Rusi Analysis Podcasts

Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell IV, Commander, NATO Training Mission and Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan, on ‘Progress and Challenges to Transition in Afghanistan‘. The General spoke at RUSI via video link on Friday 23 September 2011. Ten years into the war in Afghanistan, the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) has begun to assume the lead for security of its country. For the past 22 months, the Afghans, alongside the men and women of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan (NTM-A), have worked tirelessly to develop their Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police to be capable of providing security across Afghanistan by the end of 2014. In his lecture, Lieutenant General Caldwell will discuss how the Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police, assisted by NTM-A’s security force assistance, have generated capable forces which continue to grow in quality and professionalism.

http://www.rusi.org/cwc Bitish Filmmaker Jon Amiel and leading Hollywood executive Dave Brown take part in the first event of RUSI's Conflict, War and Culture Series. How does the film industry deal with war in the twenty-first century? To what extent is the fantasy violence portrayed in films influencing how we see real wars? Do war films further our understanding of historical events and why do such films come in and out of fashion?

A lecture by the Rt. Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes CH, Chancellor, University of Oxford. The rise of China is transforming the geopolitical landscape. If current growth rates continue, China is expected to become the world's largest economy by the middle of the century, if not before. Her strong economic growth coupled with substantial financial reserves means that China’s international prestige is high. This economic 'coming of age' is increasingly being recognised by a place at the top table of world leaders. In his lecture, Lord Patten discussed how Britain and Europe should engage with a country that will shortly be once again the largest economy in the world. The Rt. Hon Lord Patten of Barnes CH has held a number of senior national and international appointments including: Conservative Member of Parliament for Bath (1979 to 1992); Secretary of State for the Environment (1989); Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Chairman of the Conservative Party (1990); Governor of Hong Kong, overseeing the return of

The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth, Secretary of State for Defence, outlined his party’s policy of defence in advance of the General Election and subsequent Strategic Defence Review. Bob Ainsworth was appointed Secretary of State for Defence on 5 June 2009. A Coventry trade unionist and former local councillor with strong roots in the city, he was elected Member of Parliament for Coventry North East in 1992. He was a long serving Whip in both Opposition and Government before he was promoted to his first ministerial position after Peter Mandelson's second resignation in January 2001. He served five months as junior minister in the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and after the General Election he was moved to the Home Office with responsibility for Anti-drugs Co-ordination and Organised Crime. In the reshuffle of June 2003, he returned to the Whips’ Office on promotion to Deputy Chief Whip. He served as Minister of State for the Armed Forces prior to his current appointment.

The Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC MP, Conservative Member of Parliament for Kensington and Chelsea, outlined his party’s policy of defence in advance of the General Election and subsequent Strategic Defence Review. Sir Malcolm Rifkind was elected as MP for Pentlands in 1974 and represented that constituency until 1997. He became a member of the Cabinet in 1986 as Secretary of State for Scotland. In 1990 he became Secretary of State for Transport and in 1992 Secretary of State for Defence. From 1995 to 1997 he was Foreign Secretary. He served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Welfare Reform until December 2005 when he chose to return to the backbenches. He has been selected to fight the new Kensington constituency at the next General Election.He has also been active in a number of voluntary organisations. Sir Malcolm is a member of the Dulverton Trust, a Vice President of Combat Stress and a Patron of Raleigh International. He has served on the Court of Edinburgh University and is

Air Chief Marshal Dike discusses Nigeria's quest for enduring security in Africa, addressing the framework for Nigeria's contribution to peace and security and her role in the regional security architecture. Air Chief Marshal Paul Dike is currently Chief of Defence Staff of the Nigeria Armed Forces. He is also Chairman of the Committee of ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence Staff. His previous posts have included Chief of Air Staff (Nigeria Air Force); Commander of the Presidential Air Fleet; and Commander of the ECOMOG Air Detachment in Freetown, Sierra Leone. His awards include the National Honour Award; Forces Service Star and Distinguished Service Star. For more info: http://www.rusi.org/events/past/ref:E4B8E314490E6E/

A lecture by Robert Runcie, Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management, the Environment Agency, in the presence of HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GVCO. In the presence of HRH The Duke of Gloucester, RUSI will launch a series of public lectures exploring flood risk and the built environment. The inaugural lecture was given by Robert Runcie, Director of Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency. The lecture discussed the medium and long-term strategy for managing flood risk and enhancing flood resilience in the United Kingdom and will address the implementation of the recommendations made by The Pitt Review. This formal presentation was followed by a panel discussion in which members of the Inter Institutional Flood Risk Management Group posed questions to Mr Runcie, following which the discussion will be opened up to the wider audience.

