Modern War Institute

The Weapons Defining the Iran Conflict

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 09:36:20 +0000

For more than a week, the United States and Israel have struck a wide range of targets in Iran with air and missile strikes. Iran’s response has included missile and drone attacks against targets in neighboring states in the Middle East—both US military and diplomatic facilities and public sites including Dubai’s airport. What weapons, on both sides of the conflict, have defined the conflict so far? To explore that question, John Amble is joined on this special bonus episode by Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

The Iran Conflict's Strategic Dimension

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:04:58 +0000

What were the strategic calculations that drove the United States and Israel to launch a military operation aimed at a wide range of targets in Iran? And are the fundamental objectives of the two partners fully aligned?

Inside Iran, as the regime's resilience and the military's capability are under more pressure than they have been in decades, how are institutions responding? What drove the decision to respond with drone and missile strikes throughout the region?

How are the Gulf states positioning themselves as they have defended against Russian attacks? What role has the Gulf Cooperating Council played? What outcomes might emerge from the conflict and how are Iran's neighbors working to influence those outcomes?

These questions offer insights into the strategic dimension of the ongoing US-Israeli operation against Iran. To examine them, John Amble is joined on this episode by three guests who share their insights on the strategic perspectives of the United States, Israel, Iran, and the Gulf states.

Jonathan Panikoff is the director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council and formerly served as the deputy national intelligence officer for the Near East at the National Intelligence Council. Sydney Laite is a former senior intelligence analyst who spent years focused on Iranian strategic decision-making. And Rory Miller is a professor of international politics at Georgetown University in Qatar, where he is the director of the Small States Research Program.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

What to Make of the New National Defense Strategy

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 10:16:13 +0000

The United States has a new National Defense Strategy. Released about every four years, the document offers a window into the way senior defense officials view the global threat environment and identify US defense objectives. But how will the new strategy be interpreted by allies and partners? What about adversaries and competitors? And does formally delineating US priorities offer a degree of predictability on a contemporary strategic landscape characterized by growing instability and a fraying world order?

To examine the strategy, John Amble is joined on this episode by Frank Hoffman, Mark Cancian, and Pat Sullivan.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Articles referenced during the episode:

"The 2026 National Defense Strategy by the Numbers: Radical Changes, Moderate Changes, and Some Continuities" (CSIS)

"Key Takeaways from the New National Defense Strategy" (WOTR)

Analyzing Operation Absolute Resolve

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 13:00:45 +0000

Examined exclusively as a military operation, the US raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was a stunning success. In the course of just a few hours, the force package launched, accomplished its objective, and returned to base. But before that could happen, planning and rehearsals that likely took place for months set the stage for the mission’s brief execution. To share their perspectives on the operation, John Amble is joined on this episode by Liam Collins, a retired US Army colonel who spent much of his career in special operations units, and Jimmy Blackmon, also a retired colonel and a former helicopter pilot. Both guests have taken part in numerous missions targeting key combatant leaders in places like Iraq and Afghanistan, and they share their experiences and their insights on the recent operation in Venezuela.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Training, Education, and the Modern Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 15:52:45 +0000

Both training and education have always been key elements of the US Army’s readiness. But as new battlefield challenges arise and new technologies emerge, the character of warfare is changing—and it’s changing faster than ever. Keeping up with those changes—and keeping ahead of adversaries we might fight—means that we have to get training and education right. The Army’s success in tomorrow’s wars will hinge on what we do in classrooms and on training grounds today. To explore that challenge, John Amble is joined by a guest who brings unique perspectives on both education and training to the discussion. Colonel Ethan Diven is the provost of Army University and deputy commandant of the Army Command and General Staff College, and before taking those roles he served as the commander of the operations group at the National Training Center.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Europe's Airspace Violations and the Counterdrone Challenge

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:00:42 +0000

Late on the night of September 9, twenty-one medium-sized, fixed-wing drones entered Poland’s airspace. Several were shot down, while others crashed, some deep inside Polish territory. Later that month, a series of drone sightings were reported around airports and military installations in Denmark, even forcing a brief suspension of flights. Beyond suspicion of Russian involvement and the fact that both of these countries are NATO member states, the two incidents share little in common. But together, they offer a sense of the range of ways in which drones can pose threats. To explore those threats—and the challenge of developing systems than can both secure sovereign airspace to protect maneuver formations on the battlefield—John Amble is joined on this episode by Dr. Stacie Pettyjohn, a senior fellow and director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

The Military Technological Arms Race in Ukraine

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 20:38:57 +0000

Almost since the very beginning the war in Ukraine triggered by Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the conflict took on characteristics of a technological arms race, with each side seeking to innovate to gain a battlefield advantage. As the war has continued, that contest for advantage has taken place on an increasingly rapid scale. The rollout of a drone optimized for a new mission, the development of a new tactic, an advance in electronic warfare—each of these has produced a shorter and shorter window of advantage until the other side counters it with its own innovation. In this episode, John Amble is joined by Sam Bendett, an adviser and member of the Russia Studies Program at CNA and a close observer of the way Ukraine and Russia are leveraging technological innovation in the war.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

China's Strategic Competition with the United States

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 08:54:30 +0000

The United States is engaged in a strategic competition with China. On issues ranging from Taiwan's security to the question of which country will most shape the geopolitical order in the years and decades to come, Washington seeks to secure its objectives, promote its interests, and deter Chinese aggression. But what are China's core objectives? And more fundamentally, how does Beijing conceptualize the US-China strategic rivalry? To explore those questions, John Amble is joined on this episode by Ali Wyne, the senior research and advocacy advisor for US-China relations at the International Crisis Group and author of the 2022 book America's Great-Power Opportunity: Revitalizing U.S. Foreign Policy to Meet the Challenges of Strategic Competition.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

The Army and Tomorrow's Technologies

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:38:20 +0000

The US Army is in a period of transformation. And much of that transformation centers on technology—from artificial intelligence and robotics to drones and directed-energy weapons. But leaning forward technologically brings both advantages and new challenges. To explore the way the Army is approaching those challenges and pursuing technology-driven battlefield advantage, John Amble is joined on this episode by Dr. Alex Miller, senior science and technology advisor and chief technology officer to the chief of staff of the Army. He describes the ways small-unit experimentation is driving change from the tactical edge, how senior leaders are rethinking the systems and processes through which the Army acquires new technology, and some of the specific military problems for which the Army is actively pursuing technology-enabled solutions.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

The US Military's Critical Minerals Challenge

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 11:48:38 +0000

The US government established the National Defense Stockpile in 1939 to ensure that in the event of a major conflict, there would be enough raw materials on hand to continue production of vital equipment. Since the end of the Cold War, it has steadily shrunk, now just a tiny fraction of its peak size. Moreover, while its original purpose was stockpiling materials like steel and rubber, US military systems are now dependent on a wider range of both raw materials and finished products—like rare earth minerals and the magnets that require them. And the supply chains for these items are, in some cases, controlled heavily by China. What should US policymakers do to reduce this vulnerability? That’s the subject of this episode, featuring a discussion with Dr. Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Bunker Busters and B-2s

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:26:38 +0000

When the United States conducted Operation Midnight Hammer, a series of strikes against Iranian nuclear targets, it did so with two key pieces of exquisite hardware: the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator and the B-2 Spirit strategic bomber. But how does the GBU-57 actually work? And what’s it like to fly this type of long-range bomber mission in a B-2? To examine those questions, John Amble is joined on this episode by Air Force University’s Dr. Melvin Deaile, a retired Air Force colonel and strategic bomber pilot with operational combat experience in the B-2.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

The US Defense Industrial Base, from Steel to Software

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:03:40 +0000

The defense industrial base is a critical component of US military readiness. But how should we conceptualize it in the information age, when it isn't just physical materiel like weapons, vehicles, and ammunition that are vital, but also data and software? How have globalization and the consequent emergence of long, complex supply chains extending around the world changed the way defense planning should be conducted? And at its best, what features would define a defense industrial base that is optimized for a potential large-scale, protracted conflict? This episode explores those questions and more. It features a discussion with Becca Wasser, deputy director of the Defense Program at the Center for a New American Security and coauthor of a recent report, "From Production Lines to Front Lines: Revitalizing the U.S. Defense Industrial Base for Future Great Power Conflict."

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

A Survey of Europe's Defense and Security Landscape

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sat, 31 May 2025 14:27:34 +0000

When Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it galvanized both NATO and the European Union, doing more to unify much of Europe than any event in recent history. But how has political and strategic unity translated to improvements of collective European defense and deterrence? Amid uncertainty about continued US support for Ukraine, which European states are stepping into leadership roles? And most broadly, after three and a half years of war, how much has the European security landscape changed? To explore those questions and more, John Amble is joined on this episode of the MWI Podcast by Ed Arnold, a senior research fellow for European Security at the Royal United Services Institute.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

The Future Battlefield, from Europe to the Indo-Pacific

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 01 May 2025 09:47:48 +0000

For more than three years, journalists, researchers, and military professionals have sought to describe the key dynamics of the war in Ukraine and determine what they tell us about the future of warfare. One of the sharpest observers has been retired Australian Army Major General Mick Ryan. He joins this episode to share some of his thoughts about the ongoing war—and what it indicates about the changing character of warfare. He also explores the ways that lessons from Ukraine should be translated and inform our understanding of the very different strategic landscape and operational environment of the Indo-Pacific region.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

The Collapse of the Continuum of Conflict

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:36:17 +0000

National security professionals often conceptualize a continuum of conflict as a framework to understand the wide variety of ways in which conflict can manifest itself. It extends from relative peace on one end, terrorism and low-intensity conflict, up through large-scale combat, all the way to strategic rivalry in which nuclear weapons even come into the picture. But what if that cognitive framework no long holds? In a recent article published by Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mara Karlin explored that question. A professor of practice at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies and a former assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities, she shares insights gleaned from ongoing wars, from Ukraine to the Middle East, and argues that warfare is increasingly defined by a mix of characteristics from across the continuum of conflict.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

DeepSeek and the US-China AI Race

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sun, 09 Feb 2025 14:16:46 +0000

When the Chinese company DeepSeek recently released an artificial intelligence model called R1, its surprisingly advanced capability and the efficiency with which DeepSeek claimed to have trained the model sparked a wave of discussion about how rapidly Chinese AI development was progressing. But how is the competition to achieve superior AI technologies between China and the United States shaping up? And, given that the governments of both countries envision important military applications of AI, what implications does this have for the broader US-China strategic competition? To explore these questions and more, John Amble is joined by Bill Hannas, lead analyst at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET), and Sam Bresnick, a CSET research fellow.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Why Security Force Assistance Only Sometimes Works

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 12:26:41 +0000

After twenty years of America’s post-9/11 wars and the US military’s struggle to build capable and effective security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is an important discussion taking place about what role security force assistance should play for the United States in the very different strategic environment that is taking shape. Will it be a mission that we'll be required to do in order to compete with Russia and China? Or will it become tangential to our preparations for large-scale combat operations? And given the challenges we faced over the past two decades, what needs to happen to achieve better outcomes in the future? Will Reno, a professor of political science at Northwestern University, and Franky Matisek, a military professor of national security affairs at the US Naval War College, have researched the topic deeply, including conducting hundreds of interviews in the field. They join this episode to discuss their findings.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

How the Assad Regime Fell

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 23:15:25 +0000

For well over a decade, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad managed to hold onto power during a complicated civil war involving a number of anti-regime rebel groups. And then, rebels launched a lightning offensive that saw a series of Syrian cities—including, ultimately, the capital Damascus—fall. Assad was gone and more than a half-century of rule by his family came to an end. To explore how that happened and what comes next, John Amble is joined on this episode by Natasha Hall, a senior fellow with the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies with deep expertise on Syria.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Inside the Battle of Azovstal

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:03:10 +0000

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, one of its first targets was the city of Mariupol. Despite being outnumbered by—and less well equipped than—their adversaries, Ukrainian defenders held out for three months. As the Russian siege of the city intensified, Ukrainian forces defended a shrinking perimeter with a command post in the Azovstal steel plant. One of those Ukrainian defenders was Sergeant Arseniy Fedosiuk. MWI's John Spencer had the opportunity to speak to him about his experience in Mariupol, and you'll hear part of that discussion in this episode.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Amateurs Talk, Professionals Write

