The Voices of War

In this episode of ‘The Voices of War’, Maz sits down with two former Australian special operations officers whose careers unfolded at the sharp end of Australia’s longest war in Afghanistan. Vando served 24 years in the Australian Army, including 16 in special operations with the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). Across 10 deployments to Iraq, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, North Africa and three tours of Afghanistan, he held command at troop, squadron and senior staff levels, carrying responsibility across tactical and operational decision-making within the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG). Brett came into special operations through law and intelligence. He first served as the principal intelligence officer (S2) at 1 Commando Regiment and later as the S2 for SASR, before transferring to the Legal Corps. In that role, he advised special operations forces on the laws of armed conflict, rules of engagement, and some of the most complex legal and ethical challenges of the Afghanistan war. His five deployments included Kosovo, three tours of East Timor and an extended tour of Afghanistan. Together, they reflect on their involvement in the award-winning documentary ‘Bravery and Betrayal’, unpacking how sustained operational tempo, political decision-making, legal constraints, and leadership silence shaped the war in Afghanistan and what those choices cost individuals, families, veterans, and institutions. This is a conversation about systems, not slogans; about war as it was lived, not how it was sold. Key Moments: - Why special forces became the ‘force of choice’ - Endless rotations and the absence of genuine rest - The impact of ‘catch and release’ policy on decision-making - How killing became routine over time - The human and institutional fallout of the IGADF inquiry - Moral injury and leadership silence that hurt deepest - Why their story matters now Resources & Links ‘Bravery and Betrayal’ documentary WEBSITE https://wanderingwarriors.org/bravery-betrayal-the-documentary/ BRAVERY & BETRAYAL 2025 | Trailer https://youtu.be/-3rS0h-pjqc?si=4_zStLj4KxR7w1xL STREAMING Madman Streaming https://www.madman.com.au/bravery-and-betrayal/ Prime https://www.primevideo.com/region/fe/detail/0I6EPX8QDL0CP8HN9HQTSENWY5?ref_=atv_sr_fle_c_Tn74RA_1_1_ Apple TV https://tv.apple.com/au/movie/bravery-and-betrayal/umc.cmc.1vql2nd3lpc381hnq1xjmxjcx Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuzpNCIB_P0 Fetch https://www.fetchtv.com.au/movie/details/3011300/bravery--betrayal Docplay https://www.docplay.com/shows/bravery-betrayal Vimeo https://vimeo.com/ondemand/braverybetrayal/1129397949 DONATE https://wandering-warriors.mygiveeasy.com/bravery-betrayal/donate 🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War Website (episodes, show notes, transcripts, extras): https://thevoicesofwar.com Full episodes & archives: https://thevoicesofwar.com 📰 Newsletter Reflections, episode drops, and behind the scenes notes: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com 📺 Subscribe to the channel Long‑form conversations on war, peace and everything between: @thevoicesofwar 📱 Follow on social Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: / the_voices_of_war LinkedIn: / the-voices-of-war 📘 About Brett & Vando Vando - SASR Troop/Squadron Commander featured in Bravery and Betrayal documentary. 16 years SASR across 10 deployments. Brett - Special Forces Task Group legal officer. Combined intelligence and law background with 5 deployments. 🎙️ Related episodes & reading Explore more conversations on special operations, Afghanistan, moral injury and veteran leadership at https://thevoicesofwar.com   #SASR #Afghanistan #BrettVando #BraveryAndBetrayal #SpecialForces #AustralianMilitary #VeteranStories #MilitaryJourney #SASRCommander #AfghanistanVeterans #MoralInjury #WarDocumentary #ADF #SpecialOperationsAustralia #CombatVeteran #MilitaryLeadership #TheVoicesOfWar #AustralianSASR #VeteranJourney #WarStories #IGADF

