SWISS Intelligence Podcast

On the SWISS Podcast, members of the Southern Willamette Institute for Strategic Studies discuss current events, history, and other matters related to international affairs.

Special Relationship Episode 006 - Ukraine and NATO Updates 04/16/2025

Special Relationship Episode 006 - Ukraine and NATO Updates Well, our goal to pick up the pace in 2024 with the Special Relationship series resulted in precisely zero (0) episodes recorded, but we're optimistic about 2025! In this episode, Tom solicits Jim's thoughts on American and European support for Ukraine's war effort, how strategic rigor has (or hasn't) impacted the conflict. Then, they shift gears to discuss the Trump Administration's controversial dealings with NATO, to include whether or not the 47th President intends to abandon Europeans to their own cognizance. Listen in for these topics and more. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/36093950

Layer 9, Episode 003: Flashback to Farewell 04/09/2025

Layer 9, Episode 003: Flashback to Farewell In the early 1980's, KGB/DST Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Vetrov provided nearly 4,000 secret documents to French intelligence. In doing so, Vetrov revealed a massive, intricate Soviet effort to conduct targeted industrial espionage throughout the Western world. Vetrov's revelations allowed the United States and its allies to undermine Soviet efforts to catch up to the rapid technological advancements of the 1970's and 1980's, likely hastening the Soviet Union's eventual collapse. The combined Vetrov dossier was code-named "Farewell," and in addition to a and a , the story is featured in a . In our third episode, I regale Mike with the tale of Vladimir Vetrov and the Farewell dossier, then we discuss some of its lessons for present-day international competition and industrial espionage. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/36048895

Layer 9, Episode 002: The Cuckoo's Egg Revisited 03/12/2025

Layer 9, Episode 002: The Cuckoo's Egg Revisited We haven't had the opportunity to meet up and discuss any of the numerous relevant stories that have unfolded in recent weeks, so instead, here's a recycle of an episode that Mike and I recorded for my other podcast. In 2017(ish), I picked up a copy of by Cliff Stoll. In 2018, I watched the 1990 PBS Nova special on the story, . In 2022, I actually got to meet Cliff, in the flesh. In early 2024, Mike and I discussed all of it. Enjoy! /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/35649630

Layer 9, Episode 001: TikTok Ban and Meta Fact Checking 01/31/2025

Layer 9, Episode 001: TikTok Ban and Meta Fact Checking In our shaky take-off episode, Mike and I discuss the short lived American TikTok ban, and the controversial move by Meta to adjust their fact-checking practices in favor of "Community Notes." Please note that Mike and I only represent ourselves, and our views may not reflect the official positions of any organizations with which we're affiliated. Our theme music is the Menuet from Bach's French Suite No. 3, and should be recognizable to most listeners... /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/35100360

SWISS Podcast - Episode 010 - 2024 Ukraine Update - Russia 01/31/2024

SWISS Podcast - Episode 010 - 2024 Ukraine Update - Russia Here's the second half of our recent discussion of the current situation in Ukraine. We discuss Russia's manpower challenges and touch on the use of Wagner Group mercenaries and recruited prison inmates, Russia's withdrawal from a number of longstanding arms control treaties, and the overall strategic landscape relative to the ongoing conflict. Additionally, listeners may enjoy following along with our . /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/29678033

SWISS Podcast - Episode 009 - 2024 Ukraine Update - Ukraine 01/28/2024

SWISS Podcast - Episode 009 - 2024 Ukraine Update - Ukraine Tom and Sherif are back in action, giving updates on the situation in Ukraine, and how domestic American politics is influencing efforts to continue funding and supplying the Ukrainian war effort. During recording, we jumped back and forth between talking about Ukraine and Russia, but in editing, Tom decided to split over an hour of discussion into two episodes: one focusing on the situation in Ukraine, and one shifting to the situation in Russia. The second episode will be published in a few days, at which point the link to our latest occasional paper on this topic will be included. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/29677648

Special Relationship Episode 005 - Another UK Leadership Shift 12/31/2023

Special Relationship Episode 005 - Another UK Leadership Shift In this long-delayed episode that was originally recorded in mid-May, Jim and Tom discuss the background of, and prospects for, the leadership of Conservative Party Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as the coronation and accession of King Charles III. As our last Special Relationship episode was released on Hogmanay/New Year's Eve of 2022, it's only fitting that this episode be released one year later - though we hope to record and publish with slightly greater frequency in 2024! /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/29210658

SWISS Podcast - Episode 008 - War in the Holy Land Update 12/23/2023

SWISS Podcast - Episode 008 - War in the Holy Land Update On December 10th, we revisited the ongoing (and increasingly polarizing) conflict between Israel and Hamas, which centers on the densely populated Gaza Strip. Sherif's audio wasn't always great, but we pressed on, and the discussion was productive. We think listeners will find it enlightening. Additionally, SWISS analysts have contributed to a that seeks to clarify many of the common misconceptions about the conflict's historical context, in addition to tracking major developments during the ongoing conflict. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/29210628

SWISS Podcast - Episode 007 - War in the Holy Land 10/14/2023

SWISS Podcast - Episode 007 - War in the Holy Land After a long hiatus (we'll explain later), Tom and Sherif took some time to discuss the crisis in the Holy Land. Their first take got interrupted, and was getting rambly, so this episode is their second attempt, which was more concise. Another episode with more historical context will be released in the near future, probably with an additional link to a dossier with some additional resources. In the meantime, we hope everyone finds this discussion to be enlightening. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/28313942

