Fault Lines

This week marks one year since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan following its two-decade commitment to fighting terrorism in the country. One year on, we have a country ruled by the Taliban, thousands of Americans and allies stranded within its borders, and a rapidly deteriorating economic, humanitarian and regional security situation on the ground. How many American people and allies are still left in Taliban-governed Afghanistan? What does the future of U.S. commitment look like in the country? How has our withdrawal impacted the U.S. role in the world and its order? Today’s episode will feature France Hoang to help answer and reflect on these questions. France is the Chairman of the Board of Allied Airlift 21 and co-founder of the Afghanistan Departure Group (ADG). Both of these organizations were instrumental in assisting with the evacuation of Americans and our allies out of Afghanistan. Want to learn more about Allied Airlift 21 and how you can help? Please check out their website here! Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we discuss what life is like in North Korea for the average citizen and how the authoritarian government keeps order and control over the lives of ordinary North Koreans.  Do human rights even exist in North Korea? What motivates the North Korean government to perpetuate repression? What is the difference between operations and analysis at the Central Intelligence Agency, and what skills are they looking for in prospective intelligence analysts?Yong Lee is the former CIA Deputy Assistant Director for the Korea Mission Center and former Chief of the Korea Department. Yong has extensive experience in Korean Peninsula affairs. We are thrilled he could join Fault Lines to shed light on the notoriously isolated country of North Korea.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we discuss what organizations like the International Republican Institute are doing to help curb the malicious actions of states who repress their people.  What are the roles of interests and values in the context of America's foreign policy? What can democratic countries do to counter authoritarian regimes? What is the role of the U.S. Congress in shaping foreign policy, and how this arrangement uniquely American?  Dr. Daniel Twining is President of the International Republican Institute. Previously, Dr. Twining directed the German Marshall Fund’s Asia program, was a member of the Secretary of State’s Policy Planning Staff and served as a foreign policy advisor to the late U.S. Senator John McCain. We are thrilled to have him join to answer these questions! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we take a deep dive into the “hot spots” in the world for religious persecution including Nigeria, Burma and Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Samuel Brownback served as the Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom at the U.S. State Department under the Trump Administration. Prior to his service as Ambassador, he served as a Congressman, Senator and Governor of the great state of Kansas. He has a unique perspective of how religious freedom directly relates to our nation’s national security and we are thrilled to have him provide his insights on how religious persecution is often a key ingredient to global repression. He discusses how freedom of religion plays into U.S. foreign policy. What mechanisms does the U.S. government have at its disposal to curb religious persecution? What is the impact on U.S. bilateral relations with states who allow don’t allow freedom of religion within their borders? How does advocating for this fundamental human right impact our national security? This episode contains descriptions of graphic violence that some listeners may find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.  Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we discuss the tragic war crimes occurring against the Ukrainian people since Russia invaded the country. As we learn this week, this is a common trend when it comes to Russia, and this is not the first time they have repressed and abused their neighbors. How is this unprovoked war impacting the Ukrainian people on the ground? What is the international community doing to bring those who perpetrate these war crimes to justice?  Michael Sawkiw, Executive Vice President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, has spent years advocating for Ukrainians and has worked tirelessly to support the Ukrainian community in the United States. He has a deep knowledge of the human rights violations and atrocities occurring on the ground in Ukraine since the Russian invasion and we are thrilled to have him join us to share his insights. This episode contains descriptions of graphic violence that some listeners may find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.  Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Illicit finance poses one of the key national security challenges facing the crypto industry. How do U.S. regulators and policymakers work with stakeholders to implement solutions that may be at odds with crypto’s underlying ethos of decentralization? Is crypto the driving factor behind increased ransomware activity or just a symptom? What lessons can the United States take from other governments, like the EU and the UK, in upgrading our anti-money laundering framework?  Ari Redbord, Head of Legal and Government Affairs at TRM Labs, a blockchain intelligence company, joins Fault Lines for a special episode to help assess some of the national security challenges facing the crypto industry.Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, to kick off our summer series on global repression, “Breaking Chains: Fighting the New Global Repressors,” we are taking a deep dive into the surveillance state in the People’s Republic of China, namely, the Xinjiang Province. What technology does the PRC have at its disposal? How has this technology furthered repression of the Uyghur minority group? Geoffrey Cain, author of “The Perfect Police State: An Undercover Odyssey into China's Terrifying Surveillance Dystopia of the Future” and award winning foreign correspondent has been on the ground in the region and shares his insights, reporting and assessment of what the future may hold.Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sri Lanka is set to choose a new president in the midst of a massive unrest and a catastrophic economic crisis. What does this mean for U.S. security interest in the region? How can Sri Lanka’s partners best assist in this situation? With Sri Lanka's economy shattered, food and fuel dangerously scarce, and massive international debts, is there any hope for Asia’s oldest democracy? Atul Keshap, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 2015 - 2018, joins Fault Lines in a special episode to help address these questions and more!   Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. **Fault Lines Update** Join us next week for our limited and special summer series “Breaking Chains: Fighting the Next Global Repressors.” Over the next month, we will highlight the many serious human rights violations we are witnessing across the globe - from war crimes in Ukraine to new information coming out on China's treatment of the Uyghurs. You don’t want to miss this! Note: This episode was recorded at 1:00 PM ET on July 18, 2022. Events on the ground in Sri Lanka have moved quickly since then! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Les, Jane, Scott, and Sarah discuss President Biden’s articulation of the US policy in the event China invades Taiwan, the creation of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), and the first Russian soldier convicted of war crimes. Was it truly a mistake on President Biden’s part when he says that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China were to invade? Will China engage in military activity against Taiwan in the next 2.5 years? Is IPEF significant? What are the implications of Ukraine convicting the first Russian solder of war crimes? These questions and more are answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines! Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. **Fault Lines Update** Fault Lines is taking a break for the rest of June. Join us in July for our limited and special summer series that will highlight the many serious human rights violations we are witnessing across the globe - from war crimes in Ukraine to new information coming out on China's treatment of the Uyghur. You don’t want to miss this! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from Western Ukraine, join NSI for a very important conversation with Fox News Correspondent Mike Tobin. Mike has been reporting on the war from Western Ukraine and has himself been impacted by Russian atrocities. How is this war different from other combat zones? How have Ukrainians strengthened their resolve to push back against Russia? These questions and more answered on the latest episode of Fault Lines. Like this episode? Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.