Podcast appearances and mentions of Jacqueline E Whitt

When planning for interactions with foreign countries, whether in peace or in war, it can be easy for military planners to be lulled into the false security of the homogeneity of a culture or race or nationality. Many would argue that was exactly what happened in Afghanistan and Iraq in the last two decades. But long before the United States' most recent conflicts in the Middle East, there was a small island chain in the Pacific known as the Ryukyus that posed a particular challenge to the efforts of WWII Army and Marine planners. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Courtney Short to the virtual studio to discuss her study of the Okinawan people and the experiences of Soldiers and Marines as they invaded the southern-most islands of Japan. Courtney joins our Editor-In-Chief, Jackie Whitt to look at the individual culture and behavior of the Okinawans as U.S. forces moved ashore during a war that would, in some ways, liberate the people of the Ryukyus from centuries of rule by mainland Japan. They saw themselves as subjects of the emperor, even though they were aware of the inequalities and what they did not have similar to Japanese on the mainland. Courtney Short is a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army and the Garrison Commander of Carlisle Barracks, PA. She has a PhD in History from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and is the author of Uniquely Okinawan: Determining Identity During the U.S. Wartime Occupation. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description:This is a portion of a work by Nakasone Shōzan in 1889. An orihon (zigzag folded book). It illustrates people's hairstyles, tattoos, hairpins, merchants' customs, wedding ceremonies, funerals, etc. with varicolored drawings. This is a very valuable material for understanding the people of that period. Photo Credit: http://manwe.lib.u-ryukyu.ac.jp/d-archive/s/viewer?&cd=00063470 via Wikimedia Commons

It's an election year, and leaving all politics aside, the use of opinion polls is already in full swing by all parties involved. Polling performance in recent years has called the accuracy of polls into question. Was the sample size big enough? Did the questions lead to predictable answers? Who is actually willing to answer the polls, and how many are truthful? A BETTER PEACE welcomes Amanda Cronkhite to the studio to discuss the art and science of opinion polling. She joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to examine what polls can really tell us if done correctly. The most famous man on the street poll that failed, probably, being that Dewey Beats Truman, which made of course into one of the most famous photos in American presidential history. Amanda Cronkhite has been a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. She just accepted a position at the School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS), Leavenworth, KS. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Playboy magazine first hit newsstands in December 1953, so it was quite well established by the time the United States joined the conflict in Vietnam. Derided by a portion of the population as disgraceful smut, the common retort from the men who perused the sordid pages was "I just read it for the articles." A BETTER PEACE welcomes Amber Batura to the studio as she discusses Playboy's place amongst soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines during the Vietnam conflict. She joins our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to explore how the articles and interviews the magazine presented truly were a lifeline to home, relaying the thoughts and concerns of the citizenry these military members represented. With subjects like Stanley Kubrick, Martin Luther King Jr., Nabokov, Ayn Rand, Muhammad Ali and Ralph Nader it's hard to deny that Playboy captured some of the most popular voices of the time. And perhaps there were other features that attracted the attention of young men in a far off land. But mostly they read it for the articles. I was in a small village outside of Hanoi when we ran across a Playboy store...and so I decided I have to know why this is here and why is it still here. Why is it branding the war basically?   Amber Batura is an Instructor at Texas Tech University. She researches gender, sexuality and popular culture's influence on soldiers in the US military. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: A soldier spends his off time reading the Jul '69 edition of Playboy magazine. Location unknown. Photo Credit:Photographer and subject unknown. Believed public domain. Please contact warroomeditors@gmail.com for credit or removal

There is no "Latin America" right? It is a region made up of independent sovereign countries, some with different histories, some with different languages...based on that they're going to have different relationships with the United States. In the present day examination of global security, much of the United States' attention is focused on the Middle East, East Asia and Eastern Europe. All too often Western hemisphere countries, activities and interests get short changed on resources and attention. The United States's top trade partner is Canada, and Mexico is close behind. Many countries in the Western hemisphere share values and forms of governance, and have been important security partners for the United States. But does the United States undervalue these long-term partnerships, running the risk of losing their support against adversaries such as China and Russia? A BETTER PEACE welcomes Eric Farnsworth back to the studio to examine the risks of the United States' current behaviors in Latin America and Canada. He's joined by our Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt, as they discuss the unique relationships the United States has with its Western hemisphere neighbors and what might be done to ensure they endure. Eric Farnsworth is the Vice President and Head of the Washington Office, Americas Society and Council of the Americas. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: U.S. Army Soldiers conduct a multinational exercise alongside National Army of Colombia at Tolemaida Air Base, Nilo, Colombia on January 23, 2020. The exercises demonstrate operational readiness and enhance interoperability in Airborne Operations. Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc Edward Randolph

We can't function in a vacuum without understanding who the people are that we're interacting with on a daily basis. And this is particularly critical, even in domestic operations, from a disaster and a mass emergency response standpoint. When disaster strikes in the United States we are fortunate to have the National Guard available to bolster and support our civilian first responders. Experts in logistics and transportation, organization and construction as well as medical experts, the Guard is vital in supporting the long term recovery operations that follow any disastrous event. The Guard response to the current COVID-19 pandemic is very much like many other natural disasters that the U.S has endured in the last 50 years. But it's also very different. The pandemic hasn't struck a single region that allows help to arrive from safe staging areas outside the hot zone. The entire nation is vulnerable to this virus, and responders find themselves immersed in aiding citizens at a very personal level. With that level of interaction come the complications of diverse cultures, religious and political views, and a multitude of  multitude of languages other than English. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Michele Devlin and Steve Warnstadt to the studio to examine the navigation of the complex cultural terrain of our great American melting pot. They're joined by our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to discuss what the DoD, along with state level leadership, must do to ensure that Guard troops are best prepared to succeed amongst the diverse culture that is our national strength. Dr. Michele Devlin is Professor of Global Health at the University of Northern Iowa and an Adjunct Research Professor with the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI) at the U.S. Army War College. Brigadier General (ret) Steven Warnstadt is the former Deputy Commanding General for Operations, Iowa National Guard and an AY12 graduate of the U.S. Army War College Distance Education Program. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Army Spc. Reagan Long, left, a horizontal construction engineer with the New York Army National Guard’s 827th Engineer Company, and Army Pfc. Naomi Velez, a horizontal construction engineer with the New York Army Guard’s 152nd Engineer Support Company, register people at a COVID-19 mobile screening center in New Rochelle, New York, March 14, 2020. More than 1,500 National Guard members in 22 states have been activated in support of state and local authorities responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition to operating mobile screening centers, Guard members have been disinfecting public spaces, providing logistical and transportation support and coordinating with state and local health officials. Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Amouris Coss

Martial Citizenship...is the concept that since soldiers serve the state the state therefore owes something back. The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service released its report "Inspired to Serve" on 25 March 2020. The Commission's two primary statutory charges were: (1) to "conduct a review of the military selective service process" and (2) to "consider methods to increase participation in military, national, and public service in order to address national security and other public service needs of the Nation." In concert with this release A BETTER PEACE welcomes Amy Rutenberg to the studio to discuss how the Vietnam-era draft affected society and how the U.S. transitioned to the all volunteer force. She joins our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to examine the unintended consequences and discriminations of draft policy, deferments and the evolution of what she calls the martial citizen. "Inspired to Serve" Final Report "Inspired to Serve" Executive Summary Amy Rutenberg is an Assistant Professor at Iowa State University. She researches the connections among war, U.S. society, citizenship, and gender. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: (L) Curtis W. Tarr, director of the Selective Service System, turns the drum containing capsules of draft numbers at the annual draft lottery, 1972  (Top Center) Draft-age Americans being counseled by Mark Satin (far left) at the Anti-Draft Programme office on Spadina Avenue in Toronto, August 1967. (R) Congressman Alexander Pirnie (R-NY) drawing the first capsule for the Selective Service draft, Dec 1, 1969. (Bottom Center) Front cover of the 25 Mar 2020 report released by The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service. Photo Credit: (L) Library of Congress, Thomas J. O'Halloran, (TopCenter) Laura Jones and Bennett Jones Phillips, (R) Selective Service System, (Bottom Center) The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service

If he didn't do that, he should have. If you've ever spent any time with historians you know that they are the worst people to watch a movie with. Custer never said that, Roosevelt didn't jump up from his wheelchair, there was no grass on that battlefield in 1917. A BETTER PEACE gathered three of our senior editors to lay waste to some of your favorite historical movies. Tom Bruscino, Jacqueline Whitt, and Ron Granieri sit down for a water cooler style discussion and tell us why we should be miserable watching movies like they are. Thomas Bruscino is an Associate Professor at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of the DUSTY SHELVES series. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Man working with a projector in a movie theater 1958 Photo Credit: This work is from the U.S. News & World Report collection at the Library of Congress.

