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Listen Longer 7/25: Global Security

July 27, 2015  • Katherine Grygo, Guest Blogger

This past week Aspen Institute Radio featured highlights from the 2015 Aspen Security Forum, including talks on the current state of homeland security, the threat of a nuclear Iran, and terrorist threats facing Europe.

Aspen Institute Radio, our two-hour radio show, airs every Saturday and Sunday on SiriusXM Insight (channel 121). Each episode dives into the topics that inform the world around us. Here in our weekly Listen Longer posts, we’ll recap each episode and show where you can read, watch, and listen to more. Don’t have SirirusXM? Try it free for a month here.

Homeland Security in the Age of ISIL

Just when we thought Al Qaeda was all but defeated, ISIL has risen to take its place. And this terror organization is so brutal that even Al Qaeda has distanced itself from it. In this session, US Department Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson explains his Department’s role in combating ISIL with The New Yorker Washington Correspondent Ryan Lizza.

Pivot to Europe?

With Russia’s annexation of Crimea and nearly daily testing of NATO’s strength, the new Cold War is heating up. And, if that is not enough, the ISIL threat is at Europe’s doorstep. For all the talk of a pivot to Asia, this session focuses on the intensifying threats facing Europe and the need for a concerted and stronger response team.

BBC Correspondent Kim Ghattas moderated the panel, and the conversation featured Ambassador of France to the US Gérard Araud; former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs and Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s JFK Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs Paula Dobriansky; and Ambassador of Spain to the US Ramón Gil-Casares.

The 21st Century’s Lead Warriors

For the most part, huge ground invasions and indefinite occupation forces are a thing of the past. Today’s wars, big and little, are being fought largely by the strategic deployment of limited Special Operators on the ground and intelligence analysts back stateside that dispatch them and drones to the world’s hot spots for quick “in and out” operations. During the Forum, experts in 21st century warfare discuss the strengths and weaknesses of this approach to global crises. 

The Daily Beast Contributing Writer and CNN Global Analyst Kimberly Dozier moderated the panel, featuring Center for Strategic and International Studies International Security Program Director Kathleen Hicks; former Commander of the US Special Operations Command and member of the Aspen Institute Homeland Security Group Eric Olson; and former Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Michael Vickers. 

Iran and the Bomb

Is there still time to prevent Tehran from going nuclear? This panel addressed the threat of a nuclear Iran along with other security threats of a similar game changing nature and how best to counter them.

POLITICO Senior Foreign Affairs Correspondent Michael Crowley moderated the panel, featuring Stimson Center President and CEO and former National Intelligence Council Vice Chair Ellen Laipson; former Central Intelligence Agency Acting and Deputy Directory John E. McLaughlin; and former Middle East Policy Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Matthew Spence. 

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