Podcasts about armed conflict

The Legality and Lethality of Armed Conflict. Guest: Henry Sokolski. Henry Sokolski analyzes a public memo from Admiral Brad Cooper regarding the legitimacy of lethal force. They discuss the necessity of proportionality in conflict, arguing that avoiding civilian targets like nuclear reactors is a military requirement for success, as destroying essential infrastructure alienates populations and complicates future operations. 4PERSIA

SCHEDULE THE JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW, 6-22-26.1787The Fog of Diplomacy in the Strait of Hormuz. Guest: Ambassador Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio. Guests discuss competing headlines regarding "progress" in US-Iran negotiations and ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Ambassador Haqqani notes neither side has achieved its original war aims, while Bill Roggio argues the US lacks the military will to reopen the Strait, leaving Iran with the strategic advantage. 1Pakistan as a Strategic Mediator. Guest: Ambassador Hussain Haqqani and Bill Roggio. John Batchelor examines Pakistan's role as a mediator between the United States and Iran. Ambassador Haqqani explains that Pakistan provided an "exit ramp" for the Trump administration by utilizing its unique access to the IRGC and Iran's power structure to facilitate communication and avoid further military escalation. 2Hamas Sidelined in Regional Talks. Guest: Samuel Ben-Ur and Bill Roggio. Samuel Ben-Ur explains why Hamas has been sidelined in recent Iranian negotiations compared to Hezbollah. Relations soured when Hamas failed to support Iranian strikes against Qatari targets. Currently, Hamas remains funded by Qatar and Turkey while maintaining a brutal "reign of terror" over the portions of Gaza it still controls. 3The Legality and Lethality of Armed Conflict. Guest: Henry Sokolski. Henry Sokolski analyzes a public memo from Admiral Brad Cooper regarding the legitimacy of lethal force. They discuss the necessity of proportionality in conflict, arguing that avoiding civilian targets like nuclear reactors is a military requirement for success, as destroying essential infrastructure alienates populations and complicates future operations. 4Latin America's Shift to the Right. Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Guests discuss the right-wing political shift in Latin America following Abelardo De La Espriella's apparent victory in Colombia. They compare his security-focused platform to the Bukele model in El Salvador, emphasizing a mandate to combat the organized crime that has historically penetrated the region's political systems. 5The Slow-Motion Coup in Bolivia. Guest: Ernesto Araújo and Alejandro Peña Esclusa. The segment addresses the crisis in Bolivia, where Evo Morales is accused of orchestrating a "slow motion coup" via blockades. Ernesto Araújo criticizes Brazilian President Lula's silence on the matter, while Alejandro Peña Esclusa suggests that regional support for the elected government may finally lead to Morales facing legal consequences. 6The Failure to Counter Chinese Influence. Guest: Bill Gertz and Gordon Chang. Bill Gertz details a GAO report revealing that the US spent $1.2 billion on countering Chinese influence without evaluating its impact. The discussion highlights the superior effectiveness of Chinese information warfare, which outspends the US significantly to shape global narratives while American efforts lack a cohesive strategy. 7The Crisis in Air Force Procurement. Guest: General Blaine Holt and Gordon Chang. General Blaine Holt critiques the broken US procurement system, specifically the Air Force's contradictory stance on retiring the A-10 Warthog while keeping the B-52 bomber for a century. He advocates for reform to break contractor monopolies, allowing the military to innovate faster and field cheaper equipment. 8Iran's Economic Demands in Switzerland. Guest: Jonathan Schanzer and Bill Roggio. Jonathan Schanzer argues that Iran is seeking a systemic economic lifeline through billions in unfrozen assets. He criticizes recent US oil waivers as a sign of caving to pressure. Iran aims to link a Lebanon ceasefire to negotiations to delay nuclear discussions and drive a wedge. 9Resurgent Piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Guest: Bridget Toomey and Bill Roggio. Bridget Toomey reports a resurgence of Somali piracy, with three ships recently captured for ransom in the Gulf of Aden. Bill Roggio links this spike to Al-Shabaab's growth and suggests that pirate networks may be coordinating with the Houthis to facilitate weapons smuggling and increase regional instability. 10The Flaws of the Iran Memorandum. Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio. Edmund Fitton-Brown critiques the current US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, calling it a failure of negotiation that incorporates "every Iranian trick." He argues Iran's core goals—the destruction of Israel and the expulsion of US influence—remain unchanged, and that the US has displayed a defeatist lack of patience. 11Eurasian Interests in Middle East Conflict. Guest: Edmund Fitton-Brown and Bill Roggio. Guests discuss how Russia and China are benefiting from America's Middle East difficulties, often frustrating US objectives on the nuclear file. Fitton-Brown notes the Europeans have been "anemic," failing to coordinate a forceful naval presence to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains reliably open for global energy trade. 12Ukraine's Military Manpower Crisis. Guest: John Hardie and Bill Roggio. John Hardie discusses Ukrainian military reforms aimed at addressing the manpower crisis by clarifying pay and contract lengths. While intended to prevent desertion, there is skepticism that the government can fulfill promises to discharge long-serving troops without risking a collapse of the front lines against Russia. 13Hezbollah's Shadow Banking System. Guest: Ahmad Sharawi and Bill Roggio. Ahmad Sharawi examines Al-Qard Al-Hassan, Hezbollah's financial arm that provides social services and interest-free loans outside the official banking system. Although Israel has targeted its branches, the Lebanese government is hesitant to shut it down, allowing it to sustain the group's operations through gold-backed financing. 14The $216 Billion Rebuild of Syria. Guest: Josh Rogin and Bill Roggio. Josh Rogin reports that Syria requires $216 billion for reconstruction following the fall of the Assad regime. He explains that US "State Sponsor of Terrorism" sanctions prevent American businesses from bidding on contracts, leaving an opening for Chinese and Russian technology to dominate the new government's infrastructure. 15Recommendations for a New Syria Policy. Guest: Josh Rogin and Bill Roggio. Josh Rogin recommends that the US prepare to lift the terrorism designation on Syria to support reconstruction and counter adversarial influence. He argues the current Al-Shara government is the only viable partner for stability and that US bureaucratic inertia is currently benefiting China, Russia, and Iran. 16