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 17:49:14 +0000

Writing is often treated as a peripheral activity in the military, but it is a defining characteristic of any profession—including the profession of arms. Professional military writing is the way we share information, new ideas, and creative solutions to collective problems. It’s the way we drive bottom-up change. And it’s vital if the Army is to be prepared for the challenges of tomorrow’s battlefield. On this episode, John Amble is joined by two two leaders of the Harding Project, an initiative aimed at renewing professional writing in the Army. Lieutenant Colonel Zach Griffiths and Sergeant First Class Leyton Summerlin describe the progress made since the Harding Project was launched one year ago and explain why the Army needs its people to share their ideas by writing.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Casualty Care in Tomorrow's Wars

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 09:48:40 +0000

During the United States’ post-9/11 counterinsurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, many US service members survived wounds that would have been fatal in any previous conflict. This was largely because of the care they received—beginning at the point where they were wounded and continuing through evacuation to medical facilities in theater and transport to military hospitals at Landstuhl, Germany and in the United States. But prolonged casualty care will be vastly more challenging in what the Army calls LSCO (large-scale combat operations) environments. To explore why—and what will be required to meet the challenges—John Amble is joined on this episode by Colonel Jennifer Gurney, the chief of the DoD Joint Trauma System, and Lieutenant Colonel Max Ferguson, an infantry battalion commander whose recent deployment experience offers insights on how this crucial issue affects tactical-level maneuver units.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

The Maven Smart System and the Future of Military AI

Modern War Institute at West Point — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 11:46:29 +0000

Both military practitioners and scholars believe that artificial intelligence will influence the character of war in the future. But it’s difficult to know how it will do so exactly, particularly as we look further and further into the future. Much of what we learn about that future will come from experimentation that yields lessons not just about the tools that will become increasingly important in future military operations, but the way that militaries develop them. That makes the recent experience of the Army’s XVIII Airborne Corps, which operationalized an AI-enabled software called the Maven Smart System, instructive. Emmy Probasco and Igor Mikolic-Torreira of Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology had direct access to observe this innovation project, and they join this episode to extract and explore those lessons.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

October 1993

Modern War Institute at West Point — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 09:58:25 +0000

Thirty years ago this week—on October 3, 1993—US special operations forces launched a mission in Mogadishu. It was part of Operation Gothic Serpent, which was aimed at capturing Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The mission was intended to be of a short duration. But things changed when, shortly after members of Task Force Ranger launched from their base, fighters on the ground began firing on US aircraft. The battle that ensued—which would later become the subject of journalist Mark Bowden’s book, Black Hawk Down, and subsequently a film of the same name—lasted well into the next day. In this episode, you'll hear three people who took part in that battle. Listen as they share their firsthand perspectives of the action over those two days, describing the challenges they faced, reflecting on what was required to overcome those challenges, and exploring the lessons the battle holds for future Army leaders.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Pagers, Walkie-Talkies, and a Shadow War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sat, 21 Sep 2024 12:30:22 +0000

When news emerged from Lebanon recently that several thousand pagers belonging to members of Hezbollah had exploded, observers quickly began piecing together an assessment of what happened. It looked to be an Israeli intelligence operation—and a wildly successful one, both operationally and psychologically. But why did Israel pick now to conduct it? Is it likely to become just another episode in an ongoing shadow war between Israel and Hezbollah or lead to a dramatic escalation? And how is Hezbollah likely to respond to this glaring failure in its operational security? Colin P. Clarke, director of research at the Soufan Group and a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, joins this episode to share his insights.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

The Modern Commander

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 23:28:16 +0000

Would Patton be an effective battlefield commander today? Do the characteristics of successful commanders generally remain constant over time? Or do they evolve alongside—and in response to—the changing character of warfare? And if they do change, what traits will commanders need on the battlefields of today and tomorrow? Dr. Anthony King, the author of the book Command: The Twenty-First-Century General, joins this episode to discuss these questions and more.

Israeli-Iranian Rivalry and the Middle Eastern Security Landscape

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 17:05:37 +0000

For weeks, after an Israeli strike that killed a senior Hezbollah commander and the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran, tensions between Israel and Iran have spiked. So far, Iran has yet to follow through on its threats to retaliate against Israel. But these heightened tensions, like the period earlier this year when Israel killed senior officers from the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps at a diplomatic facility in Syria and Iran responded by launching hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, are inflection points in a broader regional rivalry between the two states. Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, joins this episode to examine that rivalry.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

F-16s Over Ukraine

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 11:21:59 +0000

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian government began asking its international supporters to provide it with combat aircraft. By 2023, a number of NATO members had agreed to provide training on the US-made F-16 to Ukrainian pilots, and last summer it was announced that a number of F-16s would be provided to Ukraine. Now, the first batch of aircraft have arrived in the country and, according to reports, have already begun flying operational missions. But what role will they play and what effect might they have on the overall war? In this episode, John Amble is joined by retired US Air Force Colonel Mike Pietrucha, a veteran aviator and airpower scholar who has closely studied the war in Ukraine. He shares his insightful perspective on what the introduction of F-16s means for the war in Ukraine.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Why Military Cohesion Matters

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 09:53:30 +0000

The term "cohesion" features prominently in discussions of military effectiveness, especially at the small-unit level. We all know intuitively what it means, but understanding how to develop and nurture it in practice is a challenge. That's even more true as technological advances continue to make constant connectivity with the outside world easier, even from a battlefield. How do soldiers' stresses from home impact cohesion? What about when soldiers no longer process shared traumatic experiences together? John Spencer spent twenty-five years as an infantry soldier and officer, including leading troops in combat. His book Connected Soldiers is based on both his personal experience and deep research. He joins this episode to discuss how unit cohesion affects military performance and how leaders can foster its development.

Competition and Conflict in Cyberspace

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 16:25:46 +0000

How does cyberspace differ from the other warfighting domains—land, sea, air, and space? What challenges do those differences pose? Does cyber require unique approaches to talent manage to ensure the US military can recruit, promote, and retain the talent it needs? What resources are needed to effectively compete in cyberspace, and are those different from the resources necessary for a conflict scenario? How would the cyber dimension of a modern war play out, and are there lessons from the ongoing war in Ukraine that illuminate this question? This episode addreses those questions as John Amble is joined by Maggie Smith, an Army officer and codirector of Project Cyber at the Irreegular Warfare Initiative, and Dr. Erica Lonergan, an assistant professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.

Clausewitz and the War in Ukraine

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:13:41 +0000

The Prussian military theorist Carl von Clausewitz is held in high regard among US military scholars. But it can be challenging at times to apply his ideas—with necessary nuance—to real-world security challenges. In this episode, Dr. Donald Stoker, a professor at the National Defense University’s Eisenhower School and the author of Clausewitz: His Life and Work, joins John Amble to discuss several of Clausewitz’s theories and use them as a lens through which to examine the ongoing war in Ukraine—and how it might eventually come to an end.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Defending Against Drones

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 09:45:38 +0000

No unit in the US Army has more experience defending against drone attacks than 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. During a recent deployment to the Middle East, spread out across eight bases in Iraq and Syria, the brigade was targeted more than one hundred times by drones known as one-way attack unmanned aircraft systems. The brigade’s commander, Colonel Scott Wence, joins this episode to discuss that experience, the weapons and systems that enabled the unit to successfully defeat the vast majority of the attacks, and lessons from the deployment that can inform the Army’s preparation for a modern battlefield increasingly defined by the rapid proliferation of unmanned systems.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Introducing "Ctrl Alt Army"

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 30 May 2024 12:00:35 +0000

In this special episode of the MWI Podcast, we're taking the opportunity to introduce listeners to a brand new podcast series called Ctrl Alt Army: Stories from Cyberspace. Hosted by Dr. Michael Sulmeyer, principal cyber advisor to the secretary of the Army, this podcast series features informal conversations with senior Army leaders about cyber issues. This is not a podcast by and for cyber specialists about cyber topics, but an opportunity for leaders from wide-ranging professional backgrounds to share how cyber issues have become increasingly impactful on a wide range of noncyber fields.

Each of the series' eight episodes will feature a discussion with a different Army leader. To hear all episodes as they're released each week, find and subscribe to Ctrl Alt Army on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

Russia's Pursuit of Military AI

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 15 May 2024 10:29:42 +0000

Russia is actively pursuing military applications of AI technology. But how much progress has been made in that pursuit? How have sanctions put in place in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine influenced the course of Russian AI research and development? Most fundamentally, how do Russian military leaders actually want to employ AI-enabled tools on the battlefield? This episode examines those questions and more and features a discussion with Sam Bendett, an adviser and member of the Russia Studies Program at CNA and the author of a report, recently published by the Center for a New American Security: “The Role of AI in Russia’s Confrontation with the West.”

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

Landpower in the Pacific

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:49:28 +0000

Many people look at a map of the Indo-Pacific region and assume that—characterized as it is by long distances and vast stretches of ocean—it is principally the air and maritime domains where military capability is most important. But as you'll hear in this episode, landpower services play a vital role in the region. So what is the US Army uniquely suited to achieving there? How are the service's newest capabilities reinforcing security for its allies and partners? How is it leveraging new Army organizations to meet its objectives? To discuss these questions and describe the diverse set of activities the Army is undertaking to help maintain a free and secure Indo-Pacific, John Amble is joined on this episode by General Charles A. Flynn, commanding general of US Army Pacific.

The MWI Podcast is produced with the generous support of the West Point Class of 1974.

How Iran's Missile and Drone Attack Was Defeated

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 21:54:50 +0000

When Iran recently launched more than three hundred drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles in a large-scale attack against Israel, almost every single one was stopped from reaching its target. A combination of ground-based air defenses, ship-launched weapons, and aircraft from multiple nations were involved in the defensive operation. But how does such a complex air defense mission happen? How is it commanded and controlled? How are the differing capabilities of such a variety of air defense systems integrated most effectively? And what lessons can be derived from the Iranian attack and the successful defense to inform the way the United States and its partners and allies conceptualize and implement defenses against a rapidly evolving air and missile threat?

NATO at 75

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 16:13:37 +0000

Seventy-five years ago, on April 4, 1949, representatives of twelve governments came together to sign the North Atlantic Treaty. Much has changed in the intervening period—the Cold War came and went, NATO invoked the Article 5 collective defense clause after the 9/11 attacks, an era of renewed strategic competition has emerged, and large-scale conflict has returned to the continent of Europe. Yet despite all of that change, in both the strategic landscape and the alliance itself, NATO's history is marked by remarkable continuities. That means that an appreciation of its history provides a useful framework within which to understand the challenges and opportunities NATO faces today. To explore that history, this episode features a discussion with Seth Johnston, a US Army officer and author of How NATO Adapts: Strategy and Organization in the Atlantic Alliance since 1950.

Resistance and the National Defense of Small States

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:20:42 +0000

In this episode, John Amble speaks to Sandor Fabian about a very specific approach to national defense: resistance. The war in Ukraine has made clear that comparatively small states can be vulnerable to the threat of aggression from larger neighbors. Resistance, Sandor argues, is the most viable means of defense for these states. But effectively embracing it as a strategic approach would require dramatic changes in force structure, training, equipment, doctrine, and more. And if small US allies choose to do so, it would have important implications for US special operations forces and for NATO.

Nuclear Weapons—Past, Present, and Future

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 10:49:52 +0000

For eight decades, the world has navigated the risk of nuclear war. But what will be required to so in the future? And because that risk is not static, how do we measure, conceptualize, and respond to changes—like when Russia rattles its nuclear saber? What challenges do so-called tactical nuclear weapons pose to deterrence models based on much larger, strategic weapons? And what dynamics influence both the creation and erosion of international arms control frameworks that aim to regulate these weapons? This episode tackles those questions and more. It features a discussion with W. J. “Bill” Hennigan, the lead writer for a new series published by the New York Times called “At the Brink.”

