DEEP Dive

Established in June 1976, the Helsinki Commission set out to monitor human rights conditions in Europe in the context of the Cold War. Nearly half a century later, the commission is as relevant as ever, laying the framework to hold Russia accountable following the conclusion of the war in Ukraine. In episode 31 of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Alex Tiersky and Michael Cecire to discuss the key role that the Helsinki Commission is playing in the collection of battlefield evidence and in calling for the Wagner Group to be labelled a terrorist entity, as well as the commission's instrumental role in the introduction of the Magnitsky sanctions.

Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/ 

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On 7 December 2022, a plot to overthrow the German government was uncovered by the police. Conspiracy theory cases such as this have spread rapidly throughout the pandemic, on social media platforms, and in online gaming chatrooms, where children as young as 12 are being lured into extremist circles. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel in this episode of NATO DEEP Dive as he talks to Daniel Koehler about these very issues, as well as how deradicalisation programmes can be improved to obtain better results.

Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/ 

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ISIS used to dominate international headlines, with news of attacks on Western soil, and gruesome atrocities in Syria and Iraq. Since the collapse of its so-called caliphate, ISIS has become a shadow of its former self - or has it? In this episode of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Pieter Van Ostaeyen, a historian, Arabist, and expert on ISIS, to discuss the current state of the group. From Europe to the Sahel, ISIS and its supporters remain active, physically and virtually, and may well present a threat to global security once more in the near future.

Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/

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The past three years have seen a multitude of threats facing governments throughout the world, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine; the ever-present threat of international jihadism to the rising concerns posed by far-right groups. In this episode of NATO DEEP Dive, Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Phil Gurski, a former senior strategic analyst at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS). They take stock of these emerging threats and discuss how law enforcement and intelligence services can best prepare themselves to respond.

Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/

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From the COVID-19 Pandemic to the targeted killings of their leaders, transnational terrorist organisations have had to adapt to changing circumstances in the past three years. On this episode of NATO DEEP Dive, Associate Professor Mahmut Cengiz from George Mason University joins Dr. Sajjan Gohel to provide an expert breakdown of the current status of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and their global affiliates. 

Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/ 

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On 16 September 2022, 22 year old Mahsa Amini died in police custody for the perceived improper wearing of her hijab. Protests have subsequently erupted across Iran against the regime's theocratic rule. At the same time, Vladimir Putin has struggled to implement his conscription drive in Russia to increase troop numbers in his war against Ukraine. Both Russia and Iran are facing anger from their respective populations and the international community. Can internal opposition aided by economic sanctions really bring about change? Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by renowned Portuguese columnist Diana Soller to discuss these issues and many more in episode 25 of NATO DEEP Dive.

Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/

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On September 11, 2012, terrorists tied to al-Qaeda attacked the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, killing the American ambassador and three others. Yet, 10 years on, some of the plotters remain at large. In episode 24 of NATO DEEP Dive Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by counter-terrorism practitioner Sarah Adams to unpack the consequences of the attack, as well as looking at the other important developments including the implications of the death of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Afghanistan and increasing demands for Russia's to be designated as a 'Sponsor of Terror.' 

Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/  

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From popular movies to TV series, the NYPD has long been depicted as keeping New York safe, but what is life really like inside the world's most famous police department? In episode 23 of NATO DEEP Dive Dr. Sajjan Gohel is joined by Rebecca Wiener, the Assistant Commissioner for Intelligence Analysis at the New York City Police Department to find out just that. From fighting crime and terrorism to combating online disinformation, the NYPD plays a crucial role in maintaining law and order not just in the U.S., but globally.

Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/ 

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The U.S. counter-terrorism in Kabul, Afghanistan eliminated al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and once again exposed the close relationship the terrorist group enjoys with the Taliban and the Haqqani Network. 16 August 2022 marks one year since the Taliban seized power in Kabul. In that time, Afghanistan has experienced hardships, violence, and misogyny. Join Dr. Sajjan Gohel and Afghanistan-Pakistan (AfPak) expert Dr. Asfandyar Mir as they break down the defining moments of the Taliban's first year back in power and how the group continues to destabilise the region. 

Full transcripts for each episode can be found at: https://deepportal.hq.nato.int/eacademy/deep-dive-podcasts/  

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