Across Africa, norms regulating the conduct of hostilities long predate the codification of modern international humanitarian law (IHL). The ICRC Tool on African traditions and the preservation of humanity in warfare highlights how many African societies developed rules limiting violence, protecting civilians, and preserving human dignity during conflict. These traditions resonate strongly with contemporary IHL principles and offer important insights for current efforts to protect children affected by armed conflict. At a time when children continue to face killing and maiming, attacks on schools and hospitals, recruitment, displacement, and profound psychological harm, grounding humanitarian protection in both legal obligations and culturally rooted values can strengthen efforts to uphold humanity during war. In this post, Professor Robert Doya Nanima, Member of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and Special Rapporteur on Children Affected by Armed Conflict, reflects on the relevance of the ICRC Tool through the lens of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Drawing connections between African traditions, IHL, and African Union frameworks such as Agenda 2040 and Agenda 2063, he argues that the protection of children in conflict requires breaking down institutional silos and placing children at the center of humanitarian action.

There has been continued violence in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in recent months as rebel groups and armed forces wrestle for territorial control. DR Congo's North and South Kivu provinces have been the epicentre of the ongoing Ebola outbreak, along with Ituri Province where more than 560 cases of the virus have been reported. Parts of these eastern areas are under the control of rebel group M23, whose clashes with government forces have brought additional difficulties in dealing with the virus. We hear from a humanitarian worker in Goma, eastern DRC. Also, are AI assistants increasingly leaning towards established gender stereotypes in their responses and interactions?Presenter: Nkechi Ogbonna Producers: Bella Twine, Victor Chege and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Maxwell Onyango Senior Producer: Keikantse Shumba Editors: Charles Gitonga and Maryam Abdalla

Children in Ukraine have spent years living with air raid sirens, disrupted education and the daily uncertainty of war. Many are forced to learn online or in underground classrooms as communities adapt to the realities of a prolonged conflict.During recent visits to Ukraine and the Russian Federation, the UN's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, met children, families, and officials on both sides of the border. Ahead of the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, observed on 4 June, she spoke to UN News's Evgeniya Kleshcheva about what she witnessed and why keeping children at the centre of all responses remains essential.

In this episode of Protecting Academia at Risk, Elena Trifan speaks with researcher Venera Régent, WPZ Research, about universities living through war, armed conflict, and systemic crisis.The conversation explores the Erasmus+-funded project CLOUD HED - Disaster Resilience in the Higher Education Sector via a Cloud University Model, which investigates how higher education institutions adapt under conditions of disruption and uncertainty. Together, they discuss academic resilience, digital infrastructures, institutional survival, well-being, and the human relationships that sustain academic life in times of crisis.The episode also discusses the forthcoming volume Higher Education in Times of War and Crisis: Institutional Resilience, Responses, and Preparedness in Contexts of Armed Conflict and Systemic Disruption, expected to be published by Brill in late 2026.Listen to the Protecting Academia at Risk podcast series via the CEU Podcast Library:https://podcasts.ceu.edu/series/protecting-academia-risk-towards-new-policy-agenda-thriving-culture-higher-education-europeFollow Protecting Academia at Risk on Facebook and LinkedIn for future episodes and updates.The volume in press, Higher Education in Times of War and Crisis: Institutional Resilience, Responses, and Preparedness in Contexts of Armed Conflict and Systemic Disruption, explores how higher education systems respond to extreme disruption caused by war, displacement, destruction, and political instability. Through case studies ranging from Ukraine and Israel to World War II, the former Yugoslavia, and the anticipatory cases of Poland, and Latvia, the book examines institutional resilience, crisis preparedness, and continuity strategies in higher education.The volume is a deliverable of the Erasmus+-funded project Disaster Resilience in Higher Education Systems via a Cloud University Model, which investigates emergency-driven digital transformation in higher education and the conditions for resilient, crisis-sensitive teaching and learning in virtual environments. More information on the project can be found at https://www.cloud-hed.eu/ or via https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/cloud-hed/posts/?feedView=all .

This bonus content is a reading from Platypus, the CASTAC Blog. The full post by Valeria Sánchez-Prieto can be read at https://blog.castac.org/2026/05/animals-in-war-multispecies-agency-and-the-memory-of-the-colombian-armed-conflict/. About the post: In one testimony from Colombia's armed conflict, a parrot named Lola repeated the phrases she heard around her: “Paraco asesino” (“paramilitary murderer”), “Viva la guerrilla” (“long live the guerrilla”), and “The vultures are coming” Her voice condensed the sounds, fears, and political tensions of war into a multispecies archive of memory. Far from being passive witnesses, animals moved within the infrastructures of conflict as companions, alarms, transportation, and sometimes even weapons. Yet these violent incorporations are only the most extreme expression of a broader multispecies world of conflict. (This episode is available in additional languages on Platypus, The CASTAC Blog.)

Across the world, essential civilian services increasingly depend on information and communication technologies (ICTs). These same technologies are also reshaping the conduct of armed conflict. As warfare becomes more digitalized, a critical question emerges: how can civilians be protected in an interconnected battlespace? Ensuring the faithful implementation of international humanitarian law in relation to ICT activities is central to this challenge. In this post, Wen Zhou, ICRC Legal Adviser with the Global Initiative to Galvanize Political Commitment to International Humanitarian Law (Global IHL Initiative), draws on discussions under the ICT workstream of the Initiative to highlight key humanitarian and legal questions arising from ICT activities in armed conflict, and to reflect ongoing efforts by states and other stakeholders to uphold the protections afforded by IHL and strengthen its implementation in practice.

