Covert Contact

Covert Contact

The Blogs of War National Security Podcast

Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin: Identity, Espionage, and Counterintelligence

Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin: Identity, Espionage, and Counterintelligence

Regular Blogs of War and Covert Contact contributor William J. Tucker joins me to discuss the Lieutenant Commander Edward Lin espionage case. While little is known about the case, and Edward Lin has yet to be convicted, all signs point to a very damaging affair. Lin was born in Taiwan,

What Has Russia Gained in Syria?

What Has Russia Gained in Syria?

Regular Blogs of War and Covert Contact contributor William J. Tucker joins me after a long break to discuss Russia’s intervention in Syria. Why are they there, what were their true motives, what have they gained, and where does this action fit in the context of Russia’s long-standing

Russian Weakness with William J. Tucker

Russian Weakness with William J. Tucker

Episode 39 of Covert Contact explores our frequent inability to adequately understand Russia’s strengths and weaknesses. William J. Tucker joins me once again to look at the significant challenges weakening Russia, their ability to act within constraints that would hobble other nations, and how they might evolve and cope

Are Ungoverned Spaces Inherently Dangerous?

Are Ungoverned Spaces Inherently Dangerous?

In episode 40 of the Covert Contact podcast Phil Walter joins me to discuss some of the concepts laid out in his recent post on Blogs of War [https://blogsofwar.com/ungoverned-spaces-what-threat-do-they-pose/] about ungoverned spaces and how they’re viewed from a national security perspective. Phil challenges some of the

Iran’s Quest for Regional Domination

Iran’s Quest for Regional Domination

This episode was recorded just after Iran briefly detained and released 10 American sailors. Researcher Phillip Smyth joined me to discuss that event, the explosion of terrible analysis that it triggered, Iran’s quest for regional domination, and its use of proxies to further those aims. We also look at

LZ Grace: A Place for Warriors to Heal

LZ Grace: A Place for Warriors to Heal

Lynnette Bukowski joins me to discuss LZ Grace Warriors Retreat [http://lz-grace.com/index.html]in the latest episode of the Covert Contact podcast. Lynnette, and many volunteers, have transformed a 38 acre farm in Virginia Beach into a place for members of the special operations community and first responders

Saudi Arabia vs. Iran, The Burns Oregon Militia Standoff, and a New Segment on Russia

Saudi Arabia vs. Iran, The Burns Oregon Militia Standoff, and a New Segment on Russia

William J. Tucker joins me to review the escalating tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the militia standoff in Burns, Oregon. Did Saudi Arabia go too far? Why is the federal government handling the armed militia members in Burns with kid gloves?

Covert Contact Wraps up 2015 with William J. Tucker

Covert Contact Wraps up 2015 with William J. Tucker

Regular contributor William J. Tucker joined me for the final episode of 2015. We discussed holiday terror alerts, Poland’s unusual raid of a NATO-linked counterintelligence center that it operated with Slovakia, the U.S. Army Europe counterintelligence division’s release of a mobile app for soliciting tips, and more.

Art in Diplomacy and Conflict

Art in Diplomacy and Conflict

Dr. Julia Tatiana Bailey is an art historian specializing in visual politics in the Cold War and art as propaganda, diplomacy and resistance. She recently completed a PhD focusing on official and unofficial Soviet-American cultural exchange and works as Assistant Curator of International Art at Tate Modern in London. Julia

Understanding and Influencing Enemy Behavior

Understanding and Influencing Enemy Behavior

Phil Walter joins me again to discuss behavior. Why do the actors we seek to influence, friend and foe alike, behave the way that they do? What advantage does a deep understanding of the underlying motivations for their behavior give us? It’s easy to be dismissive of an enemy’

Video Games, Virtual Reality, and Conflict with Robert Rath

Video Games, Virtual Reality, and Conflict with Robert Rath

In episode 32 of Covert Contact freelance writer Robert Rath joins me to discuss video games and the very real violence that surrounds us. Gaming, especially in the first person shooter genre, reflects our view of combat but it can shape our views on the subject as well. Video game

Understanding the Limits of Intelligence and Counterterrorism

Understanding the Limits of Intelligence and Counterterrorism

In episode 31 of the Covert Contact podcast I’m joined by Patrick Skinner. Patrick is a former CIA case officer who specializes in counter-terrorism issues. Patrick’s background in both law enforcement (US Air Marshals and the US Capitol Police) and intelligence has positioned him to understand the full

The San Bernardino Attack, Small Scale Terrorism, and ISIS

The San Bernardino Attack, Small Scale Terrorism, and ISIS

The San Bernardino attack is an odd one in many ways but understanding it is critical as this model of small scale attacks, directed at soft targets, and using readily available weapons is going to be a persistent and growing threat.

