Peace Through Strength Podcasts by American Security Council Foundation

USS Truman was not damaged by the Houthis.

PTS host Joy Votrobek joins Sr. Analyst Laurence Sanford with a brief update on the Houthi War. They debunk the claim by the Houthis that they damaged the USS Truman. They address the claim by the Trump Administration that a Chinese satellite may be aiding the Houthis. Finally, they examine the PTS strategy of U.S. Global Leadership and Freedom of the Seas, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

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.

Please subscribe to our newsletter at www.ascf.us for updates on our monthly Webinars, survey polls, articles, and podcasts. You can also follow us on our Facebook, Substack, and Twitter accounts.

Best Balanced History of Gaza with a Surprise Ending!

ASCF Sr. Analyst Laurence Sanford interviews Colonel (Ret.) Pete McIllwain. Pete’s 22-year career with the CIA also included time in Tel Aviv. He gives an excellent, balanced history of Gaza and how Hamas came to power. Pete discusses the W River Summit in Washington, D.C., where he personally spoke with Yasser Arafat about why Arafat declined a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians. He also discusses how Israel ignored a warning from Egypt that Hamas was planning something big on October 7th, 2023. Pete mentions a key theme throughout the podcast regarding the importance of the Temple Mount to all the major Middle East players.

 

Please subscribe to our newsletter at www.ascf.us for updates on our monthly Webinars, survey polls, articles, and podcasts. You can also follow us on our Facebook, Substack, and Twitter accounts.

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.

 

Please subscribe to our newsletter at www.ascf.us for updates on our monthly Webinars, survey polls, articles, and podcasts. You can also follow us on our Facebook, Substack, and Twitter accounts.

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

The ASCF is an educational, nonpartisan, non-profit 501(c)(3). Please help continue our mission by donating at www.ascf.us/donate/. Sign up for our newsletter at www.ascf.us for updates on our monthly Webinars, survey polls, articles, and podcasts. Follow us on our Facebook, Substack, and Twitter accounts.

 

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.

Please subscribe to our newsletter at www.ascf.us for updates on our monthly Webinars, survey polls, articles, and podcasts. You can also follow us on our Facebook, Substack, and Twitter accounts

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.

Please subscribe to our newsletter at www.ascf.us for updates on our monthly Webinars, survey polls, articles, and podcasts. You can also follow us on our Facebook, Substack, and Twitter accounts.

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.

Please subscribe to our newsletter at www.ascf.us for updates on our monthly Webinars, survey polls, articles, and podcasts. You can also follow us on our Facebook, Substack, and Twitter accounts.

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.

Please subscribe to our newsletter at www.ascf.us for updates on our monthly Webinars and survey polls, as well as our articles and podcasts. You can also follow us on our Facebook, Substack, and Twitter accounts at ASCFUS.

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.

Please subscribe to our newsletter at www.ascf.us for updates on our monthly Webinars, survey polls, articles, and podcasts. You can also follow us on our Facebook, Substack, and Twitter accounts.

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.

Please COMMENT, LIKE, AND SHARE your thoughts on America's Global Leadership. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Substack. Subscribe to our newsletter at www.ascf.us to receive updates on our upcoming Webinars, polls, articles and podcasts. Consider donating to the American Security Council Foundation so we can continue to bring public awareness to national security issues.