Topic: John Sawers

Analyst Gilbert Doctorow recounts a 2010 meeting where Boris Nemtsov advised US officials on expanding sanctions against Russia. The hosts discuss how Nemtsov was working on these policies years before the Ukraine crisis became a global focal point. They also play a clip of former MI6 chief John Sawers warning that Russia is a danger to Britain.

For the first time in 101 years, the head of MI6, John Sawers, delivered a public speech. Sawers defended the integrity of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) against allegations of involvement in torture following 9/11. The hosts interpret this rare public appearance as a defensive reaction to the WikiLeaks disclosures and an example of "protesting too much."