From Hezbollah to the Houthis—Understanding Iran's Proxy Network

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:14:25 +0000

The Houthi movement in Yemen has launched dozens of attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea in recent months. Over the same period, militant groups have attacked US forces in the Middle East as many as 160 times—including the deadly drone attack against a base on Jordan’s border with Syria. And cross-border strikes between Hezbollah, operating from its southern Lebanon base, and Israeli forces have increased. All of this has occurred since Israel began its campaign in Gaza in response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks. And all of these groups have strong relationships with Iran. But how should we understand this complex array of combatant groups and their employment by Tehran? More directly, how should the US government respond to these groups’ actions? To explore these questions, this episode features a conversation with Jonathan Panikoff, director of the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council.

Sanctions and Security

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 06:41:52 +0000

While Ukraine's international supporters have provided equipment to enable the country's defense against Russia's aggression for nearly two years, global actors have also responded on a completely separate front—putting in place a massive sanctions regime targeting Russia. What effect have they had on Russia and its ability to make war? More broadly, how do sanctions and other instruments of economic statecraft fit within the United States' foreign and security policy? To explore those questions, John Amble is joined on this episode by Edward Fishman, a former government official who worked extensively on sanctions policy and is now an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Amphibious Operations—from History to the Future Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 15:48:19 +0000

Most people know something about the most famous amphibious operations in military history—the D-Day landings and Gallipoli, for example. But what about an amphibious night attack on the shores of Tuscany in 1555? Or a Turkish amphibious assault in response to a coup in Cyprus in 1974? This episode features a conversation with Tim Heck, coeditor of the book On Contested Shores: The Evolving Role of Amphibious Operations in the History of Warfare, and explores the past, present, and future of amphibious operations.

Understanding Hamas: From Tactics to Strategy

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 12:18:50 +0000

This special episode of the MWI Podcast features the first installment of a three-part miniseries produced by the Irregular Warfare Initiative. The series focuses on irregular warfare in Israel and is hosted by Adam Darnley-Stuart. In the first episode, he speaks to renowned counterterrorism analyst Dr. Levi West about Hamas, its history, and its strategy. Dr. West offers nuanced insights into Hamas operations and the likelihood that the organization's tactics might be adopted by other groups around the world. The discussion explores the effects of the October 7 Hamas attacks and Israel's ongoing military response on the enduring friction between Israel and Iran, examines the broader impacts on the geopolitical environment, and more. Be sure to subscribe to the Irregular Warfare Podcast to hear the second and third parts of this timely series.

Shusha, the Battle that Won a War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 08:57:12 +0000

Observers watched the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War closely, searching for indicators of the character of warfare on tomorrow's battlefields. The lessons extracted have covered advanced technology and unmanned platforms, proxy dynamics, the ongoing relevance of armor, and more. But some of the most important lessons have received much less attention. They center around the increasingly unavoidable importance of combat in cities and are drawn principally from the battle for the city of Shusha—a fight that arguably decided the outcome of the war. Listen as John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at MWI, explains why.

What Was Hamas Thinking?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:26:33 +0000

When Hamas fighters conducted a large-scale and deadly attack against Israel and its people on October 7, what was the group aiming to achieve? What were its strategic objectives? And what sort of Israeli response was it planning for? On this episode, John Amble speaks to Dr. Michele Groppi, a lecturer in the Defence Studies Department at King’s College London. Hamas's brutal attacks might have been tactically successful, but as Michele argues, they also might have actually exceeded what the group thought it would be able to accomplish. And that tactical success might prove to be a major strategic error, if Israel sets as the objective of any ground campaign in Gaza the complete organizational dismantling of Hamas and total destruction of its military capabilities.

Combined Arms in Gaza

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:30:12 +0000

As Israeli ground forces mobilize for what at this point appears to be a looming battle in Gaza to destroy Hamas military capability, this episode looks ahead at what form that battle will take. Liam Collins and John Spencer, two former Army officers with a a variety of combat experience and the authors of a book on urban warfare, join John Amble to explore the importance of employing combined arms—infantry, tanks, artillery, engineers, and other capabilities—when operating in urban areas like those that compose much of Gaza's territory. They describe why such an approach will be central to determining the shape of the battle and its outcome, as well as the challenges of operating in this fashion in complex and structurally dense cities.

The Battle of Mogadishu—Thirty Years On

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 21:16:14 +0000

History, Identity, and Russia's War in Ukraine

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 10:37:50 +0000

While Western leaders, media, and institutions have condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its conduct of the ongoing war—characterizing it as a brutal act of naked aggression—to many Russians, their military forces are heroes, protecting the Russian nation, its place in the world, and its very identity. What explains this extraordinarily different perspective? This episode features a discussion with Dr. Jade McGlynn, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London and author of two recently published books that combine to shed light on this question. As she explains, there is a complex set of layers through which the war is understood—layers composed of history, issues of identity, and national narratives. This means that, effectively, Russians are watching an entirely different war than those in the West.

Sweden, Finland, and NATO

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 07:13:12 +0000

The decisions by the governments of Sweden and Finland to apply to join NATO marked a major departure from both countries' longstanding policies of nonalignment. But how, specifically, will it affect these countries’ defense capabilities—and those of NATO? How much needs to be done to achieve interoperability? And most fundamentally, while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine clearly triggered these decisions, why did both countries make this major decision at the particular moment they did? To unpack those questions and many more, John Amble is joined on this episode by Rasmus Hindren, the head of international relations at the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, a senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, and an experienced defense policy practitioner in his home country of Finland.

Securing NATO's Baltic Flank

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:45:38 +0000

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the world has seen firsthand evidence of the threat posed by the revanchist state. Among those who perceive this threat most acutely are the three Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The fundamental facts of these states’ existence—their comparatively small size, proximity to Russia, and position on the northeastern flank of the NATO alliance—combine to make the threat both direct and real. But what can NATO do to deter Russian military aggression against the three countries in the future—and defend against that aggression should it occur? This episode tackles that question and features a discussion with Mark Cancian. A senior adviser with the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, he is the author of a recently published report, “Repel, Don’t Expel: Strengthening NATO’s Defense and Deterrence in the Baltic States.” He joins the podcast to share some of the insights and conclusions featured in the report.

The Robotic Revolution is Here

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:29:53 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with August Cole, coauthor of a new book called Burn-In: A Novel of the Real Robotic Revolution. It’s a techno-thriller and a work of fiction, but it is also based on deep research and allows readers to examine the types of technologies that will increasingly characterize the future—from everyday life to the conduct of war. In fact, the seemingly remarkable technologies featured in the book's plot are already emerging and in many cases already exist.

Inside Azovstal

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 10:15:51 +0000

The full conversation from which this episode is drawn will be released on Friday, July 21, as an episode of the Urban Warfare Project Podcast, which you can find wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss the complete discussion with this phenomenal guest.

After the Wagner Mutiny, What Next for the War in Ukraine?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:14:48 +0000

When Yevgeny Prighozin, the head of the Wagner Group, released a video on June 23 that criticized Russian leaders' management of the war in Ukraine, it was the first in a series of extraordinary events that played out with the world watching. One of those people watching closely as the private military company's forces entered the city of Rostov-on-Don and began an advance toward Moscow was retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges. A former commanding general of US Army Europe, he joins this episode to lend his extensive experience and nuanced understanding of Russia and European security to a discussion that aims to contextualize the remarkable recent events in Russia and explore how they will impact the ongoing war in Ukraine.

World Order in the Drone Age

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 10:21:27 +0000

In this episode, Paul Lushenko joins to discuss armed drones—in particular the impact their proliferation will have on global order. That's the subject of a new book for which he was a coeditor. Why do states—and nonstate actors—choose to use armed drones as weapons of war? How does that decision affect these actors' international reputations? How do questions of law and morality intersect when it comes to drones? And beyond impacting the character of warfare, to what extent will armed, networked, and unmanned platforms change geopolitical dynamics and balances of power? This episode tackles those questions and more.

How is Russia Adapting its Tactics in Ukraine?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 31 May 2023 13:49:43 +0000

When Russia invaded Ukraine last year, its ground forces were largely built around the battalion tactical group. Fifteen months on, and that organizational structure has been dramatically changed. Why? And what explains other examples of evolving Russian tactics? Dr. Jack Watling, a senior research fellow for land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, joins this episode to address these questions and examine these adaptations. He recently coauthored a report, based on close and firsthand study of the war in Ukraine, that traces a number of the specific ways in which Russian tactics have changed over the course of the conflict. He describes those adaptations in this conversation—and explains their implications for Ukraine and its international supporters.

Change and Continuity: Tracing the Evolution of Turkish Statecraft

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 17 May 2023 09:40:30 +0000

Turkey is in the middle of a presidential election, the closest challenge to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in his twenty years in power. This offers an opportunity for a broad survey of the evolution of Turkish foreign policy, statecraft, and strategy during those two decades and an exploration of how these might continue to evolve going forward. This episode features a discussion with Dr. Ziya Meral, a senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute and specialist in Turkish foreign policy. From the emergence of Turkey’s strong and growing defense industry to the challenges it must navigate amid tensions between NATO and Russia, this discussion offers a detailed look at Turkey’s position on a shifting regional and global strategic landscape.

Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and the Future of War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 03 May 2023 08:59:23 +0000

How will the rapid pace of advancement in the fields of neuroscience and neurotechnology impact the changing character of warfare? Will they lead to the human brain becoming a battlespace as new scientific breakthroughs and novel technologies are weaponized? This episode features a discussion with a guest who argues that a convergence between neuroscience and the conduct of war is already occurring. Dr. James Giordano is the chief of the Neuroethics Studies Program at Georgetown University and codirector of the O’Neill-Pellegrino Program in Brain Science and Global Health Law and Policy in the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics. He describes what effects advances in brain science might have on the future of war.

Command in Modern War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 09:15:31 +0000

Russia and the Arctic Conundrum

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 09:14:07 +0000

Arctic geopolitics are characterized by features that set the region apart from others. Eveything from governance structures to the way Arctic states engage with one another to the way they tackle shared challenges and address disputes—these all look different in the Arctic than elsewhere. But Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine led to a disruption in Arctic engagement, with the seven other Arctic states suspending participation in Arctic Council activities for the duration of Russia's chairmanship of the organization. This raises important questions: Is a return to engagement and cooperation even possible in the future? And what are the long-term implications of halting engagement likely to be? To explore these tricky issues and better understand Russian, American, and other stakeholders' strategic interests in the region, John Amble is joined on this episode by Dr. Elizabeth Buchanan, codirector of MWI's Project 6633 and the author of a new book, Red Arctic: Russian Strategy Under Putin.

Can Taiwan Become a Poison Frog?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 10:47:35 +0000

In this episode, John Amble speaks with Chris Dougherty of the Center for a New American Security. He and his colleagues have conducted a wargame that sought to identify what strategic options the United States and Taiwan have to deter a particular fait accompli move by China against Taiwan. What they concluded was that the best option is something they describe as “the poison frog strategy.” Listen as he describes what that entails, and why it's the most viable means of implementing deterrence against China.

How to Build an Effective Partner Military—and How Not To

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:48:34 +0000

After twenty years of America’s post-9/11 wars and the US military’s struggle to build capable and effective security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is an important discussion taking place about what role security force assistance should play for the United States in the very different strategic environment that is taking shape. Will it be a mission that we'll be required to do in order to compete with Russia and China? Or will it become tangential to our preparations for large-scale combat operations? And given the challenges we faced over the past two decades, what needs to happen to achieve better outcomes in the future? Will Reno, a professor at Northwestern University, and Franky Matisek, an Air Force officer and associate professor at the US Air Force Academy, have researched the topic deeply, including conducting hundreds of interviews in the field. They join this episode to discuss their findings.

Twelve Months of War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 14:14:00 +0000

One year ago this week, Russian forces invaded Ukraine. Twelve months on, how should we think about the way the war has taken shape? What lessons about modern war should we be learning? What assumptions about the modern battlefield has the conflict challenged, and what assumptions has it reinforced? And what features will characterize the war in the months ahead? In this episode, John Amble is joined by retired Australian Army Major General Mick Ryan. With decades of military and leadership experience, he has been one of the sharpest and most insightful observers of the war in Ukraine. Listen as he describes his views of the conflict so far and illuminates what we might expect as the war enters its second year.

