CTG's Threat Intelligence Podcast

In mid-January, a top Russian official did not rule out military deployments to Cuba and Venezuela if tensions with the U.S. and NATO over Ukraine continue to escalate. U.S. government officials have dismissed the statements as hyperbole and stated that if Russia did move in that direction, the U.S. would move "decisively" to deal with it. But what does decisive action look like? Intentionally it is a word that attempts to say a lot without saying anything. Stacey Casas from CTG's SOUTHCOM team is joining us to discuss how seriously we should take this ominous threat.

Welcome to the first podcast episode of 2022! In this round table, two panelists will join Adam to discuss what stories we should watch in 2022. The storylines may be continuing from 2021 (and beyond), or they may be new trends emerging in the new year. Becca Stewart and Kaylyn Matis, both CTG analysts, join me in our second installment of the round table series to discuss stories from Ukraine, COVID-19, and the Metaverse.

The Taliban now controls Afghanistan and has been working in earnest to run the nation since their ascension to power three months ago. In an extensive report, CTG researched and analyzed how the Taliban utilizes public messaging and propaganda both internationally and domestically. Becca Stewart, CTG's Special Teams Manager, joins us to discuss what propaganda efforts being implemented by the Taliban can tell us about the early months of their regime and discuss what role Afghanistan has yet to play in grand geopolitical strategy.

Somalia is in disarray. Taking advantage of Mogadishu's political gridlock, Al-Qaeda affiliate group Al-Shabaab rages in the countryside looking to replace the old, tired, secular government for their form of Sharia law. Faye, of CTG's AFRICOM team, joins us to discuss Al-Shabaab's growing influence.

In recent weeks CTG produced a special report on the Yemen Civil war, including background on the Houthi movement and the current situation on the ground in Yemen. Though 2021 winds to a close, the war that began in 2014 is still in full swing. JJ Singh from CTG's CENTCOM team joins us to discuss the situation.

In the premiere Round Table episode for the Threat Intelligence podcast Aimee Hanstein and Becca Stewart join Adam to discuss trending stories around Africa and how China's expanding reach could lead to Cold War-era proxy wars. From Taiwan to East Africa, China's growing influence threatens the security of the U.S. and the rest of the West.

In recent months and years, the term INCEL has gained national and international prominence for all the wrong reasons. A so-called "red pill" / "black pill" dichotomy within the largely online community known as INCELs, short for involuntary celibates, has resulted in several mass killing events. The latest attack took place on August 13th, when Jake Davison shot and killed 5 people in Plymouth, England. Charley Gleeson of CTG's CTSC team joins Adam to discuss this movement.

As chaos continues to ensue in the wake of the Taliban's victory over the Afghan government, the international community is grappling with how to manage their response to the crisis. Today Rob is joined by Jujhar & Vaania from CTG's CENTCOM team to discuss what the situation looks like on the ground, how the international community (beyond the United States) is handling the situation, and, most importantly, what can be done to manage the inevitable refugee crisis with humanity and empathy at the center of the response.

Since President Biden began evacuating troops in earnest in late July, the situation in Afghanistan has changed – and fast. In just a matter of days, Taliban forces have enveloped the entire nation. On August 15th, the Taliban entered Kabul as reports came out detailing how sitting President Ghani had fled to Tajikistan. The U.S. is seemingly out of the fire into the frying pan as President Biden sends 6,000 more troops to Afghanistan with a single mission: protect the Hamid Karzai International Airport, and evacuate as many Americans and refugees as possible. Once again, Aimee Hanstein from CTG's CENTCOM team joins us to break down the situation.

In recent years, mass kidnappings in Africa have become a near-weekly occurrence, especially in Nigeria where Boko Haram wreaks havoc. Clara de Solages joins Adam to break down the current state of this continental crisis, as well as detail how some states can adapt to face this challenge more effectively.