Canadian Intelligence Eh
Everywhere you look these days terrorism and violent extremism dominate the headlines. Whether you follow what is happening in Afghanistan or Iraq, or in the West writ large, we are inundated with news of attacks by groups and individuals fighting for a 'cause'.In a world of multiple voices and opinions it can be very hard to know where to turn. One choice is to look to those who actually worked in counterterrorism in the national security world. In these half-hour podcasts 30-year Canadian intelligence veteran Phil Gurski is joined by a fascinating array of individuals with something meaningful to say about these issues as they provide insight into what they mean and what we need to do about them.
Canadian Intelligence Eh
Episode 221 - Why is professionalism so important, especially in national security?
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Phil Gurski
It has long been accepted that certain activities should be carried out by people who have a professional background: no one wants brain surgery performed by your Uncle Clem from Moose Jaw. And yet there is a tendency of late, especially in Canada (and perhaps elsewhere), to allow cross-fertilisation within law enforcement and intelligence agencies to the extent where those with no experience in these activities are heavily involved in making actionable decisions. Is this a good idea? Borealis talks with a former Canadian lawyer on the difference between someone who merely does a job and those who see their professions as 'vocations'.