When Cities Become Battlefields

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 12:10:00 +0000

This episode features a conversation with MWI's chair of urban warfare studies, John Spencer. A leading expert on urban warfare and the coauthor of the book Understanding Urban Warfare, his deep practical experience and scholarship on both historical and modern cases of urban warfare make him the ideal guest to address a range of important questions. Are cities uniquely challenging for military forces? Why? What steps can be taken to achieve a higher level of preparedness for those challenges? And is it possible to replicate cities’ complexity in a training environment? These are just a few of the topics he offers his keen insights on.

The Theory and Practice of Resistance

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 25 Jan 2023 12:44:00 +0000

Who Innovates Wins? Drones and Adaptation in the Ukraine War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 15:10:00 +0000

Ukrainian forces have been praised for their innovation efforts during their ongoing war with Russia, particularly with regard to the use of unmanned aerial vehicles. But what has that innovation actually looked like? Is it principally about repurposing equipment, like commercial quadcopters, or is it more a function of implementation, like experimenting with new tactics? And how has Russian forces' own innovation compared? Most importantly, what effect has innovation had on battlefield outcomes? Sam Bendett, an adviser at CNA’s Strategy, Policy, Plans, and Programs Center and a member of CNA’s Russia Studies Program, joins this episode to discuss these questions and more.

Introducing Social Science of War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 11:03:00 +0000

We're thrilled to announce a new podcast, launched in partnership with West Point's Department of Social Sciences, called Social Science of War. Each episode will leverage a unique strength of the department—pairing deep practical experience with leading scholarship—to tackle subjects of importance to the Army. In this episode, John Amble speaks briefly to Colonel Heidi Demarest, acting head of the Department of Social Sciences, and Major Kyle Atwell, who teaches in the department and will serve as the host for season one of the new podcast. After introducing the show, you'll hear the very first episode in its entirety, in which Kyle is joined by retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, former commander of US Army Europe, and Dr. Rob Person, an associate professor of international affairs at West Point. They explore what the Army should be learning about the future of land warfare from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Enjoy the conversation and be sure to subscribe to Social Science of War wherever you listen to podcasts!

What Should We Make of the Protests in Iran?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 11:12:00 +0000

Since the middle of September, when an Iranian woman died after being detained in Tehran for improperly wearing her headscarf, protests have gripped the country. But what sets them apart from previous periods of demonstrations against the Iranian regime? Will that regime manage to weather the storm and bring the protests to an end as it has in the past? And what are the possible outcomes if the movement not only maintains its momentum but gathers strength? Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute, joins this episode to discuss these questions and more.

Data and the Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 13:04:00 +0000

This episode examines how special operations forces are integrating high-tech tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize their operations. Dr. Richard Shultz of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Gen. Richard Clarke, commander of US Special Operations Command, join the podcast to trace the history of US special operations forces' efforts in Iraq to adapt to the counterterrorism fight there, explain how these forces made use of data to enable a remarkably rapid operational tempo, and describe how a program called Project Maven took shape to harness new technological capabilities.

What Kind of Leader Will Al-Qaeda Choose Next?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:44:00 +0000

The recent death of Ayman al-Zawahiri marks a rare inflection point for a terrorist organization that has had just two leaders in the more than three decades of its existence. Forecasting its future trajectory—and developing counterterrorism policy—will depend on what type of leader emerges as Zawahiri's successor. Dr. Tricia Bacon and Dr. Elizabeth Grimm are the authors of a new book, Terror in Transition: Leadership and Succession in Terrorist Organizations. They join this episode to describe the five categories of leader they have identified by rigorously analyzing leadership succession in terrorist organizations. They also explain what each of those types of leader would mean for al-Qaeda going forward and why it is so crucial for counterterrorism policymakers and practitioners to understand these leadership types as they conceptualize the threat posed by the terrorist organization and seek ways to counter that threat.

On the Streets: Irregular Warfare in an Urban World

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:31:00 +0000

How are demographic and economic shifts increasing the importance of urban centers around the globe? What does this mean for military forces? To what extent do the local politics of a city complicate military operations there—specifically irregular warfare activities? When conflict between an insurgency and government forces enters a city, does the terrain inherently favor one side over the other? This special episode addresses these questions as it brings together two of the Modern War Institute's core areas of focus: urban warfare and irregular warfare.

Kyle Atwell and Ben Jebb host the episode. You can also hear this and many more insightful explorations of issues related to irregular warfare on the Irregular Warfare Podcast. And don't miss the exceptional written content produced by the Irregular Warfare Initiative.

Their guests are Sergeant Major Charles Ritter, deputy commandant of the US Army's JFK Special Warfare Center and School, and John Spencer, chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute. A leading expert on urban warfare, John also leads the Urban Warfare Project and hosts the Urban Warfare Project Podcast, both of which are outstanding resources on urban warfare and its challenges.

Intro music: "Unsilenced" by Ketsa

Outro music: "Launch" by Ketsa

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Just How Crowded Is The Space Domain?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 11:15:00 +0000

As the US Space Force nears its third birthday, John Amble is joined by Dr. Moriba Jah on this episode to explore just how crowded the space domain is—especially with the surprising amount of detritus created over more than six decades of the Space Age. Dr. Jah is an aerospace engineer who has worked for NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory. He is now an associate professor at the University of Texas, where he monitors space and works to track thousands of objects—a number that continues to grow—orbiting Earth.

Why Cohesion Matters

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 09:42:00 +0000

The term "cohesion" features prominently in discussions of military effectiveness, especially at the small-unit level. We all know intuitively what it means, but understanding how to develop and nurture it in practice is a challenge. That's even more true as technological advancement continues to make constant connectivity with the outside world easier, even from a battlefield. How do soldiers' stresses from home impact cohesion? What about when soldiers no longer process shared traumatic experiences together? John Spencer spent twenty-five years as an infantry soldier and officer, including leading troops in combat. His new book, Connected Soldiers, is based on both his personal experience and deep research. He joins this episode to discuss how unit cohesion affects military performance and how leaders can foster its development.

The British Army and the Post-9/11 Wars

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 10:48:00 +0000

This episode features a discussion with Simon Akam, author of the book The Changing of the Guard: The British Army Since 9/11. The book tells the story of nearly two decades of the service's experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan. Critical of the British Army's leadership at times, it aims to jumpstart an honest conversation about the those wars, the service's performance in them, the relationship between the UK military and the British people, and more. It's an insightful, thought-provoking conversation that brings into focus issues that are important not just in the United Kingdom but in the United States, as well.

Far-Right Extremism and the War in Ukraine since 2014

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 08:20:00 +0000

How have European far-right extremists responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? How has the Russian government leveraged the Russian far right in service of its objectives in the war? And how should we understand the role of Ukraine's well-known Azov regiment? These questions all revolve around the complicated intersection of far-right politics, foreign fighter mobilization, and war. Exploring them requires a nuanced understanding of context that extends back much earlier than Russia's February invasion. On this episode, a joint production between MWI and the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, Kacper Rekawek joins to share insights based on years of research on the subject.

Competition, Conflict, and Cyber

Modern War Institute at West Point — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 11:12:00 +0000

How does cyberspace differ from the other warfighting domains—land, sea, air, and space? What challenges do those differences pose? Does cyber require unique approaches to talent manage to ensure the US military can recruit, promote, and retain the talent it needs? What resources are needed to effectively compete in cyberspace, and are those different from the resources necessary for a conflict scenario? How would the cyber dimension of a modern war play out, and are there lessons from the ongoing war in Ukraine that illuminate this question? In this episode, John Amble is joined by Captain Maggie Smith, PhD, and Dr. Erica Lonergan of the Army Cyber Institute to explore these questions and others.

For more analysis on a wide range of cyber-related topics, check out the Competition in Cyberspace Project, a joint initiative of the Modern War Institute and the Army Cyber Institute.

Finding Opportunity in a Competitive Strategic Environment

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 12:21:00 +0000

When the idea of great power competition began to gain traction with the publication of the 2017 National Security Strategy and the 2018 National Defense Strategy, it was in some ways less a strategy than a conceptual outline of one. Amid subsequent efforts to build out a more robust competitive framework around the idea, a vital question has taken shape: How should the US policy community develop a strategy that identifies and pursues opportunities in an increasingly competitive environment? A new book by Ali Wyne, America's Great Power Opportunity, sets out to advance our collective thinking about that challenge. He joins this episode to explore some of the key issues surrounding this important effort.

Adapting During War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 11:46:00 +0000

What are the hallmarks of an adaptable military force? What types of leaders best create cultures of adaptability in their formations? How do such forces employ rapidly changing technologies? And how does doctrine drive or limit adaptation? Dr. Nora Bensahel and retired Lt. Gen. Dave Barno—authors of the book Adaptation Under Fire: How Militaries Change in Wartime—join this episode to discuss these questions and more. The episode was originally recorded and released in early 2021, and returning to it helps to provide a framework within which to understand the ways in which adaptation—or failures to adapt—have played into the ongoing war in Ukraine over more than four months.

On War and Sanctions

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:47:00 +0000

While Ukrainian forces have fought to defend against Russia's invasion since February, the war's conduct has been influenced by international involvement—namely, the supply of weapons and equipment Ukraine has received from its foreign supporters. But as the United States, its European allies, and other countries around the world have offered military assistance, they have also been active on another front: putting in place a massive sanctions regime targeting Russia. That's the subject this episode explores. John Amble is joined by Edward Fishman, a former government official who worked extensively on sanctions policy and is now an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.

Amphibious Operations and the Future of War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 09:06:00 +0000

The war in Ukraine has been playing out in—and across—all domains. So it is perhaps surprising that Russia's invasion plan held almost no role for the type of operation designed to bridge two of those domains. There has been little sign that Russia sought to employ amphibious operations to gain a foothold in the south of the country—despite Ukraine's long Black Sea coast. Is this an indicator that such operations are a relic of the past? Or is it an anomaly? To help understand those questions, we're returning to an episode originally released early last year that featured a conversation with Tim Heck, MWI's deputy editorial director and coeditor of the book On Contested Shores: The Evolving Role of Amphibious Operations in the History of Warfare.

And Then There Were 32? Finland, Sweden, and NATO

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 18 May 2022 12:43:00 +0000

The decisions by the governments of Sweden and Finland to apply to join NATO mark a major departure from both countries' longstanding policies of nonalignment. But how, specifically, will it affect these countries’ defense capabilities—and those of NATO? How much needs to be done to achieve interoperability? And most fundamentally, while Russia’s invasion of Ukraine clearly triggered these decisions, why did both countries make this major decision at this particular moment? To unpack those questions and many more, John Amble is joined on this episode by Rasmus Hindren, the head of international relations at the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, a senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council, and an experienced defense policy practitionerin his home country of Finland.

Bayraktar (Story of a Drone)

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 06 May 2022 16:13:00 +0000

Almost every listener will be familiar with the Turkish-made TB-2 Bayraktar drone. Most will have seen the many reports of its operational effectiveness in the hands of Ukrainian forces defending against Russia's invasion of their country. But beyond that media coverage, the story of the drone's development, its particular capabilities, and its performance not just in Ukraine but in other recent conflict, as well, is an interesting one. To discuss these topics and explore the broader implications of the TB-2's effectiveness in Ukraine, John Amble is joined on this episode by Dr. Can Kasapoglu, director of the Security and Defense Studies Program at EDAM, a Turkish think tank, and a nonresident fellow at the Jamestown Foundation.

When Frozen Conflicts Turn Hot: Learning from Nagorno-Karabakh

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 11:27:00 +0000

The ongoing war in Ukraine is giving observers a chance to forecast how future conflicts will take shape. Drones, advanced sensors, and other technologies are playing impactful roles in the fight. At the same time, artillery is demonstrating its enduring relevance in large-scale combat, air defense is reemerging as a criticial capability, and basic concepts like effective camouflage are proving to be as important as they are fundamental. Many, if not all, of these trends were on display more than a year earlier in another war that received considerably less attention but is similarly packed with lessons about the future of war. Dr. Jack Watling joins this episode to discuss the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War.

Note: This episode was originally released in October 2020.

