COL. Jacques Baud : Strategic Intelligence Starts By Understanding Both Sides

Getting sanctioned by the EU is one thing. Getting sanctioned without being shown real evidence is another. I sit down with Colonel Jacques Baud, a former Swiss intelligence officer and NATO advisor, to unpack how he ended up on an EU sanctions list that blocks access to banking and travel while he lives in Brussels. He walks us through what his lawyers found when they demanded the EU’s supporting documents, and why he believes the “propagandist” label is built on insinuation rather than proof.From there, we zoom out to the deeper issue: what strategic intelligence is supposed to do. Jacques argues that intelligence means understanding, including how your adversary interprets events, because your definition of the conflict determines your options for ending it. We talk about why that mindset has become taboo in parts of Europe, how emotionally driven narratives can trap leaders, and why Ukraine policy and European credibility suffer when nuance gets treated like disloyalty.We also pivot hard into Iran, Israel, and US foreign policy, including what happens when decision-makers ignore professional intelligence advice. Jacques lays out a simple framework for the Middle East: force can make everything “harden,” while a calmer approach can create openings. We then connect that to BRICS and the “militarized dollar,” framing BRICS less as a new military bloc and more as a response to sanctions and payment-system leverage. If you care about EU sanctions, censorship concerns, Ukraine war analysis, Iran diplomacy, and how strategy should actually work, this conversation brings a clear lens and a few uncomfortable questions.Chapter Markers0:00 Guest Intro And EU Sanctions6:10 The Thin Case Behind Sanctions11:20 Intelligence Without Emotion17:10 Europe’s Ukraine Strategy Breakdown23:40 Iran Strike And Ignoring Intelligence30:10 Non-Newtonian Diplomacy In The Middle East33:55 Iran MOU And Israel’s Role43:45 BRICS And The Militarized Dollar48:50 Why Iran Can Tilt Westward54:45 Revenge, Trust, And Closing ThoughtsSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/jim-webb-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy