Podcasts about national defense strategy

The Trump administration continues to focus on achieving peace in the Middle East, navigating a fragile ceasefire and defining the conditions for a Palestinian future. Meanwhile, Putin's war in Ukraine rages on, marked by stalled negotiations and continued bombardments. Both situations have proven more complex and unpredictable than the President initially hoped. Lately, Tomahawk missiles remain top of mind for President Zelensky, while Trump cancelled a proposed summit with Putin. What comes next for these two conflicts? And what can we do to ensure the good guys prevail in the end? General Jack Keane is a retired 4-star general and the former Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army. He is also the Chairman of the Institute for the Study of War, a Fox News Senior Strategic Analyst, and a member of the Secretary of Defense Policy Board. General Keane has previously advised four Defense Secretaries and was a member of the 2018 and 2022 Congressional Commission on the National Defense Strategy. Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

On this week's Defense & Aerospace Report Washington Roundtable, Dr. Patrick Cronin of the Hudson Institute think tank, Michael Herson of American Defense International, former Pentagon comptroller Dr. Dov Zakheim of the Center for Strategic and International Studies join Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian to discuss the continuing US government shutdown as Democrats make their case why closing was the right thing to do to protect health care for millions of Americans; Russia continues its provocations against Europe and NATO as the Ukraine war grinds on; details about the administration's National Defense Strategy surface during John Noh's confirmation as the deputy assistant secretary of defense of IndoPacific affairs; Washington and Beijing close in on a trade deal as China clamps down on rare earths exports; Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States conduct exercises as China and Malaysia conduct theirs; the hard line LDP President Sanae Takaichi is poised to become Japan's first female prime minister; and the deal brokered by President Trump to end the Gaza war on its second anniversary moves ahead with a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas hostages and prisoners to be exchanged over the coming days as the president suggests he might go to the Middle East.

