The Loopcast

Zack Gold (@zlgold) and Chelsea Daymon (@cldaymon) speak to the Loopcastabout the insurgency in the Sinai. Zack's latest: "Why Israel will miss Morsi: As Egypt's military cracks down, Sinai descends into chaos" Also make sure to read Chelsea's essay "The Egyptian Sinai: A New Front for Jihadist Activity"

Charles Lister (@charles_lister) and Aaron Zelin (@azelin) discuss the Syrian insurgency. Below I've listed an outline of the conversation and the questions we covered. First, update us on the war. What is the state of the insurgency post chemical weapon use? At this point in the war how can we relate FSA to other parts of the insurgency (jihadis, Islamist, etc)[ infighting ]. Where do we factor in sectarianism? Where do we factor in the level of violence?  How much of the insurgency can be considered "secular" vs "Islamist" vs "jihadi"? How would you define each category, and more importantly has there been shift from one category to another? In the US there has been a heated debate about the "good" and "bad" guys: Broadly, is it possible to define and separate the "good" from the "bad" in a complex insurgency? How has funding and arming affected the aforementioned categorization? Whenever experts and or intelligence services can offer foreign policy decision-makers nuance and in depth view of a complex event, that analysis meets (a) entrenched policies and party pressures, (b) the impressive force of lobbyists and interested campaign contributors, and (c) uninformed or misinformed popular public opinion, which will likely turn into votes next time around. What has been your experience in dealing with the pressures in producing a genuinely in depth and nuanced product vs the political forces and domestic politicization of the conflict in Syria particularly in dealing with the call for intervention?

Charles Lister (@charles_lister) and Aaron Zelin (@azelin) discuss the Syrian insurgency. Below I've listed an outline of the conversation and the questions we covered. First, update us on the war. What is the state of the insurgency post chemical weapon use? At this point in the war how can we relate FSA to other parts of the insurgency (jihadis, Islamist, etc)[ infighting ]. Where do we factor in sectarianism? Where do we factor in the level of violence?  How much of the insurgency can be considered "secular" vs "Islamist" vs "jihadi"? How would you define each category, and more importantly has there been shift from one category to another? In the US there has been a heated debate about the "good" and "bad" guys: Broadly, is it possible to define and separate the "good" from the "bad" in a complex insurgency? How has funding and arming affected the aforementioned categorization? Whenever experts and or intelligence services can offer foreign policy decision-makers nuance and in depth view of a complex event, that analysis meets (a) entrenched policies and party pressures, (b) the impressive force of lobbyists and interested campaign contributors, and (c) uninformed or misinformed popular public opinion, which will likely turn into votes next time around. What has been your experience in dealing with the pressures in producing a genuinely in depth and nuanced product vs the political forces and domestic politicization of the conflict in Syria particularly in dealing with the call for intervention?

Charles Lister (@charles_lister) and Aaron Zelin (@azelin) discuss the Syrian insurgency. Below I've listed an outline of the conversation and the questions we covered. First, update us on the war. What is the state of the insurgency post chemical weapon use? At this point in the war how can we relate FSA to other parts of the insurgency (jihadis, Islamist, etc)[ infighting ]. Where do we factor in sectarianism? Where do we factor in the level of violence?  How much of the insurgency can be considered "secular" vs "Islamist" vs "jihadi"? How would you define each category, and more importantly has there been shift from one category to another? In the US there has been a heated debate about the "good" and "bad" guys: Broadly, is it possible to define and separate the "good" from the "bad" in a complex insurgency? How has funding and arming affected the aforementioned categorization? Whenever experts and or intelligence services can offer foreign policy decision-makers nuance and in depth view of a complex event, that analysis meets (a) entrenched policies and party pressures, (b) the impressive force of lobbyists and interested campaign contributors, and (c) uninformed or misinformed popular public opinion, which will likely turn into votes next time around. What has been your experience in dealing with the pressures in producing a genuinely in depth and nuanced product vs the political forces and domestic politicization of the conflict in Syria particularly in dealing with the call for intervention?

Nada Bakos (@nadabakos) talks to the Loopcast about her time as a target analyst in Iraq and the Emmy award winning documentary "Manhunt". Nada blogs here. Check it out! 

Nada Bakos (@nadabakos) talks to the Loopcast about her time as a target analyst in Iraq and the Emmy award winning documentary "Manhunt".Nada blogs here. Check it out! 

Nada Bakos (@nadabakos) talks to the Loopcast about her time as a target analyst in Iraq and the Emmy award winning documentary "Manhunt". Nada blogs here. Check it out! 

Marcus J Carey (@marcusjcarey) discusses software and tool development with the Loopcast. Make sure to check out Threat Agent on twitter and on the web. Please make sure to check out Threat Agent's blog including the last couple posts: "Who's that peeking in my Dropbox," and "Three reasons why Dropbox previews are security and privacy nightmares" Also check out training opportunities with Threat Agent.   

Marcus J Carey (@marcusjcarey) discusses software and tool development with the Loopcast. Make sure to check out Threat Agent on twitter and on the web.Please make sure to check out Threat Agent's blog including the last couple posts: "Who's that peeking in my Dropbox," and "Three reasons why Dropbox previews are security and privacy nightmares"Also check out training opportunities with Threat Agent.   