Breaking Down the Hypersonic Missile Threat

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 12:11:00 +0000

Hypersonic missiles have become an increasingly frequent focus of defense and security discussions in recent years and the subject of growing public attention. But what truly sets them apart, beyond just velocity, from existing missile technology? Do they represent a game changer on the strategic landscape, or are they better understood as just an evolutionary step in missile development? What implications do they have from a defense perspective? To address those questions, John Amble is joined on this episode by Tom Karako, director of the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Future of European Defense

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 12:38:00 +0000

This episode features a discussion with retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges. He served until 2017 as the commanding general of US Army Europe and now holds the pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis. The discussion was originally recorded in the spring of 2021, and the strategic landscape has been dramatically transformed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But as the war in Ukraine unfolds, this conversation offers some exceptionally important broader context within which the events of today are taking place. It also offers a framework within which to understand what the invasion means—not only how it happened but also what impact it will have as we look forward.

Understanding No-Fly Zones

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 21:16:00 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast tackles the topic of no-fly zones. Almost immediately after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began calling for a no-fly zone to be implemented over his country to negate the effects of Russian airpower. It’s a call that NATO leaders have resisted. To discuss why, and to offer a very unique perspective on what putting a no-fly zone in place actually entails, John Amble is joined by retired US Air Force Colonel Mike Pietrucha, a veteran aviator with extensive combat experience—including taking part in the enforcement of no-fly zones over both northern and southern Iraq and in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

Germany, NATO, and the Ukraine Crisis

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:19:00 +0000

In recent weeks there has been a considerable amoung of questioning in public debate in the United States about Germany and—when it has been stated most bluntly—how reliable Germany is as an ally. The reason this is all being raised now is because of the Ukraine crisis. On a few very high-profile issues, Germany—according to this line of questioning—seems hesitant to cooperate fully with NATO partners in supporting Ukraine against the threat of Russian aggression. But the reality is much more complicated than simply saying Germany is or is not a reliable ally. Dr. Ulrike Franke joins this episode to discuss this complex issue and provide the nuance and context necessary to properly understand it.

How Capable is Ukraine's Military?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 15:13:00 +0000

From 2016 to 2018, Colonel Liam Collins played a key role in US efforts to assist the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense with a series of substantial reforms—ranging from organization and command and control to military training, medicine, and logistics. That experience gives him a unique perspective from which to assess the capabilities of Ukraine's military. With tensions rising amid a Russian troop buildup along its border with Ukraine, he joins the MWI Podcast to share that perspective.

The Robotic Revolution is Already Here

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 09:34:00 +0000

Modern War in 2021: Year in Review

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 31 Dec 2021 11:02:00 +0000

What did we learn about modern war in 2021? What issues defined the most important conversations in defense circles? In this special year-end episode of the MWI Podcast, John Amble speaks to the directors of MWI's four themed projects, each aimed at advancing our understanding of a particular aspect of modern war—the Urban Warfare Project, the Irregular Warfare Initiative, Project 6633, and Shield Notes—along with one of the curators of the Full Spectrum series of articles on cyber and information operations that we published this year. They explain the events that were most significant in the past year, the topics that garnered the most attention, and what they expect for 2022.

When Security Force Assistance Works—and When it Doesn't

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:25:00 +0000

After twenty years of America’s post-9/11 wars and the US military’s struggle to build capable and effective security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is an important discussion taking place about what role security force assistance should play for the United States in the very different strategic environment that is taking shape. Will it be a mission that we'll be required to do in order to compete with Russia and China? Or will it become tangential to our preparations for large-scale combat operations? And given the challenges we faced over the past two decades, what needs to happen to achieve better outcomes in the future? Will Reno, a professor at Northwestern University, and Franky Matisek, an Air Force officer and associate professor at the US Air Force Academy, have researched the topic deeply, including conducting hundreds of interviews in the field. They join this episode to discuss their findings.

A Looming Showdown Over Ukraine?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 11:26:00 +0000

Recently, large numbers of Russian military forces have been moved to areas near Russia's border with Ukraine. This has set off a wave of reporting and analysis about what it likely means. But there’s a considerable degree of nuance and substantial context that both need to be accounted for to best understand what the troop movements indicate, to predict what comes next, and to identify what strategic options are available to the united States and NATO. To examine all of that in this episode of the MWI Podcast, John Amble is joined by Michael Kofman, the director of the Russia Studies Program at the Center for Naval Analyses.

Taiwan, China, and the Poison Frog Strategy

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 13:32:00 +0000

In this episode, John Amble speaks with Chris Dougherty of the Center for a New American Security. He and his colleagues recently conducted a wargame that sought to identify what strategic options the United States and Taiwan have to deter a particular fait accompli move by China against Taiwan. What they found as the best option is something they describe as “the poison frog strategy.” Listen as he describes what that entails, and why it's the most viable means of implementing deterrence against China.

On Resistance

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 06:25:00 +0000

In this episode, John Amble speaks to Sandor Fabian about a very specific approach to national defense: resistance. Specifically, Sandor argues that resistance is the most viable means of defense for small states facing the threat of aggression from a larger neighbor. But effectively embracing it as a strategic approach would require dramatic changes in force structure, training, equipment, doctrine, and more. And if small US allies choose to do so, it would have important implications for US special operations forces and for NATO.

Global Order in the Age of the Drone

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:30:00 +0000

A Conversation with the Chief of the National Guard Bureau

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 12:45:00 +0000

In this episode, John Amble speaks to Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau. A key pillar of the US defense enterprise, the National Guard is also fundamentally unique. Composed of fifty-four separate entities, it is inherently joint given its Army and Air Force components. It must also balance two, parallel missions—both as a source of combat capability for the joint force and a mechanism to respond to a wide range of emergencies domestically. After twenty years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, this conversation explores what the future holds for the National Guard.

The Iraq War in Retrospect

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 15:42:00 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi is joined by retired Col. Frank Sobchak, one of the authors of the Army's 1,300-page, two-volume study of the Iraq War. He discusses how the study came into being and why it's important, along with its major conclusions about the war and why its release was delayed for more than two years.

Note: This episode was originally released in 2019.

The Decisive Battle of the Nagorno-Karabakh War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:07:00 +0000

Taking Stock of America's Pacing Threat

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 08:18:00 +0000

China is increasingly labeled America's "pacing threat" by US national security leaders. That makes it more important than ever to understand China with an appropriate degree of nuance. How do politics and military capability overlay on one another in China? How does Beijing view the US-China relationship? How do things like history and military culture factor into Chinese strategy and capabilities? This episode features a conversation with Larry Wortzel, who has spent decades studying China and tackles those questions and more.

Breaking Down the NATO Summit

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 14:05:00 +0000

President Joe Biden recently made his first trip to Europe. Between meetings with G-7 leaders and a bilateral meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, he attended his first NATO summit. Those events offer an opportunity to assess issues of European security, and specifically the current state of NATO. To do so, John Amble is joined in this episode by Lauren Speranza, director of transatlantic defense and security at the Center for European Policy Analysis.

Training for Tomorrow's Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 07:47:00 +0000

This episode features a conversation with Brig. Gen. David Doyle, commander of the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk. He describes how training at JRTC—one of the Army's three combat training centers—is changing rapidly and dramatically to meet the challenges that soldiers and units will confront in the contemporary global operational environment. As you'll hear, that training isn't just a pillar of Army readiness, but an integral component of the bigger picture of Army modernization.

Mosul, Urban Destruction, and Political Instability

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 28 May 2021 06:23:00 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, MWI's John Amble speaks to James Verini. An award-winning journalist, he spent months reporting from Mosul as Iraqi forces, backed by US troops, fought to retake the city from Mosul. In the conversation, he not only discusses the fighting he reported on, but also offers important context about Mosul, its people, and its history—all of which is crucial to make sense of urban conflict. As he describes, Mosul also shows how urban conflict's destructive nature and political instability interact with one another in important ways. That is equally true in other sites of recent urban conflict, including during the outbreak of fighting in recent weeks between Israel and Hamas in Gaza City.

How Militaries Adapt

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 13 May 2021 06:46:00 +0000

Survival at the Top of the World

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 09:35:00 +0000

In this episode Ryan Burke—codirector of MWI's Project 6633—visits the Air Force’s Arctic Survival School at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. He speaks with several members of the school’s staff, who describe the unique challenges—matters of life and death—that forces operating in the extreme environment of the Arctic confront. Listen as they also explain how they train students at the school so they are best prepared and equipped to manage and overcome those challenges.

The Future Defense of Europe

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 10:28:00 +0000

This episode features a discussion with retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges. He served until 2017 as the commanding general of US Army Europe and now holds the pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis. Listen as he shares his insights on the topic of European defense—including a range of issues that make it especially complex today and will make it even more so in the future. The conversation touches on everything from logistical challenges to interoperability to the nuances of European defense politics to the implications of a rising China on European security.

Special Operations Forces in the High North

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 02 Apr 2021 13:02:00 +0000

In this episode, Col. Brian Rauen and Capt. Barrett Martin join to talk about the increasing importance of the Arctic. Col. Rauen is the commander of 10th Special Forces Group, and Capt. Martin is one of the officers assigned to the group. 10th Group has a particular focus on Europe, which means the unit has a natural organizational interest in the Arctic region. As you’ll hear our guests explain, though, that interest is growing. They discuss why that's the case, and they talk about some of the unique challenges posed by such an extreme environment. The episode features a guest host, Dr. Ryan Burke, who is an MWI fellow and co-director of Project 6633, an MWI project focused on polar security.

10th Group and Project 6633 have also partnered to organize an essay contest, inviting submissions that address the question of how American special operations forces can compete with near-peer adversaries in the polar regions. If you’re interested in entering, more details about the contest can be found here.

How Science Can Help Us Meet the Cognitive Demands of War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 14:50:00 +0000

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Amy Kruse, who was at the time of recording the chief scientific officer at the Platypus Institute. She discusses "Human 2.0," a concept she describes a vision of where humans are headed in terms of cognitive performance. She also describes how this concept overlays on what we know about the cognitive demands of war.

Note: This episode was originally released in 2018.

The British Army in Iraq and Afghanistan

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 04:43:00 +0000

Why Combatives?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 04:19:00 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Matt Larsen, known in many corners of the Army as the father of the modern combatives. He explains why he thinks combatives training is so important, but he also talks a lot about the notion of a warrior ethos—what it is and why, as he argues, it’s something that needs to exist throughout the entire Army, not just in infantry or other combat arms units.

The Past, Present, and Future of Amphibious Operations

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 04:13:00 +0000

Most people know something about the most famous amphibious operations in military history—the D-Day landings and Gallipoli, for example. But what about an amphibious night attack on the shores of Tuscany in 1555? Or a Turkish amphibious assault in response to a coup in Cyprus in 1974? This episode features a conversation with Tim Heck, co-editor of the book On Contested Shores: The Evolving Role of Amphibious Operations in the History of Warfare, and explores the past, present, and future of amphibious operations.

The US Army's Quest to be Ready for the Future

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 04:08:00 +0000

This episode features a conversation about innovation and the future battlefield and features two guests perfectly suited to discuss those topics. Maj. Gen. John George served as the deputy director of the Futures and Concepts Center and is now the commanding general of the Combat Capabilities Development Command. Mr. Jay Harrison served as Futures Command's first command innovation officer. As they make clear, the ways in which the Army is preparing for the future involve robotics, artificial intelligence, and the high-tech gadgetry, but it’s also about new ways of organizing, new doctrine, new personnel policies, and more.

Security in the High Latitudes

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 06 Jan 2021 05:19:00 +0000

In an era of renewed great power competition, what are the risks of that competition migrating to the Arctic region and Antarctica? How might it play out? What are states' key interests in the polar regions? How should we conceptualize issues of security and geopolitics in both areas? This episode tackles those questions and more. It features a discussion with Liz Buchanan and Ryan Burke, co-directors of the brand new Project 6633.

Proxies and American Strategy in Africa

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 21:02:00 +0000

The recent decision to withdraw seven hundred US servicemembers from Somalia offers a timely opportunity to explore a few important questions: How does the US military work with partners in pursuit of US objectives? And more specifically, what role does proxy warfare play in US strategy in Africa. Those questions are at the center of the discussion in this episode. (Note: This is a sample episode from the Irregular Warfare Podcast. If you enjoy it, be sure to subscribe to hear a wide range of conversations about subjected related to irregular warfare. Get it wherever you listen to podcasts.)

