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?

• 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

As civilian suffering mounts in Gaza and Ukraine, the moral rules of war appear increasingly irrelevant—and yet, militaries continue to train soldiers in ethics and restraint.

In this powerful and timely conversation, Maz speaks with Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin, former Stockton Chair of Ethics at the U.S. Naval War College, and Dr. David Whetham, Professor of Ethics at King’s College London, to explore the crisis of military ethics in the face of realpolitik, information warfare, and institutional silence.

Together, they explore:

• The erosion of Jus in Bello principles: distinction, proportionality, necessity

• The limits of moral courage in authoritarian vs democratic militaries

• Why disciplined disobedience may be the last refuge of the ethical soldier

• The role and politicisation of institutions like the ICC and ICJ

• The psychological burden of moral injury and loss of trust in leadership

• The tension between values and interests in modern warfare

• Why Pauline resigned from her post—and what it tells us about the U.S. military's ethical culture

This is an unflinching look at what it means to serve with honour when the rules no longer seem to apply.

🎧 Ep. 75 – Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin on Obedience and Moral Courage 🎧 Ep. 52 – Dr. David Whetham on Ethics, War Crimes, and Military Judgement

🌐 Website: @thevoicesofwar 🐦 X/Twitter: @Voices_of_War

Dr. Pauline Shanks Kaurin is a philosopher specialising in military ethics, the ethics of war, and the philosophy of obedience. Her most recent work, On Obedience, explores moral agency in military institutions.

Dr. David Whetham leads the Centre for Military Ethics at King’s College London and advises armed forces worldwide on professional military conduct and ethical leadership.

military ethics, just war theory, gaza war, ukraine war, war crimes, obedience, disciplined disobedience, moral injury, international law, ICC, ICJ, Israel Hamas, Russia Ukraine, ethical warfare, realpolitik, Pauline Shanks Kaurin, David Whetham, Maz Maslic, The Voices of War

Politics, Philosophy, Military, Society & Culture, News & Current Affairs, Ethics

As the world watches Gaza burn, Iran tremble, and diplomacy stall, what if the real war isn't between nations—but within them?

In this powerful episode, Maz is joined once again by Lebanese economist and seasoned political analyst Nadim Shehadi to explore the often-overlooked internal fractures driving conflict in the Middle East.

🔥 Key Themes

1. Israel’s impunity — and the global powers that enable it

2. The breakdown of the rules-based order — from UN paralysis to EU dysfunction

3. The human cost of war — and who bears responsibility ...and indirectly touches on:

4. Russia and regional distraction

5. Global realignment via JCPOA, Iran, and the Gulf

6. US culture wars shaping foreign policy

7. Erosion of institutional trust

8. Diplomacy as performance — and power play

🔗 Subscribe for more: https://thevoicesofwar.com

🎧 Listen on your preferred podcast platform 🔗 Spotify | Apple | Substack | More: https://thevoicesofwar.com

💬 Join the Conversation 📸 Instagram: [@thevoicesofwar](https://www.instagram.com/the_voices_of_war/) 🐦 Twitter/X: [@TheVoicesOfWar](https://x.com/TheVoicesOfWar) 📩 Subscribe: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com

🎙️ The Voices of War is a podcast that cuts through the noise to explore the unseen realities of war, peace, and power.

Hosted by Vedran ‘Maz’ Maslić—former refugee, and intelligence officer—this show brings you unfiltered conversations with those whose lives have been shaped by conflict: survivors, scholars, diplomats, soldiers, and even perpetrators.

In this new season, after a year-long pause, The Voices of War returns with intention. Each episode will tackle eight core questions that probe the fault lines of our global order—from Gaza to Ukraine, from collapsed trust in institutions to the uncertain future of diplomacy.

💥 Why is Israel allowed to act with impunity? 🛡️ Is Russia truly a threat—or are we being sold a war? 🌍 Is the war in Ukraine part of a global realignment? 📜 Has the “rules-based international order” already died? 🧠 Are culture wars destabilising our democracies? 🏛️ How do we rebuild trust in broken institutions? 🕊️ Can diplomacy survive an age of outrage? 👥 And what does war really do to people?

If you're tired of black-and-white narratives and want to hear real voices from the grey zones of war, you're in the right place.

Also available on Substack: https://thevoicesofwar.substack.com/

• David McBride, a former legal officer in the Australian Army, leaked information about alleged war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.
• He highlights the excessive investigation of special forces soldiers and the political manipulation of the war narrative.
• McBride emphasises the need for clear rules of engagement and the importance of holding soldiers accountable for their actions.
• He also discusses how the Australian military mishandled war crimes and prioritised appearances over justice.
• The government may have tried to cover up war crimes to maintain their alliance with the US.
• David McBride took action by leaking classified documents to expose political games. The military leadership needs to be held accountable for potential war crimes and poor leadership.
• There is a need for a fair trial and public support to address systemic problems within the military.
• ANZAC Day should be a day of genuine care for veterans, not just political window dressing.