Is Israel beginning to collapse from within? In this in depth conversation, renowned Israeli historian Ilan Pappé explains why he believes Zionism has entered its final phase, how Israeli society is disintegrating internally, and what a just future for Palestinians and Israelis could look like. Pappé, director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies and author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic and Israel on the Brink, draws on decades of archival research to argue that Israel is a classic settler colonial project built on ethnic cleansing, apartheid and permanent military rule over Palestinians. He details the social implosion inside Israel, the growing split between secular and religious Jews, the role of the U.S. and European powers, and why he thinks decolonization is inevitable. We discuss 1948 and the Nakba, the Gaza war, accusations of genocide, the collapse of the two-state solution, one democratic state between the river and the sea, Jewish-Palestinian coexistence, and what real decolonization might require in practice. For anyone trying to understand the future of Israel-Palestine, this is an unfiltered, long form analysis from one of the conflict’s most important dissident historians. If you value independent conversations like this, please like the episode, leave a comment, share it, and subscribe to The Voices of War for more long‑form interviews with critical thinkers from around the world. Resources & Links 🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War Website (episodes, show notes, extras): https://thevoicesofwar.com Full episodes & archives: https://thevoicesofwar.com 📰 Newsletter Reflections, episode drops, and behind the scenes notes: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com 📺 Subscribe to the channel Long‑form conversations on war, peace and everything between:  @thevoicesofwar  📱 Follow on social Twitter / X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_voices_of_war/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war/ 📘 About Ilan Pappé Renowned Israeli historian, director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies, and author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Ten Myths About Israel and Israel on the Brink. 🎙️ Related episodes & reading Explore more conversations on Palestine, Gaza, decolonization and the lived experience of war at https://thevoicesofwar.com #IlanPappé #IsraelPalestine #Gaza #Zionism #Decolonization #Nakba #SettlerColonialism #EndTheOccupation  

Is the UK really on the brink of collapse - or are we victims of our own narratives? In this revealing conversation, Dr. Mike Martin, former British Army officer, author of Why We Fight, and now Member of Parliament, breaks down what’s really driving Britain’s political, social, and moral crisis. From the rise of authoritarian narratives to the weaponization of social media, Mike reveals why our biggest enemy isn’t immigration or the economy, it’s misinformation. Drawing from his experience on the battlefield and now in Parliament, Mike explains: ⬛ Why migration isn’t the crisis we think it is ⬛ How social media and foreign influence are polarizing the West ⬛ Why “the House of Commons is just theatre” ⬛ How the real work of politics happens behind the scenes ⬛ The connection between Ukraine, Gaza, and the global information war ⬛ What gives him hope about Britain’s future A candid, no-nonsense conversation that cuts through political noise to uncover the psychology of modern conflict, the truth about migration, and what leadership really looks like. If you want to understand how narratives shape nations, and how to fix a broken system from within, this is a must-listen. 🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War 🌐 Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com 📰 Newsletter: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_voices_of_war/ 🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war 📘 About Dr. Mike Martin Author of Why We Fight and How to Fight a War Website: https://mike-martin.co.uk/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/threshedthought   #MikeMartin #UKPolitics #MigrationCrisis #SocialMediaWarfare #Geopolitics #InformationWarfare #Democracy #PoliticalPolarization #IsraelGaza #UkraineWar #GlobalPolitics #WhyWeFight

What if the real story of Gaza isn’t about sides but about people? In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian writer and policy analyst from Gaza, breaks through decades of noise, propaganda, and polarization to share what life in Gaza really means. From surviving war to speaking truth in the West, Ahmed reveals the human reality behind the headlines, the pain, hope, and determination of ordinary Palestinians caught between Hamas, occupation, and a collapsing system. Now living in the U.S., Ahmed has become one of the most courageous Palestinian voices of his generation, challenging both Israeli and Palestinian narratives while calling for something radical: pragmatism, empathy, and moral courage. He explains: ⬛ Why Hamas’ rule has failed Gaza and its people ⬛ How Palestinians can reclaim agency and rewrite their future ⬛ Why peace requires rejecting victimhood and embracing complexity ⬛ The truth about how Gazans really feel about Hamas and Israel ⬛ Why he still believes in hope after losing everything This isn’t a political debate, it’s a masterclass in humanity, nuance, and resilience. If you want to understand Gaza beyond the headlines, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. 🌐 Follow Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib: https://www.instagram.com/afalkhatib 📸 Twitter/X: https://x.com/afalkhatib 🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War: https://thevoicesofwar.com 📬 Join the newsletter: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, ethics, and human impact. 🔖   #Gaza #AhmedFouadAlkhatib #Palestine #Israel #VoicesOfWar #Humanity #Peacebuilding #MiddleEast #GazaConflict #WarAndPeace #Hope #Empathy #HumanStories #Resilience #Hamas #Freedom #UnderstandingGaza #IsraelPalestine