Commissioned in 1988 into the Indian Army's Judge Advocate General's Department, Maj Gen Javed Iqbal commenced his military career with the Madras Regiment in the Kargil/Drass sector, serving on the Line of Control. He went on to serve with Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu & Kashmir and with Assam Rifles in the North East, where he played an active role in counter-insurgency operations.He served as an instructor at the National Defence Academy and was chosen as Legal Advisor to the UN Force Commander during the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. He also completed an international course in the United States on the Law of Armed Conflict and Human Rights, securing the top position. Rising to Maj Gen, the apex rank in the JAG Department, he was honoured with the Vishisht Seva Medal by the President this year in recognition of his distinguished service

Commissioned in 1988 into the Indian Army's Judge Advocate General's Department, Maj Gen Javed Iqbal commenced his military career with the Madras Regiment in the Kargil/Drass sector, serving on the Line of Control. He went on to serve with Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu & Kashmir and with Assam Rifles in the North East, where he played an active role in counter-insurgency operations.He served as an instructor at the National Defence Academy and was chosen as Legal Advisor to the UN Force Commander during the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. He also completed an international course in the United States on the Law of Armed Conflict and Human Rights, securing the top position. Rising to Maj Gen, the apex rank in the JAG Department, he was honoured with the Vishisht Seva Medal by the President this year in recognition of his distinguished service

Commissioned in 1988 into the Indian Army's Judge Advocate General's Department, Maj Gen Javed Iqbal commenced his military career with the Madras Regiment in the Kargil/Drass sector, serving on the Line of Control. He went on to serve with Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu & Kashmir and with Assam Rifles in the North East, where he played an active role in counter-insurgency operations.He served as an instructor at the National Defence Academy and was chosen as Legal Advisor to the UN Force Commander during the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. He also completed an international course in the United States on the Law of Armed Conflict and Human Rights, securing the top position. Rising to Maj Gen, the apex rank in the JAG Department, he was honoured with the Vishisht Seva Medal by the President this year in recognition of his distinguished service

Commissioned in 1988 into the Indian Army's Judge Advocate General's Department, Maj Gen Javed Iqbal commenced his military career with the Madras Regiment in the Kargil/Drass sector, serving on the Line of Control. He went on to serve with Rashtriya Rifles in Jammu & Kashmir and with Assam Rifles in the North East, where he played an active role in counter-insurgency operations.He served as an instructor at the National Defence Academy and was chosen as Legal Advisor to the UN Force Commander during the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone. He also completed an international course in the United States on the Law of Armed Conflict and Human Rights, securing the top position. Rising to Maj Gen, the apex rank in the JAG Department, he was honoured with the Vishisht Seva Medal by the President this year in recognition of his distinguished service.

A critical deadline looms as tensions between the United States and Iran reached a far more destructive phase of the war. This episode of STRAT explores the implications of a stark ultimatum, examining what military, political, and strategic realities could unfold if no agreement is reached. From the legality of targeting infrastructure under the Laws of Armed Conflict to the fragile condition of Iran's conventional forces, retired Marine Intelligence Officer Hal Kempfer breaks down the risks on all sides. The discussion also highlights a daring U.S. rescue mission deep inside hostile territory, showcasing operational reach and capability. Meanwhile, internal fractures within Iran's regime, leadership uncertainty, and growing public unrest raise questions about stability. With possible retaliation in the Persian Gulf and beyond, and global stakeholders watching closely, this moment could reshape the region. The coming days may determine whether escalation, regime instability, or an unexpected resolution defines the next chapter.Takeaways:A firm U.S. deadline has dramatically escalated tensions with IranThreats include strikes on critical infrastructure and military targetsLaws of Armed Conflict shape legitimacy of potential targetsIran's conventional military faces logistical strain and morale issuesLimited evidence of widespread defections within Iranian forcesA high-risk U.S. rescue mission demonstrated deep operational reachLeadership uncertainty inside Iran could destabilize the regimeThe Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global flashpoint#STRATPodcast #HalKempfer #MutualBroadcastingSystem #StrategicRiskAnalysis #IranCrisis #MiddleEastConflict #USIranTensions #Geopolitics #MilitaryStrategy #NationalSecurity #GlobalRisk #DefenseAnalysis #WarRisk #IranDeadline #HormuzStrait #IntelligenceBrief #ForeignPolicy #CrisisAnalysis #WorldEvents #SecurityStudies

When armed conflict ends, education does not always return with it. In many post-conflict settings, schools remain closed long after ceasefires, while children stay at home, enter work, remain displaced or navigate unsafe environments. Education systems remain constrained by destroyed infrastructure, militarization, unexploded ordnance, trauma and fear. Although international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) require the continuity of education even during armed conflict, schooling is frequently disrupted in practice, raising questions about how education can be safely restored after conflict. IHL regulates the conduct of hostilities and contains important protections for children and access to education during armed conflict. Lessons drawn from these protections can help inform recovery decisions as societies transition from conflict to peace, including after the cessation of hostilities, when recovery begins but IHL may still apply. In this post, as part of our Emerging Voices series, Geeta Mahapatra proposes a framework to facilitate children's safe return to education, centred on child-specific harm assessments, safe access and inclusive recovery. It contends that stronger compliance with IHL rules protecting schools and children during armed conflict helps preserve the conditions necessary for restoring education in post-conflict settings.

Ed Larson Ed Larson examines the 1770s transition of American colonists from subjects to citizens. He describes George Washington's personal shift toward independence, concluding that armed conflict made total separation the only viable path forward. Washington's Transformation from British Subject to Independent Citizen (4)1783 JOHN ADAMS

Artificial intelligence (AI)-based decision-support systems are increasingly embedded upstream of the use of force, shaping how military actors plan attacks, assessing effects, and anticipating harm. In contemporary urban warfare, where civilian infrastructure forms complex and deeply interconnected systems, these tools are increasingly used to guide decisions with far-reaching humanitarian consequences. This raises critical questions for international humanitarian law (IHL), which requires parties to anticipate and mitigate foreseeable civilian harm when applying the principles of proportionality and precaution, including indirect, cumulative and systemic effects on civilian infrastructure. In this post, independent legal researcher Yéelen Marie Geairon argues that while AI-enabled decision-support systems do not alter the legal rules governing attacks, they significantly reshape how foreseeability is operationalized in practice. By structuring what decision-makers are able to anticipate, compare and justify ex ante, AI systems recalibrate the factual basis of legal judgment, while also introducing new risks linked to data gaps, opacity and over-reliance on technical outputs. The protection of civilian infrastructure in AI-enabled warfare therefore depends less on technological performance than on the legal discipline, transparency and human judgment with which these tools are embedded in decision-making processes.

