Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio (original) (raw)

Generation Jihad Ep. 172 — Afghanistan autopsy: General Miller

| May 23, 2024

Bill is joined again by our most special guest, Long War Journal/Generation Jihad OG and now senior fellow at Just Security, Thomas Joscelyn, to unpack another marathon, closed-door HFAC testimony. This time, the more than 200 pages of testimony they sifted through is from General Miller, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan during the botched withdrawal. They discuss testimony highlights, including when Gen. Miller throws shade at Bill and Tom but in the same breath admits that “they had it right.”

Generation Jihad Ep. 166 — Bill and Tom’s Excellent Debunking

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | May 9, 2024

On November 8, 2023, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs conducted a closed-door interview with Zalmay Khalilzad, the Former Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation and master architect of the Doha Agreement which cemented the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.

Many items of interest came up during the marathon meeting, including Long War Journal. If you know, you know.

Bill poured over transcripts of the nearly ten hours-long interview, and he had help from none other than LWJ OG Tom Joscelyn.

Bill and Tom discuss the highlights.

Ep. 58 — The Year in Review

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | January 7, 2022

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss 5 key stories from 2021 and what they mean for jihadism going forward. Mentioned in the episode Tom’s article in The Dispatch: “The U.S. Must Better Explain Al-Qaeda to the Public” — read via FDD here. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll […]

Ep. 57 — The Emperor Was Nude All Along

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | October 14, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss Tom’s recent testimony before the Senate, why the Islamic State bombed a mosque in Kunduz, and the Pakistani Taliban’s ongoing jihad. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. They aren’t the dominant force […]

Episode 56 — The Resurrection of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | September 16, 2021

Hosts Tom and Bill continue to explore the failures in American leadership that led to the resurrection of the Taliban’s regime. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. They aren’t the dominant force in all of those areas, or even […]

Taliban’s government includes designated terrorists, ex-Guantanamo detainees

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | September 8, 2021

The Taliban has announced the “interim” leadership of its newly restored Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. FDD’s Lpng War Journal profiles 22 of these figures, many of whom were sanctioned by the U.N. in 2001, are designated terrorists, or are former Guantanamo detainees. Multiple Taliban leaders have worked with al Qaeda.

Taliban’s special forces outfit providing ‘security’ at Kabul airport

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | August 22, 2021

Taliban-affiliated social media accounts claim that men from the Badri 313 special forces unit are providing “security” at the Kabul airport. Badri 313 is responsible for some of the Taliban’s key battlefield successes and has also conducted complex suicide missions.

Ep. 55 — Afghanistan Falls

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | August 16, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss the need for accountability after 20 years of failures. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. They aren’t the dominant force in all of those areas, or even most of them. But jihadism […]

Ghazni City falls to the Taliban

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | August 12, 2021

Ghazni is the tenth Afghan provincial capital to fall to the Taliban in the past week. Al Qaeda has deep roots in Ghazni. Osama bin Laden identified the province as a key safe haven for his men.

Ep. 54 — What Shabaab Wants

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | July 29, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss a new message from Shabaab’s emir. They also discuss their reluctance to report on a video, titled “America Burns,” produced by Al Qaeda’s main propaganda arm. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. […]

Ep. 53 — The Taliban and al Qaeda advance as U.S. completes withdrawal

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | July 13, 2021

Hosts Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn discuss President Biden’s latest defense of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Despite the jihadists’ significant advances since May 1, the president remains steadfastly committed to completing the American retreat. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast […]

Ep. 52 — Mapping the Taliban’s Offensive

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | June 25, 2021

Hosts Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn discuss the Taliban’s massive offensive in Afghanistan. The campaign demonstrates, once again, that the “peace process” is a Western delusion. They also discuss how Bill’s map of the Taliban’s gains has evolved over time. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere […]

Ep. 51 — How the U.N. assesses al Qaeda and ISIS

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | June 11, 2021

Edmund Fitton-Brown joins hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio to discuss his team’s most recent report on Afghanistan. Fitton-Brown is a former British diplomat. He is currently coordinator of the U.N. Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today […]

Ep. 50 — The Unknowns

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | June 4, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss the basic epistemological problems that plague analyses of al Qaeda nearly 20 years after 9/11. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. They aren’t the dominant force in all of those areas, or […]

Ep. 49 — Al Qaeda tries to capitalize on conflict between Hamas and Israel

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | May 18, 2021

Hosts Tom and Bill discuss recent statements by al Qaeda concerning the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Al Qaeda has commented on Palestinian issues often, but otherwise has had little to do with the situation. Bill also discusses his updated map of the war in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has steadily made gains. Powered by […]