Scanning the Future Battlefield with Former Deputy SECDEF Robert Work

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 03:34:00 +0000

In this episode, MWI's John Amble speaks to Robert Work, former deputy secretary of defense. He describes his expectations for the future of conflict, including the role unmanned and autonomous systems are likely to play, how the way the military acquires new equipment will change, and more.

Note: This episode was originally recorded and released in 2019.

Understanding Urban Warfare

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 03:36:00 +0000

This episode features a conversation with MWI's chair of urban warfare studies, John Spencer. In the conversation, he explores a wide range of questions. Why are cities so challenging for military forces? What steps can be taken to achieve a higher level of preparedness for those challenges? Is it possible to replicate cities’ complexity in a training environment? These are just a few of the topics he offers his keen insights on.

The Brain and the Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 20:54:00 +0000

In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI editorial director John Amble speaks to Dr. James Giordano, the Chief of the Neuroethics Studies Program at Georgetown University and Scholar-in-Residence in the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics. Dr. Giordano discusses the rapid pace of advancement in neuroscience and neurotechnology—and what that advancement means for the future of war.

Pandemics, National Security, and Zombies

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 03:16:00 +0000

In this episode, Maj. Jake Miraldi talks to Max Brooks, bestselling author of "World War Z" and "The Zombie Survival Guide" about how he uses zombies in his books as a stand-in for the kinds of major crises that transcend borders and require coordinated responses, often with a military component. The conversation also touches on society's civil-military gap, the importance of creative thinking for military leaders, and more.

The Conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh is Giving Us a Glimpse into the Future of War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 02:46:00 +0000

In this episode Dr. Jack Watling, Research Fellow for Land Warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, discusses the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan that has erupted since late September surrounding the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. He examines what we can learn from it about ground combat on the modern battlefield. Among other things, he discusses the saturation of the battlefield with a variety of sensors, challenges associated with electronic warfare, and the importance of camouflage. Collectively, these represent a problem set that the US military and those of its allies largely have not encountered during nearly two decades of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan—which makes the lessons he discusses especially important.

MWI Podcast: The Space Domain is Getting Crowded

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 02:47:00 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, John Amble talks to Dr. Moriba Jah, an aerospace engineer who has worked for NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory. He is now an associate professor at the University of Texas, where he monitors space and works to track thousands of objects—a number that continues to grow—orbiting Earth.

Note: This episode was originally released in May 2019.

Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and the Modern Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 15:22:00 +0000

Command on the Modern Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 23:48:00 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Dr. Anthony King, author of the book Command: The Twenty-First-Century General. He explains how the way in which military leaders exercise command is now remarkably different from the way they did so in the last century.

Note: This episode was originally released in March 2019.

Crafting a US Strategy for the Twenty-First Century

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 16:17:00 +0000

In this episode of the Modern War Institute Podcast, John Amble is joined by Rebecca Lissner and Mira Rapp-Hooper, authors of the new book An Open World: How America Can Win the Contest for Twenty-First-Century Order. Amid global power shifts and a changing world order, as well as tumultuous domestic political dynamics and rapid technological change, they make the case that US success in the decades to come will hinge on policymakers' pursuit of openness as a defining characteristic of American grand strategy.

The Other Foreign Fighters

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 15:57:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk to American University Professor Joseph Young and the Brookings Institution's Jason Fritz about a phenomenon they've been studying: American citizens who traveled independently to the Middle East to fight ISIS. They interviewed many of these individuals, and they share what they learned about them and why they chose to go and fight in Iraq and Syria. Note: This episode was originally released in April 2018.

Competition, Conflict, and the Future of Irregular Warfare

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 02:21:00 +0000

This episode of the Modern War Institute Podcast features a conversation with Dave Stephenson, the director of the Joint Staff’s Office of Irregular Warfare and Competition. The conversation dives deeply into the role of irregular warfare in the current and future global operation environments. How does it fit into the notion of great-power competition? Why is a joint approach to irregular warfare, which brings together the perspectives and accounts for the capabilities of all US armed services, especially important? These are just a few of the questions the discussion covers.

Security Force Assistance in an Era of Great-Power Competition

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 02:54:00 +0000

This episode of the Modern War Institute Podcast features a conversation with Col. Curt Taylor, commander of the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade. The unit was formally activated in May, and he shares his perspective on everything that goes into creating such a unique organization. He also describes how SFABs recruit and select officers and noncommissioned officers for the advising mission, and what role advising has in an era of great-power competition.

Is Great-Power Competition a Strategy?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 02:36:00 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a discussion with Ali Wyne. He is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and a nonresident fellow at the Modern War Institute whose recent research has been focused on great-power competition. This has become a framing mechanism within which to think about and plan US interactions with other actors. But is it a strategy? Have we defined what it entails, practically and considering all instruments of national power? The discussion tackles these and several other questions.

Women in Defense and Security

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 17:28:00 +0000

In this episode, four remarkably accomplished women in the field of national security join to share their experiences and observations on the evolving dynamics surrounding the vital contributions women make to US security.

The Robotic Revolution is Upon Us

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 27 May 2020 03:26:00 +0000

Introducing the Irregular Warfare Podcast

Modern War Institute at West Point — Mon, 25 May 2020 03:06:00 +0000

The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a new collaboration between the Modern War Institute at West Point and Princeton University's Empirical Studies of Conflict Project. In this preview of the inaugural episode, hosts Kyle Atwell and Nick Lopez talk to Jake Shapiro, co-director of ESOC and Col. Pat Howell, director of MWI. The conversation tackles a fundamental question: What are "small wars"? Find the podcast on your favorite podcast app to hear the full conversation and subscribe so you hear future episodes, set to be released every two weeks.

How the Islamic State Happened

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 14 May 2020 03:52:00 +0000

How did ISIS manage to take control of so much territory, imposing its will politically and inflicting an immense amount of damage? How should we make sense of its origins and evolution as an organization? And does a better understanding of the group enable us to anticipate what form it might take in its next evolutionary stage? This episode features a conversation about these and other questions with Craig Whiteside and Haroro Ingram, two of the authors of a recent book, The ISIS Reader.

What's Going on in North Korea?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 29 Apr 2020 03:41:00 +0000

What's going on in North Korea? Is Kim Jong-Un alive or dead? We don’t actually know—and that's remarkable. The country is in the midst of a situation that could have serious ramifications for the region and for international security. This episode features a conversation with Dr. Van Jackson about just what is happening in the country right now and how prepared—or unprepared—the United States is for a potentially destabilizing event like the death of Kim Jong-Un.

How Countries Decide to Go to War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 21:44:00 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Jake Miraldi speaks to Cornell University associate professor and MWI adjunct scholar Dr. Sarah Kreps about her research on how countries go to war, especially democracies where the expenditure of blood and treasure impacts public support for military operations. Note: This episode was originally released in June 2018.

Nuclear Weapons on a Shifting Strategic Landscape

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 20:53:00 +0000

This episode features a conversation with retired US Air Force Gen. Kehler, former commander of US Strategic Command, which oversees America's strategic nuclear arsenal. He talks about how deterrence has changed since the Cold War, and what role he sees for nuclear weapons in the face of new global security challenges. Note: This episode was originally released in January 2019.

What Can the US Military Do to Support the COVID-19 Response?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 02:10:00 +0000

In some states, the National Guard has been called on to play a role in the government's efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak, and there have also been calls to leverage active-duty forces to further bolster resources and capabilities. But the deployment of the military on US soil has important policy implications and involves questions of law. Dr. Ryan Burke joins the MWI Podcast to talk about the military’s potential role in the response.

Special Operations Forces on the Modern Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 02:06:00 +0000

Our guest on this episode of the MWI Podcast is Maj. Gen. Patrick Roberson. He is currently the commanding general of the Army’s John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. Before that, he commanded Special Operations Joint Task Force–Operation Inherent Resolve. He discusses SOF's role in the fight against ISIS and looks at the future of US SOF and what these elite units can contribute in an era of competition with peer and near-peer adversaries.

Let's Talk Multi-Domain Operations

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 02:49:00 +0000

This episode of the Modern War Institute Podcast features a conversation with Lt. Gen. Eric Wesley, deputy commanding general of Army Futures Command and director of the Futures and Concepts Center. The discussion touches on a variety of topics related to the future of war, but focuses most closely on multi-domain operations—from the technologies and weapon systems that will play an important role in the concept to important questions about leadership and service culture.

Why War Doesn't Go Away

Modern War Institute at West Point — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 22:07:00 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a discussion with Dr. Bear Braumoeller, a political science professor at the Ohio State University and author of a book called Only the Dead: The Persistence of War in the Modern Age. In writing it, he set out to understand if wars are happening less frequently than they used to. His data-driven examination produced two conclusions: not only is war not on the decline, but it is also not becoming less deadly.

The Future of our Army, with Gen. James McConville

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 03:37:00 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville. He talks new weapons and equipment, bringing the active and reserve components together, a revolutionary new talent management system, and even a couple book recommendations!

He took on that role as the seniormost officer in the United States Army in August 2019, and his tenure comes at a time during which the service is in a period of substantial transformation. As he explains, many of the systems the Army uses—especially major weapons systems—were fielded in the late 1970s and early 1980s, another period of major change in the service. That's why the Army is undertaking a massive modernization effort. But that doesn't just mean the weapons and vehicles US soldiers go to war with will change. The doctrine that determines how they fight, the organizational structures of their units, and even the talent management systems that recruit and retain the Army's men and women will be different than those of the past.

Competition and Conflict in a Changing World

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 00:24:00 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a discussion with Mark Mitchell. A career Army officer, he was among the first Special Forces soldiers in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks and went on to command 5th Special Forces Group. After retiring he served as acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict.

The Soldiers' History of America's Post-9/11 Wars

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 27 Dec 2019 11:20:00 +0000

CJ Chivers, award-winning New York Times journalist and best-selling author, joins for this episode to discuss his new book, The Fighters. In it, Chivers seeks to tell the story of America's post-9/11 wars not from a policy or strategy level, but from the perspective of the junior officers, noncommissioned officers, and soldiers who fought them. (Note: This episode was originally released in 2018.)

Ep. 92 – Conversation with the SECARMY

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 01:31:00 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi is joined by Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy. He discusses a series of big-picture questions about the Army in an era of major change, particularly as the service focuses increasingly on great-power competition after nearly two decades of counterinsurgency operations in America's post-9/11 wars..

Ep. 91 – Manning a 21st-Century US Army

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 15:36:18 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, John Amble is joined by Dr. Casey Wardynski, the assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs. He talks about a range of topics, from how the Army is adapting to recruit and retain the right people in a changing economic and social landscape to the latest developments in the Army's plans for a new talent management system.

Ep. 90 – What Happens to Our Brains in Combat?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 23:36:59 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi talks to Dr. Charles Morgan, a forensic psychologist whose work has helped us better understand the nature of stress and psychological responses to it on the battlefield. Dr. Morgan engages with a range of important questions about neurobiology and the unique stress of combat. The episode originally was originally released in 2018.

Ep. 89 – Syria Study Group

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 16:02:26 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Michael Singh, co-chair of the Syria Study Group. The group recently released its final report, and he discusses the report's conclusions about the Syria conflict and US interests in the region.

Ep. 88 – Intelligence and the Future Battlefield, with Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 15:21:22 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, the Army G-2. The discussion touches on a range of topics, from how the intelligence function is being modernized to meet the needs of the future battlefield to the way Army counterintelligence can best contribute to protecting sensitive technologies from adversary efforts to steal them.

Ep. 86 - What is the Army Doing in Space?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 02 Oct 2019 17:23:16 +0000

This episode of the MWI Podcast features a conversation with four guests, all of whom are involved in the Army's space operations enterprise, including the commander of the 1st Space Brigade. They explain the Army's role in the space domain, how they envision the Army's contribution during a future conflict that extends into space, and much more.

Ep. 85 – Inside the Long, Brutal Fight to Recapture Mosul

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 22:43:30 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, MWI's John Amble speaks to James Verini. An award-winning journalists, he spent months reporting from Mosul as Iraqi forces, backed by US troops, fought to retake the city from Mosul. That's the subject of his new book, The Will Have to Die Now, and of the conversation in this episode.