In this episode, Anik Patel, MD, FAAP, discusses the effects of armed conflict on children and adolescents. David Hill, MD, FAAP, and Joanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, FAAP, also speak with Katie Piwnica-Worms, MD, MHS, about short-term Medicaid utilization associated with an advanced primary care model. For resources go to aap.org/podcast.

Send a textImagine this scene:A family's house was destroyed when it was bombed during a war. They got out with the clothes on their backs – nothing more. When they were fleeing, the mother was hit with fragments from another bomb. It tore off part of her leg. Dirt got in the wound.They made it to a refugee camp, but the wound got infected. With nothing available to treat the injury, the infection got worse. She had a drug-resistant infection that wasn't treatable with regular antibiotics. Her entire leg and part of her hip had to be removed to save her life. She will have a physical disability for the rest of her life.This is just one story of drug resistance or antimicrobial resistance (AMR)  and the impact of armed conflict. Report after report finds that victims of armed conflict and refugees – both those seeking shelter abroad and inside their own countries – are especially likely to suffer from drug-resistant infections.Dr. Aula Abbara, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Acute Medicine and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College, London, has been studying the problem firsthand.She's worked with teams that found people injured in Syria's 15-year-long conflict not only suffered terrible wounds, but then developed worse infections because of crowded and unsanitary conditions in healthcare facilities. These war-damaged hospital laboratories in Syria, especially, lacked the capacity to test for drug-resistant bacteria, and so doctors didn't know which antibiotics to prescribe to treat patients' infections.Solutions require taking a One Health approach, Dr. Abbara and colleagues have found.She and her colleagues call for programs to bring in more health professionals and healthcare access; introduction of easy-to-use diagnostics so people's infections can be immediately diagnosed and thus treated with the correct drugs; stopping the improper use and distribution of antibiotics; and proper surveillance so that professionals know which drug-resistant infections are spreading and where.In this episode of One World, One Health, Dr. Abbara chats with host Maggie Fox about what she's seen and what might help.

Islamic legal traditions and the modern framework of international humanitarian law (IHL) emerged from different contexts and traditions, but they share many underlying values – such as restraint, humanity, and the protection of those not (or no longer) participating in hostilities. Islamic law therefore offers a distinct but complementary perspective to IHL on the sanctity of life (ḥurmat al-nafs), particularly in contexts where international legal frameworks lack traction, understanding, or perceived legitimacy. In this post, and as part of our Emerging Voices series, legal researcher Alannah Travers explores how Islamic law, as its own coherent and longstanding legal tradition, offers a parallel framework of moral constraint during armed conflict. She argues that better understanding these Islamic legal norms can provide stronger grounds for compliance with protective norms, deepening our collective understanding of the right to life in war.

FHSMUN 47 - SOCHUM - Combatting the Impact of Armed Conflict on Cultural Heritage Sites by FHSMUN, Inc.

In this episode, Mae Thompson speaks with Prof Luke Moffett, Dr Jessica Dorsey, and Chris Rogers about how artificial intelligence is already reshaping military decision making and what that means for civilian harm, accountability, and redress. The guests distinguish AI‑enabled decision support from lethal autonomy, unpack the cognitive risks of automation bias, anchoring, and de‑skilling, and consider how AI might responsibly support civilian‑harm tracking and investigations through data fusion and triage. They discuss the “triple black box” of accountability (model opacity, military secrecy, and diffused responsibility), the importance of lawful‑by‑design guardrails across the AI lifecycle, and why NGOs must pair new tools with people‑centred documentation. Looking ahead, they reflect on opportunities for a UK statutory redress scheme to deliver prompt acknowledgement, amends, and mitigation—keeping accountability pace with capability while centring affected communities. Prof Luke Moffett — Chair of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Queen's University Belfast; author of Algorithms of War: The Human Cost of AI and Conflict (forthcoming, Bristol University Press). Dr Jessica Dorsey — Assistant Professor of International Law, Utrecht University; Director of the Realities of Algorithmic Warfare; expert member of the Global Commission on Responsible AI in the Military Domain; Ambassador for the Lawful by Design initiative; Executive Board Member at Airwars. Chris Rogers — Senior Fellow at the Reiss (Reese) Center on Law and Security, New York University School of Law; former Branch Chief and Law & Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Defense's Civilian Protection Center of Excellence. This podcast is the sixth in a series of episodes on Civilian Harm in Conflict – hosted by Mae Thompson, advocacy officer at Ceasefire. The podcast is an output of the AHRC‑funded ‘Reparations during Armed Conflict' project with Queen's University Belfast, University College London and Ceasefire, led by Professor Luke Moffett.

In this episode, Mae Thompson speaks with Dr Kaleigh Heard, Dr Haim Abraham, and Dr Conall Mallory about how the UK could strengthen its approach to civilian harm mitigation and redress at a moment of global uncertainty. Reflecting on the rollback of civilian protection measures in the US and emerging reforms in places like the Netherlands, the guests explore the potential for the UK to assume a leadership role. They discuss the limits of relying solely on litigation, the promise of tort law, the strategic and moral value of compensation and acknowledgement, and the need for a comprehensive, statutory, victim‑centred framework that aligns with international obligations while offering accessible, meaningful redress for affected communities. Despite the challenging geopolitical landscape, the conversation highlights genuine opportunities for constructive change in UK policy. Dr Kaleigh Heard — Lecturer, UCL Department of Political Science; Deputy Director of the MA Human Rights; Director of the APPG on Modern Conflict; advisor to the US DoD Center of Excellence on Civilian Protection. Dr Haim Abraham — Assistant Professor of Law, UCL; author of Tort Liability in Warfare: State Wrongs and Civilian Rights(OUP, 2024). Dr Conall Mallory — Senior Lecturer in Law, Queen's University Belfast; Fellow of the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice. This podcast is the fifth in a series of episode on Civilian Harm in Conflict – hosted by Mae Thompson, advocacy officer at Ceasefire. The podcast is an output of the AHRC funded ‘Reparations during Armed Conflict‘ project with Queen's University Belfast, University College London and Ceasefire, led by Professor Luke Moffett.