Marcus J Carey (@marcusjcarey) discusses software and tool development with the Loopcast. Make sure to check out Threat Agent on twitter and on the web. Please make sure to check out Threat Agent's blog including the last couple posts: "Who's that peeking in my Dropbox," and "Three reasons why Dropbox previews are security and privacy nightmares" Also check out training opportunities with Threat Agent.   

Hayder al-Khoei (@Hayder_alKhoei) talks to the Loopcast about Shiism in the modern world. Our conversation roughly follows the outline below. Describe Shiism in the modern world: What is the relationship between the state, the clergy, and the followers. Are there Shia Islamists? Islamists being defined here as a "Shia Ikwan" lay people who use religion as a method to access politics. Najaf and Qum are the two most important cities in Shiism. How would you describe the relationship between them? How is politics structured between them? Where do we place Karbala? How would you describe Iran's approach to Shiism, and Iraq's approach to Shiism as far as the individual experience is concerned? Has the differing ideologies of the state have had a different effect on the respective clergy and seminary schools?  How would compare the scholarship and students of Iran vs Iraq? The relationship between government, scholarship, and students?  In navigating the politics of the faith where do we place young men who have lesser religious credentials but are in the position of leadership like Sadr and Nasrollah? Moreover how important is the idea of marja taqlid to leadership in the faith if Sadr, Nasrollah, and even Khamenei have all used politics to circumvent it? Syria: how do we understand Syria within the context of Shiism. It seems that the Sayyida Zayneb, the protection of it, is playing a large role in defining the conflict in starkly sectarian terms. Furthermore, a great deal of the media being produced by Shia militias have evoked sectarianism ( vs jihadis of the opposition) as reason to fight. Can we consider Syria as a "Shia transnational jihad" in the vein of the role that Afghanistan in the 80s played for Sunni jihadists?

Hayder al-Khoei (@Hayder_alKhoei) talks to the Loopcast about Shiism in the modern world. Our conversation roughly follows the outline below.Describe Shiism in the modern world: What is the relationship between the state, the clergy, and the followers. Are there Shia Islamists? Islamists being defined here as a "Shia Ikwan" lay people who use religion as a method to access politics. Najaf and Qum are the two most important cities in Shiism. How would you describe the relationship between them? How is politics structured between them? Where do we place Karbala? How would you describe Iran's approach to Shiism, and Iraq's approach to Shiism as far as the individual experience is concerned? Has the differing ideologies of the state have had a different effect on the respective clergy and seminary schools?  How would compare the scholarship and students of Iran vs Iraq? The relationship between government, scholarship, and students?  In navigating the politics of the faith where do we place young men who have lesser religious credentials but are in the position of leadership like Sadr and Nasrollah? Moreover how important is the idea of marja taqlid to leadership in the faith if Sadr, Nasrollah, and even Khamenei have all used politics to circumvent it? Syria: how do we understand Syria within the context of Shiism. It seems that the Sayyida Zayneb, the protection of it, is playing a large role in defining the conflict in starkly sectarian terms. Furthermore, a great deal of the media being produced by Shia militias have evoked sectarianism ( vs jihadis of the opposition) as reason to fight. Can we consider Syria as a "Shia transnational jihad" in the vein of the role that Afghanistan in the 80s played for Sunni jihadists?

Hayder al-Khoei (@Hayder_alKhoei) talks to the Loopcast about Shiism in the modern world. Our conversation roughly follows the outline below. Describe Shiism in the modern world: What is the relationship between the state, the clergy, and the followers. Are there Shia Islamists? Islamists being defined here as a "Shia Ikwan" lay people who use religion as a method to access politics. Najaf and Qum are the two most important cities in Shiism. How would you describe the relationship between them? How is politics structured between them? Where do we place Karbala? How would you describe Iran's approach to Shiism, and Iraq's approach to Shiism as far as the individual experience is concerned? Has the differing ideologies of the state have had a different effect on the respective clergy and seminary schools?  How would compare the scholarship and students of Iran vs Iraq? The relationship between government, scholarship, and students?  In navigating the politics of the faith where do we place young men who have lesser religious credentials but are in the position of leadership like Sadr and Nasrollah? Moreover how important is the idea of marja taqlid to leadership in the faith if Sadr, Nasrollah, and even Khamenei have all used politics to circumvent it? Syria: how do we understand Syria within the context of Shiism. It seems that the Sayyida Zayneb, the protection of it, is playing a large role in defining the conflict in starkly sectarian terms. Furthermore, a great deal of the media being produced by Shia militias have evoked sectarianism ( vs jihadis of the opposition) as reason to fight. Can we consider Syria as a "Shia transnational jihad" in the vein of the role that Afghanistan in the 80s played for Sunni jihadists?

Will Fulton (@fultonwill) gives the Loopcast an update on Iran's involvement in Syria. You can find Will's work at AEI's Iran Tracker including a long post on the various Iranian official's reactions to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. You can listen to Will's previous interviews on the Loopcast including a discussion of IRGC's political influence in Iran and Iran's strategy in Syria: here and here.

Will Fulton (@fultonwill) gives the Loopcast an update on Iran's involvement in Syria. You can find Will's work at AEI's Iran Tracker including a long post on the various Iranian official's reactions to the use of chemical weapons in Syria. You can listen to Will's previous interviews on the Loopcast including a discussion of IRGC's political influence in Iran and Iran's strategy in Syria: here and here.