Fault Lines

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s recent accusations of Russia plotting to overthrow her country’s pro-Western government. Ms. Sandu’s remarks follow Ukrainian President Zelensky’s warnings last week that Ukrainian intelligence had intercepted “a detailed Russian plan” to destabilize Moldova.How serious are Russian destabilization efforts in former Soviet governments? What – if any – impact does this development have on the Russia-Ukraine conflict? Does the Fault Lines crew think Moldova is the new “Ukraine” in terms of Western and NATO expansion?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion:https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/02/13/moldova-fears-it-might-fall-victim-to-a-russian-coup-plot https://time.com/6255048/russia-moldova-plot/ Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don’t forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the recent collaboration of U.S. and Canadian military aircraft to shoot down four separate unidentified objects flying over North America over the past several days.How aggressive should we be with unknown aircraft? When will the U.S. government identify where these aircraft are coming from and what their mission capabilities are? Do these shootdowns mean we are closer to war than we realize?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion:https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/02/12/spy-balloon-alaska-canada/ https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/12/politics/lake-huron-high-altitude-object/index.html Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don’t forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss SpaceX’s recent announcement that it will limit Ukraine's use of its Starlink satellite systems for "offensive" military operations. Starlink has provided critical communication capabilities to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began last February.How will SpaceX’s decision affect the war on the ground? Will depriving Ukrainians of this capability be a massive set back? How involved should the private sector be in military efforts?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion:https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/02/09/ukraine-russia-war-starlink-drones-musk-spacex/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/02/09/starlink-restricts-internet-drones-ukraine/ Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don’t forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jess, Jamil, and special guest host Morgan Viña, NSI Senior Fellow and JINSA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, discuss the recent development that Moscow and Tehran are moving ahead with plans to build a new factory in Russia that could make at least 6,000 Iranian-designed drones for the war in Ukraine, the latest sign of deepening cooperation between the two nations.How will the growing Iran-Russia relationship impact the current conflict in Ukraine and in future conflicts? Is this merely a relationship of convenience or a new “permanent” partnership? What influence will this relationship have on Middle East relations?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.wsj.com/articles/iranian-drones-in-ukraine-project-tehrans-power-beyond-mideast-testing-u-s-europe-11666880851?mod=article_inline https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-05-30/russia-rejected-iran-s-400-missiles-request-amid-gulf-tension  Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroach Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the famous Chinese spy balloon that entered the U.S. airspace over Idaho from Canada last week and was ultimately shot down by the U.S. Air Force over the Atlantic Ocean off the Carolina Coast this weekend.Should the balloon have been shot down much earlier? Does the handling of the balloon reflect a credibility issue for this Administration? What does the Fault Lines crew think of the partisan squabbling over the balloon?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion:https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64530102 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/05/world/asia/china-balloon-united-states.html Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don’t forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discussed the recent increase in violent clashes and attacks across the Middle East, which included an Israeli counterterrorism operation in the West Bank, an attack on a synagogue in East Jerusalem, and a drone strike on an Iranian Defense Ministry factory in Isfahan.What should the U.S. be doing in these instances of increased violence in the region? Is the U.S. being aggressive enough in its own counterterrorism operations? How should the U.S. prioritize its global security commitments? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion:https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/29/world/middleeast/iran-drone-strike-israel.html https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/doj-charges-3-men-murder-hire-plot-journalist-critical-iran-rcna67863 Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe.And don’t forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discussed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s recent announcement made in South Korea that in response to a growing North Korean nuclear threat, the U.S. will increase its deployment of advanced weapons such as fighter jets and bombers to the Korean Peninsula and alongside our South Korean partners. However, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has said that South Korea might need nuclear weapons of its own.What can the U.S. do to assure South Korea that the U.S. will come to their defense in case of conflict? Is the U.S. doing enough to counter North Korean aggression? Is a nuclear South Korea inevitable? Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion:https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/us-increase-weapons-deployment-counter-north-korea-rcna68323 https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/01/25/dueling-nuclear-nightmares-behind-south-korean-president-s-alarming-comments-pub-88879Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss Air Force General Michael Minihan’s recent memo he sent to forces under his command, which cited Xi Jinping’s third term as China’s supreme leader, an election in Taiwan in 2024, and our own American presidential election in late 2024 as possible stepping stones to a war between the U.S. and China in 2025,  precipitated by a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.Is a Chinese attack on Taiwan – invasion, blockade, or some combination – likely in 2025? How should the U.S. prepare for this possibility? Are there any lessons we can learn from the Russian invasion of Ukraine ahead of such future aggression?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/29/china-conflict-mccaul/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us-four-star-general-warns-war-with-china-2025-2023-01-28/  Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and Jamil discuss the eruption of protests and violence caused by the Peruvian Congress' removal of President Pedro Castillo after he unsuccessfully tried to dissolve Congress and stage a so-called “bloodless coup.” Though the failed coup has been far from bloodless, with dozens of people killed and nearly 1,000 injured in clashes between Peruvian government forces and protestors.What is the deeper significance of Peru’s political turmoil beyond the closure of Machu Picchu? What does Peru’s crisis tell us about democracy? What can and should the U.S. do to support Peru?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/peru-protests-what-is-behind-violence-2023-01-12/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/22/briefing/peru-protests.html Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunsonLike what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Les, Jess, and special guest host Morgan Viña, NSI Senior Fellow and JINSA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, discuss Turkish President Erdogan’s recent statement that Sweden should not expect Turkey’s support for its NATO membership following tensions over anti-Islam protests in Stockholm over the weekend.What does the Fault Lines team think of Finland and Sweden joining NATO? How should the U.S. balance its relationship with Turkey and its support of democratic states? Should Congress push hard on a conditions deal with Turkey, or should this be left in the hands of President Biden?Hear our experts debate these issues and more in less than 10 minutes on our latest episode of Fault Lines!Want to learn more about this topic? Check out these articles that our experts used to frame our discussion: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/13/turkey-f-16s-finland-sweden-nato/ https://www.nationalreview.com/2022/05/its-time-to-boot-turkey-from-nato/  Follow our experts on Twitter:@jamil_n_jaffer@NotTVJessJones@lestermunson@morganlroach Like what we're doing here? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.