Ralph welcomes Michael Mann, Professor in the “Department of Earth and Environmental Science” at the University of Pennsylvania and author along with Dr. Peter Hotez of “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World.” Then we are joined by Martin O'Malley, former governor of Maryland and one time Commissioner of the Social Security Administration to refute all the lies being told about the state of Social Security.Dr. Michael E. Mann is Presidential Distinguished Professor in the “Department of Earth and Environmental Science” at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a co-founder of the award-winning science website RealClimate.org, and the author of more than 200 peer-reviewed and edited publications, numerous op-eds and commentaries, and seven books, including “Science Under Siege: How to Fight the Five Most Powerful Forces that Threaten Our World” (co-authored with Dr. Peter Hotez).It's the five actors that we talk about, the five forces that threaten our world: the Plutocrats, the Petro States, the Polluters, the Propagandists, and yes, the Press, not all media outlets, but many of them, including even what we used to think of as legacy. Objective news outlets like the New York Times and the Washington Post too often engage in what we call performative neutrality, where anti-science positions are placed on an equal footing with the overwhelming consensus of the world's scientists.Dr. Michael MannPeople like to finger point at China, which currently is the largest emitter (of greenhouse gases) because they industrialized much later than the United States, more than a century later. But their trajectory is actually a downward trajectory. They've contributed far less carbon pollution to the atmosphere than we have, and they're taking greater action.Dr. Michael MannThe United States doesn't get to determine the future course of human civilization at this point. It's going to be the rest of the world. All the United States gets to determine is whether it's going to be on the front line of the clean energy transition, the great economic development of this century, whether they're going to be on board or left behind.Dr. Michael MannMartin O'Malley served as Commissioner of the Social Security Administration from December 20, 2023 to November 29, 2024. He previously served as Governor of Maryland from 2007 to 2015, following two terms as Mayor of the City of Baltimore.Once they (the Trump Administration) got rid of the heads of all of the offices of Inspectors General, they started launching these big lies, like the lie that there are 12 million dead people that continue to receive checks. And as Trump said himself to Congress, some of them are as much as 300 years old, which would have had them here for the founding of Jamestown.Martin O'MalleyThey (Republicans) are trying to wreck it (Social Security), wreck its reputation, wreck its customer service, so then they can rob it.Martin O'MalleyNews 10/3/25* Our top story this week is President Trump's chilling speech to the military high command, in which he proclaimed that “America is under invasion from within,” per PBS. Trump went on to say that he plans to use American cities – citing Chicago, San Francisco, and Portland – as “training grounds for our military.” Warning against conscientious objections by the military to this weaponization against domestic opponents, Trump added “I'm going to be meeting with generals and with admirals and with leaders. And if I don't like somebody, I'm going to fire them right on this spot.” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who has recently styled himself Secretary of War, reiterated this message, saying “if the words I'm speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.” In terms of actual policy, a new draft National Defense Strategy calls for prioritizing defense of the “homeland,” over potential foreign threats, such as from China, per POLITICO. The administration followed up this declaration with a dystopian deployment in Chicago, where federal agents rappelled down from helicopters to raid a South Side apartment building, arresting Venezuelan migrants and Black American citizens alike. In a statement given to ABC7 Chicago, one man detained by feds stated “They had the Black people in one van, and the immigrants in another.” Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker decried the presence of “jackbooted thugs roaming around a peaceful downtown,” and demanded federal troops “Get out of Chicago...You are not helping us,” per the New York Times.* Speaking of conflicts abroad, this week Trump unveiled his proposal for a peace deal in Gaza. According to CNN, “The plan calls for Israel to release 250 Palestinian prisoners with life sentences, as well as 1,700 Palestinians detained since the start of the war, in exchange for Hamas freeing 48 hostages.” Once these exchanges have been completed, Israel is to gradually withdraw from Gaza and turn over administration of the enclave to a “Board of Peace,” which will include Trump himself along with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a bizarre historical echo of the British mandatory rule over Palestine. If this process proceeds, it will supposedly create “a path for a just peace on the basis of a two-state solution.” The odds of success however are slim.* In more Gaza news, the Global Sumud Flotilla has been intercepted off the coast of Gaza and Israel has detained the activists on board. Video evidence shows the IDF detaining activist Greta Thunberg specifically. According to Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, “The Israeli government has illegally abducted over 450 participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla, including nearly two dozen U.S. citizens…We must demand their immediate release and their protection from abuse and torture in Israeli detention. End the siege and genocide of Gaza now.” According to the Flotilla organizers, one of the ships – the Mikeno – got as close as 9.3 miles from the coast, within Gaza's territorial waters, before they lost its signal. While disappointing, given that this is the largest aid flotilla to Gaza in history and came so close to the shore, it seems that at least the flotilla gave fishermen in Gaza the opportunity to go out on the water without interference from the Israeli navy – a crack in the all-encompassing blockade.* Meanwhile, Fox News reports that Israeli intelligence hijacked all cellphones in Gaza in order to forcibly broadcast Prime Minister Netanyahu's United Nations General Assembly speech last week, in which he accused the leaders of western nations who recently recognized the state of Palestine – France, Australia, and the U.K. among others – of being “Leaders who appease evil rather than support a nation whose brave soldiers guard you from the barbarians at the gate,” adding, “They're already penetrating your gates. When will you learn?” Netanyahu's speech was also blasted into Gaza via loudspeakers on the Israeli side of the border. The families of the hostages still held in Gaza released a statement decrying this provocative action, writing “We know from our children…that the loudspeakers were placed inside Gaza. This action endangers their lives, all for the sake of a so-called public diplomacy campaign to preserve [Netanyahu's] rule…He is doing PR at the expense of our children's lives and security. Today we lost the last shred of trust we had in the political echelon and in the army leaders who approved this scandalous operation.”