What we do know is that all of the movement of people and animals made this virus transmit much faster around the world than it would have otherwise. And you can directly associate it with the effects of the war. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Michael Neiberg to examine the misnamed Spanish Flu of 1918. Neiberg joins our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt as they consider the factors that lead to the devastation of that pandemic and how it relates to the modern day COVID-19 outbreak. What are the parallels, best practices and considerations that might be crucial to dealing with the present day pandemic? Michael Neiberg is the Chair of War Studies at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: The 39th Regiment, wearing face masks provided by the Red Cross, marching in Seattle, Washington, prior to their departure for France. Photo Credit: National Archives Photograph, December 1918.

There has never been anything like it in recorded history where a country has put…a trillion dollars aside to help in jump starting all of these infrastructure projects around the country Much has been made of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Wary watcher's are quick to point out the spread of Chinese influence in many resource rich countries. Critics promptly highlight the missteps that China has made including snubbing local labor and ignoring cultural norms. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Sarwar Kashmeri as he joins our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to examine how the BRI has succeeded and more importantly how China has learned from its failures and adapted its efforts. Sarwar Kashmeri is a Fellow at the Foreign Policy Association and an Applied Research Fellow at the Peace & War Center at Norwich University. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: A Type-001A Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, moored at Dalian, China in 2019 prior to commissioning. Photo Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons User Tyg728

I worry that we're going to field many of these systems without really thinking through both the legality and morality of putting them into the field. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Dr. Paul Springer Chair of the Department of Research at the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College. Paul joins our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to examine the current state of autonomous warfare and the look ahead at where the technology may be going.  Paul argues that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) on the battlefield is a revolution in military affairs (RMA) that impacts both the nature and the character of warfare. This new norm will require a new structure of understanding and behavior that some aren't ready to adopt. When will we become comfortable enough with technology to eliminate the human in the loop and what will it mean for humanity? Dr. Paul Springer is the Chair of the Department of Research at the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwelll AFB, AL. He is the author or editor of 12 books in print including Outsourcing War to Machines: The Military Robotic Revolution and Military Robots and Drones: A Reference Handbook. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: A special ribbon cutting ceremony, signaling the completion of work on the first RQ-4 Global Hawk at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., was held on the base flight line June 29 2017. Robins AFB is the first and only installation to have a building-based Launch and Recovery Element, allowing the aircraft to take off and land from this location. This is also the first time a Global Hawk has flown into an Air Force air logistics complex. Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex maintenance professionals meticulously painted the aircraft to prevent corrosion. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kelly Goonan Articles and Episodes related to this topic: WE NEED AN AI-BASED ENEMY ANALYSIS TOOL … NOW! ROLL OUT THE ROBOTS! MANAGING COMM NETWORKS AND ACCESS IN THE FUTURE INCORPORATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: LESSONS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR HOW DO ORGANIZATIONS CHANGE AFTER INCORPORATING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE? THE IRON TRIANGLE: TECHNOLOGY, STRATEGY, ETHICS, AND THE FUTURE OF KILLING MACHINES A.I. & THE URGENCY OF FINISHING FIRST

To really have a successful mission you have to be willing to stay A BETTER PEACE welcomes Mary Elizabeth Walters to discuss to calculus of humanitarian operations involving the U.S. military. The decision to render aid or enter into humanitarian operations in another country isn't always an easy one. It may seem like a simple endeavor, help wherever and whoever you can, but what happens when helping ends up hurting in the long run? Mary Elizabeth and WAR ROOM Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt sit down in the studio to discuss the question "When should the United States execute humanitarian operations and what questions should be asked and answered before it begins?" Dr. Mary Elizabeth Walters is an Assistant Professor of history at Kansas State University. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Water bundles align a C-17 Globemaster III prior to a humanitarian air drop, Aug. 8, 2014, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron aircrew, air dropped 40 bundles of water for Iraqi refugees during a humanitarian air drop over Iraq. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr. Articles and Episodes related to this topic: WHY DOES THE MEDIA COVER STORIES IN SOME COUNTRIES ... BUT NOT OTHERS? THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PEACEKEEPING AND INCREASED SEX TRAFFICKING FIGHTING SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN WAR: CONTEXT MATTERS “ON BEHALF OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE”

Back in the 1930s, Air Force officers who were assigned instructor duty at the Air Corps Tactical School…would wear these little…pledge pins on their uniforms. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Dr. John Terino, Chair of the Department of Airpower at the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College (ACSC.) John joins our Editor-In-Chief, Jacqueline Whitt to discuss professional military education (PME) in the Air Force. Stationed at Maxwell AFB, AL which is known as "the intellectual and leadership-development center of the U.S. Air Force," ACSC is one of the many educational institutions that comprise Air University (AU.) Their conversation covers initiatives and difficulties in manning, accreditation, curriculum and returning prestige to service as faculty and instructors in the greater professional development enterprise. 2020 is the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS,) the predecessor to modern PME in the Air Force and more specifically ACSC. John Terino is a professor of Comparative Military Strategy and the Chair of the Department of Airpower at the Air Command and Staff College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS) Class of 1933-1934. From September 1931 to June 1941, the ACTS provided professional military education to field grade officers and developed airpower doctrine. The War Department suspended classes in July 1941 and closed the school in October 1942 with the onset of World War II. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo, Air University History Office Other releases in the "Anniversaries" series: EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: WHAT INTEGRATION MEANS FOR TODAY’S MILITARYEXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: DESEGREGATING THE ARMED FORCESLOOKING TO THE PAST TO CHANGE THE FUTUREREMEMBERING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGEREFLECTIONS ON THE HUE CITY MASSACREEXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: WHAT INTEGRATION MEANS FOR TODAY’S MILITARYEXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: DESEGREGATING THE ARMED FORCESTHE TET OFFENSIVE: 50 YEARS LATERON BEING A ‘DIFFERENT’ KIND OF COMMAND — AFRICOM AT 10 YEARS (PART 2)

Quite frankly a number of times in [Lee's] career he debates getting out of the Army to pursue other interests. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Paul Springer to the studio to discuss the influence of the West Point class of 1829. Springer joins our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to examine the unique experiences of this cohort, and how it influenced, not only their development as leaders, but several generations of officers to follow. Many of these men impacted the country not only through their military service, but also as captains of industry and through civil service as well. Paul Springer is a Professor of Comparative Military History at the Air Command and Staff College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Image of United States Military Academy aka West Point stamp, 5-cents, Issued: May 26, 1937 Photo Credit: U.S. Post Office; Smithsonian National Postal Museum, Bureau of Engraving and Printing; Imaging by Gwillhickers

The law only required that both parties be consenting adults…which tells us something about the assumptions at the time A BETTER PEACE welcomes Tanya Roth to discuss a topic that we often think of as an issue of modern day -- LGBT service members -- but has been a fact of military service for decades. Our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt sits down with Tanya to examine a case of transgender marriage, accusations of homosexuality and the Army's handling of the situation in 1976.     Clipping of 14 June 1977 The Montgomery Advertiser "Gender Expert Labels Former WAC Male" Dr. Tanya Roth is a high school history teacher with emphasis on 20th Century World History and US History at Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: The Women's Army Corps (WAC) was the women's branch of the United States Army. It was created as an auxiliary unit, the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) on 15 May 1942 by Public Law 554, and converted to full status as the WAC in 1943. The WAC was disbanded in 1978, and all units were integrated with male units. Photo Credit: Image derived from original recruiting poster, Bradshaw Crandell, Department of the Treasury, 31 December 1942

