Following up on our last episode of Special Edition, Tom and Jim discuss the tensions that result from "comprehensive strategic reviews" that seek to lump anything and everything - education, infrastructure, global warming, et cetera - into the realm of national defense and global security. Also on the agenda are the alternative approach to these reviews, what the NATO partners are spending their money on, and news that the UK intends to reintroduce air-launched nuclear weapons into its arsenal.

In this episode, Tom and Sherif follow up on yesterday's instalment of the Special Relationship series. We discuss the American air strikes on Iran's nuclear infrastructure, the wider strategic context throughout the Middle East, and the role of Israel (and others) in influencing American policy. In the latter portion of the discussion, we answer listener questions on these events.

As the dust continues to settle following the controversial air strikes on Iran, Tom and Jim catch up on the biggest story in the Middle East, before pivoting briefly to British and European affairs.

Well, our goal to pick up the pace in 2024 with the Special Relationship series resulted in precisely zero (0) episodes recorded, but we're optimistic about 2025! In this episode, Tom solicits Jim's thoughts on American and European support for Ukraine's war effort, how strategic rigor has (or hasn't) impacted the conflict. Then, they shift gears to discuss the Trump Administration's controversial dealings with NATO, to include whether or not the 47th President intends to abandon Europeans to their own cognizance. Listen in for these topics and more.

In the early 1980's, KGB/DST Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Vetrov provided nearly 4,000 secret documents to French intelligence. In doing so, Vetrov revealed a massive, intricate Soviet effort to conduct targeted industrial espionage throughout the Western world. Vetrov's revelations allowed the United States and its allies to undermine Soviet efforts to catch up to the rapid technological advancements of the 1970's and 1980's, likely hastening the Soviet Union's eventual collapse. The combined Vetrov dossier was code-named "Farewell," and in addition to a 2007 CIA article and a 2011 book, the story is featured in a 2009 French film. In our third episode, I regale Mike with the tale of Vladimir Vetrov and the Farewell dossier, then we discuss some of its lessons for present-day international competition and industrial espionage.

We haven't had the opportunity to meet up and discuss any of the numerous relevant stories that have unfolded in recent weeks, so instead, here's a recycle of an episode that Mike and I recorded for my other podcast. In 2017(ish), I picked up a copy of The Cuckoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll. In 2018, I watched the 1990 PBS Nova special on the story, The KGB, the Computer, and Me. In 2022, I actually got to meet Cliff, in the flesh. In early 2024, Mike and I discussed all of it. Enjoy!

In our shaky take-off episode, Mike and I discuss the short lived American TikTok ban, and the controversial move by Meta to adjust their fact-checking practices in favor of "Community Notes." Please note that Mike and I only represent ourselves, and our views may not reflect the official positions of any organizations with which we're affiliated.

Our theme music is the Menuet from Bach's French Suite No. 3, and should be recognizable to most listeners...

Here's the second half of our recent discussion of the current situation in Ukraine. We discuss Russia's manpower challenges and touch on the use of Wagner Group mercenaries and recruited prison inmates, Russia's withdrawal from a number of longstanding arms control treaties, and the overall strategic landscape relative to the ongoing conflict. Additionally, listeners may enjoy following along with our occasional paper on the topic.

Tom and Sherif are back in action, giving updates on the situation in Ukraine, and how domestic American politics is influencing efforts to continue funding and supplying the Ukrainian war effort. During recording, we jumped back and forth between talking about Ukraine and Russia, but in editing, Tom decided to split over an hour of discussion into two episodes: one focusing on the situation in Ukraine, and one shifting to the situation in Russia. The second episode will be published in a few days, at which point the link to our latest occasional paper on this topic will be included.

In this long-delayed episode that was originally recorded in mid-May, Jim and Tom discuss the background of, and prospects for, the leadership of Conservative Party Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as well as the coronation and accession of King Charles III. As our last Special Relationship episode was released on Hogmanay/New Year's Eve of 2022, it's only fitting that this episode be released one year later - though we hope to record and publish with slightly greater frequency in 2024!