* In Latin America, Trump is planning to bailout Argentina, which has suffered tremendous economic shocks under the stewardship of radical Libertarian President Javier Milei. According to Newsweek, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has offered Argentina a, “$20 billion swap line and other forms of assistance to help stabilize the Argentine peso, and said the U.S. remained ‘prepared to do what is necessary' to sustain the ‘important strides' taken by Milei.” This kind of ideologically driven foreign assistance flies in the face of Trump's supposed “America First” policies, but beyond that it has infuriated domestic interests, especially in the agricultural sector. American Soybean Association President Caleb Ragland posted a statement reading, “The frustration is overwhelming…U.S. soybean prices are falling, harvest is underway, and farmers read headlines not about securing a trade agreement with China, but that the U.S. is extending…economic support to Argentina.” This is a particular twist of the knife because following Trump's offer, Argentina lowered export restrictions and sent “20 shiploads of Argentine soybeans to China in just two days.” Republicans representing agricultural interests share this fury. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley wrote “Why would [America] help bail out Argentina while they take American soybean producers' biggest market???...We should use leverage at every turn to help [the] hurting farm economy. Family farmers should be top of mind in negotiations by representatives of [the] USA.” North Dakota Representative Julie Fedorchak added “This is a bitter pill for North Dakota soybean farmers to swallow.”* Moving on from foreign affairs, this week saw the release of a new batch of Epstein files, demanded by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee and turned over by the Jeffrey Epstein Estate. These files include “phone message logs, copies of flight logs and manifests for aircraft,” along with “copies of financial ledgers and Epstein's daily schedule.” These new releases implicate many big names, including Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, and well-documented Epstein associate, Prince Andrew of the British royal family, per the BBC. The release of these files is the latest victory in the campaign to expose everyone involved with Epstein's underage sex ring, a campaign Republicans in government – led by President Trump – have resisted. According to the Hill, Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to allow the swearing-in of Adelita Grijalva, who was elected last week in a special election to fill the seat vacated by her father's death. In this move, many see an attempt by Speaker Johnson to stave off the discharge petition to release the Epstein files. Grijalva has already committed to signing the petition.* In the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, Republicans have hammered the left for what they see as violent rhetoric, with the White House going so far as to classify certain ideas – among them anti-fascism, anti-capitalism and “extremism on migration, race, and gender” – as potentially punishable under domestic terrorism laws. Meanwhile, however, the Arizona Mirror reports a Republican lawmaker in the state has called for the Washington Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal to be “tried convicted and hanged.” The lawmaker, state Representative John Gillette, was responding to a video in which Jayapal counseled protestors on “non-violent resistance” to Trump's policies. Gillette on the other hand has vocally supported the January 6th insurrectionaries, labeling them “political prisoners” and calling for their release. Asked for comment, Gillette said “The comment is what it is.” For her part, Congresswoman Jayapal has called for “All political leaders, of all parties, [to] denounce” these comments.* Turning to local news, incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams has dropped his bid for reelection, Reuters reports. Adams has been mired in scandal of all kinds, including a federal indictment for bribery. Speculation abounds as to why he chose to suspend his campaign now. It is too late to take his name off of the ballot and he declined to endorse any other candidate, making it unlikely that he did so to bolster the chances of disgraced former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is still continuing his independent bid for the mayoralty despite lagging behind Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani by a substantial margin. On the other hand, Adams has previously been offered incentives by President Trump to drop out of the race, including potential protection from prosecution and an ambassadorial post in Saudi Arabia. Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee, claims “Seven different people,” have offered him a “total of $10 million,” to withdraw from the race, but he adamantly refuses to do so, saying “you can't bribe me, buy me, lease me, I'm not for sale.” This from the New York Post.* Next, on September 25th, Black liberation activist Assata Shakur passed away at the age of 78, per Democracy Now!. Shakur had been convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973, though serious doubts remain about her role in the death. She escaped from prison in 1979 and fled to Cuba, where she received asylum in 1984 and continued to maintain her innocence until her death. In 1998, Pope John Paul II visited Cuba and faced calls to demand Assata's extradition to the United States to “face justice” for the murder. In a highly-publicized letter, Assata wrote “The New Jersey State Police and other law enforcement officials say they want to see me brought to ‘justice.' But I would like to know what they mean by ‘justice.' Is torture justice?... When my people receive justice, I am sure that I will receive it, too.” Rest in power, Assata.* Our final story comes to us from, where else, but Hollywood. Variety reports, AI production studio Particle6 has created an AI “actress” who is “named” Tilly Norwood and thereby created a firestorm within the entertainment industry. Tilly's creator, Eline Van der Velden argues that she sees, “AI not as a replacement for people, but as a new tool…Just as animation, puppetry, or CGI opened fresh possibilities without taking away from live acting…nothing – certainly not an AI character – can take away the craft or joy of human performance.” However, SAG-AFTRA – the union representing screen actors – has issued a blistering statement, writing “To be clear, ‘Tilly Norwood' is not an actor, it's a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation…It has no life experience to draw from, no emotion and, from what we've seen, audiences aren't interested in watching computer-generated content untethered from the human experience.” The statement continues, “It doesn't solve any ‘problem' — it creates the problem of using stolen performances to put actors out of work, jeopardizing performer livelihoods and devaluing human artistry.” This episode is simply the latest clash within the entertainment industry between workers and the rising tide of AI. It will not be the last.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump delivered extraordinary speeches to top military generals this week, declaring a war on the "enemy within" and signaling a radical transformation of the US armed forces.To decode what it all means, Roland Oliphant speaks with Mark Cancian, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former Marine Corps colonel. Are American soldiers lazier than before? Is there any chance the US Navy will start building battleships again? And how significant is Trump's call for cities to be used as "training grounds"?They also discuss the ongoing redrafting of the National Defense Strategy and what it means for America's allies and enemies.https://linktr.ee/BattleLines Contact us with feedback or ideas: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk @venetiarainey @RolandOliphant Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hour 3 of the Bob Rose Show, on the coming meeting of high-ranking generals and admirals from across the globe. There has been a changing focus on protecting the US from internal and nearby threats, but little is known about what this highly unusual gathering will convey. Plus Monday morning's breaking news for 9-29-25