The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies and The Art Fund, Britain’s leading art charity, held a reception and debate on the topic of “Commemorating our Armed Forces: Remembrance in a Modern Society”. Set against the backdrop of the Wootton Bassett phenomenon, a high-profile panel of speakers will came together to discuss our country’s historical approach to remembrance, and whether there is more we could be doing to honour those British servicemen and women who have died in armed conflicts. Chaired by Channel 4 television presenter, Jon Snow, the debate heard contributions from: Former UK Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt GCB CBE MC Director General of the Imperial War Museum, Diane Lees Director-General of the Royal British Legion, Chris Simpkin Artist and Professor of Fine Art at Sheffield Hallam University, David Cotterrell

An address by The Rt Hon William Hague MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary and Senior Member of the Shadow Cabinet.As the date of the General Election approaches and the electoral campaign is about to begin, Mr Hague addressed members of the Institute on his party’s foreign policy priorities.

A lecture by Dr Liam Fox MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence and Conservative Member of Parliament for Woodspring. In his lecture, Dr Fox addressed the challenges the next government is likely to confront while attempting to carry out a Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). He discussed the strategic thinking on which the foundation of a future Conservative government review will be based, the structure of the review and specifically how the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will carry out its role in the SDSR process to best prepare the MoD for the challenges of the Twenty-first Century.

A lecture by the Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP, Secretary of State for Defence. Bob Ainsworth discussed the progress being made in Afghanistan, addressing issues of operational welfare and support to troops on operations. He also set out the government’s commitment to Armed Forces personnel in general, including mapping out the implementation of the Service Personnel Command Paper published last year.

A lecture by Sir Bill Jeffrey KCB, Permanent Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, UK.The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has recently published a Strategy for Defence. This strategy, focused on the period to 2014, maps out the path to the Defence Review which will take place after the General Election. The immediate goals are clear, even before we undertake a review; we have to succeed in Afghanistan, and any other contingent operations we are asked to undertake in the years ahead; we need to continue to meet our standing tasks against direct threats to the UK and overseas territories, including provision of the UK's independent nuclear deterrent. Sir Bill Jeffrey detailed the crucial role that people across defence, both military and civilian, play in tackling these challenges.

On 3 December 2009 Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, Chief of the Defence Staff, UK Ministry of Defence addressed RUSI members on the UK's operational commitments in Afghanistan. In his annual lecture to the Royal United Services Institute in London, the Chief of the Defence Staff said the Taliban could not win in Afghanistan. But the international coalition could fail if it lost its nerve. He said: 'The Taliban is not going to defeat us militarily, but we want the same patience, courage and discipline that soldiers show here from the public at home.'

On 3 August, Bill Rammell MP gave his first speech as Minister of State for the Armed Forces. Speaking at a RUSI Members’ Lecture chaired by RUSI Vice President Sir David Omand. The Minister used his debut to highlight the defence contribution to UK and international security. The Minister outlined how the UK Armed Forces are defending the UK's security interests in Afghanistan and those operations fit in with the UK's wider counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST. He stressed that the vast majority of the Muslim community was appalled by terrorist groups like Al-Qa’ida and that Islam was being used as a mere ‘smoke-screen’ to carry out extremist aims. Indeed, he stressed the support of the Afghan people for the mission and conceded that rather than an imposition of Western values on the country, the campaign aims to provide a more secure future for Afghanistan. Ultimately, the Minister remained optimistic about UK efforts on the campaign, and although he conceded that counter-terrorism efforts could not take pl

As the death of former US Defense Secretary Robert McNamara is announced, RUSI.org publishes remarks made by him at the Royal United Services Institute in 2001. Taking part in a conference on nuclear deterrence organised in conjunction with the Oxford Research Group, Mr McNamara reflected on his own portrayal in the film, Thirteen Days, which explored the Cuban Missile Crisis. The former US Defense Secretary then went on to reveal his role during this tumultous time in international security

At the award of the 2009 Westminster Medal for Military Literature, Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman delivered a lecture that illustrated the consequences of difficult choices in framing America's foreign policy towards Iran. Drawing upon his research into President Carter"s response to the events of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Professor Freedman provided historical comparison to the current US administration’s response to the recent political turmoil in Iran. For further information about Medal, visit: www.rusi.org/westminstermedal

Outgoing British Army Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt outlines the British Army’s analysis of recent conflicts and the lessons drawn for future conflict. And US Army Chief of Staff, General George Casey, provides an insight into the US Army’s transformation to meet the challenges of twenty-first century warfare. More presentations found at: http://www.rusi.org/landwarfare/presentations/

As Iran chooses between incumbent Ahmedinejad and opposition favourite Mir Hossein Mousavi, a RUSI panel discusses the implications the result will have for international security. What will this mean for President Obama's new posture towards the Middle East? Chaired by Christopher Dickey, Paris Bureau Chief, Middle East Regional Editor, Newsweek International. Speakers: Malcolm Chalmers, Professorial Fellow, RUSI; Sir Richard Dalton, Former UK Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Steven Clemons, Senior Fellow and Director, American Strategy Program, New America Foundation. The Panel spoke at the RUSI Global Leadership Forum www.rusi.org/globalleadership

Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Barham Salih, speaks at RUSI on his country’s recent past and future prospects. Five years from now, he predicts, Iraq will be a dynamic, democratic and economically vibrant presence in the heart of the Middle East. Watch the news report here: http://tinyurl.com/c3b3aw