Why does nationalism look less like a mistake and more like a structural feature of modern capitalism? In this provocative and deeply researched episode, Professor Zlatko Hadžidedić explains why nationalism often functions as the social glue that stabilizes capitalism’s contradictions and why the current phase of hyper-capitalism risks producing more authoritarian nationalisms over the next decades. Using Bosnia (the Lisbon maps and Dayton aftermath), the Balkans, and contemporary flashpoints as case studies, Zlatko connects theory to concrete history: how imperial legacies, external power strategies, and the logic of the military-industrial complex help produce recurring conflict. He also shows how consumer tech, information flows, and media narratives help pacify populations while power consolidates.   He explains: ⬛ Why nationalism can be a structural necessity for capitalism ⬛ How “hyper-capitalism” creates conditions for authoritarian nationalism ⬛ The Lisbon maps & Bosnia case study — why partition was engineered and what it means today ⬛ How information, phones and consumer culture shape political consent ⬛ Why great-power strategies sometimes manufacture zones of instability ⬛ What citizens and leaders can do to cultivate nuance, media literacy, and democratic resilience   ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction: Capitalism, Nationhood & the Big Question 03:10 - Thesis: “No Capitalism Without Nationalism” — the argument explained 08:45 - The Lisbon maps & Bosnia: how partition was made possible 13:30 - From Yugoslavia to the Balkans: external influence and local politics 18:20 - Imperial legacies, Mackinder & geopolitical strategy 22:45 - Hyper-capitalism defined: inequality, pacification, and authoritarian pressures 27:50 - Phones, streaming & control: the tech-consumer pact 32:40 - Gaza, Ukraine & manufactured instability — strategic utility of conflict 37:55 - Predictions: the next 20–30 years of nationalism and power 42:10 - Practical takeaways: media literacy, nuance, and democratic repair 46:00 - Closing reflections & recommended reading   This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in political economy, history, geopolitics, and media, especially listeners who want frameworks that connect the dots between capitalism, nationalism, and contemporary conflict. 🎧 Listen now to understand the hidden structures shaping modern conflict, from imperial maps to smartphone screens, from Bosnia to the broader global order. 🔗 Resources & Links 🎧 Listen to more from The Voices of War Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com Full episodes + extras: https://thevoicesofwar.com Newsletter: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@UCLS_kSQmxMAZIByOr9DTS5Q Twitter/X: https://x.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevoicesofwar/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war/ 📘   About Zlatko Hadžidedić Professor, author and analyst focused on nationalism, political economy and Balkan history. (Check episode for recommended reading and sources.) 🎙️ Related Episodes & Reading Look for prior episodes and sources on Bosnia, the Lisbon conference, and imperial legacies in our archives at thevoicesofwar.com.   🔖 Hashtags #ZlatkoHadzidedić #Nationalism #HyperCapitalism #Bosnia #LisbonMaps #Balkans #Geopolitics #InformationWarfare #EmpireLegacy #MultipolarWorld #AuthoritarianNationalism #PoliticalEconomy #MediaManipulation #HistoryOfEmpires #GlobalPolitics

In this landmark episode, Professor William Schabas — one of the world’s foremost experts on international criminal law and the legal architect behind much of our modern understanding of genocide — joins The Voices of War to unpack the explosive legal and political debates surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza. 🔥 With over 20 books and 400 articles to his name, Schabas walks us through: What legally constitutes genocide under the 1948 Convention How intent is proven in international courts Why the ICJ is now handling four major genocide cases Why Gaza meets the threshold for genocide, in his legal opinion The unprecedented global response — and 50+ states intervening Western double standards: Ukraine vs Gaza Whether states like the US and Germany could be complicit The future of the Genocide Convention in a multipolar world 📚 This is the definitive episode on the politics of accountability and the contested meaning of genocide in a rapidly shifting global order. 🎥 Full video episode: https://youtu.be/OhHavUpazyc 🌐 More: https://www.thevoicesofwar.com 📬 Substack: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com

