Fault Lines National Security Institute

Today, Jamil, Les, and Morgan discuss the recent developments on the Korean Peninsula including North Korea sending over hundreds of trash-filled balloons containing roughly 15 tonnes of waste to its southern neighbor.  This was in response to South Korean activist groups sending balloons to the north containing propaganda pamphlets. The South Korean government is considering its response including resuming playing K-pop on loudspeakers across the DMZ toward the north. 
How does this tit-for-tat impact North-South relations? Does this impact the U.S. strategy for the peninsula?  Should China be held accountable for the actions of North Korea?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/29/north-korea-balloons-waste-trash/ 
https://www.wsj.com/world/asia/kim-jong-uns-balloon-barrage-bags-of-excrement-fly-into-the-south-9f19d3d6 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/02/world/asia/north-korea-trash-balloons.html 
https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/02/asia/north-korea-trash-balloons-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.voanews.com/a/us-allies-clash-with-china-and-russia-over-north-korea-s-launches-threats/7638635.html 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
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Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/6MLUx_JZvvM

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Today, Jamil, Les, and Morgan discuss U.S. President Joe Biden’s (limited) decision to permit Ukraine to use (some) American-supplied weapons to strike targets inside of Russia.  Under pressure from European allies, the Biden administration appears—once again—to have evolved (part of) its policy for the supply and use of US weapons, but the restrictions that remain in place will likely continue to hamstring Ukraine’s effort to retake the advantage and ultimately bring the war to a successful close. 
Why has the Biden administration changed its policy on the use of U.S. weapons in Russia now? Should the Biden administration provide Ukraine with the means to fight—and win—this war and, so, should it have done so earlier?  What end state does the Biden administration want?  A Ukrainian win or a draw that allows Russia to fade with dignity?  Is either outcome even an option?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/us/politics/biden-ukraine-russia-weapons.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare 
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/30/politics/biden-ukraine-limited-strikes-russia 
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy770l9llnzo
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/AbS9Dpd24Bg

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Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss recent developments amidst the Israel-Hamas war.  The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor has sought arrest warrants for both the leadership of Hamas as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Additionally, Ireland, Spain, and Norway have officially recognized a Palestinian state leading Israel to recall their ambassadors in protest for “rewarding terror.” 
What are the impacts of Western recognition of a Palestinian state? Will the ICC grant the arrest warrants, if so, will it matter? How does the ICC case and the Congressional backlash impact the Biden administration’s policy on Israel?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/05/20/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-warrant-applications-by-the-international-criminal-court/ 
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4nn78r3w3ko 
https://link.foreignpolicy.com/view/64427b64aced183da613ed70l47kv.ul4/e2af2a70 
https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/05/20/the-iccs-threat-to-arrest-binyamin-netanyahu-has-shocked-israel?utm_medium=email.internal-newsletter.np&utm_source=salesforce-marketing-cloud&utm_campaign=espresso.US&utm_content=the-world-in-brief-may-21st-2024&utm_term=05/21/24 
https://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2024/05/20/the_us_should_oppose_icc_attempts_to_target_israeli_officials_1032770.html 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/S0_S8oR17r8

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Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss President Biden hosting Kenyan President William Ruto for a state visit - the first state visit a U.S. president has held for a president of an African nation since 2008.  Last night’s state dinner also marked the designation of Kenya as a U.S. Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA).  This dinner took place during President Ruto’s three-day state visit that coincides with Kenya’s imminent deployment of forces to Haiti, as part of a U.N.-led, largely U.S.-financed effort to try to calm the ongoing humanitarian crisis. 
Why has the United States designated Kenya a MNNA now? Is this elevation an attempt by the Biden Administration to make up for recent failures to engage with the continent? Can the United States do more to increase engagement?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://apnews.com/article/state-dinner-kenya-biden-african-visit-74de529133275da0a146cf61cc211d82 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/2024/05/23/kenya-state-dinner-biden-obama/ 
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp4421nx727o 
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/21/kenya-america-ruto-africa/ 
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/22/kenya-non-nato-ally-status-visit-00159578 
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/23/politics/biden-kenya-president-state-visit-china/index.html 
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2024/05/23/a-new-military-era-for-the-us-and-kenya-kind-of-00159744 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/czOdT2BL52E

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Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss this week's deadly riots in the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia where there is upheaval over a constitutional amendment passed by lawmakers in Paris expanding suffrage in the territory and diluting indigenous voting power.  French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting the territory today and has deployed an additional 1,500 troops to quell the violence in the strategically important territory which is the 3rd largest nickel producer in the world. 
Is France’s constitutional amendment a genuine democratic push or an attempt to wield control of resources? Is France’s strong-arm approach to the protests a good strategy? How are China, Russia, and Azerbaijan impacting the unrest in New Caledonia?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-new-zealand-send-evacuation-flights-new-caledonia-2024-05-21/ 
https://www.wsj.com/world/behind-new-caledonias-riots-a-fight-over-vast-reserves-of-nickel-a73f6301 
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/17/world/asia/new-caledonia-france-protest.html 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/15/why-riots-new-caledonia-france-voting 
https://www.politico.eu/article/new-caledonia-france-brink-civil-war-nickel-gun-macron/ 
https://www.france24.com/en/france/20240517-why-did-france-block-tiktok-to-quell-unrest-in-new-caledonia 
Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/ZsB9RBS6JZQ

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Jamil, Jess, Les, and Morgan discuss this weekend’s fatal helicopter crash in the mountainous border region between Azerbaijan and Iran that led to the deaths of both the President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi, and Iran’s Foreign Minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian. The helicopter also carried the governor of Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, a senior cleric from Tabriz, three crew members, and a Revolutionary Guard official. 
How does this crash impact the succession order of Iran's Supreme Leader? How does this accident impact Israeli policy and the wider region? Does the accident provide an opportunity for the Biden administration to change its Iran policy?
Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.
Check out the sources that helped shape our expert's discussion!
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/05/19/world/iran-president-crash
https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/19/middleeast/iranian-president-raisi-helicopter-intl
https://apnews.com/article/iran-president-ebrahim-raisi-426c6f4ae2dd1f0801c73875bb696f48 
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/who-is-mohammad-mokhber-irans-interim-president-2024-05-20/ 

Follow our experts on Twitter: 
@lestermunson
@NotTVJessJones
@jamil_n_jaffer
@morganlroach
Like what we're doing here? 
 
Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 
 
And don't forget to follow @masonnatsec on Twitter!
We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/kVt9zIMPxIk


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.