The US President has threatened to list Antifa as a terrorist organisation. Some say he can't do that. It seems like everything is a terrorist group these days: what if we dropped terrorism as a criminal offence? Have a listen to why this may be a good idea. https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/quick-hits-antifa-as-a-terrorist-organisation/ Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at ...
Jun 02, 2020•13 min
If you think that terrorism is largely all about men behaving violently you might want to think again. Women get involved too, sometimes as actors and not victims. And then there are the children. I talk with Canadian scholar Mia Bloom from Georgia State University about her decades of work looking at women, children and terrorism. Check out Mia's latest book Small Arms: Children and Terrorism Format Kindle Mia M. Bloom is a Canadian academic and author and Professor of Communication at Georgia ...
Jun 02, 2020•40 min•Season 3Ep. 44
Have you ever thought of a career in security intelligence? No, it is not like James Bond or Jason Bourne - sorry! But if you are serious have a listen to what a 32-year veteran offers in terms of advice on how to reach your goals! Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting Ltd. and Programme Director for the Security, Economics and Technology (SET) hub at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). He worked as a senior strategic analyst...
May 31, 2020•12 min
Episode 5 of the Netflix series Caliphate begins with the brutal murder of Dolores after she has recognised that Ibbe is an ISIS terrorist. The various stories also continue and Ibbe now has his fertiliser for an attack in Sweden. How accurate is all this? You'll have to listen to find out! How realist is the depiction of ISIS in the Caliphate series? In this podcast, intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews Netflix Caliphate . Phil Gurski is the President and CEO of Bor...
May 27, 2020•11 min
Hey! Ever talked to an incel? Even know what an incel is? In the wake of terrorism charges laid last week in a February killing in Toronto by a teenager/alleged incel I decided to chat with Naama Kates, who runs a podcast called ' The Incel Project '. Did I ever learn a lot - and you will too! Have a listen! In this episode, Naama Kates (The Incel Project) and Phil Gurski , President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting . Subscribe to this podcast for free: iTunes https://apple.co/2ObF...
May 26, 2020•28 min•Season 3Ep. 43
Imagine a nuclear war between Russia and China which results in a migrant wave towards Canada. What would the security impact of this be? Could it make us less safe? Listen to Borealis talk with Canadian National Security analyst and author Shawn MacWha. In this episode, Shawn MacWah, Canadian National Security analyst and Phil Gurski , President and CEO of Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting . Check out Shawn's book Eastern Horizons: A Tale of Failure and Redemption Subscribe to this podcast fo...
May 26, 2020•22 min•Season 2Ep. 42
As the ISIS bomb plot in Sweden takes shape we learn more about how young Swedish Muslimas are embracing the terrorist group. In addition the terrorists seem to have 'insiders' everywhere! The plot thickens... listen as Borealis reviews episode 4 of this Netflix series! How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews episode 4 of this Netflix series.
May 20, 2020•16 min
A youth in Toronto has been charged with terrorism for the killing of a woman at an erotic massage parlour back in February. Police have uncovered that the suspect subscribed to the 'incel' movement, a group of sexually-frustrated men. Is this the right charge? Is incel terrorism? Borealis weighs in.
May 19, 2020•10 min
Canada is a nation of immigrants. It takes in 300,000 + a year. Does immigration pose a national security threat (i.e. are we letting in terrorists)? Borealis talks with Andrew Griffith, former Director General of Citizenship and Multiculturalism in the Canadian government.
May 19, 2020•31 min•Season 2Ep. 41
For many people a strong faith is getting them through the coronavirus. Some, however, are demanding group worship at a time when collective physical distancing is necessary. Have a listen to why I think these people are religious extremists. See also: Where is the COVID-19 terrorism spike?
May 18, 2020•11 min
As Fatima continues to push Pervin for more information she is raped by an ISIS fighter and kills him. Sulle is still being groomed by Ibbe, an ISIS recruiter, which leads to family tension. SAEPO is trying to figure out if the terrorist plot is real or ISIS fake news. Episode #3 is compelling - have a listen! How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews episode 3 of this Netflix series....
May 13, 2020•13 min
Of all the political parties in Canada I would bet that the Green Party is one most Canadians would see as having a small input on national security issues. Well, you would be wrong! Here is my conversation with Dimitri Lascaris, currently running to become the leader of the party, on all things terrorism and national security. Have a listen!
May 12, 2020•39 min•Season 2Ep. 40
As we mark the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe – VE Day – we celebrate the sacrifices of the men and women who fought – and died – fighting Nazi Germany. So what about VT Day – Victory against Terrorism? Alas that day will never be here – have a listen as to why I think so. Read more: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/podcast-victory-in-europe-day/
May 08, 2020•13 min
In this episode, Pervin tries to find out more about the alleged upcoming terrorist attack in Sweden, pushed by her SAEPO handler. Husam's panic attacks continue and lead to tragic events. Ibbe is still grooming young women in Sweden and appears to be having some success. How realist is the depiction of ISIS in Caliphate? In this podcast, 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist Phil Gurski reviews episode 2 of this Netflix series....