Ep. 84 – The Future of Cyber Conflict, with Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 10:02:53 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, Maj. Jake Miraldi is joined by Lt. Gen. Stephen Fogarty, commander of US Army Cyber Command. He explains the nuances of the cyber domain and operations in that domain, but also touches on some of the unique challenges associated with developing a force optimized for cyber warfare.

Ep. 83 – How Sci-Fi Can Help Us Think about AI and the Future of War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 18:35:54 +0000

In this episode, MWI's John Amble talks to Martha Wells, author of the four-volume science fiction series The Murderbot Diaries. She discusses how the books' central figure—a hybrid being with living tissue but equipped with artificial intelligence—can help us think about robotics, AI, and manned-unmanned teaming on the future battlefield.

Ep. 82 – Creating Warriors, with Matt Larsen

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 01:22:33 +0000

Ep. 81 – Autonomous Weapons and the Next War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 15:00:52 +0000

Paul Scharre is the author of Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War. In this episode, he talks about the state of development of artificial intelligence and autonomy, and how it and future advancements will change the way in which we fight wars.

Ep. 81 – How the Army is Preparing for the Future Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 23:50:17 +0000

This episode features a conversation about innovation and the future battlefield and features two guests perfectly suited to discuss those topics. Maj. Gen. John George is the deputy director of the Army’s Futures and Concepts Center will soon take over as the commander of the Combat Capabilities Development Command. And Mr. Jay Harrison serves as the command innovation officer at Army Futures Command.

Ep. 80 – The Future of Warfare, with Former Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 26 Jun 2019 21:12:14 +0000

Ep. 79 – How Science Can Optimize Cognitive Performance on the Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 16:02:12 +0000

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Amy Kruse, chief scientific officer at the Platypus Institute. She discusses "Human 2.0," a concept she describes a vision of where humans are headed in terms of cognitive performance. She also describes how this concept overlays on what we know about the cognitive demands of war.

Ep. 78 – Space is Getting Crowded

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 30 May 2019 22:30:18 +0000

Ep. 77 – Can Defense Problems be "Hacked"?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 15 May 2019 03:55:09 +0000

In this episode, we talk to retired Army Col. Peter Newell about Hacking 4 Defense, a program that leverages the unique qualities of universities and private-sector startups to find solutions for government—especially the defense enterprise.

Ep. 76 – China's Quest for Enhanced Military Technology

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 01 May 2019 02:55:41 +0000

In this episode, we speak to Elsa Kania, whose research is at the forefront of efforts to better understand the way China approaches innovation and military technology. From artificial intelligence to automation to railgun technology, we discuss Chinese technological priorities and how they overlay on its strategic objectives.

Ep. 75 – The Army's Iraq War Self-Reflection

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 17 Apr 2019 01:47:07 +0000

Ep. 74 – Talking China with Ali Wyne

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 19:45:53 +0000

This episode features a conversation with Ali Wyne, a policy analyst at the RAND Corporation and an MWI non-resident fellow. In the conversation, he addresses important questions, like how we should conceptualize the shrinking power gap between the United States and China and why there are many features of China's grand strategy that we don't—and perhaps can't—yet understand.

Ep. 73 – Women in National Security

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 23:59:08 +0000

Ep. 72 – The Twenty-First-Century General

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 20:48:31 +0000

Ep. 71 – Building Militaries in Fragile States, with Dr. Mara Karlin

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 20 Feb 2019 20:43:45 +0000

Dr. Mara Karlin has served in national security roles under five US secretaries of defense and is the author of the book Building Militaries in Fragile States. She explains how this objective has become such an important feature of US strategy, and discusses why it's so important and so difficult.

Ep. 70 – Fighting a "Virtual War"

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 00:10:52 +0000

In this episode, retired US Army Col. Steve Banach talks about "virtual war," which he argues is transforming the way conflict plays out. He discusses the hallmarks of the concept, and explains why it requires us to fundamentally rethink the mental models we use to understand war.

Ep. 69 – Armies of Sand? An Assessment of Arab Militaries' Battlefield Performance

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 16:35:37 +0000

This episode features a conversation with Ken Pollack, a military analyst and the author of Armies of Sand, a book that grapples with the question of why there are so many cases of Arab militaries under-performing on the battlefield—from the armies of Saddam Hussein to Muammar Gaddafi and beyond.

Ep. 68 – Deterrence and Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century, with ret. Gen. Bob Kehler

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 15:00:37 +0000

This episode features a conversation with retired US Air Force Gen. Kehler, who finished his military career as commander of US Strategic Command, which oversees America's strategic nuclear arsenal. He talks about how deterrence has changed since the Cold War, and what role he sees for nuclear weapons in the face of new global security challenges.

Ep. 67 – The World Order Under Threat

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 01:02:10 +0000

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Hal Brands, who explains the challenges to the longstanding US-led world order. In a world that looks to most observers like a dynamic and tumultuous place, there are drivers of change that can be identified and patterns to be discerned.

Ep. 66 – How Will Technology Change Future Wars?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:20:40 +0000

In this episode, John Amble is joined by retired Maj. Gen. David Fastabend and Mr. Ian Sullivan. Both have been heavily involved with initiatives to conceptualize the future of warfare for the Army's Training and Doctrine Command, where Sullivan is the assistant G-2 for ISR and futures. They talk through a range of emerging and future technologies and how they will impact the way we fight the wars of tomorrow.

Ep. 65 – Dr. Graham Allison: "Are We Destined for War with China?"

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 13:51:32 +0000

In this episode, MWI's Capt. Jake Miraldi speaks to Dr. Graham Allison, author of the book "Destined for War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides's Trap?" In this fascinating conversation, Dr. Allison examines the critical factors that will determine whether war with a rising China will ultimately break out.

Ep. 64 – War Goes to the City, with David Kilcullen

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 03:55:36 +0000

This is a sneak peek at the newest podcast series we're launching at the Modern War Institute: the Urban Warfare Project podcast. Each episode will seek to better understand the challenges cities pose to military forces and examine the ways we can better prepare for them. In this first episode, John Spencer, MWI's Chair of Urban Warfare Studies, speaks to Dr. David Kilcullen, an author, strategist, and former Australian Army officer.

Ep. 63 – Twitter Battles and Facebook Wars, with PW Singer

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 31 Oct 2018 04:50:25 +0000

PW Singer, co-author of the new book LikeWar: The Weaponization of Social Media, joins for this episode of the MWI Podcast. He explains how a convergence of advancements in web-enabled connectivity and the ongoing evolution of the character of war have brought us to where we are today, with social media tools becoming powerful weapons, as well as battlefields themselves.

Ep. 62 - AI, Robots, and the Future of War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 01:14:48 +0000

In this episode, MWI's John Amble talks to US Air Force Lt. Col. Jen Snow of USSOCOM's SOFWERX and author and futurist Dr. James Canton. From robotics to AI to autonomy and more, the guests explore what war is most likely to look like in the future—and explain how vital it is for US warfighters to be kept ahead of ever-quickening technological trends.

Ep. 61 – Iraq and Afghanistan Through the Eyes of the Men and Women That Fought There

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 04:59:38 +0000

Ep. 60 – The Brain and the Battlefield

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 22:02:01 +0000

Ep. 59 – Turning Soldiers into Warriors, with Matt Larsen

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 02:45:47 +0000

Ep. 58 – Syria, Ukraine, and the Danger of Forgetting Counterinsurgency, with Max Boot

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 03:57:23 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast we talk to historian and bestselling author Max Boot. He gives his assessment of the current situation in Syria and Ukraine, warns of the dangers of repeating mistakes the US military made after the Vietnam War, and describes what he sees as fundamental threats to the US-led international order.

Ep. 57 – Better Analysts, Humans or Machines?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 23:34:52 +0000

In the era of big data, the minds of human analysts are no match for the processing power of computers fed with terabytes of data and armed with powerful algorithms. But MWI Non-Resident Fellow Dr. Nicholas Krohley argues in this episode that, far from obviating the need for those human analysts, the incorporation of more and more data into military and intelligence analysis makes human judgment more important than ever.

Ep. 56 – War and the Human Brain, with Dr. James Giordano

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 13:43:11 +0000

Ep. 55 – The Future Urban Battlefield, with Dr. Russell Glenn

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 14:20:18 +0000

In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI editorial director John Amble speaks to Dr. Russell Glenn, a senior adviser for plans and policy to the deputy chief of staff, G-2, of the Army's Training and Doctrine Command. Dr. Glenn has spent nearly 25 years studying the city as a battlefield. During this conversation, he discusses the challenges it poses and what the US military should be doing to prepare to operate effectively in dense urban in the future.

Ep. 54 – Blood, Treasure, and the Decision to Go to War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 21:54:21 +0000

Ep. 53 – The Middle East, Russia, and Beyond: A Conversation with Ambassador Doug Lute

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 05:49:54 +0000

In this episode, MWI's Maj. Jake Miraldi speaks with Ambassador Doug Lute. A retired US Army lieutenant general, Lute held key posts in both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, including helping to oversee wartime strategy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Later, as US ambassador to NATO, he witnessed another set global security challenges. He shares insights on a range of such challenges in this wide-ranging discussion.

Ep. 52 – Human 2.0, with Dr. Amy Kruse

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 22 May 2018 22:00:00 +0000

Ep. 51 – The Future Autonomous War, with Paul Scharre

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 08 May 2018 21:21:57 +0000

Ep. 50 – Preparing for the Future Operating Environment, with Under Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 18:56:29 +0000

This episode features a conversation with Under Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy. He discusses everything from modernization and what that means for soldiers in the operational Army to the recently announced Army Futures Command and what role it will have in preparing the Army for a changing operational environment characterized by a diverse set of threats.

Ep. 49 – The American Citizens Who Went to Fight Against ISIS

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 11 Apr 2018 23:26:49 +0000

In this episode, we talk to Joseph Young and Jason Fritz of American University's School of Public Affairs about a phenomenon they've been studying: private Americans who traveled to the Middle East to fight ISIS. They interviewed many of these individuals, and they share what they learned about them and why they chose to go and fight in Iraq and Syria.

Ep. 48 – China and its Quest for Enhanced Military Technology

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 03:41:25 +0000

Ep. 47 – The Army's Future, with Secretary of the Army Mark Esper

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 14 Mar 2018 03:39:35 +0000

Secretary of the Army Mark Esper has an important set of priorities for the Army. In this episode of the MWI Podcast, he discusses those priorities, and explains how his experience as an Army officer on active duty and in the reserve components informs the perspective he brings to his job as the senior civilian overseeing the US military's largest branch.

Ep. 46 – What is Virtual War?

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 28 Feb 2018 00:29:14 +0000

Ep. 45 – The Battle for Mosul, with Col. Pat Work

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 20:20:04 +0000

Last summer, Iraq's prime minister declared victory in the long battle to retake Mosul from ISIS. The Iraqi security forces who fought there did so with the help of a US brigade commanded by Col. Pat Work. In this episode, he talks about the battle, what he learned from it, and how it should inform the way we fight in the future.

Ep. 44 – Technology and the Future of Warfare

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 05:30:28 +0000

Ep. 43 – Writing on War, with Journalist and Best-selling Author Sean Naylor

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 00:27:53 +0000

In this episode of the MWI Podcast, we talk to Sean Naylor, an award-winning journalist and best-selling author of Not a Good Day to Die and Relentless Strike. The conversation covers everything from the reporter's role in war zones to the sometimes tricky aspects of writing about security, intelligence, and secretive military organizations.

Ep. 42 – Sebastian Junger on Syria, Iraq, and the Rise of ISIS

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 04 Jan 2018 02:35:24 +0000

In this episode, MWI's Capt. Jake Miraldi talks to best selling author and award winning filmmaker Sebastian Junger about his newest film, "Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS."

Ep. 41 – "Are We Destined for War with China?" – Dr. Graham Allison

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 18:28:39 +0000

Ep. 40 – The Future Multi-Domain Battlespace, with Gen. David Perkins

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 05 Dec 2017 21:32:05 +0000

In this episode, Gen. David Perkins, commander of US Army Training and Doctrine Command, joins to talk about Multi-Domain Battle, the new concept by which the military will fight its future wars, deploying power dynamically across multiple domains: air, land, and sea, but also space, and cyberspace.