Eric and Eliot discuss the perilous moment for the American Republic in which we find ourselves after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. They discuss the recent developments in the Ukraine war, including the violation of Polish and Romanian airspace by Russian drones and the extreme danger these steps represent to European security. Eliot also reports from Israel on the recent strike against Hamas senior leadership in Qatar, observing that both the Mossad and IDF either refused to carry out or expressed deep reservations about Netanyahu's proposed course of action. The two also analyze recent leaks suggesting that the forthcoming National Defense Strategy will reflect a prioritization of the homeland and the Western Hemisphere rather than the Indo-Pacific, as many had expected. Eric & Frank Miller's Latest on Ukraine: https://thedispatch.com/article/weakness-is-provocative/ Shield of the Republic is a Bulwark podcast co-sponsored by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia.

Explaining how designating Antifa a terrorist organization and cancelling Jimmy Kimmel are part of the same emergency politics: A primer on securitization theory in the Trump presidency. White nationalist oligarchy is stealing your money and causing a recession: Here's how and why. The US TikTok deal with China could be the model for a new grand bargain, albeit a corrupt one. And the US National Defense Strategy is still targeting China. Subscribe to the Un-Diplomatic Newsletter: https://www.un-diplomatic.com/ Watch Un-Diplomatic Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@un-diplomaticpodcast Disclaimer: The views expressed are those of the individuals and not of any institutions.

Steve Yates Pentagon's National Defense Strategy Amidst Global Crises Steve Yates discusses the Pentagon's new National Defense Strategy (NDS), which prioritizes China as the "pacing challenge" over climate change. The "Fortress America" concept of homeland defense is debated against the need for alliances and extended deterrence. Events like Russian drones in Poland underscore the loss of US initiative and the urgency of adaptive defense strategies. 1910 VALDEZ ALASKA

Let's talk about Trump's new National Defense Strategy is abandonment....

**Milei Defeat; ICE & S. Korea; National Defense Strategy; SCOTUS; Gaza; France? | Yaron Brook Show** | September 8, 2025

A seismic shift in US global strategy appears to be confirmed. In this explosive episode, we dissect the leaked draft of the Pentagon's latest National Defense Strategy, which signals a historic reversal of decades of American foreign policy.We delve into the news that the US is formally de-prioritizing the "deterrence of China" in favor of a new focus on the homeland and the Western Hemisphere. What makes this shift so remarkable is its author: Elbridge Colby, the renowned strategist and author of "The Strategy of Denial," a book literally dedicated to containing Beijing. Has access to real intelligence revealed the futility of the mission?Was the much-hyped "pivot to Asia" always just rhetorical cover for a gradual withdrawal? Is this new doctrine not just an Asian exit, but a full-scale retrenchment from America's role as the global hegemon? Are we witnessing the end of the American Century? Is this a pragmatic acceptance of multipolarity and structural decline, or a dangerous vacuum that other powers will rush to fill? Newsflash: You can find everything Explaining History on Substack, join free hereHelp the podcast to continue bringing you history each weekIf you enjoy the Explaining History podcast and its many years of content and would like to help the show continue, please consider supporting it in the following ways:If you want to go ad-free, you can take out a membership hereOrYou can support the podcast via Patreon here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COLBY MUCH IN THE DEFENSE NEWS RE UKRAINE, NATO, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND AUKUS.  5/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.  2904 PORT ARTHUR

COLBY MUCH IN THE DEFENSE NEWS RE UKRAINE, NATO, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND AUKUS.  8/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1912 KAISER

COLBY MUCH IN THE DEFENSE NEWS RE UKRAINE, NATO, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND AUKUS.  7/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.. 1905 ADMIRAL KORNILOV