May 06, 2020•12 min
Star Trek fans are known for passion and occasional campy costumes at Trekkie conventions. The series gives us hope that in the not too distant future mass violence is behind us. But is it? There is an awful lot of violence in Star Trek – is it terrorism on occasion? Check out Trekspertise youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/neoteotihuacan/videos
May 05, 2020•48 min•Season 2Ep. 39
May the 4th is now known as 'Star Wars Day' (a play on 'May the Force be with you'). Star Wars is of course a classic battle of good vs evil, with good winning in the end. But are the good guys (and the bad guys) terrorists? Is the Force a terrorist ideology? > Check out Phil latest book When Religion Kills: How Extremists Justify Violence Through Faith
May 04, 2020•13 min
The Swedish series Caliphate is getting a lot of attention. It is the story of ISIS and a planned attack in Sweden and the local intelligence effort to stop it. Here is an unofficial ‘review’ by a 30-year intelligence veteran and terrorism specialist. Join Borealis as we walk through each episode and discuss what happened. We will look at how accurate the fictional depiction is, all seen through the lens of a 32-year Canadian intelligence veteran and author of five books on terrorism ....
Apr 29, 2020•14 min
Ward Elcock was the Director of CSIS from 1994 to 2004 and saw the organisation through 9/11 and its aftermath. He joins Borealis to reflect on his years in security intelligence and where we are going next. Subscribe to our free daily email digest Ward P.D. Elcock is a Canadian civil servant who served as the Director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service from 1994 until May 2004. He remains the only Director to have ever served out his entire tenure. He served as the Deputy Minister of...
Apr 28, 2020•28 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Michael Petrou wrote a book back in 2008 on why 1,500 Canadians went to fight in the Spanish Civil War and what concerns their return raised. He joins Borealis to discuss what lessons we can apply to the worries about returning ISIS ‘foreign fighters’. Subscribe to our free daily email digest Michael Petrou is an historian and journalist. His 2008 book, Renegades: Canadians in the Spanish Civil War, was described by J. L. Granatstein as “the best and most complete account of Canadians in the Spa...
Apr 21, 2020•35 min•Season 2Ep. 37
An unspeakable crime has occurred in Nova Scotia with the deaths of 18 people, including an RCMP officer. What do we know about the killer? Was this terrorism? Was it tied to COVID-19? Will we ever find out? Read latest publication by Phil Gurski: The Nova Scotia massacre – more questions than answers
Apr 20, 2020•10 min
Is it ok to kill terrorists regardless of the circumstances? Is a dead terrorist a good terrorist? In this Quick Hits podcast, I look at the pros and cons of taking out terrorists using lethal force.
Apr 20, 2020•11 min
There is a lot of talk about terrorist use of advanced technology. How afraid should we be about this? Is the end of the world around the corner? Subscribe to our free daily email digest: https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/subscribe/ In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his...
Apr 15, 2020•12 min
Bruce Hoffman has been studying terrorism for over 40 years and is recognised as one of the world's leading scholars on this phenomenon. He joins Borealis for a wide-ranging discussion on where terrorism has been and where it is headed. Borealis talks with US terrorism scholar Bruce Hoffman, who has been studying violent extremism for more than four decades and is seen as one of the world's foremost specialists. Bruce Hoffman is a political analyst specializing in the study of terrorism and coun...
Apr 14, 2020•29 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Everyone is panicking about COVID-19, and there is reason for this but there is a movement to charge those claiming to spread the virus with terrorism. This is not a terrorism offence and we dilute our understanding of the word if we do so. See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/ In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author o...
Apr 09, 2020•10 min
How has terrorism changed over the decades and, more importantly, where is it going in the next few years? I am joined by Dr. Colin Clarke, senior research fellow at the Soufan Center in New York, and author of After the Caliphate: the Islamic State and the future terrorist diaspora . Colin P. Clarke is an adjunct senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation, where his research focuses on terrorism, insurgency and criminal networks. At RAND, Clarke has directed studies on ISIS financing, t...
Apr 07, 2020•27 min•Season 2Ep. 35
COVID-19 is causing a lot of fear and anxiety around the world. In India, some Hindu extremists are now blaming the country's Muslims for the outbreak. In this Quick Hits podcast we look at the potential for violence. See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/ In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrori...
Apr 03, 2020•9 min
Many people turn to religion in times of need and we are in such a time with the coronavirus crisis. But while this is acceptable, some of the practices advocated by a few religious leaders are unhelpful and will aid in the spread of the virus. This too is religious extremism. See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/ In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, develop...
Apr 01, 2020•10 min
What do we know about radicalisation to violence so far? Who are the leaders in this field and how can scholars and security intelligence practitioners work better together? Have a listen as Borealis talks to the University of Waterloo's religion scholar Lorne Dawson. Lorne L. Dawson is a Canadian scholar of the sociology of religion who has written about new religious movements, the brainwashing controversy, and religion and the Internet. His work is now focused on religious terrorism and the p...
Mar 31, 2020•37 min•Season 2Ep. 34
If you commit a crime in a foreign country that country has the right to arrest, try, convict, and imprison you (or execute you for a capital offence). Why should terrorists be any different? In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more. Phil Gurski, author of five books on terrorism, is not shy to wade into controversial matters and provide his perspective honed from more than three d...
Mar 30, 2020•10 min
COVID-19 is scary, very scary. We know that it is spread from person to person. So if a person spreads it deliberately can/should that person be charged with 'terrorism'? In this time of COVID-19 we have enough to worry about without freaking out about terrorism! See our COVID-19 coverage at https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/tag/coronavirus/ In this podcast, retired Canadian intelligence analyst Phil Gurski discusses the subject of terrorism: what it is (and isn’t), trends, developments and more...
Mar 25, 2020•9 min
