An Intelligent Look At Terrorism With Phil Gurski

Remember 'take this plane to Cuba"?  What if I told you that airplane hijackings as a technique go back to the 1930s!  Canadian scholar Yannick Veilleux-Lepage walks us through the 'evolution' of this phenomenon.About my guest Dr. Yannick Veilleux-LepageDr. Yannick Veilleux-Lepage is an Assistant Professor of Terrorism and Political violence at Leiden University in The Netherlands. He holds a doctorate in International Relations from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. His research interests include the creation of online narratives and propaganda which fosters or normalizes terrorism; historical antecedents to terrorism; far-right extremism and the transnational links of far-right groups; ideological and technical diffusion, and the application of evolutionary theory to social sciences. ►Check out Yannick's book How Terror Evolves - The Emergence and Spread of Terrorist TechniquesAbout the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd

We in the West rightfully demand that our spy agencies obey the law and are not allowed to do a 'runaround'.  We would also expect them to use any information they have access to help keep us safe. So, what to make of a new NSIRA report criticising CSIS for using open source info to help it do its job?►Read CSIS use of geolocation data could be unlawful, says watchdog on CBC►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/

Many countries engage in programs to 'deradicalise' violent extremists or act to prevent them from going down the terrorism road in the first place.  So what happens when other extremists show up seeking to recruit those being helped? In light of a case in Australia Borealis reflects on his own experience when  a jihadi came to town.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissav

This past Tuesday, an architect of an extraordinary Toronto 18 terrorism plot to detonate truck bombs in the city’s downtown core was granted day parole. And the outcome of the three hour parole hearing went against the recommendation of the Correctional Service of Canada.Libby Znaimer is joined by Phil Gurski, President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consultants as well as a former strategic analyst at CSIS, and Andrew House, Counsel and co-lead for the National Security Group at Fasken LLP. Andrew had carriage of the Anti-Terrorism file for the federal Attorney General in 2006 when the Toronto 18 were arrested.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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

In the wake of a brutal killing and beheading of a French teacher in October for his 'crime' of showing the Muhammad cartoons, a report has come out saying French security and intelligence services failed to "appreciate the gravity of the defamatory campaign on social media against the teacher".  In other words, the French blew it.  Or did they?  Borealis discusses what the real world of monitoring online hate is all about.►Read Samuel Paty: French security services failed to act over incendiary social media campaign | The GuardianAbout 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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book &

There are a lot of sources of information available on all kinds of topics.  If you want to stay abreast of what is happening from a national security/public safety angle you need to invest time and effort to find that information.  Borealis offers some hints on how to do so.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/►Email

What is it like to move from law enforcement to the private sector as head of security?  What are the challenges of ensuring security for a large commercial centre?  Borealis talks to Terry Chowanec, former head of National Security at Cadillac Fairview.About my guest Terry ChowanecTerry Chowanec is the former Vice President of National Security Operations with Cadillac Fairview Corporation, recently retiring from Cadillac Fairview after 12 years with the company. Prior to joining Cadillac Fairview, Terry led police reform projects throughout the U.S. and internationally while based in Washington, D.C. while at the pre-eminent policing think tank, the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).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

In the wake of the November 2 terrorist attack in Vienna in which 4 people died, the head of the Austrian security service resigned and the responsible minister has called for a review of the spy service.  Austria apparently received but failed to act on intelligence from Germany and Slovakia.  Was the attack a failure?  Borealis wonders why security services are always blamed when things go wrong.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthre

2 American women were arrested last weekend for having placed wires across railway tracks in Washington state: they have been charged with terrorism.  They apparently belong to an anarchist movement that has been sabotaging rails in protest over natural gas shipments.  Was this an 'act of terrorism'?  Listen as Borealis examines this case.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borea

Even if we cannot agree on what ‘terrorism’ is, we should be able to agree on what  it isn’t.  Legitimate non-violent dissent is not terrorism, and yet that label is used by many countries to outlaw this opposition. In this episode, Borealis looks at some recent abuses of the word ‘terrorism’ and calls on all countries to reject this usage.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►