COLBY MUCH IN THE DEFENSE NEWS RE UKRAINE, NATO, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND AUKUS.  6/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1905 RECEPTION NEW YEAR'S AT THE WHITE HOUSE

COLBY MUCH IN THE DEFENSE NEWS RE UKRAINE, NATO, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND AUKUS.  1/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1857 UK VS QING DYNASTY

COLBY MUCH IN THE DEFENSE NEWS RE UKRAINE, NATO, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND AUKUS.  4/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1898 DEWEY'S FLAGSHIP

COLBY MUCH IN THE DEFENSE NEWS RE UKRAINE, NATO, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND AUKUS.  3/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1867 FARRGUT'S FLAGSHIP

COLBY MUCH IN THE DEFENSE NEWS RE UKRAINE, NATO, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA AND AUKUS.  2/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1865 FARRAGUT AND GRANT

President Trump has made it clear: whichever nation is the obstacle to peace in ending Russia's war on Ukraine will face an opponent with the military aid and backing of the United States. Putin has no intention of giving up his objectives in Ukraine and Trump is over the bull. Reversing a Pentagon freeze of critical weapons shipments to Ukraine, Trump announced Monday night that more defensive weapons were on the way. In the wake of Russia's largest combined drone and missile strike, having Patriot missile systems is paramount to Ukraine's ability to defend themselves. So, what's it going to take to bring Putin to the table? How can we sufficiently arm Ukraine on Russia's dime? And when will this bloody war end?General Jack Keane is a retired 4-star general and the former Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army. He is also the Chairman of the Institute for the Study of War, a Fox News Senior Strategic Analyst, and a member of the Secretary of Defense Policy Board. General Keane has previously advised four Defense Secretaries and was a member of the 2018 and 2022 Congressional Commission on the National Defense Strategy.Read the transcript here.Subscribe to our Substack here.

Defense Secretary Hegseth has launched the development of a new National Defense Strategy — a major policy document that sets the Pentagon's strategic goals and priorities. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, who played a key role in crafting the 2018 National Defense Strategy during Trump's first term, will lead the new NDS effort. Hegseth said, “The NDS is the single most important document to ensure the Department is operating in accordance with the President's and my intent." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

TURNING AWAY FROM NATO AND TOWARD THE PACIFIC BY 2027:  3/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby  . September 14, 2021 https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1900 US BOUND FOR THE BOXER REBELLLION

TURNING AWAY FROM NATO AND TOWARD THE PACIFIC BY 2027:  1/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby  . September 14, 2021 https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1867 FARRAGUT'S FLAGSHIP

TURNING AWAY FROM NATO AND TOWARD THE PACIFIC BY 2027:  2/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby  . September 14, 2021 https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1898 DEWEY'S FLAGSHIP

TURNING AWAY FROM NATO AND TOWARD THE PACIFIC BY 2027:  4/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby  . September 14, 2021 https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1904 BSTTLE OF PORT ARTHUR

TURNING AWAY FROM NATO AND TOWARD THE PACIFIC BY 2027:  6/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby  . September 14, 2021 https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1904 PORT ARTHUR

TURNING AWAY FROM NATO AND TOWARD THE PACIFIC BY 2027:   7/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby  . September 14, 2021 https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1904 PORT ARTHUR

TURNING AWAY FROM NATO AND TOWARD THE PACIFIC BY 2027: 8/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby  . September 14, 2021 https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1905 NEW YEAR AT THE WHITE HOUSE

TURNING AWAY FROM NATO AND TOWARD THE PACIFIC BY 2027:  5/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby  . September 14, 2021 https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1904 PORT ARTHUR