HISTORICALLY WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO... READ ABOUT ANOTHER CULTURE, READ ABOUT THEIR HISTORY, THEIR ETHICAL DEVELOPMENT AND TO UNDERSTAND WHY A CULTURE DEVELOPED THE WAY THAT IT DID In a world that is dominated by discussions of artificial intelligence, increasing technology on the battlefield, and new domains in space and cyber, what part does history play in the development of today's military officer. Dr. Greta Bucher, Professor of History at the United States Military Academy, joins our Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Whitt to discuss how an education in history is just as relevant today as it was a hundred years ago. But what should a historical education look like? Bucher and Whitt discuss the importance of incorporating social and cultural history, especially related to questions about race and gender, in the education of future military officers.     Dr. Greta Bucher is a Professor of History and the Vice-Deputy for Academic Affairs in the History Department at West Point Military Academy. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: In 1976, 119 female cadets, a few of them seen here with their male counterparts, became the first women to join the Corps of Cadets at The United States Military Academy at West Point. Of the original 119, 62 graduated in 1980. Photo Credit: Department of the Army

Our students come with a professional ethos and a professional mindset of being apolitical and fundamentally the decisions... we're talking about often are happening in the political realm. In a rather momentous occasion, our Editor-In-Chief Jacqueline Whitt turns over the reins of podcast production to our new Editor of A BETTER PEACE, Ron Granieri. After the hand-off, the conversation turns to thinking about how faculty and students at the War College, and other institutions, are approaching the teaching of national security policy and decision making given the current global and domestic political environment. How can national security professionals understand allies' and adversaries' actions and motivations? What is the relative importance of process and psychology in influencing national security decisions? What tools and frameworks might help us make sense of the world around us? Can Whitt and Granieri convince you that we are all Constructivists now?     Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: President Donald J. Trump speaks at a ceremony honoring those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was held at the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Washington, Sept. 11, 2019. Photo Credit: White House Photo

Imagine a conflict, a real war with China…what does war termination look like in that environment? In our third and final episode our scholars continue the discussion of war termination, the latest calls for more lethality and persistent presence of politics in every conflict in modern times. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Emily Knowles of the Oxford Research Group to join our own faculty members Tino Perez, Jacqueline Whitt, and Andrew Hiil to closely examine this article of faith of strategic thought. They each offer personal and professional opinions on the concept and delve into a great deal more in part one of this watercooler style discussion.     Emily Knowles is the Program Director of Oxford Research Group’s Remote Warfare Program. Celestino Perez is a colonel in the U.S. Army and a faculty instructor in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. Andrew A. Hill is the former Chair of Strategic Leadership and the first Editor-In-Chief of WAR ROOM at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: The Office of Naval Research Electromagnetic Railgun located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, fired a world-record setting 33 mega-joule shot, breaking the previous record established Jan. 31, 2008. The railgun is a long-range, high-energy gun launch system that uses electricity rather than gunpowder or rocket motors to launch projectiles capable of striking a target at a range of more than 200 nautical miles with Mach 7 velocity. A future tactical railgun will hit targets at ranges almost 20 times farther than conventional surface ship combat systems. Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams Episode 1 Episode 2

…the claim that AI is changing the nature of warfare…it doesn't have to be backed up by any empirical evidence at all…simply saying that maybe gets you what you want In the first episode our scholars began the discussion of the nature versus the character of war. In episode 2 the conversation turns to AI and the marketing value of claiming nature IS changing and it eventually flows to war termination. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Emily Knowles of the Oxford Research Group to join our own faculty members Tino Perez, Jacqueline Whitt, and Andrew Hiil to closely examine this article of faith of strategic thought. They each offer personal and professional opinions on the concept and delve into a great deal more in part one of this watercooler style discussion.     Emily Knowles is the Program Director of Oxford Research Group’s Remote Warfare Program. Celestino Perez is a colonel in the U.S. Army and a faculty instructor in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. Andrew A. Hill is the former Chair of Strategic Leadership and the first Editor-In-Chief of WAR ROOM at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: The M3 howitzer was designed to be deployed with airborne troops and used during World War II, with a variant used during the Korean War. Photo Credit: U.S. Army Episode 1

I think it makes...strategic thinkers think that they're saying something profound when in fact they are not.   Scholars have long held that the nature of war is enduring and unchanging, while the character of war is in flux and subject to the whims of technology and modern thought. It is a concept often credited to von Clausewitz but odds are it's not that old an idea. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Emily Knowles of the Oxford Research Group to join our own faculty members Tino Perez, Jacqueline Whitt, and Andrew Hiil to closely examine this deeply held truth of strategic thought. They each offer personal and professional opinions on the concept and delve into a great deal more in part one of this watercooler style discussion.     Emily Knowles is the Program Director of Oxford Research Group’s Remote Warfare Program. Celestino Perez is a colonel in the U.S. Army and a faculty instructor in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. Andrew A. Hill is the former Chair of Strategic Leadership and the first Editor-In-Chief of WAR ROOM at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Image: New Inventions of Modern Times -Nova Reperta-, The Invention of Gunpowder, plate 3 Image Creator: Jan van der Straet, called Stradanus, Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1934 Episode 2

Dickinson College...students marched on the War College but instead of violence we had discussion. In a time when the nation sees increasing political divides and claims that the civil-military gap is ever widening, one program reaches out to try and reverse the trend. Colonels Ed Kaplan and Mike Baim join WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt, to highlight the contributions of the U.S. Army War College's Eisenhower Series College Program. Ed and Mike explain how each academic year a joint cohort of military officers reach out to colleges and town halls across the nation to introduce War College students to audiences that some might expect to be hostile towards the military. Their goal is to have reasoned and thoughtful discussions with the society they serve and protect. And for the last 50 years the Eisenhower Program has succeeded in closing that gap in communities that have little or no tie to the military.     COL Mike Baim is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College AY19 Resident Class. Colonel Ed Kaplan is the Director of Aerospace Studies at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Check out this video of a typical engagement for the Eisenhower Series College Program. Photo: On the eve of the operation, Dwight D. Eisenhower visited Greenham Common, an English airfield in Newbury, where he addressed the blackened face of 1st Lieutenant Wallace C. Strobel, Company E, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, and other airborne troopers. Photo Credit: U.S. Army Signal Corps

I see [Jomini] as one of the final products of the Enlightenment -- the idea of this ability to find scientific principles ... that anyone can use, [such as] in this case, war In this episode in our Great Strategists series, U.S. Army War College historians Bill Johnsen and Con Crane present one of the more enigmatic figures in military theory, Baron Antoine-Henri Jomini. Historians have given Jomini mixed reviews in terms of evaluating his theories and contributions, but almost all recognize his influence. Modern analysts often pit Jomini and his contemporary, Carl von Clausewitz, as polar opposites, creating "Jominian" and "Clausewitzian" camps. In reality, both were informed by their experiences with the Napoleonic Wars, but they took different perspectives--Clausewitz from the Prussian perspective, Jomini from the French. And while Clausewitz died in 1831, Jomini lived to be an old man and prolific writer, so you can see elements of Clausewitzian thought in Jomini's writing. Still, Jomini was interested in finding general principles of warfare that could translate directly to success on the battlefield; a task that seemed simple when he could draw from observations of Napoleon's greatest victories. Bill and Con tell Jomini's story, contributions to theories of war and relations with other thinkers, and the contemporary relevance of his ideas. WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Bill Johnsen recently retired as Professor at the U.S. Army War College. Con Crane is a military historian with the Army Heritage and Education Center. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM.   Other releases in the "Great Strategists" series: HOW MUCH FOR THE PEN? SCHELLING (GREAT STRATEGISTS)A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH TO WAR? ANTOINE-HENRI JOMINI (GREAT STRATEGISTS)THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF WAR — THUCYDIDES (GREAT STRATEGISTS)BEYOND THUCYDIDES: HERODOTUS, XENOPHON & UNDERSTANDING WAR (GREAT STRATEGISTS)JOHN WARDEN AND THE ENEMY AS A SYSTEM (GREAT STRATEGISTS)JOHN BOYD AND THE “OODA” LOOP (GREAT STRATEGISTS)THREE PIONEERS OF AIRPOWER — GREAT STRATEGISTSMAHAN AND SEA POWER — GREAT STRATEGISTS (EPISODE 4)KAUTILYA, THE ARTHASHASTRA, AND ANCIENT REALISM — GREAT STRATEGISTS (EPISODE 3)SUN TZU AND THE ART OF WAR — GREAT STRATEGISTS (EPISODE 2)ON CARL VON CLAUSEWITZ – GREAT STRATEGISTS (EPISODE 1)