Journalists and intelligence operatives are actually quite similar.  We both recruit sources, collect data and figure out what it all means.  So, what is it like to cover terrorism for one of the world's leading dailies?  Borealis has a chat with New York Times reporter Eric Schmitt.About my guest Eric SchmittEric Schmitt is a senior writer covering terrorism and national security for The New York Times. Since 2007, he has reported on terrorism issues, with assignments to Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Africa, Southeast Asia among others. He is the co-author, with The Times’s Thom Shanker, of “Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda,” published in 2011.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 Intell

As a trial in Toronto of a man accused ot running down and killing 10 people in 2018 continues we are seeing various arguments about both the mental competence of the accused and whether his act could inspire others.  Borealis sits down once again with incel specialist Naama Kates to look at what we can deduce from these hearings on incels.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/About my guest Naama Kates:Investigative journalist Naama Kates dives deep inside the incel community. Incel is shorthand for involuntary celibate. ►Listen to Naama's podcast The Incel ProjectAbout 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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicali

We all see things at work we don't like.  We should have ways to talk about these issues, without airing dirty linen in public.  So, what about those who betray intelligence secrets?  What about Jonathan Pollard and Edward Snowden? Borealis looks at better ways to talk about concerns.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8

It seems that all Western media want to talk about when it comes to terrorism these days is the far right.  We need, or so many say, to shift out resources away from the jihadis we have been focused on for 20 years.  Should we?  What do the data say?  Borealis looks at what facts tell us about terrorism in late 2020.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.l

Militants, militias, insurgents, sects. These are just some of the terms used to describe what are in reality terrorists.  Why the variation?  Borealis weighs in on the terminology used to talk about terrorists.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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

Canada’s cyber security agency has named China, Russia, Iran and North Korea as the ‘greatest strategic threats’ to Canada’s infrastructure, property and elections. I was invited on the Scott Thomspon Show to discuss this recent news and its impact for Canada.►Listen to The Scott Thomspon Show 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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468/►Email - borealisrisk@gmail.com

When you work in intelligence the first thing you learn is to say nothing publicly.  All that knowledge is supposed to go to your grave with you. Thankfully, there are people out there who write very good books on all matters intelligence and Nigel West is one of them.  He joins Borealis for a fascinating look at this murky world.About my guest Nigel WestNigel West is an author specialising in security, intelligence, secret service and espionage issues. He is the European Editor of the World Intelligence Review, published in Washington DC, and the editorial director of The St Ermin’s Press. In 1989 he was voted ‘The Experts’ Expert’ by the Observer.►Check Nigel's  books on his websiteAbout 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 Intelligen

As the trial of a Toronto man who drove a van down a busy street killing 10 gets underway doubt is raised as to whether he is mentally responsible.  More importantly, he may not be the incel (involuntary celibate) he claimed to be.  Borealis looks at why we should not call violent incels 'terrorists'.►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedi

While terrorism is an important issue it is not the only threat we face. To date, Borealis has focused almost exclusively on terrorism but it is time to broaden horizons. In this Quick Hits episode you'll hear what the new scope is as well as the new name for this short podcast!►Subscribe - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/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-inspired homegrown terrorism and radicalisation.►Check Phil's latest book ''When Religion Kills'' - https://amzn.to/2ALdpoG►Website - https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/►Twitter - https://twitter.com/borealissaves►LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-gurski-8942468

Tens of thousands of Western citizens left their homes to join terrorist groups abroad such as Al Qaeda and ISIS.  Many died, often killing many others in the process, while others are still active.  A third cohort are in some kind of captivity and some want to bring them back.  Borealis talks to David Malet, who has looked at this issue at great length.About my guest David MaletDavid Malet teaches Justice, Law and Criminology at the School of Public Affairs at American University. Previously he served as director of the Security Policy Studies Program at the George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. He also taught at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and at Colorado State University-Pueblo, where he was director of the Center for the Study of Homeland Security and the University Honors Program. ►Check David's book Foreign Fighters: Transnational Identity in Civic ConflictsAbout the host Phil Gurski:Phil is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd