In Moscow's Shadows 140: Terrorism and Totalitarianism
Mar 24, 2024
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The podcast explores the aftermath of a terrorist attack in Russia, connections to ISIS-K, Putin's response, challenges in counterterrorism efforts, political theatrics in security, insights into election dynamics, and ethical considerations of public responses to Russian deaths.
52:57
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Quick takeaways
ISIS-K poses a significant threat to Russia due to historical conflicts and recruitment tactics.
Putin's response to the terrorist attack focused on a Ukraine connection, raising questions about his avoidance of ISIS's role.
Deep dives
Russian views on the terrorist attack and the elections
The podcast discusses the recent terrorist attack in Moscow's Crocus music venue, attributing the attack to ISIS-K, an affiliate of the Islamic State. It highlights the long-standing threat of ISK to Russia and mentions previous attacks linked to the group. The episode delves into ISK's negative view of Russia due to historical conflicts in Chechnya and Syria, portraying Russia as an enemy. It also touches on ISK's recruitment tactics and outsourcing of attacks, discussing the distinct characteristics of ISK attacks and how they align with the recent terrorist incident.
Putin's response to the terrorist attack and his narrative
The podcast analyzes Putin's response to the terrorist attack, emphasizing his delayed address and lackluster performance. It critiques Putin's focus on a supposed Ukrainian connection to the attack, contrasting it with professional Russian discussions emphasizing the Islamic State's involvement. The episode explores the implications of Putin's narrative and his avoidance of acknowledging ISIS's role, suggesting potential reasons behind his emphasis on a Ukraine connection.
United States intelligence and warnings
The podcast examines the role of United States intelligence in warning Russia about potential terrorist threats, highlighting the differing accounts of the intelligence provided. It discusses the warnings issued before the Crocus attack and Putin's dismissive response, questioning the specificity and actionability of the intelligence shared. The episode points out the challenges in assessing the accuracy and impact of the warnings amidst conflicting reports and geopolitical tensions.
Russia's security challenges and Central Asian radicalization
The podcast addresses Russia's security challenges in combating terrorism, focusing on the complexities of monitoring and countering radicalization among Central Asian migrant populations. It highlights the difficulties in infiltrating these communities, limited intelligence quality from Central Asian agencies, and the proliferation of firearms in the region. The episode underscores the ongoing struggle of Russian security apparatus against internal radical threats, emphasizing the challenges posed by Central Asian radicalization.
What a week it has been. I give my initial thoughts on the awful terrorist attack on the outskirts of Moscow, and then pivot to some further lessons of the sham presidential elections. It's all joy, all the time, here at In Moscow's Shadows...
There are further details of Vienna event at the Kreisky Forum on 8 April here, and on the Newcastle University public lecture on 16 May here.
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