Peace Through Strength Podcasts by American Security Council Foundation

Defending Sovereignty in Ukraine and Taiwan

PTS podcast host Joy Votrobek interviews ASCF senior fellow Alan Dowd about his last two articles regarding Free World Defense and Taiwan. Alan coined the phrase "Free World Defense," premised on strength and winning to maintain an International Rules-Based Order. The 1994 Budapest Memorandum and the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act are vague security assurances and should be updated to solidify U.S. intentions to defend these sovereign nations. Other bilateral agreements and allies for Ukraine and Taiwan are possible deterrents.

 

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News Detox! Pop Culture's Influence on the Intel Community.

We are taking a break from all the news today to bring you a special guest, Brian Freeman, straight from our PTS Podcast studio. Brian Freeman, a New York Times best-selling thriller author, has chosen to carry on with The Bourne series. Brian has written 31 thrillers, 6 of which are part of The Bourne series. His latest book, "The Bourne Escape," will be released in July 2025.

What does this have to do with national security?

Brian brings up an interesting point about how pop culture can influence people's views of the intelligence community and government. We are currently seeing a lot of mistrust in the government and conspiracy theories. Maybe they're not all conspiracy theories. Brian eerily describes writing a book about fires in California before they happened this past year!

You can find all of Brian's books and more about the author at www.brianfreemanbooks.com

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Turning a Blind Eye: The World's Silence on Houthi Actions.

SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, AND SHARE! Peace Through Strength podcast host Tracy Steele interviews ASCF Sr. Analyst Laurence Sanford about the continued Houthi Crisis and the Red Sea shipping lanes. Mr. Sanford provides a historical background of the Houthis and the civil war in Yemen between the Shi'iah and Sunni Muslim groups. The Shi'iah Houthis are a proxy of Iran. Mr. Sanford questions why the U.S. is the only country doing something about the Houthis and the shipping lane problem in the Red Sea. The U.S. Navy is stretched thin, so we must rely on our alliances to ensure Freedom of the Seas. He also believes continued bombing is not the solution; he suggests destroying the Houthi-controlled ports.

Mr. Sanford is a U.S. Navy veteran who served four years with the CIA.

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Oval Office clash and the Bigger Picture.

PTS Brief on the Oval Office clash between Zelensky, Trump, and Vance. PTS podcast Joy Votrobek and Sr. Analyst Laurence Sanford speculate the possibilities of a bigger picture involving Putin and Trump. It is in Zelensky's best interest to sign a minerals deal for security reasons and continued military aid.

Mr. Sanford is a U.S. Navy veteran who served four years with the CIA. Ms. Votrobek has a degree in International Relations and has worked in security services for over seven years.

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Are Ukrainian Minerals Key to a Peace Deal?

PTS Host Joy Votrobek discusses the Obstacles to Peace in Ukraine with Sr. Analyst Laurence Sanford. There is a lack of trust on both sides; a dispute over Russian-speaking territories; and finally the need for a lasting security agreement. Is it possible diplomacy could be achieved starting with the mineral rights agreement? 

Mr. Sanford is a U.S. Navy veteran who served four years with the CIA. Ms. Votrobek has a degree in International Relations and has worked in security services for over seven years.

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Tariff Safeguards Challenge Consumers

The incoming Trump Administration had a busy week - notably deporting illegal immigrants. Colombia would have turned the plane around until Trump threatened a tariff hike. Peace Through Strength podcast host Joy Votrobek discusses the advantages and disadvantages of tariffs with ASCF Sr. Analyst Laurence Sanford.

Please subscribe, comment, and share your thoughts on tariffs.

 

Mr. Sanford is a U.S. Navy veteran who served four years with the CIA. Ms. Votrobek has a degree in International Relations and has worked in security services for over seven years.

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Gaza's Riviera and Türkiye's Ambitions

PTS host Joy Votrobek and ASCF Sr. Analyst Laurence Sanford discuss Trump's Gaza plans and Erdogan's vision of a New Ottoman Empire. Both are two distinct visions yet intersecting geopolitical aspirations that highlight the complexities of regional politics. Erdogan's ambition to revive a sense of Ottoman grandeur seeks to expand Türkiye's influence across the Middle East and beyond.

 

Mr. Sanford is a U.S. Navy veteran who served four years with the CIA. Ms. Votrobek has a degree in International Relations and has worked in security services for over seven years.

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Trump 2.0 Challenges and Change

How did January 6th impact President Trump's effectiveness as a global leader? PTS Host Joy Votrobek and ASCF Sr. Fellow Alan Dowd discuss Trump's past global leadership successes and how he may what he faces in his 2nd term. They also discuss his reasons for pulling out of global organizations and treaties. Finally, they address NATO and U.S. allies in Alan's latest article titled Trump 2.0 Faces Cold War 2.0.

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Tump's TikTok Dilemma

President Trump has a TikTok dilemma. Trump has a chance to be a hero to millions of TikTok users, but he also has the opportunity to be a strong leader in the face of a national security matter. He has given TikTok another 75 days to divest. PTS host Joy Votrobek discusses the TikTok dilemma with senior analyst Laurence Sanford. They also discuss the national security aspect of data storage and Bytedance's subjection to the CCP government. It is important to note that 17 other countries have banned TikTok for government employees or the entire population.

Mr. Sanford is a U.S. Navy veteran who served four years with the CIA. Ms. Votrobek has a degree in International Relations and has worked in security services for over seven years.

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Combat Readiness and the future of drones and cyber warfare.

PTS Webinar on National Preparedness focuses on the future of combat readiness and the role of drones and cyber warfare. Drones are being used in the ongoing Ukraine and Middle East battles. In the U.S., drone sightings are causing a stir and much speculation. This webinar fields questions about drones and cyberwarfare based on open-source research and experience. In conclusion, for a future-ready defense, the U.S. military has to work to perfect jamming and laser-disabling technology against drones and be proactive against cyberwarfare.

Mr. Sanford is a U.S. Navy veteran who served four years with the CIA. Ms. Votrobek has a degree in International Relations and has worked in security services for over seven years.

Join us for the next Webinar on February 12th, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Global Leadership: Can the U.S. broker a peaceful end to the Ukraine war?

Please see Sr. analyst Laurence Sanford's Peace Through Strength article on our website at www.ascf.us. Please subscribe to our newsletter for updates on our monthly Webinars and survey polls, as well as our articles and podcasts.