As wars drag on across continents and conflicts grow more complex, children continue to bear the heaviest and most heartbreaking cost.Marking 30 years since the United Nations first established its mandate to protect children caught in war, Vanessa Frazier, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, is sounding the alarm, and calling for renewed global commitment to prevention, protection, and accountability.Ms. Frazier warned that grave violations against children are rising sharply, with more than 7,400 cases of child recruitment verified in 2024 alone.Charlotte Frantz began by asking where child recruitment is happening the most – and what is driving it.

Nathan Wood, author of "Bombs, Bots, and the Principle of Distinction: The Law of Armed Conflict and Contemporary Warfare," speaks on the principle of distinction in an age of autonomous warfare. He argues that while some concerns about these technologies are valid, we must move beyond general debates to address the specific legal and operational realities of concrete systems. Our conversation explores how the US military can utilize these advancements while maintaining a fundamental, felt sense of human responsibility. Hosts: Sheena Chestnut Greitens and Ryan Vest Producer: Jordan Morning

In this episode, hosted by Mae Thompson from Ceasefire, panellists Dr Elizabeth Stubbins Bates, Mark Lattimer, Executive Director, Ceasefire and Dr Conall Mallory, Director, QUB Human Rights Centre,  discuss the UK's approach to addressing civilian harm caused by military operations. They explore the gaps in current redress mechanisms, the importance of tracking and investigating civilian harm, and the potential for a UK civilian harm redress scheme. The conversation covers historical issues, political disincentives, and best practices from international examples, emphasising the need for more comprehensive and proactive investigations. Insights from legal and military experts underline the critical importance of transparency, accountability, and the recognition of civilian suffering. This podcast is the fourth in a series of episode on Civilian Harm in Conflict – hosted by Mae Thompson, advocacy officer at Ceasefire. The podcast is an output of the AHRC funded ‘Reparations during Armed Conflict‘ project with Queen's University Belfast, University College London and Ceasefire, led by Professor Luke Moffett.

The prospect for civil war is a hot topic right now. Stories in the news about polarization, economic stress, violent riots, and civil unrest make it seem inevitable. And yet… nothing ever seems to happen. Why?In this episode, we explore the surprising forces shaping modern unrest, why mass movements fail to mature, and what that means for the society we live in. This isn't speculation, it's a careful look at history, institutions, and human behavior in high-pressure systems.Why you should listen:Understand the unseen forces that prevent civil conflict even under extreme tensionLearn why unrest simmers without igniting, and what that reveals about modern institutionsGain insight into how society is evolving under stress, and what that might mean for your personal strategyIt's all inside this episode of PST!Support the showGet Members Only Content when you upgrade to a premium membership on our Substack page. Click here.Link up with us:Website: Pearl Snap TacticalInstagram: Pearl Snap Tactical X: Pearl Snap TaciticalThe views and opinions expressed by the guests do not necessarily reflect those of the host, this podcast or affiliates. The information provided in these shows are for educational purposes do not constitute legal advice. Those interest in training in the use of firearms or other self-defense applications are advised to seek out a professional, qualified instructor.(Some of the links in the episode show notes are affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products or services we have personally used and believe will add value to our listeners.)

Recorded January 13th, 2026. Are the recent deadly attacks lawful under international and US domestic law?  If they are NOT lawful orders, can US military personnel refuse to follow them? Who makes that decision? The speaker is a retired US Marine Corps lawyer who went on to teach The Law of Armed Conflict at the University of Washington in Seattle for twenty years. Speaker: Rick Lorenz, Senior Peace Fellow with the Public International Law and Policy Group. Discussant: Mike Becker, Assistant Professor of International Human Rights Law, Trinity College Dublin Date: 1pm, Tuesday 13 January 2026 Learn more at www.tcd.ie/trinitylongroomhub

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from our presenting sponsor TELUS, as well as CN Rail, Bruce Power, and AltaGas.Greetings, you curiouser and curiouser Herle Burly-ites! It occurs to us here at Air Quotes Media, that when the Prime Minister goes to China ... makes an historic trade deal ... and then invokes the term “New World Order” in his statement to the press – Carney said it slowly, dramatically, deliberately – you gather the most expert people you can think of and record a podcast about it, immediately.David Mulroney and Jennifer Welsh are with me today.David was Canada's ambassador to the People's Republic of China from 2009 to 2012. Prior to that he headed Canada's office in Taiwan and served as our Senior Official for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation. His 2016 book about our relationship with China, Middle Power, Middle Kingdom, was awarded with J.W, Dafoe Prize.Jennifer is the Canada 150 Research Chair in Global Governance and Security at McGill University and the Director of the Max Bell School of Public Policy. She's a Rhodes Scholar, earning a Master and Doctorate in International Relations at Oxford, and co-founded the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict.So today, I want to talk about what Trump, and the U.S. is saying, and doing, and the shifting world order. What might it look like? What are the implications for Canada? Can we influence it in any meaningful way? And the actions Prime Minister Carney has taken to date, the deal with China, and also his work in Europe and the Mid-East.Thank you for joining us on #TheHerleBurly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.Watch episodes of The Herle Burly via Air Quotes Media on YouTube.The sponsored ads contained in the podcast are the expressed views of the sponsor and not those of the publisher.

The environmental toll of armed conflict is neither insignificant nor fleeting: it contaminates water, soil, and air, erodes ecosystems, undermines livelihoods, and burdens public health long after the fighting stops. The damage both mirrors and magnifies humanitarian crises, from Gaza's mountains of debris to Ukraine's flood-borne pollutants, to Sudan's industrial contamination. Compounded by the impacts of the climate crisis, these environmental challenges only deepen the vulnerabilities of those affected by conflict. Understanding and addressing the interwoven impacts of conflict and the environment is essential for global climate, nature, pollution and sustainable development efforts, and to ensure that people can live and thrive in a healthy, secure and resilient environment. In this post, part of the War, Law and the Environment series, the UNEP Disasters and Conflicts Branch reflects on its decades of work helping countries address these challenges, charting a path from emergency response to long-term recovery. Through science-based assessments, practical guidance, and strategic partnerships, UNEP is equipping states to address the toxic legacies of war, restore ecosystems, and build resilience into the reconstruction process. Recent UN resolutions, including UNEA's 2024 consensus decision, underscore growing political recognition that protecting the environment in armed conflict is integral to peace and recovery. What emerges is a vision of environmental response not as an afterthought to war, but as a cornerstone of recovery, and an entry point to build back greener, fairer, and stronger in the shadow of destruction.