[Thucydides] is one of the very few primary resources we have. If he hadn't done this, we probably wouldn't know very much about this period at all We continue our Great Strategists series with an episode on the man whose works serve as a foundation of strategic thought about war. Thucydides (c. 460-400 BC) was a Athenian general in the Peloponnesian War who, early on, recognized the War's potential for transforming the political and social structures of the period. Thus, he set out to write a detailed account of the War from its onset. His aim was to understand how wars began, its impacts on combatant forces and societies, and to raise questions about the meaning of 'just' war. His first-person perspective adds color and power to his description of these events. Much of the contemporary discourse about the nature and character of war is owed to Thucydides. However, the full History of the Peloponnesian War is not the easiest read and covers an extensive amount of ground. It is both too easy and dangerous to reduce the work to particular passages such as the powerful Melian Dialogue or reduce the work to bumper stickers like the "Thucydidean Trap." A wider reading shows how strategic decisions made early in the war had significant effects in the short and long terms. Helping tell Thucydides' story and the impacts of his History are three faculty members from the U.S. Army War College -- Drs. Tami Davis Biddle, Michael Neiberg, and Richard Lacquement. Each have a role in incorporating Thucydides' works into the War College curriculum and offer their individual perspectives. UProfessor of Strategy and WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Tami Davis Biddle is Professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Army War College. Michael Neiberg is Chair of War Studies at the U.S. Army War College. Richard Lacquement is Dean of the School of Strategic Landpower at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. Image: Depiction of Pericles' Funeral Oration by Phillip Foltz, c. 1877, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain WAR ROOM Releases by Michael Neiberg: WHEN A GENERAL WRITES FOR THE GENERALIST (ON WRITING)THE VALUE OF WRITTEN THOUGHT: STEPHEN VOGEL (ON WRITING)TWO AUTHORS UNDER THE SAME ROOF (ON WRITING)THE MORE BEAUTIFUL QUESTION: ALEXANDRA RICHIE (ON WRITING)FACT AND FICTION: THE RECOUNTING OF WWII WITH JAMES HOLLAND (ON WRITING)THE U.S. ARMY IN THE 20TH CENTURY: AN INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN LINN (ON WRITING)LESSONS FROM 1918: GET A FLU SHOT, WASH YOUR HANDSLIBERATION FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE LIBERATED (ON WRITING)PARIS 1919: A CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET MACMILLAN (ON WRITING)THE CHALLENGES OF WRITING BIOGRAPHIES (ON WRITING)THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF WAR — THUCYDIDES (GREAT STRATEGISTS)FINDING “WOW” MOMENTS (AND OTHER WRITING TIPS FOR SENIOR LEADERS) (ON WRITING)THE ART OF WRITING HISTORY (ON WRITING)

At the outbreak of the war, all of those armies were quite small but they rapidly grew many times their size in 1914 Historical memory of the First World War often focuses on the western front, perhaps because of egocentrism or the wealth of documents and literature that emerged from the front. But while the western front is iconic, this focus obscures the fact that the Great War was indeed a world war fought on several continents by soldiers from around the globe. An often overlooked theater was Africa, where soldiers from colonial armies fought each other on the continent, or joined their colonial powers on the western front. These small colonial armies originally supported and preserved imperial rule, but as the Great War broke out they mobilized quickly. What motivated Africans to fight in the armies of their colonial power? How did the war change the relationships between the empires and their colonies? These are other topics are presented by special guest Michelle Moyd, author of Violent Intermediaries: African Soldiers, Conquest, and Everyday Colonialism in German East Africa. WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Michelle Moyd is the Ruth N. Halls Associate Professor, Department of History and Associate Director, Center for Research on Race and Ethnicity in Society at Indiana University. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Four Askaris, German East Africa Soldiers, taken between 1906 and 1918. Photo Credit: By Bundesarchiv, Bild 105-DOA3124 / Walther Dobbertin / under creative commons license 3.0, Germany [CC-BY-SA 3.0, CC BY-SA 3.0 de]. Refer to this link for more information.

One of the things that will occur as you [move up the ranks] is you're going to have a more diverse workforce A BETTER PEACE welcomes to the studio U.S. Army Reserve Major General Tammy Smith to discuss her perspectives on strategic leadership, especially her current role in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. With WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt, MG Smith tells how her career followed many different directions over time. Through self-awareness and purposeful self-development activities, she adapted and overcame at each step, especially when she did not have the technical expertise of those around her. This was true even in her current position, where she takes on the quality of life portfolio, something she had limited knowledge about previously, but is enjoying and adding value to it every way she can!     Tammy Smith is is a major general in the U.S. Army Reserve and Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Fort Drum community members welcomed Maj. Gen. Tammy Smith, then-Army Deputy G-1, as guest speaker for their annual LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Pride Month observance. Photo Credit: Mike Strasser, Fort Drum Garrison Public Affairs, public domain Other releases in the Senior Leader Perspectives series: A TRANSATLANTIC PERSPECTIVE ON NATO (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)OBSERVATIONS FROM NATO’S NORTHERN FRONT (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)ALLIES ARE MORE THAN FRIENDS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)THE CHALLENGES OF KEEPING SPACE SECURE (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)TENSIONS AND PARADOXES FACING SENIOR LEADERS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEADING AND WINNING IN GREAT POWER COMPETITION (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEARNING ABOUT LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE CLASSICS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)WHAT IT TAKES FOR COLONELS TO BE SUCCESSFUL (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)BALANCING BETWEEN CIVILIAN LIFE AND SERVICE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD“WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE” — AND OTHER CAUTIONARY TALES FOR LEADERSWHEN THE MILITARY IS NOT IN CHARGE: DEFENSE SUPPORT TO CIVIL AUTHORITIESWHAT DOES ‘SUCCESS’ MEAN AS A STRATEGIC LEADER?STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND CHANGING THE US ARMY IN EUROPETHE CHALLENGES OF SENIOR LEADER COMMUNICATIONTHE SENIOR NCO AS A STRATEGIC LEADERSTRATEGIC LEADERSHIP FROM AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVEWHAT DO THE BRITS THINK OF AMERICAN OFFICERS?PERSPECTIVES ON STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP — GEN. ROBIN RAND, U.S. AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMANDGROWING AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING CAPACITY