Episode Summary: In this episode, Doug Birkey chats with Lt. Gen. David Deptula, USAF (Ret.); Maj. Gen. Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.); Mark Gunzinger; and JV Venable about key considerations that President Trump's defense team, especially the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Air Force, should be thinking about when it comes to airpower. It's clear that the Air Force needs to modernize faster so it can grow its combat capability and capacity. More cannot be done with less any longer. The Mitchell team also discusses the need to improve readiness. For many years, defense officials defended the mantra of divesting to invest in future capabilities. That approach, however, left the Air Force as the smallest, oldest, and least ready than at any other point in its history. This is a recipe for disaster. The Trump Administration and Congress must resource the Air Force sufficiently so it can reverse that decline and rebuild the service to meet its requirements laid out by the National Defense Strategy. Without adequate airpower, the nation risks losing future conflicts. We also explore core factors tied to Air Force identity and how service leaders can best articulate the value that airpower presents to the nation. There's a lot to discuss, and this is an episode you won't want to miss! Credits: Host: Douglas Birkey, Executive Director, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Producer: Shane Thin Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey Guest: Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, USAF (Ret.), Dean, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Maj. Gen. Larry "Stutz" Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: Mark "Gonzo" Gunzinger, Director of Future Concepts and Capability Assessments, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Guest: John "JV" Venable, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies Links: Subscribe to our Youtube Channel: https://bit.ly/3GbA5Of Website: https://mitchellaerospacepower.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MitchellStudies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell.Institute.Aerospace LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3nzBisb Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitchellstudies/ #MitchellStudies #AerospaceAdvantage #airpower #defense #administration Thank you for your continued support!

It seems a favorite pastime of leaders in Washington is telling us — Americans — what we believe and what we want. Such assertions by politicians are sometimes true, but they inevitably reflect the policy the politician is attempting to promulgate.   So what do Americans actually believe when it comes to key defense and foreign policy issues? We don't have to guess, thanks to the Reagan National Defense Survey. The Washington Director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, Roger Zakheim, joins guest host Bradley Bowman to share the latest survey's findings.

COALITION BUILDING VS BEIJING BULLYING. 6/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby. https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1947 Taiwan

COALITION BUILDING VS BEIJING BULLYING. 5/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby. https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1935 Taiwan (during Japanese occupation)

COALITION BUILDING VS BEIJING BULLYING. 8/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby. https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.1922 Taiwan

COALITION BUILDING VS BEIJING BULLYING. 7/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby. https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1952 Taiwan

COALITION BUILDING VS BEIJING BULLYING. 4/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby. https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. `925 Taiwan

COALITION BUILDING VS BEIJING BULLYING. 3/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby. https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1895 Taiwan

COALITION BUILDING VS BEIJING BULLYING. 2/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby. https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.1875 Taiwan

COALITION BUILDING VS BEIJING BULLYING.1/8: The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby @ElbridgeColby. https://www.amazon.com/Strategy-Denial-American-Defense-Conflict/dp/0300256434 Why and how America's defense strategy must change in light of China's power and ambition Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests.   The most informed and in‑depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening. 1935 Taiwan

Episode 114 examines the formation of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and its mission to integrate Silicon Valley technology within the Department of Defense innovation sphere. The guests are the co-authors of Unit X: How the Pentagon and Silicon Valley are Transforming the Future of War, which is the foundation for the conversation.   Our guests begin by outlining DIU's origin and mission emphasizing the importance of commercial technology in deterring and winning future conflicts. Our guests then discuss the challenges DIU faced with skepticism about the role of young companies in Silicon Valley and the bureaucratic problems associated with the DoD's current budgeting and acquisition processes. They then provide insight into DIU's core concept of operationalizing commercial technology faster than adversaries as a mean of supporting the National Defense Strategy. Lastly, they discuss adversarial approaches to innovation and use examples from both historical and contemporary conflicts to highlight important lessons learned for policy makers and practitioners.