Ep. 39 – Surveying the Threat Landscape, with Gen. David Petraeus

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 21:31:50 +0000

Gen. David Petraeus had a remarkable military career—including commanding the 101st Airborne Division at the beginning of the Iraq War and later commanding all forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He also served as commander of CENTCOM and, after retiring from the Army, as director of the CIA. In this conversation, he assesses the global operating environment and the trends that will define the future threat landscape.

Ep. 38 – All About the F-35

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 19:41:40 +0000

The F-35 is the new fifth-generation fighter jet the US military expects will overcome the many challenges of the battlespace of today and tomorrow. In this episode, two former Air Force pilots, including one who was responsible for designing the F-35's cockpit, explain why this is the best fighter to meet the needs of the next war.

Ep. 37 – The North Korea Challenge, with Dr. Victor Cha

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 02:26:19 +0000

What should we make of the considerable uptick in North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile tests? What are the best tools to bring to bear against the North Korea problem? In this episode, Georgetown University's Victor Cha answers these and other questions in a fascinating conversation.

Ep. 36 – Human Analysis in the Age of the Algorithm, with Dr. Nicholas Krohley

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 02:24:41 +0000

Ep. 35 – How Innovation Happens in the Military, with Professor Stephen Rosen

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 01:45:37 +0000

How and why did the US Navy shift from battleships to aircraft carriers? What drove the US Army's adoption of helicopter aviation? In this episode, Harvard University's Professor Stephen Rosen tackles these and a range of other fascinating questions about innovation in the military.

Ep. 34 – Tactical Economics, with Maj. Jon Bate

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 22:11:48 +0000

Money is a powerful weapon in a combat zone. There are risks of deploying it in the form of economic programs, of course. But when used effectively, "tactical economics" can be a powerful tool with which to achieve operational and even tactical goals. In this conversation with MWI's Capt. Jake Miraldi, Maj. Jon Bate explains how money can be brought to bear at war.

Ep. 33 – Russia, Global Security, and Limited War, with Dr. Jakub Grygiel

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 21:53:35 +0000

In this episode of the Modern War Institute podcast, MWI's Capt. Jake Miraldi speaks to Dr. Jakub Grygiel, the George H.W. Bush Senior Associate Professor of International Relations at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Grygiel explain the concept of "limited war," and discusses how its adoption as a strategy—most notably by Russia—shapes the global security environment.

Ep. 31 – The Future Urban Battlefield, with Dr. Russell Glenn

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 15:15:14 +0000

Ep. 31 – Neuroscience and the Weapons of War, with Dr. James Giordano

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 01:34:26 +0000

Ep. 30 – Zombies and Global Security, with Max Brooks

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 02:45:14 +0000

In this episode, Capt. Jake Miraldi talks to Max Brooks, bestselling author of "World War Z" and "The Zombie Survival Guide" about how he uses zombies in his books as a stand-in for the kinds of major crises that transcend borders and require coordinated responses, often with a military component. The conversation also touches on society's civil-military gap, the importance of creative thinking for military leaders, and more.

Ep. 29 – Training to Win, with Col. Jonathan Neumann

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 02:47:14 +0000

In this episode, Capt. Jake Miraldi speaks to Col. Jonathan Neumann, the director of West Point's Department of Military Instruction and previously the commander of the 198th Infantry Brigade, responsible for training nearly 20,000 new infantrymen and mortarmen each year.

Ep. 28 – A Firefight on the Edge of Sadr City

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 19:33:21 +0000

In 2008, Maj. Emily Spencer was an EOD platoon leader in Iraq. In April, she and one of her teams accompanied a route clearance patrol that was planned to approach Sadr City, a notorious safe haven for militants. As the reached the edge of the dangerous neighborhood, IEDs began detonating and they began taking fire. Listen to Maj. Spencer talk through the fight.

Ep. 27 – The Battle of Barg-e Matal

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 02:08:26 +0000

This is the first episode in MWI's new podcast, "The Spear," which is aimed at providing a window into the combat experience. In this episode, Capt. Jake Miraldi walks us through the 2009 Battle of Barg-e Matal in eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province, and his role in it as a platoon leader.

Ep. 26 - Capt. Natalie Mallue on Her Ranger School Experience

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 24 May 2017 04:03:36 +0000

In this episode, Capt. Natalie Mallue describes her experience as one of only seven women to have complete the US Army's grueling Ranger School. She discusses her preparation, what it means to be among such a select group of women, and the advice she would give to future Ranger School attendees.

Ep. 25 - Opening Shock: Four Combat Jump Veterans Tell Their Stories

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 10 May 2017 04:01:49 +0000

In this episode, a joint production with the West Point Center for Oral History, four combat jump veterans talk about their experiences jumping onto the battlefield from above.

Ep. 24 - Physical Fitness and National Security with Lt. Gen. (Ret) Mark Hertling

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 12:17:48 +0000

In this episode, we talk to Lt. Gen. (Ret) Mark Hertling about the risk to military readiness and national security posed by declining American physical fitness.

Ep. 23 - Robots, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 05:01:08 +0000

In this episode, we speak with US Air Force Maj. Jen Snow of USSOCOM's SOFWERX and author and futurist Dr. James Canton. From robotics to AI to autonomy and more, the guests explore what war is most likely to look like in the future—and explain how vital it is for US warfighters to be kept ahead of ever-quickening technological trends.

Ep. 22 - On Writing and War

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 01:58:39 +0000

In this episode, four writers discuss the ways that writing can help clarify our thinking about war—past, present, and future—and process firsthand experiences at war.

Ep. 21 – "Tunnel Warfare, Robots, and the Future Battlefield" with IDF Brig. Gen. Nechemya Sokal

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 21:30:32 +0000

Brig. Gen. Nechemya Sokal, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces’ Technology and Logistics Branch, discusses battlefield challenges the IDF has confronted, the solutions put in place, and how those solutions came to fruition. We talk tunnel warfare, autonomous systems, and the future of war.

Ep. 20 - "Championing Creativity" with Max Brooks

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 20:23:33 +0000

Max Brooks talks about how creativity can only succeed if someone takes up and works for new ideas. From Army doctrine to weapons development to organizational management, championing creativity has to happen to allow new ideas to grow and spread. We talk how that applies to the Army today and to the future of war.

Ep. 19 - "Leadership on Your Worst Day" with MoH Recipient SSG Sal Giunta

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 02:29:04 +0000

Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. (Ret) Sal Giunta discusses his actions in the Korengal Valley in 2007, how he managed keep calm under duress, and what he was fighting for.

Ep. 18 - "The Autonomous Battlefield" with August Cole

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 23:14:39 +0000

We talk with August Cole about how autonomous systems will shape the future battlefield and how they are beginning to appear today. Where on the battlefield will autonomous systems be used and which domains will see the most profound changes?

Ep. 17 - "Catching Saddam Hussein" with Eric Maddox

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 07 Dec 2016 23:44:40 +0000

MWI talks to Eric Maddox, former US Army interrogator, about how he developed a new way to conduct interrogations. His interrogations eventually led to information about the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein.

Ep. 16 - "Achieving Tactical Overmatch" with MG (R) Robert Scales

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 02:47:44 +0000

MWI talks with "Scales on War" author and former Army War College Commandant MG (R) Robert Scales. We discuss how the role of the infantry has changes and how we might increase the lethality and effectiveness of the frontline fighting force.

Ep. 15 - "Intelligence Operations on the Modern Battlefield" with GEN (R) Michael Hayden

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 12:42:41 +0000

MWI talks to GEN (R) Michael Hayden, former NSA and CIA director, about the changes in the way we collect and use intelligence and how that will influence the modern battlefield.

Ep. 14 - "Assessing Emerging Trends" with COL Michael Loos

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 26 Oct 2016 11:47:39 +0000

The MWI podcast sits down with COL Michael Loos, commander of the Army Asymmetric Warfare Group, to discuss how they work to support the operational force through observation and analysis of emerging technologies and tactics. We also talk the AWG's approach to training and preparation of units and leaders.

Ep. 13 - "The American Soldier Experience" with Sebastian Junger

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 15:43:21 +0000

The Modern War Institute talks Sebastian Junger's new book "Tribe" and about his on the ground experience in Afghanistan. Hosted by Cadet Mitchell Magill.

Ep. 12 - "The Modern Nature of Casualties" with Dr. Tanisha Fazal

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 11:12:56 +0000

Dr. Tanisha Fazal, an associate professor of Political Science and Peace Studies at Notre Dame, discusses the changing nature of the kill-to-wounded ratio in war and how casualties in modern war impact soldiers, policymakers, and the public.

Ep. 11 - "Tactical Economics" with MAJ Jon Bate

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 15:37:09 +0000

MAJ Jon Bate discusses his recently published paper on how tactical economics influence decision-making and the modern battlefield. We talk both macro and micro-economic considerations and how the Army should understand the impact of economic interventions. You can find the full copy of his paper at mwi.usma.edu.

"West Point and the War in Iraq" with LTG Robert L. Caslen Jr.

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 00:57:12 +0000

The Modern War Institute has an exclusive discussion with LTG Robert L. Caslen Jr., 59th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy about his recent trip to Iraq and what it means for the development of future Army leaders.

Ep. 9 - "What Makes Violent Actors Tick?" with Dr. Benedetta Berti

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 20:04:59 +0000

MWI sits down with Dr. Benedetta Berti, researcher, author, and TED speaker to discuss the rise of violent non-state actors and how security professionals should understand them.

Ep. 8 - "War in the Greater Middle East" with Dr. Andrew Bacevich

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 12:57:36 +0000

We talk to Dr. Andrew Bacevich about his new book "America's War for the Greater Middle East" and how security professionals and leaders can prepare for the complexities of current and future war.

Ep. 7 - "War and Recovery with the Most Wounded Commander in the Army" with MAJ DJ Skelton

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 27 May 2016 13:46:49 +0000

We sit down with MAJ DJ Skelton, USMA class of 2003, to talk about his experiences in Iraq, Afghanistan, and as a wounded warrior.

Ep. 6 - "The Story of Wanat" with SSG Ryan Pitts

Modern War Institute at West Point — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 10:31:00 +0000

We talk with SSG Ryan Pitts, Medal of Honor recipient, about 2008's Battle of Wanat. His unit experienced a large scale, determined attack in the mountains of Afghanistan which resulting in nine Americans killed. We hear his story and discuss ways that further leaders can prepare themselves for situations similar to those he experienced.

Ep. 5 - "Zombies and Global Security" with Max Brooks

Modern War Institute at West Point — Wed, 06 Apr 2016 03:11:55 +0000

We talk to Max Brooks, writer of the Zombie Survival Guide, World War Z, and Harlem Hellfighters, about how a zombie plague can help us understand current and future security issues.

Ep. 4 - "The Evolving US Template to Global Security" with Eric Schmitt

Modern War Institute at West Point — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 03:23:52 +0000

The United States currently has a limited appetite for large scale deployment of conventional forces, but the security situation around the world is tenuous. Today, the United States has avoided large deployments through drone warfare and proxy support. We talk with New York Times reporter Eric Schmitt about where and how that template is being used and how effective the larger operational template is in handling global security threats.

Ep. 3 - "The Once and Future Mission" with Michael O'Hanlon

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 15 Mar 2016 00:19:52 +0000

We talk to Michael O'Hanlon from the Brookings Institution about the current state of the Army, what the future of the Army holds, and how juniors leaders and security professionals can prepare.

Ep. 2 - "A Look at Urban Warfare in the Syrian City of Aleppo" with Dr. Rodger Shanahan

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 18:36:28 +0000

This week on the podcast we talk to Dr. Rodger Shanahan, a Research Fellow at the Lowy Institute.

Using Aleppo as a case study we talk about tactical action leading up to the fighting in Aleppo, air to ground integration between Russian air forces and Syrian ground forces, as well as what tactical level leaders can learn about ground war from Syria’s example.

Ep. 1 - "Are We Headed for Limited War" with Dr. Jakub Grygiel

Modern War Institute at West Point — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:32:11 +0000

For our first podcast we are talking to Dr. Jakub Grygiel of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. We talk limited war and how it influences the tactical, operational, and strategic picture in Europe and beyond.