How important is enhancing unity of effort ... [so] all the differences in culture, values, caveats, mindsets, etc. are harmonized for a common objective? Service at the strategic level sometimes involves working with international partners and possibly serving within multinational environments, such as NATO in Belgium or UN peacekeeping missions. The experiences of American officers in such settings can feel, literally, foreign as U.S. military culture and habits may differ from those of allied and partner nations. Unfortunately, not everyone receives adequate training or other preparation for entry into such assignments, which can impact both individual and team performance. This year, a team of U.S. Army War College researchers studied factors that contribute to success in multinational staff assignments based on interviews with U.S. Army War College students -- both Americans and International Fellows. Reporting the results of this study are two of the team members -- Colonel Christian Vial, a U.S. Army War College Exchange Officer from Chile and Dr. George Woods. What can professional military education institutions and force providers do to set its budding multinational staff officers for success? A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates. Click here to download an executive summary of the study!     Christian Vial is a colonel in the Chilean Army and an exchange officer on the faculty of the U.S. Army War College. George Woods is Professor of Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Official opening of the SHAPE Headquarters, Mons, Belgium, 1967 Photo Credit: NATO

Space is important and we would notice if it went away Indeed, so much of what the global public relies upon for work and life depends on space capabilities. But more than ever, the space domain is becoming contested, and that is driving a new discourse about the capabilities that the U.S. military require to protect it from adversarial attack or exploitation. Recognizing these emerging challenges, the U.S. President expressed the intent to create a dedicated space force. Since then, there have been many discussions about a space force's roles, missions, require capabilities, rules of engagement, and composition. What are the problems that the DoD and the Army face in the space domain, and how would a dedicated space force address those problems? Addressing these and many other questions is Andrew Diederich, a space officer in the Army. A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.       Andrew Diederich is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army National Guard and a graduate of the U.S. Army War College resident class of 2019. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo

There is nothing we do in the joint force that isn't enabled by space. Nothing. A lot of attention is being paid to the space domain, and so A BETTER PEACE welcomes General John W. "Jay" Raymond, Commander of the U.S. Air Force Space Command, to the studio to discuss his perspectives on strategic leadership. General Raymond's responsibilities include organizing, training, equipping and maintaining mission-ready space forces and capabilities for North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Strategic Command and other commands around the world. The position calls for boldness and innovation to maintain U.S. leadership in a domain that both the military and the private sector depend on. Meanwhile, adversaries to the U.S. are mobilizing their capabilities to deny U.S. access to the space domain, and the potentially devastating effects of an even minor attack would be felt worldwide. So how does a leader cope with such high-visibility, high-risk responsibilities? A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Jay Raymond is a general in the U.S. Air Force and serves as Commander of the U.S. Air Force Space Command. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Two terminal dishes assist Army space Soldiers of Alpha Company, 53rd Signal Battalion (SATCON) at the Wideband Satellite Communications Operations Center, Fort Detrick, MD. Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo Other releases in the "Leader's Perspectives" series: A TRANSATLANTIC PERSPECTIVE ON NATO (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)OBSERVATIONS FROM NATO’S NORTHERN FRONT (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)ALLIES ARE MORE THAN FRIENDS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)THE CHALLENGES OF KEEPING SPACE SECURE (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)TENSIONS AND PARADOXES FACING SENIOR LEADERS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEADING AND WINNING IN GREAT POWER COMPETITION (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEARNING ABOUT LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE CLASSICS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)WHAT IT TAKES FOR COLONELS TO BE SUCCESSFUL (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)BALANCING BETWEEN CIVILIAN LIFE AND SERVICE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD“WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE” — AND OTHER CAUTIONARY TALES FOR LEADERSWHEN THE MILITARY IS NOT IN CHARGE: DEFENSE SUPPORT TO CIVIL AUTHORITIESWHAT DOES ‘SUCCESS’ MEAN AS A STRATEGIC LEADER?STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND CHANGING THE US ARMY IN EUROPETHE CHALLENGES OF SENIOR LEADER COMMUNICATIONTHE SENIOR NCO AS A STRATEGIC LEADERSTRATEGIC LEADERSHIP FROM AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVEWHAT DO THE BRITS THINK OF AMERICAN OFFICERS?PERSPECTIVES ON STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP — GEN. ROBIN RAND, U.S. AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMANDGROWING AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING CAPACITY

Humanitarian Mine Action is one way for the DoD to really support the other three instruments of national power Explosive Remnants of War, or ERW, is a significant problem in former battlefields. For example, the landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Dayton Accords was littered with antipersonnel mines. Since 1996, more than 3,000 square kilometers of land have been cleared of mines but an estimated 150,000 devices remain. Landmines, ammunition stocks, and other hazards represent both present dangers, especially to innocent civilians, past reminders of the prior conflict, and potential flashpoints for renewed hostilities. Humanitarian Mine Action, also known as "de-mining," is a capability the U.S. has to safely remove and dispose of ERW. While this capability is high-risk, generally slow and methodical, and requires tremendous skill and knowledge; the benefits of restoring land to a safe, sustainable, and usable condition are extraordinary. It is also one way that the military can provide direct support to the other instruments of national power -- diplomatic, informational, and economic. A BETTER PEACE presents three experts in Humanitarian Mine Action -- Shawn Kadlec, graduate of the War College resident class of 2019 and an explosive ordnance detachment officer; Jared Harper, USAWC faculty instructor and specialist in security force assistance; and Rick Coplen, Professor of Economic Development at USAWC and an expert on development in fragile states. A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.       Shawn Kadlec is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and a graduate of the resident class of AY2019. Jared Harper is a colonel is the U.S. Army and a faculty instructor in the Department of Distance Education at the U.S. Army War College. Rick Coplen is Professor of economic development at the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians from 20th CBRNE Command respond to dozens of unexploded ordnance calls a month, both on and off post. Photo Credit: 20th CBRNE photo via U.S. Army homepage

One weakness of the way we view strategy ... is that we neglect the environment Professional military education (PME) plays a vital role in preparing military leaders to fight and win the nation's wars. PME occurs at all levels of leadership, required for the most junior non-commissioned officers to the most senior flag officers and every rank in between. But what PME should teach, how it should be taught, and who should teach it is a long-standing debate, one that has featured in several other WAR ROOM releases. One subject area embroiled in this debate is military strategy, where there are demonstrable gaps in knowledge and perspective between the military and academic communities. As U.S. Army War College professor Celestino Perez demonstrates, national decisions to employ the military are frequently (and hotly) debated. Yet military officers may not be exposed to these debates, and they may also be disconnected from the experts and expertise available concerning the operational environment. How might PME bridge these gaps and improve student preparation for greater responsibilities?     Celestino Perez is a colonel in the U.S. Army and a faculty instructor in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Maj. Gen. John Kem, Commandant, U.S. Army War College, welcomed 157 government, business and academic leaders to the 64th annual National Security Seminar in Bliss Hall June 4, 2018. Photo Credit: U.S. Army War College Public Affairs  

For those that say 'I wish I would have started a little bit earlier but I didn't' -- don't despair. ... Start now! The demands on senior leaders can sometimes overwhelm their abilities to manage their personal affairs and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Thinking about and planning for the long-term may lose out against the short-term demands of leading and managing the defense enterprise. But senior leaders who improperly manage their money can not only fall into debt and assume significant risk but also expose themselves to security risks. Personal finance -- which includes savings, investments, and insurance -- is therefore a readiness issue, one that too many senior leaders overlook until it is too late. A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt welcomes two recent graduates of the U.S. Army War College -- Jay Parker and Mark Henderson to discuss a senior leader's perspective on personal finance. What is it, what tools does it require, and how does one balance tomorrow's financial security with the intense demands of the here and now?     Jay Parker is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and a graduate of the U.S. Army War College resident class of 2019. Mark Henderson is a colonel in the U.S. Army and a graduate of the U.S. Army War College resident class of 2019. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: Pixabay, via Pexels.com under the creative commons license

