellige

Canada is an outlier in the Western world in not having a separate foreign intelligence devoted to HUMINT.  The conversation sometimes comes up that maybe we should create one - but where and how? In this Quick Hits episode, former CSIS Intelligence Analyst Phil Gurski looks at what Canada should do in this regard. See also: ► I, spy: Does Canada need a foreign intelligence service? ► Can someone please tell me why Canada does not have a foreign intelligence service? ► How Canada makes a huge contribution to policing around the world About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in violent Islamist-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''The Peaceable K

On June 6, 2021, a man rammed a pickup truck into Muslim Pakistani Canadian pedestrians at an intersection in London, Ontario, Canada. Four people were killed, and another was wounded; all were from the same family. The attack was the largest mass killing in London’s history.It was condemned by Canadian leaders, and called terrorism by Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and Premier of Ontario Doug Ford. The suspect is charged with four counts of terroristic murder and one count of terroristic attempted murder.Phil Gurski talks with CKWR’s John Maciel about the London hit and run incident earlier this month.About Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-2015, specializing in viole

Episode 98 - Spies and cops have related, but different, responsibilities.  The former live in the shadows while they collect intelligence.  The latter are more open as they collect evidence to lay charges and go to court.  How do we square these two professions?  Borealis is joined by former RCMP strategic analyst Angus Smith to discuss these and other issuesAbout my guest Angus Smith:Angus Smith worked in the Canadian intelligence community for 30 years, a career that included work on Latin America, the Middle East, Russia and Eastern Europe, police malfeasance and corruption, organized crime, terrorism and national security. Click here to find out more about Angus.About the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst at CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) from 2001-