Islamism and Democracy: Finding Models for the Middle East and Preserving Our Own

Islamism and Democracy: Finding Models for the Middle East and Preserving Our Own

In episode 29 of Covert Contact Brookings Institution senior fellow and author of Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East [http://www.amazon.com/Temptations-Power-Islamists-Illiberal-Democracy/dp/0190229241/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&qid=&ref_=tmm_pap_title_0&sr=] Shadi Hamid

Podcast App Recommendations: Overcast & Pocket Casts

Podcast App Recommendations: Overcast & Pocket Casts

There are countless ways to follow your favorite podcasts but Overcast [https://overcast.fm/] is my personal favorite. If you’re on an Apple device and you want to subscribe to Covert Contact [http://covertcontact.com/how-to-subscribe-to-the-covert-contact-podcast/] it’s an excellent choice. Pocket Casts [http://www.shiftyjelly.com/android/pocketcasts]

A Special Thanksgiving Podcast

A Special Thanksgiving Podcast

Normally I’d spend this day surrounded by friends and family. I hope that’s what many of you are doing. But today I have some kind of bug. It’s nothing serious, just a minor cold, but I have relatives with compromised immune systems and I’m staying home

Turkey Shot Down a Russian Jet - Where Do We Go From Here?

Turkey Shot Down a Russian Jet - Where Do We Go From Here?

Putin called today’s downing of a Russian Su-24 by a Turkish F16 a “stab in the back [http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/24/middleeast/warplane-crashes-near-syria-turkey-border/index.html] ” but it this was certainly not an unproved attack. In fact it follows countless warnings from Turkey that violations of its

What You Are Getting Wrong About ISIS

What You Are Getting Wrong About ISIS

Northeastern University professor and terrorism theorist Max Abrahms excels at poking holes in the conventional wisdom and he joins me again in episode 26 to do exactly that. I initially asked Max to discuss his recent piece in Harvard Business Review Why People Keep Saying, “That’s What the Terrorists

Discussing Espionage with Former Double Agent Naveed Jamali

Discussing Espionage with Former Double Agent Naveed Jamali

In episode 25 of the Covert Contact podcast I’m talking to Naveed Jamali, former double agent, and co-author of How to Catch a Russian Spy: The True Story of an American Civilian Turned Double Agent [http://www.amazon.com/How-Catch-Russian-Spy-American/dp/1476788820/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&

Discussing The Paris Attacks and Europe’s Security Challenges with William J. Tucker

Discussing The Paris Attacks and Europe’s Security Challenges with William J. Tucker

William J. Tucker joins me again for a high level look at the Paris attacks and the impact that instability, chiefly in Syria, will have on the region. Failing states and the mass migration of refugees will continue to put immense pressure on dozens of governments. There is no framework,

Phil Walter on Life After War

Phil Walter on Life After War

Phil Walter joins me to talk about his transition from the the battlefield, to home, and eventually into a role where he has the opportunity to work on national security policy. I’m thankful to Phil for sharing his personal story because I think it might help others who are

Preview: The Impact of War

Preview: The Impact of War

Last night Phil Walter [https://twitter.com/philwalter1058] and I discussed the impact that war has had on him. We spent an hour discussing how he copes with the inevitable lasting changes that war brings and how those changes have impacted his work in government since. I’ve made a

Supporting Independent Art in Afghanistan: Francesca Recchia Updates from Kabul

Supporting Independent Art in Afghanistan: Francesca Recchia Updates from Kabul

Regular Covert Contact listeners will recognize Francesca from episodes 9 [http://covertcontact.com/2014/11/28/art-in-afghanistan-francesca-recchia-updates-from-kabul-episode-9/] and 17 [http://covertcontact.com/2015/03/18/life-and-art-in-afghanistan-with-francesca-recchia-episode-17/] . This episode follows the same general format. We discussed the mood in Kabul, the emergence of ISIS and AQIS, and I asked her about

The Damascus Cover and the Psychology of Spies with Howard Kaplan

The Damascus Cover and the Psychology of Spies with Howard Kaplan

Howard Kaplan wrote his debut espionage novel, The Damascus Cover [http://www.amazon.com/Damascus-Cover-Jerusalem-Spy-Book/dp/0990526305/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446524012&sr=8-1&keywords=the+damascus+cover] , nearly forty years ago. He joins me to discuss the book, the recently completed the film

Government Email Problems, Wikileaks, Russia, Drone Leaks, NASA Security and Other Counterintelligence Nightmares

Government Email Problems, Wikileaks, Russia, Drone Leaks, NASA Security and Other Counterintelligence Nightmares

The Covert Contact podcast kicks off again with an admittedly rambling, but hopefully entertaining, start as I review a number of high profile security issues with counterintelligence pro William J. Tucker. We look at the hack of DCIA John Brennan’s AOL account [http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/