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Perspectives

Is CSIS a den of racism and Islamophobia? No, but…

Ever since Michelle Shephard of the Toronto Star broke the news of a $35 million lawsuit by 5 CSIS employees I have agonised over what to write and even whether to write about this issue.  I turned down several requests for interviews from major Canadian TV networks and a few radio stations since I did […]

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Perspectives

CSIS and the courts at loggerheads?

These past couple of months have not been good for Canada’s spy service.  First, the Federal Court ruled that CSIS has been negligent in informing it of a programme whereby it ‘illegally kept’ data (which it had collected legally under warrant) on Canadians.  Then there is the criticism that the Service shared questions with the […]

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Perspectives

Why the US needs a CSIS for counter terrorism

I know for sure that this blog is going to raise some hackles, especially among my US friends and colleagues.  Why?  Because I am going to argue that the current US counter terrorism architecture is inadequate to deal with the threat and needs a serious overhaul.  The solution I am proposing, however, will go against […]

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Perspectives

CSIS and disruption

CSIS Director Michel Coulombe appeared before the Senate National Security and Defence Committee today and stated that his organisation has used its new disruption powers over twenty times since 2015.   This measure was controversial when introduced by the former Conservative government and is still seen by some as too strong for a service that […]

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Podcast Spies Like Us

For the sake of the FBI and the US, Patel should ‘kash’ out

SLU Season 3 Episode 11: “Bongo and Kash” – the buddy cop film with low ratings While Al is AWOL – didn’t he just get back from vacation? – Neil and Phil fill (!) in ably and are joined by former FBI Agent Lauren Anderson to talk about what the heck if happening at the […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Joining, and leaving, the Taliban

Episode 302 – How hard is it to leave a terrorist group? Joining a terrorist group has to be one of life’s more complicated decisions. Do I believe in the cause? Am I aware of what the group actually does? What if I change my mind? Can I get out or will I be killed […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Are we facing a new kind of nebulous terrorism?

Episode 301 – Do we need to create a new class of terrorism, or is this overcomplicating matters? We have all become too familiar with terrorism over the decades, especially since 9/11. There are all kinds of groups which use violence in the pursuit of all kinds of goals and they all have some form […]

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Podcast Spies Like Us

It’s a national security day in Mr. Roger’s neighbourhood

Season 3 Episode 10 – What keeps the CSIS Director up at night? An Al-less trio – which makes Neil and Phil a dynamic duo! – weighs in on CSIS Director Dan Rogers first ?annual? threat overview speech and what Canadians should take away from it. From terrorism to foreign interference to transnational repression to […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

What are the security challenges in the Arctic?

Episode 300 – What do Arctic nations need to do to protect their security? Canada is one of few nations which actually borders the Arctic (unlike China which describes itself as a ‘near-Arctic nation). Long considered marginal because of snow and ice, the region is garnering more interest thanks to global warming and the pursuant […]

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Podcast Spies Like Us

Lest we forget

Season 3 Episode 9 – The link between intelligence and warfare is an important one To mark Remembrance Day, an important time to pay their respects to the Canadian women and men who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the lads talk about the role that intelligence played in the Afghan conflict. Spotify link Substack link Spies […]