From November 1, 2022: In recent weeks, the Biden administration has released a trio of long-awaited strategy documents, including the National Security Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and the Nuclear Posture Review. But how should we read these documents, and what do they actually tell us about how the Biden administration intends to approach the world?To answer these questions, Lawfare senior editor Scott R. Anderson sat down with Richard Fontaine, chief executive officer of the Center for a New American Security, who is himself also a former National Security Council official and senior congressional adviser. They discussed the role these strategy documents play in U.S. foreign policy, what we can learn from them, and what they say about the state of the world and the United States' role in it.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Senate recently received testimony from the bipartisan co-chairs of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, who were tasked with creating a report to Congress with recommendations needed to adapt our National Defense Strategy to current threats. In this episode, hear the testimony about that completed report during which they discuss preparations for a possible world war and the need for more American kids to fight and die in it. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Contribute monthly or a lump sum via Support Congressional Dish via (donations per episode) Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Background Sources Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes The Report Jane Harman et al. July 2024. Senate Committee on Armed Services. Jane Harman: Warmonger Open Secrets. October 10, 2002. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. September 14, 2001. GovTrack. Iridium Communications April 2, 2024. wallmine. GuruFocus Research. March 8, 2024. Yahoo Finance. December 29, 2023. Market Screener. Bing. Iridium. Iridium. Iridium. Retrieved from the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine version archived November 11, 2022. Axis of Aggression or Axis of Resistance? Angela Skujins. June 8, 2024. euronews. Nikita Smagin. June 15, 2023. Carnegie Politika. Defense Innovation Unit Defense Innovation Unit. Military Service Kristy N. Kamarck. December 13, 2016. Congressional Research Service. Christopher Hitchens. October 3, 2007. Vanity Fair. Mark Daily. Feb. 14, 2007. Los Angeles Times. Israel-Palestine Shay Fogelman. August 16, 2024. Haaretz. Steven Scheer and Ali Sawafta. August 14, 2024. Reuters. July 2, 2024. Al Mayadeen English. Steve Crawshaw. January 26, 2024. The Guardian. Patreon August 12, 2024. Patreon. C-SPAN Fundraiser C-SPAN. Bills: NDAA 2025 Audio Sources July 30, 2024 Senate Committee on Armed Services Witnesses: Jane M. Harman, Chair, Commission on the National Defense Strategy Eric S. Edelman, Vice Chair, Commission on the National Defense Strategy Clips 26:20 Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS): The document details the way in which the 2022 National Defense Strategy and Assessment, completed just two years ago, did not adequately account for the threat of simultaneous and increasingly coordinated military action by our four primary adversaries. A group which I have come to call the Axis of Aggressors. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS): I appreciate the Commission's recommendation that national security spending must return to late Cold War levels — a goal which matches my plan to spend 5%, eventually, of GDP on defense. That level of investment would be temporary. It would be a down-payment on the rebuilding of our national defense tools for a generation. Tools that have sharpened can reduce the risk that our adversaries will use military force against US interests. 33:10 Jane Harman: The threats to US national security and our interests are greater than any time since World War II, and more complex than any threats during the Cold War. 34:00 Jane Harman: Sadly, we think, and I'm sure you agree, that the public has no idea how great the threats are and is not mobilized to meet them. Public support is critical to implement the changes we need to make. Leaders on both sides of the aisle and across government need to make the case to the public and get their support. Eric Edelman: There is potential for near-term war and a potential that we might lose such a conflict. The partnership that's emerged among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea is a major strategic shift that we have not completely accounted for in our defense planning. It makes each of those countries potentially stronger militarily, economically, and diplomatically, and potentially can weaken the tools we have at our disposal to deal with them. And it makes it more likely that a future conflict, for instance, in the Indo-Pacific, would expand across other theaters and that we would find ourselves in a global war that is on the scale of the Second World War. Eric Edelman: The 2022 NDS identified China as the pacing challenge. We found that China is, in many ways, outpacing the US. While we still have the strongest military in the world with the farthest global reach, when we get to a thousand miles of China's shore, we start to lose our military dominance and could find ourselves on the losing end of a conflict. China's cyber capabilities, space assets, growing strategic forces, and fully modernized conventional forces are designed to keep us from engaging in the Taiwan Strait or the South or East China seas. China, as has been testified to before Congress, has infiltrated our critical infrastructure networks to prevent or deter US action by contesting our logistics, disrupting American power and water, and otherwise removing the sanctuary of the homeland that we have long enjoyed. 38:00 Eric Edelman: For its part, Russia has reconstituted its own defense industrial base after its invasion of Ukraine much more rapidly than people anticipated. Vladimir Putin seeks to reassert Russia as a great power and is happy to destabilize the world in order to do so. 38:15 Eric Edelman: Our report describes the threats posed by Iran, North Korea, and terrorism as well. Clearly, Iran and North Korea both feel emboldened by the current environment, and terrorism remains a potent threat fueled by the proliferation of technology. As the DNI has said, the current war in the Middle East is likely to have a generational impact on terrorism. 