Pigeons were treated with very high regard in the military ... much like working dogs are today Technological innovation has always been central to warfighting, and the advances made over the 20th century were especially important. During the First World War, battlefield communications were limited, and armies employed means--old and new--to communicate. They used old technologies such as semaphores and telegraphs as well as new ones such as telephones and signal lights. But they also relied on animal power, including messenger dogs and homing pigeons to transmit critical information. One such pigeon was responsible for delivering the message that saved the "Lost Battalion" -- the 77th Infantry -- from a friendly artillery barrage whilst trapped behind enemy lines. The message from commander Major Whittlesey is an important artifact and tells an important story about communications, artillery, and combat in the First World War. Homing pigeons were celebrated and hailed as war heroes. Cher Ami, one of the most famous pigeon messengers from the war is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History (NMAH). Explaining the roles and importance of homing pigeons in the first World War is Dr. Frank Blazich of the NMAH. A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Frank Blazich is Lead Curator of Modern Military History at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Image: Screen shot of the original message carried by a WWI homing pigeon, with the famous pigeon, Cher Ami overlaid. Both from the National Archives, via the U.S. Army Home Page. Image Credit: Composed by Tom Galvin

Command at the strategic level is challenging. Commanders are leading large organizations that are regionally (even globally) distributed, perform a widely diverse range of missions and tasks, or are overseeing the execution of military campaigns. They must address both short-term mission accomplishment and the long-term needs of their organizations, services, or the joint force. But the typical commander only serve for two to three years, not always sufficient time to shape the long-term future of their commands. Addressing how this routine changeover of leadership influences the organization, for good and bad, are two officers who have served in multiple four-star commands -- U.S. Army colonels Bob Bradford and Matt Coburn, both now serving as faculty instructors at the U.S. Army War College. A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates. When you have a new commander who comes in and feels like they must change things to make their impact, that can be tremendously disruptive.   Bob Bradford is a colonel in the U.S. Army and Professor of Defense Enterprise Management at the U.S. Army War College. Matt Coburn is a colonel in the U.S. Army and Professor of Special Operations at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.  Photo: From the U.S. Army Materiel Command's change of command ceremony, 2016. Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by SGT Eben Boothby

The ritual of retaliation codified what makes you legitimate [as a combatant] and what makes you not legitimate How did combatants enforce the lawful practice of war prior to the Geneva Conventions and other conceptions of international laws of warfare? During the Civil War period, the answer was the customary practice of retaliation, which provides wronged combatants the opportunity to redress unlawful conduct by an opponent. Through a process of formal notification, threat of action, and binding honorable resolution, the Union and Confederacy managed to keep each other on the right side of the law. How and why this worked, and to what extent did this practice reinforce good order of discipline? Dr. Lorien Foote, a prominent Civil War historian from Texas A&M University, addresses these and other questions with A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt.       Lorien Foote is the Patricia & Bookman Peters Professor of History and Director of Graduate Studies at Texas A&M University. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Image: Reprisal for, quoting the extended title, "The desolation of the border counties of Missouri, during the enforcement of military orders, issued by Brigadier General [Thomas] Ewing, of the Union Army, from his Head Quarters, Kansas City, Augt. 25th 1863." Image Credit: "Martial Law," George Caleb Bingham, c. 1872 via Library of Congress, public domain

If we want [Artificial intelligence] to thrive, we have to have leaders who understand it Artificial intelligence is seemingly everywhere and everyone is talking about it. But so what? What is the real utility of "AI" and how did it change or transform the organizations that incorporated AI into their practices? A trio of U.S. Army War College students -- Tom Spahr, Chris Chase, and Andre Abadie -- visited businesses and other organizations from around the country to answer these questions. They found that AI helped improve some practices by making them more efficient, but not other practices. There are important cultural barriers to adopting AI for some purposes. What are the implications for the U.S. military should it decide to incorporate AI technologies? A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Tom Spahr, Chris Chase, and Andre Abadie are U.S. military officers and resident students in the U.S. Army War College class of 2019. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: PxHere.com under Creative Commons license

Today it is commonplace for a female to command a brigade, and it is hugely important The military is a constantly evolving organization. Change in the US military is driven by both the need to serve as an effective fighting force and maintain a connection with society. An example is the recent integration of women in combat roles. Although women have been associated with the US military since the American Revolution, traditional gender roles often defined the limits of women's service. Nevertheless, women who have chosen to serve have transcended these limitations, performed acts of heroism and courage, and inspired future generations of women to serve and push against the social and structural boundaries placed before them. This episode features one of those women: Major General Jessica Wright, U.S. Army retired, who served over six years as The 50th Adjutant General of Pennsylvania and, following retirement, served as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs. With A BETTER PEACE Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt, Major General Wright reflects on her service, women in the military, and those service members who enabled and supported her throughout her career.       Jessica Wright is a retired major general in the U.S. Army. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photos: (L) Women's Army Corps Dorothy "Dora" Feinbloom, served with the Army Air Corps in 1943; (R) PFC Christina Fuentes Montenegro, one of the first three women to graduate from the Marine Corps’ Infantry Training Battalion in October 2013. Photo Credits: (L) National World War II Museum, (R) U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Tyler Main

This is not humanity's first technological rodeo This episode is another in a series of releases on the Emerging Environment in the Indo-Pacific Region, produced in collaboration with the United States Military Academy at West Point’s Department of Social Sciences as part of the 2019 Senior Conference. Just how much have the rapid advance of the Internet and modern information technologies changed society? Or, is it more accurate to say 'shocked' society? There is perhaps no part of the world where cyberspace is more important than in the Pacific, where emerging competition are using technology to mitigate the U.S. advantage. How so, and what does this mean for U.S. strategy in the region. To discuss these topics and where the Internet revolution fits with other great revolutions in history, A BETTER PEACE welcomes Renee DiResta and Jonathan Reiber, both experts in the fields of cybersecurity and cyber policy. A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Renée DiResta is the Director of Research at cybersecurity company New Knowledge, and Head of Policy at the nonprofit Data for Democracy. Jonathan Reiber is head of cybersecurity strategy at Illumio and is former Pentagon Chief Strategy Officer for Cyber Policy. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. Photo: Cyber warfare specialists serving with the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Cyberspace Operations Group engage in weekend training at Warfield Air National Guard Base in Middle River, Md., June 3, 2017. Photo Credit: Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr. Other releases in the Indo-Pacific Region Series: “FICINT”: ENVISIONING FUTURE WAR THROUGH FICTION & INTELLIGENCE (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)HOW COMPETITORS USE TECHNOLOGY TO SHAPE THE ENVIRONMENT (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)HYPERCOMPETITION AND TRANSIENT ADVANTAGE (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)SECURITY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION: THE VIEW FROM TOKYO (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)THE MEANING OF ‘PARTNERSHIP’ IN THE INDO-PACIFIC (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)DEMOGRAPHICS, AGING, AND SECURITY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)

It's not so much the mil-mil relationship ... the political relationship is something that's a little more volatile than it has been in the past This episode is the next in a series of releases on the emerging environment in the Indo-Pacific Region, produced in collaboration with the United States Military Academy at West Point’s Department of Social Sciences as part of the 2019 Senior Conference. Often when thinking about security in the Asia-Pacific region, Americans do so from an egocentric perspective. This episode flips the script a little bit, presenting the Indo-Pacific region as seen from Japan. Joining us in the studio is Jeffrey Hornung, a political scientist at the RAND Corporation and a specialist in Japanese security and foreign policies, East Asian security issues, maritime security, and U.S. foreign and defense policies in the Asia-Pacific region, including its alliances. A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Jeffrey Hornung is a political scientist at the RAND Corporation.. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. Photo: Then-Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Jonathan Greenert is escorted by a troop commander as he performs a customary troop inspection at a full honors ceremony to welcome Greenert and his delegation to Japan upon their arrival at the Japanese Ministry of Defense in 2014 for a series of counterpart visits with Japanese political and military leaders. Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Peter D. Lawlor, public domain. Other releases in the Indo-Pacific Region Series: “FICINT”: ENVISIONING FUTURE WAR THROUGH FICTION & INTELLIGENCE (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)HOW COMPETITORS USE TECHNOLOGY TO SHAPE THE ENVIRONMENT (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)HYPERCOMPETITION AND TRANSIENT ADVANTAGE (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)SECURITY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION: THE VIEW FROM TOKYO (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)THE MEANING OF ‘PARTNERSHIP’ IN THE INDO-PACIFIC (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)DEMOGRAPHICS, AGING, AND SECURITY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)