As the world fractures into competing blocs and narratives, the so-called "rules-based international order" is under growing strain. From Gaza to Ukraine, accusations of hypocrisy, selective enforcement, and double standards are eroding trust in the West’s claim to moral and legal authority. In this episode of The Voices of War, I’m joined by Dr. Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and one of the most prominent voices calling for a shift in U.S. foreign policy toward restraint and diplomacy. Together, we unpack the contradictions at the heart of the West’s global strategy, the shifting balance of power in the Middle East, and why the next war between Israel and Iran may be closer than many realise. 🔍 What We Discuss: 🌍 Why the “rules-based order” is breaking down ⚖️ How Western double standards weaken international law 🛑 What “snapback sanctions” reveal about Europe’s strategy 🇮🇷 Why Iran missed its chance to become a regional middle power 🇮🇱 The real objectives behind Israel’s war with Iran—and why they failed ⚔️ The risks of escalation and U.S. involvement in a wider conflict 🧠 Whether external pressure will liberalise or harden Iran’s regime 🧭 How China and Russia are shaping a multi-order world 🤯 Why Europe is sacrificing its own principles—for Israel 📚 About the Guest: Dr. Trita Parsi is Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute, founder of the National Iranian American Council, and author of several acclaimed books on U.S.–Iran relations and Middle East geopolitics. He has advised diplomats, policymakers, and civil society leaders on diplomacy, multilateralism, and regional conflict resolution. 📎 Resources Mentioned: 📖 Trita's Books 🔗 Better Order Project 🔗 Quincy Institute 🔗 Trita Parsi on Twitter/X 🎧 Listen & Subscribe: 🌐 Website: https://thevoicesofwar.com 📬 Newsletter: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com

In this episode of The Voices of War, I speak with Dr Samir Puri—former British diplomat, Senior Fellow at King’s College London, and author of Westlessness: The Great Global Rebalancing—to explore the seismic global shift away from Western dominance. We unpack the concept of “Westlessness”, which Dr Puri defines as the psychological and strategic unravelling of the West’s central role in global affairs. As traditional Western powers lose their edge—militarily, economically, and morally—new global actors like China, India, and coalitions like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are stepping in to reshape the international system. But this isn’t a story of collapse. Instead, it’s about rebalancing—and the West’s growing crisis of identity, cohesion, and moral authority. We discuss the rise of soft power from non-Western states, the consequences of Western hypocrisy in conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza, and how hybrid identities, populism, and cultural fragmentation are transforming politics at home. Dr Puri also reflects on whether a multipolar world could be fairer—and what risks it might bring. Resources: Dr Puri’s website: https://twitter.com/thevoicesofwar Instagram: https://instagram.com/thevoicesofwar LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/the-voices-of-war  

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has left hospitals in ruins, humanitarian corridors blocked, and millions of civilians struggling to survive. In this episode of The Voices of War, Maz speaks with Ashley Killeen, Director of Engagement at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia & New Zealand, about what it means to provide humanitarian aid in Gaza while upholding neutrality in the face of accusations of genocide and systematic violence. With MSF doctors and nurses forced to work in decimated hospitals, perform amputations without anaesthetic, and place five babies in a single incubator, Gaza’s collapse is exposing the limits of neutrality in modern conflict. Ashley explains why MSF calls Gaza a “systematic genocide”, the ethical red lines Israel wants humanitarian organisations to cross, and why silence can make humanitarians complicit. This episode dives deep into the medical ethics of war, the weaponisation of aid, and the toll on humanitarian staff who bear witness in one of the most politically charged conflicts of our time. It asks the hardest question: when does neutrality protect, and when does it kill? Resources This is not aid. This is orchestrated killing. – Read the report: https://msf.org.au/sites/default/files/2025-08/msf_gazareport_thisisnotaid.pdf Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Australia – Support their work: https://msf.org.au/donate The Voices of War Podcast Website – Full episodes and extras: https://thevoicesofwar.com Newsletter – Join for deeper analysis and updates: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com

In this episode of The Voices of War, I’m joined once again by Carl Miller, investigative researcher and author of The Death of the Gods. This is Carl’s third time on the show, and arguably his most urgent. We explore: Why AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a battlefield How governments and companies manipulate LLMs Emotional bonds with AI and their strategic risks Digital addiction, dopamine loops, and persuasive tech Russia’s asymmetric war on Western democratic trust Carl’s D-RAIL strategy to disrupt narrative warfare The WAVES model for digital democracy The chilling reality of murder-for-hire on the dark web 📍 Guest Bio: Carl Miller is the co-founder of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media at Demos, host of The Kill List podcast, and a leading voice on information integrity and power in the digital age. 🔗 Connect with Carl: NEW REPORT: Russian propaganda may be flooding AI models Carl’s UnHerd article – Will Chatbots Become Cult Leaders? Study: AI reduces conspiracy thinking by 20% Apple in China by Patrick McGee D-RAIL report – Disinfo.eu WAVES project at Demos The Kill List podcast – Wondery