Picture a potential future armed conflict: missiles and drones crowding the skies, uncrewed vehicles rolling across borders, and governments scrambling to coordinate their defences. Their conclusion: Every citizen is needed. Some collect and relay information about the approaching enemy into an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that supports military decision-making. Reservists join the ranks of the armed forces. Computer experts choose to contribute by conducting cyber operations aimed at disrupting military operations, sowing chaos among the civilian population, and harming the enemy's economy. As the militaries on both sides rely heavily on digital communication, connectivity, and AI, the armed forces call on tech companies to provide cybersecurity services, computing power and digital communication networks. In this post, Tilman Rodenhäuser, Samit D'Cunha, and Laurent Gisel from the ICRC, Anna Rosalie Greipl from the Academy, and Professor Marco Roscini from the University of Westminster (and former Swiss IHL Chair at the Geneva Academy) present five key risks for civilians, along with the obligations of both civilians and states, related to the involvement of civilians in information and communication technology (ICT) activities in armed conflict.

The world grows darker by the day. Today, we'll discuss the new so-called “peace deal” in the Middle East, reveal even more about who I believe is behind Charlie Kirk's assassination (the Israeli government), and go deeper into Taylor Swift's evil OnlyFans era.--https://policecoffee.com/collections/coffee

Since early September, President Trump has ordered the U.S. military to conduct multiple lethal strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in at least 21 deaths. These unprecedented military actions raise critical questions about the identity of those targeted, the Administration's legal justification, and the scope of presidential power to designate “terrorists” and authorize lethal force. What checks exist from Congress, courts, or the executive branch to limit such authority?On this episode of the Just Security Podcast, cross-hosted with the Reiss Center on Law and Security, host Tess Bridgeman and co-host Rachel Goldbrenner are joined by experts Rebecca Ingber and Brian Finucane to analyze the facts, the law, and the broader implications of this military campaign in the Caribbean.They examine an important new chapter in the use of force against drug cartels and explores how far presidential powers extend in such contexts.Show Notes: This is a joint podcast of Just Security and NYU Law School's Reiss Center on Law and Security.Executive branch reporting on the vessel strikes, on Tren de Aragua, and related resources:48-Hour Report pursuant to the War Powers Resolution (September 4, 2025) (Note: For a living resource containing this and all other publicly available reports submitted pursuant to the War Powers Resolution since its enactment in 1973, see NYU Law's Reiss Center on Law and Security's War Powers Resolution Reporting Project)Notice to Congress Under 50 U.S.C. §1543a (Section 1230 of the FY 2024 National Defense Authorization Act) (undated, made public October 2, 2025)National Intelligence Council, Venezuela: Examining Regime Ties to Tren de Aragua (April 7, 2025)Listeners may also be interested in Just Security‘s Collection: U.S. Lethal Strikes on Suspected Drug Traffickers (updated, Oct. 3, 2025), including:Mary B. McCord and Tess Bridgeman, What the Senate Judiciary Committee Should Ask A.G. Bondi on Drug Cartel Strikes (Oct. 3, 2025)Marty Lederman, Legal Flaws in the Trump Administration's Notice to Congress on “Armed Conflict” with Drug Cartels (Oct. 3, 2025)Daniel Maurer, US Servicemembers' Exposure to Criminal Liability for Lethal Strikes on Narcoterrorists (September 24, 2025)Ben Saul, The United States' Dirty War on “Narco Terrorism” (September 22, 2025)Annie Shiel, John Ramming Chappell, Priyanka Motaparthy, Wells Dixon and Daphne Eviatar, Murder by Drone: The Legal and Moral Stakes of the Caribbean Strikes (September 17, 2025)Brian Finucane, Asserting a License to Kill: Why the Caribbean Strike is a Dangerous Departure from the “War on Terror (September 15, 2025)Marty Lederman, The Many Ways

Donald Trump says America is in armed conflict with drug cartels.The US President has ordered the military to strike “narco-terrorists” in boats off the Venezuela coast, with no questions asked.Today, Rachel VanLandingham, a former active-duty judge advocate in the US Air Force and law professor at Southwestern Law School in LA, on just how scary that is.Featured: Rachel VanLandingham, former judge advocate in the US Air Force and law professor at Southwestern Law School

MEMBERS! JOIN US FOR THE BONUS SHOW IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MAIN SHOW: INSERT HERE: https://youtube.com/live/4M13YF2bOW0EJOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Exclusive Members-only content & perks! Only ~17 cents/day! $5/month! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-GqXHAdxVUVMw2F_7h_X3Q/join The great and powerful President Trump has declared to Congress that he has found America to be in a state of ARMED CONFLICT with the narco-terrorist government of Venezuela.This finding comes after years of Venezuela and its Tren de Aragua (TdA) terrorists arm being engaged in irregular chemical warfare on the United States in the form of imported fentanyl and other drugs, as well as the use by Venezuela of TdA to engage in the predatory incursion and invasion of the United States for the purposes of murder, kidnapping, extortion, and other crimes against our nation. Of particular interest today I have insight to share with all of you from a friend of mine who is a Venezuelan national, who has lived under the Chavez regime, and who authorized me to share his thoughts on these state of affairs.As usual we'll also have a bunch of BONUS content in the members-only portion fo the show, including many NEW MEXICO MEMES!Join me LIVE at 11 AM ET as I break it all down!JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Exclusive Members-only content & perks! Only ~17 cents/day! $5/month! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-GqXHAdxVUVMw2F_7h_X3Q/join I'm Andrew Branca, a 34-year attorney and member of the Supreme Court bar. My personal mission is to deliver to all of you political and legal analysis that is exuberantly pro-America as envisioned by our Founders, pro-Constitutional order, pro-WESTERN civilization, pro-meritocracy, pro-AMERICAN family, and adamantly opposed to everyone and everything degenerate and barbaric that undermines those great American values. America, and all of western civilization, is currently in a desperate and existential war against enemies foreign and domestic. All of us are called upon to save our great nation and western cultural tradition from a destruction that would cast ourselves, our posterity, and indeed the world into a dark ages for centuries to come. And I invite each of YOU to join me in this desperate but worthy mission to save our great nation. The easiest way to do that? SUBSCRIBE! SUBSCRIBE! SUBSCRIBE! BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-GqXHAdxVUVMw2F_7h_X3Q/join : -)Intro song: "Back in the Saddle," Tone Seeker & Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz And even better, Episode 1035

