Episodes

  • Local Forces and Counterinsurgency Campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq

    Local Forces and Counterinsurgency Campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq
    Feb 21 2025
    In this edition of Overheard, Phil Wasielewski talks to Dr. Arturo Munoz and Dr. Diane Zorri about the academic papers they presented at last year's FPRI-sponsored conference on Lessons Learned from post-9/11 Irregular Wars. The three will discuss how America used or improperly used local police and militia forces in counterinsurgency campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq and now to do better in the future.

    Related reading:

    Iraq’s Unfinished War: Security in the Post-Saddam Era by Diane Zorri

    The Rise and Fall of Afghanistan’s Local Defense Forces by Arturo Munoz
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    42 mins
  • Russian Political Warfare and the Georgian and Moldovan Elections

    Russian Political Warfare and the Georgian and Moldovan Elections
    Dec 6 2024
    In this episode, Phil Wasielewski follows up on the recent Overheard podcast Russia's Other War in Europe to examine just how Russia worked to manipulate voting and voter sentiments this past October in the former Soviet Republics of Georgia and Moldova. Joining in are FPRI Senior Fellow Batu Kutelia and retired senior State Department official and Moldova expert William Hill who will examine Moscow's tactics from voter intimidation to vote buying and beyond.
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    37 mins
  • The Espionage Act versus the First Amendment

    The Espionage Act versus the First Amendment
    Oct 14 2024
    Was the June 2024 conviction of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange for violating the Espionage Act a victory for national security or a defeat for freedom of the press? What are the rights but also the responsibilities that journalists and media organizations have with regards to publishing classified information? CNN journalist Jill Dougherty, FPRI Senior Fellow George Croner, and national security legal expert Jim Petrila join Overheard to discuss this issue and the implications for national security and the First Amendment.
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    51 mins
  • Russia's Other War in Europe

    Russia's Other War in Europe
    Aug 19 2024
    The Overheard podcast discusses Russian political warfare operations and objectives in Georgia and Moldova with the people who are fighting back against Moscow's efforts. Join Philip Wasielewski as he discusses Russia's covert war in its former Soviet space with Batu Kutelia, David Sikharulidze, Valeriu Pasa, and Sergehi Ostaf as they tell in their own words what Russian political warfare is doing to their countries' sovereignty and independence.
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    47 mins
  • Lessons Learned from the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004

    Lessons Learned from the Intelligence Reform Act of 2004
    Jul 16 2024
    On the 20th anniversary year of the legislation creating the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Phil Wasielewski discusses with former acting Director of Central Intelligence John McLaughlin and former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon the effects of this law and what impact it has had on the Intelligence Community.
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    46 mins
  • An American Irregular Warfare Success Story: OSS Detachment 101 in Burma During WWII

    An American Irregular Warfare Success Story: OSS Detachment 101 in Burma During WWII
    Jun 14 2024
    Phil Wasielewski and US Army Special Operations Command historian Troy Sacquety explore how the Office of Strategic Services waged a little known but strategically impactful irregular war against the Japanese army in Burma with the help of local guerrilla fighters and how lessons learned from this campaign can be applied today.
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    38 mins
  • Irregular Warfare in Afghanistan

    Irregular Warfare in Afghanistan
    May 1 2024
    This week Phil Wasielewski is joined by retired Special Forces colonel Hy Rothstein to discuss irregular warfare in Afghanistan, lessons learned, and lessons that still need to be learned.
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    25 mins
  • The American Way of Irregular Warfare: An Interview with LTG (Ret) Charles T. Cleveland

    The American Way of Irregular Warfare: An Interview with LTG (Ret) Charles T. Cleveland
    Apr 3 2024
    Join host Philip Wasielewski for a discussion with General Cleveland on lessons learned in irregular warfare operations during his career in Special Forces.

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    48 mins