This is not going to look like US-Soviet competition. ... Countries in Southeast Asia -- they don't want to choose. This episode is the second in a series of releases on the Emerging Environment in the Indo-Pacific Region, produced in collaboration with the United States Military Academy at West Point’s Department of Social Sciences as part of the 2019 Senior Conference. One of the central features of the Indo-Pacific region is the importance of alliances and partnerships. For the United States, five of its seven mutual defense treaties are in this region, and working together on issues from deterrence to proliferation to security to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief is a critical element of strategy. But these alliances and partnerships require plenty of care and maintenance. How do these partnerships affect U.S. policy and strategy? A BETTER PEACE welcomes two experts in this area. First is Dr. Tanvi Madan from the Brookings Institution. Tanvi is an expert on Indian security and on India’s relations with China and the United States. Second is Ms. Lindsey Ford from the Asia Society Policy Institute. Lindsey previously served in a number of roles in the Office of the Secretary of Defense from 2009-2015, most recently as the Senior Adviser to the Assistant Secretary for Asia-Pacific Security Affairs. A BETTER PEACE Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Tanvi Madan is is a fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution and director of the India Project. Lindsey Ford is the Director for Political-Security Affairs and Richard Holbrooke Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of A BETTER PEACE. Photo: Commander Robert Rose, commanding officer of the USS Louisville, discusses daily operations with Royal Thai Navy leaders during a submarine tour in support of GUARDIAN SEA 2019. Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher A. Veloicaza Other releases in the Indo-Pacific Region Series: “FICINT”: ENVISIONING FUTURE WAR THROUGH FICTION & INTELLIGENCE (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)HOW COMPETITORS USE TECHNOLOGY TO SHAPE THE ENVIRONMENT (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)HYPERCOMPETITION AND TRANSIENT ADVANTAGE (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)SECURITY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC REGION: THE VIEW FROM TOKYO (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)THE MEANING OF ‘PARTNERSHIP’ IN THE INDO-PACIFIC (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)DEMOGRAPHICS, AGING, AND SECURITY IN THE INDO-PACIFIC (INDO-PACIFIC SERIES)

[General Odierno] felt that we'd spent the first several years of the Iraq War re-learning many of the lessons of the Vietnam War In 2013, a team of authors was commissioned by then Chief of Staff of the Army General Odierno to write a study of Operation Iraqi Freedom to glean insights for immediate practical application. The resulting two-volume report (Volume I | Volume II) was completed in 2016 but not authorized for release until early in 2019. In this presentation, A BETTER PEACE welcomes co-editor U.S. Army Colonel (Retired) Frank Sobchak and author U.S. Army Colonel Jim Powell to discuss their experiences of assembling the team, researching the report, and ultimately writing what came to a 1300-page product with tremendous implications for the current and future Army. What were more important insights? What were the toughest challenges, beyond the sheer size of the project? A BETTER PEACE Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Frank Sobchak is a retired colonel in the U.S. Army and co-editor of the Iraqi Freedom Study (with U.S. Army Colonel Joel Rayburn. Jim Powell is a colonel in the U.S. Army and one of the Study's authors. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. The OIF Study is available at the U.S. Army War College Publications website. Click the following links to access them: Volume I | Volume II Image: Covers of the two volumes of the report. Prepared by Jennifer Nevil. Composite assembled by Tom Galvin.

The common thread [in addressing key strategic problems] is the requirement to convert operational military success to political success A BETTER PEACE welcomes General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith to the studio to discuss his perspectives on strategic leadership and balancing continuity with the need for change. The British Army has a very long history, and General Carleton-Smith addresses the importance of remembering and maintaining that history, especially today with emerging views that robust land-based forces and capabilities are no longer relevant or necessary. Decision making at the strategic level, therefore, balances the past, present, and future of the force while synthesizing military conceptions of risk, success, and failure with those of the political leaders. A BETTER PEACE Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Mark Carleton-Smith is the Chief of the General Staff in the British Army and was the 73rd Kermit Roosevelt lecturer. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the Editor of A BETTER PEACE: The WAR ROOM Podcast. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: General Sir Mark Alexander Carleton-Smith addresses the U.S. Army War College resident class during the Kermit-Roosevelt Lecture Series. His talk underscored the commitment, capabilities, and like-mindedness of the U.K. and U.S. relationship. Photo Credit: Charity Murtorff, U.S. Army War College photo. Other releases in the "Senior Leader Perspectives" series: A TRANSATLANTIC PERSPECTIVE ON NATO (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)OBSERVATIONS FROM NATO’S NORTHERN FRONT (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)ALLIES ARE MORE THAN FRIENDS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)THE CHALLENGES OF KEEPING SPACE SECURE (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)TENSIONS AND PARADOXES FACING SENIOR LEADERS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEADING AND WINNING IN GREAT POWER COMPETITION (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEARNING ABOUT LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE CLASSICS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)WHAT IT TAKES FOR COLONELS TO BE SUCCESSFUL (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)BALANCING BETWEEN CIVILIAN LIFE AND SERVICE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD“WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE” — AND OTHER CAUTIONARY TALES FOR LEADERSWHEN THE MILITARY IS NOT IN CHARGE: DEFENSE SUPPORT TO CIVIL AUTHORITIESWHAT DOES ‘SUCCESS’ MEAN AS A STRATEGIC LEADER?STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND CHANGING THE US ARMY IN EUROPETHE CHALLENGES OF SENIOR LEADER COMMUNICATIONTHE SENIOR NCO AS A STRATEGIC LEADERSTRATEGIC LEADERSHIP FROM AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVEWHAT DO THE BRITS THINK OF AMERICAN OFFICERS?PERSPECTIVES ON STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP — GEN. ROBIN RAND, U.S. AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMANDGROWING AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING CAPACITY

It's natural to ask what can we gain from this 'old war'? ... You can read [history] in a book, but when you actually walk the field, it rams home into your head and stays there In an earlier episode of A BETTER PEACE, Learning Strategy by Walking the Ground, Andrew Hill and Len Fullenkamp talked about the value of staff rides. In this follow-up discussion, Christian Keller and Jacqueline E. Whitt focus in on battlefield staff rides covering the U.S. Civil War. Carlisle, Pennsylvania is near several key Civil War battles, including Gettysburg and Antietam, now preserved as historical sites administered by the U.S. National Park Service. These sites allow visitors to visualize the stories of the battle and analyze the tactical and strategic decisions made by leaders on both the Union and Confederate sides. Christian and Jacqueline discuss the best way to approach visiting a Civil War battlefield to get the most out of the experience -- preparing for the visit through reading and study; walking the ground; and post-visit reflection.     Christian Keller is Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or the Department of Defense. Photo: Battlefield cannons arrayed at Antietam National Battlefield Memorial. Photo Credit: Original photo uncredited from Pxhere.com, public domain. Modified by Tom Galvin.