Special Relationship Episode 004 - The Scottish Question 12/31/2022

Special Relationship Episode 004 - The Scottish Question You might call it a special episode of The Special Relationship: Jim and Tom discuss the prospects for a Scottish departure from the United Kingdom, and the associated international security ramifications of such a development. Everything you could have wanted to know about this topic, we discuss in detail. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/25451502

SWISS Podcast - Episode 006 - Ethiopian Dam 12/28/2022

SWISS Podcast - Episode 006 - Ethiopian Dam Being a native of Egypt, Sherif gets very passionate when discussing nearby Ethiopia, the Ethiopian government's construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and the downstream impact on the Nile-dependent nations of Sudan and, of course, Egypt. Herodotus wrote that "Egypt is the gift of the Nile," so we thought it was important to discuss the GERD and the international security ramifications both of its construction, and of the decision by leaders in Addis Ababa to fill it in contravention of their neighbors' successful challenges in international courts. Full disclosure: this podcast was recorded about two months ago, and we don't discuss the GERD until we're done talking about USS Harnett County/BRP Sierra Madre, USS Pueblo, and Tom's Summer 2022 visits to USS Pampanito in San Francisco, and USS Yorktown in Charleston. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/25451424

SWISS Podcast - Episode 005 - US Midterm Election Review 11/10/2022

SWISS Podcast - Episode 005 - US Midterm Election Review Americans have voted, and it's time for Tom and Sherif to discuss the ramifications of the unexpectedly modest changes in the compositions of both the House and Senate, among other national positions, as they relate to America's foreign policy over the next two years. We discuss the implications for the ongoing war in Ukraine, relations with China, international diplomacy, food and energy security, and American relations with the competing Gulf powers. CSIS Podcast: Dan Snow's History Hit: Gallipoli: (Hint: the price of wheat played a role!) /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/24964920

SWISS Podcast - Episode 004 - Taiwan Deterrence 10/21/2022

SWISS Podcast - Episode 004 - Taiwan Deterrence In this episode, Tom and Sherif cover a few housekeeping items, offer a quick update about Ukraine that will soon be supplemented by the tardy publication of a previously recorded episode, and discuss the deterrent impact of the Biden White House's new export controls on cutting edge semiconductors. We also stumble upon a joke of opportunity related to fine Champagne. Ukraine Lightning Round: Reuters: Business Insider: AP: Taiwan: Risky Business: Planet Money: Wapo: The Guardian: Book: /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/24757188

Special Relationship Episode 003 - NATO 2022 10/06/2022

Special Relationship Episode 003 - NATO 2022 In the third episode of our Special Relationship series, Tom asks Jim, the University of Aberdeen's emeritus professor of Strategic Studies, about the new NATO's strategic concept, NATO 2022. What does it signal to NATO members, and to the rest of the world? What's the historical context, and what does it bode for the future? We discuss these topics and more. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/24603141

Special Relationship Episode 002 - UK Leadership Shifts and New NATO Concept 09/15/2022

Special Relationship Episode 002 - UK Leadership Shifts and New NATO Concept In the second episode of our Special Relationship series, Tom and Jim, the University of Aberdeen's emeritus professor of Strategic Studies, talk about the strategic legacy of Queen Elizabeth II, and prospects for British foreign policy and force strength under the new leadership of King Charles III and Prime Minister Liz Truss. They close with a few minutes of discussion about NATO's new strategic concept, which will be a recurring topic in future episodes. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/24390063

SWISS Podcast - Episode 003 - Ukraine and Caucasus 09/15/2022

SWISS Podcast - Episode 003 - Ukraine and Caucasus After a lengthy hiatus, Tom and Sherif are back! After a brief catch-up, they discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, before moving on to a discussion of the flare-up between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces over Nagorno-Karabakh. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/24389994

Special Relationship Episode 001 - Ukraine Crisis and Falklands Anniversary 04/01/2022

Special Relationship Episode 001 - Ukraine Crisis and Falklands Anniversary In the inaugural episode of our Special Relationship series, Tom speaks with the University of Aberdeen's emeritus professor of Strategic Studies, James H. Wyllie, about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. During the last few minutes, Tom and Jim reminisce on the pending fortieth anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands. A few additional resources on the latter are included below. This episode was recorded on March 31st, 2022. John J. Weltman, Ian Gardiner, The Yompers: With 45 Commando in the Falklands War ( / ) Interstitial Music: Sarie Marais, 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/22645670

SWISS Podcast - Episode 002 - Ukraine Update 03/04/2022

SWISS Podcast - Episode 002 - Ukraine Update A great deal has happened since we released our initial discussion about Ukraine. Not quite a week later. Tom and Sherif update their prior discussion on Ukraine, featuring a five minute summary at the beginning, followed by a more detailed discussion of the troubled Russian campaign, the Ukrainian resistance, and the two-sided contest to influence public perception. For this exchange, Tom was fueled by Rakkasan Tea's , while Sherif enjoyed some unholy concoction of bourbon aged in Mountain Dew barrels. /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/22334234

SWISS Podcast - Episode 001 - Ukraine Crisis 02/26/2022

SWISS Podcast - Episode 001 - Ukraine Crisis In our inaugural episode, which is kicking off the SWISS Intel project well before we're really ready for it, Tom and Sherif discuss the situation in Ukraine. (Forgive us, we're new at this.) /episode/index/show/swissintel/id/22261874

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