The Burn Bag Podcast

Latest Episodes:

What in the World?: Ukraine Under Attack (02/25/22) Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, A'ndre and Ryan discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They breakdown where analysts (and Ryan) went wrong, how the offensive has unfolded, and what the next days and weeks may look like.
Please check out these Twitter accounts to stay up-to-date on the war:
Rob Lee
Micheal Kofman
Christopher Miller
Illia Ponomarenko
Neil Hauer

Inside the IC: Classification, Whistleblowing, and Oversight with Former ODNI General Counsel Jason Klitenic Feb 21, 2022

Show notes

In this episode, Ryan is joined by former ODNI General Counsel Jason Klitenic. Jason begins by providing an overview of his career, noting why he joined the US government and what is was like working to stand up DHS after 9/11. He then discusses the structure of the ODNI and how the interagency process works in practice. Jason, who served as a senior official and counsel to the DNI, talks about what it was like to work as the top lawyer for the IC as well as the classification and declassification processes, clearances, and oversight. The conversation concludes with Jason's thoughts about intelligence sharing, civil liberties, and emerging threats.

2022 Olympics Special: The War on the Uyghurs with Professor Sean Roberts Feb 14, 2022

Show notes

With all eyes on China for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, we decided to rerelease our conversation with Professor Sean Roberts on the Uyghur cultural genocide. This episode, originally published in November 2020, discusses the history of the Uyghurs, how China came to view them as a threat, and what the international community can do to stop this cultural genocide. Our conversation is based on Professor Roberts' book, The War on the Uyghurs: China's Internal Campaign against a Muslim Minority.

What in the World?: US Intel Says Russia Will Invade, Biden Releases Afghanistan Aid, and a Hijab Ban in India (02/11/22) Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan react to reports that US intelligence belie Putin has decided to invade Ukraine. They also discuss the use of seized Afghan Central Bank funds for humanitarian aid and a 9/11 victim fund, the banning of the hijab in an Indian state, and the Canadian trucker protest.

Not a Failure of Imagination: COVID-19's Lessons Learned with Johns Hopkins Professor Gigi Gronvall Feb 07, 2022

Show notes

This week, we speak with Johns Hopkins Professor Gigi Gronvall, a leading biosecurity expert who has tracked and monitored the scientific response to COVID-19, in addition to having served on and led varying government sponsored committees/groups advising the Defense Department on varying global health issues. Professor Gronvall discusses the response to COVID-19, asserting that the now years-long crisis isn't a failure of the imagination -- but rather a problem of attention and funding. Professor Gronvall compares the U.S. response to the pandemic to that of other countries, while also dispelling common myths about the virus. Professor Gronvall provides her take on the misinformation that has circulated around the pandemic, talks about the pandemic's uncertain origins, and what future concerns for further mutations currently look like. We also evaluate China's Zero-COVID policy, in addition to framing COVID-19 as a national security issue, applying some of the lessons learned to future preparation for both pandemics and purposeful biowarfare.
Here is Professor Gronvall's paper on the origin of SARS-CoV-2.

What in the World?: US-led Operation Kills ISIS Leader, Russian Tactics Unveiled, and Xi Jinping's Olympics (02/04/22) Feb 04, 2022

Show notes

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan breakdown the US-led operation in Syria that killed the leader of ISIS with Javed Ali. They also discuss how the US release of a Russian false flag plans impacts the current crisis and delegitimizes any Russian claims of defense. The conversation ends with an update on British PM Johnson and the kickoff of the Beijing Olympics.

The Edge of War: Will Russia Invade Ukraine (Again) with Former Ambassador Ian Kelly Jan 31, 2022

Show notes

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan speak with former U.S. Ambassador to OSCE Ian Kelly on the question of whether Russia will invade Ukraine. Ambassador Kelly, who also served as chief diplomat to Georgia, discusses the 2008 Russo-Georgian War and Russia's perspective on NATO expansion. Ambassador Kelly also covers the War in Ukraine's Donbas and speaks on the Russian-backed separatists there, and discusses the OSCE process (the OSCE being the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, an intergovernmental body) with Ukraine. The Ambassador provides his perspective on the question of whether Russia will invade, and gives his take on if the Biden Administration's response has been satisfactory.

Snap Podcast: Dissecting the Russia/Ukraine Crisis Jan 26, 2022

Show notes

In our very first snap podcast, A'ndre and Ryan are joined by special guests Tyler Breeden and Theodore Tymowski. They begin by providing an update on the current situation and a brief overview. The conversation then delves into why Russia is so fixated on Ukraine, what the force posture looks like, and if an invasion is imminent. The group outlines individual projections on if and how an invasion could unfold before discussing deterrent mechanisms.
To learn more, check out these sources:
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-seeks-protect-europes-energy-supplies-if-russia-invades-ukraine-2022-01-25/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/pentagon-places-hundreds-of-troops-on-standby-for-deployment-to-eastern-europe-in-standoff-with-russia-11643051349

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/24/ukraine-eu-us-embassy-russia/

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2022/01/21/russia-sanctions-stop-putin-energy-markets-us-invasion-527524

https://www.fpri.org/article/2022/01/moscows-compellence-strategy/

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2021-12-28/what-putin-really-wants-ukraine

https://warsawinstitute.org/occupied-donbas-stronghold-russian-military/

https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1498.html

"Damascus Station": Former CIA Analyst David McCloskey on his Spy Novel set in Syria's Civil War Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan sit down with former CIA Analyst David McCloskey to talk about his new spy thriller novel, Damascus Station. Set in the backdrop of the early years of the Syrian Civil War, Damascus Station depicts the conflict through the eyes of CIA Case Officer Sam Joseph and Syrian Palace Official Mariam Haddad. Sam recruits Mariam for CIA, but the two fall in love, complicating matters as the U.S. Governments tries to find answers about the whereabouts of a missing CIA agent, believed to be held captive by the Syrian Government. David discusses his writing style and why he chose to depict the Syrian Civil War through a work of fiction, in addition to talking about his portrayal of characters within both the U.S. and Syrian Governments. David also provides us with a broad overview of the Syrian conflict and the incumbent Assad regime, contextualizing the story in his book.

What in the World?: Biden's Ukraine Flub, an Interim Havana Syndrome Report, and the Houthis Attack Abu Dhabi (01/21/22) Jan 21, 2022

Show notes

In this week's episode, A'ndre and Ryan provide an update on the Russia/Ukraine crisis, predict Boris Johnson's fate, and dig into the CIA's interim Havana Syndrome report. They also discuss the tragic volcano eruption in Tonga, North Korea's renewed antics, and the likely designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization.

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