The Battle for Aleppo: A turning point in the Syrian information war ? Author: Dr Ben Cole, Agonistic Decision Sciences Ltd

In retrospect, the Syrian regime’s military victory in Aleppo city was not wholly unsurprising given the considerable resources that it invested in the battle and the fact that the rebels had previously transferred significant resources away from the city in order to take part in Operation Euphrates Shield in the north of the province. However, … [Read more…]

The attack on the US Aid convoy in Aleppo: Separating fact from fiction. Author: Dr Ben Cole, Agonistic Decision Sciences Ltd

On the night of 19 September 2016, the war in Syria produced yet another atrocity, when a UN aid convoy was destroyed as it was being unloaded near the rebel held town of Urem al-Kubrah to the west of Aleppo city. The convoy had begun its journey in regime-controlled west Aleppo, and had been given … [Read more…]

Psychophysiological demand and Communication: Implications for Police Officers/ Persons In Crisis Encounters and Training. Author: Dr Camie Condon

In September of 2013, the emotionally distraught Sammy Yatim was fatally shot by Toronto Police Cst. James Forcillo while aboard a Toronto Transit street car. Video surveillance of the event reveals images of Yatim wielding a knife in one hand while exposing himself with the other. All passengers on the street car were able to exit … [Read more…]

Re-Branding Jabhat Al-Nusra – A Job Half Done Author: Dr Ben Cole, Agonistic Decision Sciences Ltd

On 28 July 2016 Abu Mohammed al Jolani, the leader of Jabhat al-Nusra (JN), al Qaeda’s (AQ) affiliate in Syria, announced that “We (JN) declare the complete cancellation of all operations under the name of Jabhat al-Nusra, and the formation of a new group operating under the name Jabhat Fath al-Sham (JFS), noting that this … [Read more…]

ISLAMIC STATE’S SEARCH FOR AN EFFECTIVE CHEMICAL WEAPONS STRATEGY Author: Benjamin Cole

From mid-2014, Islamic State (IS) began to use chemical weapons (CW) on the battlefields of Syria and Iraq. Since then, it has striven to develop more lethal CW, and formulate the necessary tactics to use them effectively. Through its territorial conquests in Syria and Iraq, it has gained access to a range of industrial chemicals … [Read more…]