Ep. 48 — What happens in Afghanistan doesn’t stay in Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | April 19, 2021

Hosts Bill Roggio and Tom Joscelyn discuss President Biden’s to withdraw U.S. military forces from Afghanistan. It’s understandable that he doesn’t want any more Americans to die there, but the Afghans continue to fight a global jihadist threat. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from […]

Ep. 47 – Designating terrorists

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | April 15, 2021

FDD’s Jonathan Schanzer joins the podcast to discuss how the U.S. Treasury Department designates terrorists and America’s current challenges. Jon and host Bill Roggio also discuss their love of Philly sports teams to the disgust of host Tom Joscleyn. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere […]

Ep. 46 — Waiting for a withdrawal decision

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | April 5, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio briefly discuss recent reporting on the Biden administration’s deliberations concerning a withdrawal from Afghanistan. They also discuss ISIS’ surge in Mozambique. Powered by RedCircle Take a look around the globe today and you’ll see jihadists fighting everywhere from West Africa to Southeast Asia. They aren’t the dominant force in […]

Ep. 45 — President Biden’s Decision Points

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | March 1, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio explain why President Biden should be clear-eyed when it comes to making decisions about the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan and Iraq. Some argue the U.S. should stay in Afghanistan to further the “peace process,” but there is no evidence that such a “process” even exists. Powered by RedCircle […]

Ep. 44 — The Abraham Accords

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | February 17, 2021

Varsha Koduvayur, a senior research analyst at FDD, joins the podcast to discuss the Abraham Accords, recent announced reforms in Saudi Arabia and the war in Yemen.

Ep. 43 — The Status of ISIS and Al Qaeda

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | February 10, 2021

Edmund Fitton-Brown again joins the podcast to discuss the United Nations Security Council’s latest report on ISIS and Al Qaeda.

Ep. 42 — Groundhog Day in Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | February 3, 2021

In episode 42 of Generation Jihad, hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s comments on the U.S.-Taliban deal. They explain why there isn’t much for the Biden administration to assess. The Taliban was never interested in peace and hasn’t taken any steps to break with al Qaeda.

Ep. 41 — The Jihad in West Africa

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | January 28, 2021

Caleb Weiss joins Tom and Bill to discuss France’s intervention in West Africa. Branches of both Al Qaeda and ISIS are fighting for territory, but France’s patience may be starting to wear thin.

Ep. 40 – Al Qaeda in Iran–and Afghanistan

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | January 15, 2021

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss and critique Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s speech on the Iran-Al Qaeda axis. Contrary to much reporting, there is a long history of ties between the two. But there’s also much evidence pointing to al Qaeda’s ongoing alliance with the Taliban, an issue Pompeo is eager to downplay. The guys also explain why the 2001 AUMF isn’t being used to start a war with Iran.

Ep. 39 – Countering Extremism

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | December 30, 2020

Robin Simcox joins hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio to discuss the ongoing jihadist threat in Europe and efforts to combat extremism in the U.K. and elsewhere. Simcox is the director of the London-based Counter Extremism Group.

Ep. 38 – The Airing of Grievances

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | December 28, 2020

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio air and discuss their 2020 grievances, which pale in comparison to the problems faced by so many around the world today.

Ep. 37 – How Hezbollah Profits from Black Cocaine

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | December 22, 2020

FDD senior fellow Emanuele Ottolenghi joins hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio to discuss the history of Iran’s and Hezbollah’s illicit activities across Central and South America, including the trafficking of “black cocaine.”

Ep. 36 – The U.S. withdraws from Somalia

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | December 16, 2020

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss President Trump’s decision to order the withdrawal of a small American force from Somalia. Shabaab, al Qaeda’s branch in East Africa, will continue to fight on, waging an insurgency against the Somali government while threatening countries throughout the region and possibly elsewhere as well.

Ep. 35 – The Shadow War Inside Iran

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | December 11, 2020

FDD senior fellow Behnam Ben Taleblu joins the podcast to discuss recent assassinations inside Iran and the state of the Iranian regime’s various proxy wars.

Ep. 34 – An Assassination in Tehran

Thomas Joscelyn & Bill Roggio | December 2, 2020

Hosts Tom Joscelyn and Bill Roggio discuss the killing of al Qaeda’s deputy emir in Tehran. The operation was reportedly conducted by Israeli assassins at the behest of the U.S.