Trump administration tells Congress the U.S. is in "armed conflict" with drug cartels after Venezuela boat strikes. Friday Sound Salad. Chad's Wheel of Surprise. Chad's NFL picks. Government shutdown day 3. Latest poll shows a growing distrust in media. Updates from UK mass stabbing. Zach Abraham of Bulwark Capital Management. Jim Kennedy of the Kennedy Institute for Public Policy Research. 

Support the show: Antiwar.com/donatePhone bank for Defend the Guard: https://defendtheguard.us/phonebankSign up for our newsletter: https://www.antiwar.com/newsletter/ 

EASY LISTENING DEP'T.: There is no job report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning. The numbers were reportedly compiled but are not being released, due to the government shutdown. Surely this is a neutral logistical decision on the bureau's part, and the numbers would stay in a file drawer even if they were positive for the Trump administration's economic performance, which most forecasters expected they would not be, or are not. Not sure what tense to use for data that exists but can't be seen. Please visit, read, and support INDIGNITY! https://www.indignity.net/

BEST OF - National Correspondent Rory O'Neill covers the government shutdown and concerns over ICE at the Super Bowl. President Donald Trump declares the U.S. is in an armed conflict with cartels. Kevin Cirilli, host of iHeartMedia's Hello Future podcast, explains why UAPs have moved from fringe to front-page news. White House Correspondent Jon Decker also joins with the latest shutdown update.

BEST OF - National Correspondent Rory O'Neill covers the government shutdown and concerns over ICE at the Super Bowl. President Donald Trump declares the U.S. is in an armed conflict with cartels. Kevin Cirilli, host of iHeartMedia's Hello Future podcast, explains why UAPs have moved from fringe to front-page news. White House Correspondent Jon Decker also joins with the latest shutdown update.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MEMBERS! JOIN US FOR THE BONUS SHOW IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS MAIN SHOW: INSERT HERE: https://youtube.com/live/NBVio9cU4QMJOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Exclusive Members-only content & perks! Only ~17 cents/day! $5/month! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-GqXHAdxVUVMw2F_7h_X3Q/join Our good friend and “Maryland Man” Kilmar Armando Abrego-Garcia has just been DENIED asylum by an Immigration Court, lining him up for his FINAL trebuchet-powered launch out of our great nation.In other breaking news, it looks like Trump has declared a state of ARMED CONFLICT with the drug cartels who have been waging an irregular chemical warfare against our nation for years.Join me LIVE at 4 PM ET as I break it all down!JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Exclusive Members-only content & perks! Only ~17 cents/day! $5/month! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-GqXHAdxVUVMw2F_7h_X3Q/join I'm Andrew Branca, a 34-year attorney and member of the Supreme Court bar. My personal mission is to deliver to all of you political and legal analysis that is exuberantly pro-America as envisioned by our Founders, pro-Constitutional order, pro-WESTERN civilization, pro-meritocracy, pro-AMERICAN family, and adamantly opposed to everyone and everything degenerate and barbaric that undermines those great American values. America, and all of western civilization, is currently in a desperate and existential war against enemies foreign and domestic. All of us are called upon to save our great nation and western cultural tradition from a destruction that would cast ourselves, our posterity, and indeed the world into a dark ages for centuries to come. And I invite each of YOU to join me in this desperate but worthy mission to save our great nation. The easiest way to do that? SUBSCRIBE! SUBSCRIBE! SUBSCRIBE! BECOME A CHANNEL MEMBER! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-GqXHAdxVUVMw2F_7h_X3Q/join : -)Intro song: "Back in the Saddle," Tone Seeker & Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz And even better, Episode 1034

For today's episode, Lawfare Senior Editor and General Counsel Scott R. Anderson sits down with Lawfare Contributing Editor and Indiana University Maurer School of Law professor Asaf Lubin and Hebrew University of Jerusalem professor Deborah Housen-Couriel to talk over the European Court of Human Rights' recent decision in Ukraine and the Netherlands v. Russia.Together, they discuss how the opinion lays new ground in discussing digital rights in wartime, what issues still need to be developed further, and what it all might mean for warfare in the future, both good and bad.For more, read Asaf and Deb's latest piece on Lawfare, “Digital Rights in Armed Conflict and the Ukraine v. Russia Decision.”To receive ad-free podcasts, become a Lawfare Material Supporter at www.patreon.com/lawfare. You can also support Lawfare by making a one-time donation at https://givebutter.com/lawfare-institute.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fighting has erupted along the border of Thailand and Cambodia as old tensions over territorial disputes boil over into a rare but deadly conflict. Thousands have evacuated on both sides as foreign leaders call for peace between the neighbours. - Министр иностранных дел Пенни Вонг заявила, что Австралия «глубоко обеспокоена» эскалацией напряжённости на тайско-камбоджийской границе, призвав путешественников сделить за рекомендациями по поездкам на сайте Smartraveller. Таиланд и Камбоджа обменялись огнем, что стало резкой эскалацией многолетнего конфликта из-за спорного приграничного района.

Fighting has erupted along the border of Thailand and Cambodia as old tensions over territorial disputes boil over into a rare but deadly conflict. Thousands have evacuated on both sides as foreign leaders call for peace between the neighbours.