'Is Remote Warfare Cheaper?' 'So that's a really hard question to answer. ... We actually have very little data' A BETTER PEACE explores the implications of NATO members' ongoing shift away from large-scale coalition operations to smaller-scale operations that rely primarily on local forces, militias, or other groups supported by Western resources, training, and small numbers of personnel (i.e., "remote warfare").  While the shift appears to allow NATO partners to manage risk and limit their boots on the ground, the longer-term strategic implications and the potential effects on preparedness for conventional warfare are debatable. Additionally, there are persistent myths about remote operations being 'cleaner' or 'cheaper' forms of warfare. Are they true? Or are they merely transferring more risk and cost? Addressing these topics are special guest Emily Knowles of the Oxford Research Group's Remote Warfare Program and A BETTER PEACE Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt.     Emily Knowles is Program Director of the Oxford Research Group's Remote Warfare Program. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: U.S. Army Sgt. Kevin Murphy (right) instructs Iraqi army soldiers on individual movement techniques during a class at the Ghuzlani Warrior Training Center, Iraq, in 2011. Photo Credit: Sergeant Shawn Miller, United States Army

What if we spent one day on Herodotus, one day on Thucydides, and one day on Xenophon [at the War College]? Students with a basic foundation of ancient military history are likely to know about Thucydides and his accounts of the Peloponnesian War from both strategic and operational perspectives. But it would be an oversight to stop there, as there were other important war historians in antiquity. This episode in A BETTER PEACE's Great Strategists series explores two of them -- Herodotus, who wrote about the rise of the Persian Empire, and Xenophon, who fought in Cyrus the Younger's latter campaign to capture the Persian throne. Herodotus became known as the Father of History but according to our guest speaker Rob Farley, his methods would likely not pass muster in contemporary historian circles. Yet over the centuries that followed, his insights on how Xerxes the Great built his Army were significant and relevant to military leaders. Xenophon, as mercenary and soldier, provided rich details into the battles he fought and the manners in which ancient militaries were led and managed. Together with Thucydides, these writers and thinkers provide a great canon to understand the ancient ways of war. A BETTER PEACE editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Rob Farley is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Kentucky and Visiting Professor at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Image: Xenophon and the Ten Thousand coming in sight of the sea (published 1881 in the Illustrated History of the World, public domain)

Armed conflict is a deadly business. We in the military profession have a moral obligation to examine what works and what doesn't work Traditional lists of prominent and successful strategic leaders are often biased toward celebrated historical figures. Of course, such figures were both heroes (to their own people) and villains (to the enemy) all at once. In the introductory essay to the Great Captains series, Jacqueline Whitt and Tom Galvin said that the podcasts would not constitute "hero worship," but instead allow listeners "to glean lessons about the great captains’ approaches to the problems of war and warfare and their understanding of the military art." Therefore, to be fair and complete, such a series must necessarily consider those that history would (and should) treat as villains. The purposes are to understand their motivations, place their actions in context, analyze the lasting impacts, and ultimately enable better preparation to face a similar leader in future. It is in this spirit that WAR ROOM presents a unique look at a most controversial figure, Osama bin Laden, who according to U.S. Army War College Professor Sparky Anderson, was successful at building and sustaining a grass-roots mobilization, understanding and adapting to the operational environment, and ultimately enabling a significant change in the character of war. Bin Laden's actions, beginning at Afghanistan during the Soviet occupation, would eventually contribute to the prominence of non-state actors on the global stage. What can we learn from this story? The insights and implications are many, including the importance of knowing thy enemy. A BETTER PEACE Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Sparky Anderson is Professor of Strategy, Operations, and Plans at the U.S. Army War College and a colonel in the U.S. Army. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: A guide in a Herat, Afghanistan war museum describes a fight during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan depicted in a diorama. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi (AFGHANISTAN SOCIETY)

As the 'global' commander, he oversees all of the Army including the Army Air Corps in all of the theaters in World War II In this episode in our Great Captains series, we profile an officer whose extraordinary achievements depart slightly from those typical associated with the term 'great captains' as described by Napoleon. George Catlett Marshall Jr. was by any measure a tremendous strategic leader who presided over the U.S.'s national war effort in World War II and the subsequent reconstruction of Europe through the "Marshall Plan." Facing the need to rapidly grow the Army after 1939, Marshall leveraged his strong interpersonal relationships within the military and with Congress to get the necessary resources and support. Marshall was also renowned for speaking truth to power. Yet when the President made a decision that Marshall disagreed with, Marshall complied with all his energy. Despite not having served as a field army commander, U.S. Army War College Professor Bill Johnsen makes the case that George Marshall has earned the title of 'great captain.' A BETTER PEACE editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Bill Johnsen is Professor of Military History and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Official U.S. Army portrait, public domain

If Moldova is never in the news, I doubt policy makers are ever really thinking about Moldova If you were a news editor, which story would you run first -- a moderate earthquake in Italy or a larger earthquake in Sri Lanka? In the U.S., the Italian earthquake would be more likely due to the connections between the U.S. and Italy at both national and societal levels. According to Amanda Cronkhite, post-doctoral fellow at the U.S. Army War College, the newsworthiness of a story is often measured by factors unrelated to the story itself. For this podcast, the focus is on the story's location and how it influences how long a story may run or whether the story will run at all (and where). To what extent does this affect the way people follow the news? A BETTER PEACE Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Amanda Cronkhite is a post-doctoral fellow at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Pixabay, via Pexels.com. Creative Commons license.

Don't love the military too much, and don't love the other institutions too little It is well-known that poll after poll shows the military ranks as the most trusted institution in the U.S. And, it is equally known that the opposite was true a mere few decades ago. The numbers belie the persistent tensions that exist between U.S. society and its military, tensions that have been tempered through long-standing civil-military norms. Where did these norms come from, and do they suggest that the comtemporary military's positive esteem is on shaky ground? A BETTER PEACE welcomes U.S. Army War College professor Marybeth Ulrich to discuss principles of civil-military relations as practiced in the U.S. and how they help explain U.S. society's high regard for its armed forces ... at least for now. A BETTER PEACE Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Marybeth Ulrich is Professor of Government and the General Maxwell D. Taylor Chair of the Profession of Arms at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense.

The approach that the government often takes to acquisition of [intellectual property] rights is something that's completely anathema to working with tech companies Managing and regulating intellectual property (IP) rights is central to the functioning of a working economy. The intellectual work behind the development of new products, publications, or innovative ideas is vital and must be protected in some way. Hence, governments establish both legal frameworks and norms designed to provide this protection. However, determining who owns what and why has been a dynamic process since IP rights were codified and systematized in the 20th century. And there are many challenges raised with respect to ideas that contribute to capabilities vital to national security. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Rob Farley, a researcher in the area of intellectual property, to discuss the challenges of IP in the contemporary competitive global environment and what they mean to the U.S. A BETTER PEACE Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Rob Farley is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Kentucky and Visiting Professor at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: U.S. Army Photo, public domain.

This special program is a sneak-peak at the U.S. Army War College's WAR ROOM podcast.  The podcast will be available on your favorite podcast catcher soon!  WAR ROOM is the online journal of the United States Army War College, created through the gracious support of the U.S. Army War College Foundation.  The program features innovative and provocative articles and podcasts that explore significant challenges in national security and defense. February 6, 2018: Jim McNally (Curator of Art, Army Heritage and Education Center) and Jacqueline E. Whitt (WAR ROOM podcast editor) For forty-six years after the Korean War, veteran John A. Cook would be haunted by the memories of fighting and of his fellow soldiers being killed or wounded. What is now recognized as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD had no name at the time, and veterans like Cook had nowhere to turn to get help. Instead, as the horrific images of war would waken him at night, he began drawing those images on paper as a way of dealing with his inner pain. The resulting collection of his "Midnight Drawings" are now in the possession of the Army Heritage and Education Center, and the subject of this podcast. Jim McNally, AHEC's Curator of Art, tells this powerful and moving story with Jacqueline E. Whitt, War Room podcast editor. For more information about the WAR ROOM podcast, visit: https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/category/podcasts/

In this original and innovative study of the American military chaplaincy, Jacqueline E. Whitt examines the institution's challenges and struggles in the post-World War II era, with the Vietnam War acting as the fulcrum for existential change in its identity and mission. By all accounts a largely ecumenical based ministry before Vietnam, according the Whitt the chaplaincy underwent a bell-wether change, becoming more conservative and evangelical in composition and outlook after 1975. The greater context of the book, however, focuses on the experiences of the chaplains, individually and collectively, in the face of tremendous challenges to the institution, the soldiers and civilians they served, and their own concepts of morality and obligation to authority. Bringing God to Men: American Military Chaplains and the Vietnam War (University of North Carolina Press, 2014) is an important study of a very overlooked and often taken for granted branch of the military, and should be of special interest to students and scholars of the intersections of civilian society and military institutions, in time of peace and war.