About the Lecture: Conflict is no longer restricted to the domains of land, sea, and air. The Information Domain has emerged as a more than an equal warfighting domain for conflict from tension through armed conflict. The presentation will look at the information domain in military context in the Ukraine, Gaza, Bosnia, and Iraq. Attendees will get an inside look at how the military orchestrates non-kinetic (systems that don't cause death or damage) using Information Operations (IO) as a battlefield multiplier in support of conflicts or potential conflicts. The Role of Information as a tool of Statecraft will also be addressed. About the Speaker: Lawrence "Larry" Dietz is a distinguished leader with a dual career spanning both military and commercial sectors. With a background in Psychological Operations, Information Operations, Cyber Warfare, Electronic Warfare, Cybersecurity, and Public Affairs, he is recognized as a thought leader in these fields. COL Dietz brings extensive experience in Military Intelligence, encompassing both strategic and tactical assignments, including open-source intelligence roles. In his military career, COL Dietz served at the NATO Four Star level and held key positions such as Deputy Commander of NATO SFOR Combined Joint Information Campaign Task Force in Bosnia, PSYOP Group Staff Officer, PSYOP Battalion Commander, and Military Intelligence Company Commander, among others. His expertise extends to Special Operations Forces, particularly in PSYOP and Civil Affairs. Transitioning into academia and law, COL Dietz has become an exceptional educator, both in traditional classroom settings and online platforms. At IWP, he created and teaches an asynchronous online graduate course on Intelligence and Policy. At Monterey College of Law, he co-developed and taught courses like Negotiation Lab and Data Privacy Elective, as well as the Law of Armed Conflict. As an Attorney at Law with DataPrivacyLaw.com, COL Dietz led a boutique legal practice specializing in complex contract issues and data privacy. His focus includes ensuring compliance with regulations such as the EU's General Data Privacy Directive and state laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act. COL Dietz is also sought after for executive presentations on Privacy, Intelligence, and Cyber Influence, catering to major software and services organizations.

Your daily news in under three minutes. At Al Jazeera Podcasts, we want to hear from you, our listeners. So, please head to https://www.aljazeera.com/survey and tell us your thoughts about this show and other Al Jazeera podcasts. It only takes a few minutes! Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube.

Russia’s war against Ukraine has been marked by deliberate attacks on civilians, healthcare workers, and critical infrastructure. From targeting rescue personnel with follow-up strikes to direct attacks on hospitals and maternity wards, Russia’s actions raise serious questions under the Law of Armed Conflict. Additionally, its ongoing kinetic and cyber attacks on energy infrastructure further challenge established legal norms.This Federalist Society webinar will examine how these actions violate the Law of Armed Conflict, focusing on specific incidents and responsible actors. Panelists will also explore potential legal remedies and the prospects for war crimes prosecutions.Mike Lewis served as a naval aviator before becoming a renowned law professor, respected by scholars and practitioners alike. A great friend of the Federalist Society, he spoke at numerous lawyer and student chapter events and was a dedicated member of the Executive Committee of the International & National Security Law Practice Group. Each year, the Practice Group honors his legacy with a webinar.Featuring: Prof. Michael A. Newton, Director, International Legal Studies Program, Vanderbilt Law SchoolModerator: Jeremy A. Rabkin, Professor of Law, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

Tonight we are joined by Dr. Assal Rad, scholar of Middle East History, she works on research and writing related to US Foreign policy issues, the Middle East and contemporary Iran. He writing can bee seen in Newsweek, the National Interest, the Independent, Foreign Policy and more. She has appeared as a commentator on the BBC, CNN, NPR. She completed a PHD in history from the University of California Irvine in 2018 and is the Author of State of Resistance: Politics, Culture, and Identity in Modern Iran. Join us for a in depth conversation.you can follow Assal here:https://x.com/AssalRad

This is the fifith in a series of episodes on How To Live in 2025, focusing on the thoughts, feelings, and actions we need to thrive, develop,  create, and resist.In other words, tools that don't merely deaden us in the frantic pursuit of survival, but that assist us in nourishing ourselves, each other, and the world, all together.The theme isPEACEKEEPand my guest isCHEYNEY RYAN.Cheyney works withThe Oxford Consortium for Human Rights. He's a a researcher; professor; founder of the Institute for Ethics, Law, and Armed Conflict at Oxford; and author, most recently, of the excellent book,Pacifism as War Abolitionism and also ofThe Chickenhawk Syndrome: War, Sacrifice, and Personal Responsibility, as well as many articles on peace activism, pacifism, Marxism, and nonviolent action (you can find links to plenty of the here).PEACEKEEP was a word I had to invent for the show because we have such an undeveloped language of peace. While the lexicon of war is extensive, the act of creating true peace in the world doesn't exist in an active word. That is in part because thewar system - as Cheyney calls the autonomous, seemingly inexorable network of war activities, sites, motivations, and contracts - has instead on the articulation of its own anatomy. It's entranced us into detailing its every contour so that we become more and more convinced of its reality and density.

As the year wraps up, we're looking back at ten of the episodes that defined 2024. This originally aired on February 27. None of the dates, titles, or other references have been changed. Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo is rich in resources, from gold and diamonds to coltan, used to power mobile phones. It’s also the site of recent heavy fighting between government forces and the rebel group, M23, and whoever emerges on top will have control of the region’s wealth. But trapped in the middle are Congolese civilians. As the fighting intensifies, where will they go? In this episode: Catherine Soi (@cate_soi), Al Jazeera Correspondent Episode credits: This episode was produced by Fahrinisa Campana, Sarí el-Khalili, and Chloe K. Li, with Spencer Cline, Phillip Lanos, Hisham Abu Salah, Mohannad al-Melhem, and our host Malika Bilal. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Joe Plourde mixed this update. Our lead of audience development and engagement is Aya Elmileik and Adam Abou-Gad is our engagement producer. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera's head of audio. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads and YouTube

The Church urges us to pray and work for peace to avoid the evils and injustices of war. Because we live in a broken world, the Church also offers guidance on approaching war. Fr. Mike breaks down just war theory and the criteria of legitimate defense by military force under principles of moral law. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2307-2317. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.