39:20 Jane Harman: First finding: DoD cannot and should not provide for the national defense by itself. The NDS calls for an integrated deterrence that is not reflected in practice today. A truly all elements of national power approach is required to coordinate and leverage resources across DoD, the rest of the Executive branch, the private sector, civil society, and US allies and partners. We agree with the NDS on the importance of allies, and we commend the administration for expanding and strengthening NATO and building up relationships and capabilities across Asia. We also point out ways for the United States to be better partners ourselves, including by maintaining a more stable presence globally and in key organizations like NATO. We call for reducing barriers to intelligence sharing, joint production, and military exports so we can better support and prepare to fight with our closest allies. 40:25 Jane Harman: Second recommendation is fundamental shifts in threats and technology require fundamental change in how DoD functions. This is particularly true of how DoD works with the tech sector, where most of our innovation happens. We say that DoD is operating at the speed of bureaucracy when the threat is approaching wartime urgency. DoD structure is optimized for research and development for exquisite, irreplaceable platforms when the future is autonomy, AI and large numbers of cheaper and attritable systems. I know this because I represented the Aerospace Center of Los Angeles in Congress for so many years, where exquisite, irreplaceable satellite platforms were built. And now we know that there is a plethora of commercial platforms that can do many of the same things and offer redundancy. DoD programs like Replicator and the Defense Innovation Unit and the Office of Strategic Capital are great, but they're essentially efforts to work around the larger Pentagon system. 42:00 Eric Edelman: Mr. Wicker, you raised the issue of the foresizing construct in your opening statement, and we, as you noted, found that it is inadequate. I mean, it was written actually before the invasion of Ukraine and before the emergence of this tightening alliance between Russia and China. And we propose that the force needs to be sized, the joint force, in conjunction with US allies and partners, to defend the homeland, but simultaneously be able to deal with threats in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East. These are not all the same fights, so different elements of the force would be required in different parts of the globe, but US global responsibilities require a global military response as well as a diplomatic and economic one. 43:20 Eric Edelman: The DoD workforce and the all-volunteer force provide us with a kind of unmatched advantage, but recruiting failures have shrunk the force and have raised serious questions about the sustainability of the all-volunteer force in peacetime, let alone if we had to mobilize for a major conflict or a protracted conflict. 44:30 Jane Harman: Additionally, we think that Congress should revoke the 2023 spending caps and provide real growth — I know Senator Wicker loves this one — for fiscal year 2025 defense and non-defense national security spending that, at a bare minimum, falls within the range recommended by the 2018 NDS Commission. That range was never achieved. Subsequent budgets will require spending that puts defense and other components of national security, other components jointly across government and the tech sector and partners and allies, on a glide path to support efforts commensurate with the US national efforts seen during the Cold War. Jane Harman: We agree on a unanimous basis that the national debt is its own national security challenge. If we want to approach Cold War levels of spending, we need to increase resources and reform entitlement spending. 45:40 Jane Harman: During the Cold War, top marginal income tax rates were above 70% and corporate tax rates averaged 50%. We don't call for those numbers, but we are calling for an increase in resources and point out that interest on the debt is higher than our total top line of defense spending. 49:55 Jane Harman: The notion of public service isn't new as you know, Mr. Chairman, it's been around for years. It was around when I served in Congress, and Congress did not act on any of the proposals that I saw. It is still a way to get all of the public, at the proper age, engaged in understanding the requirements of citizenship. A lot of our young people have no earthly idea, sadly, because they have no civic education, what our government really is and what are the ways to serve. And surely one of the most honorable ways to serve is as a member of the military, you did it, and other members of this committee have done this. And I think that is the way to revive a kind of sense of coherence and patriotism that we are lacking right now. Eric Edelman: We have not really, as a society, talked about the need for national mobilization, but if the worst were to happen and some of the worst scenarios we discuss in our report were to come to pass and were we to face a global conflict, it would require mobilization on the scale of what we did as a nation during World War II. And we haven't done that in a long time. We haven't thought about that in a long time. There are a lot of elements to it, including stockpiling strategic materials, but being able to rapidly bring people into the military, et cetera, I just don't think we are prepared to do it. I think we have to have a national discussion about this, and I think it goes hand in hand with the earlier discussion you had with my colleague about public service and serving the nation. 52:05 Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI): We had in World War II, two years, essentially from September 1st, 1939 to December 7th, 1941, to prepare. And I doubt we'll have two years to prepare in this environment. Eric Edelman: President Putin, in some ways, has done us a bit of a favor by having invaded Ukraine and exposed, as a result, some of the limitations of US defense industrial production, and shown that it's grossly inadequate to provide the equipment, technology, and munitions that the US military and our allies and partners need today, let alone given the demands of a potential future conflict, which might be even more taxing. Jane Harman: I remember being a member of the Defense Policy Board when Jim Mattis was Secretary of Defense, and his piece of advice to us was, let's do everything we can to keep Russia and China apart. Well, oops, that has not happened. And there is this close friendship and collaboration between them. You asked how is it manifested? Well, we see it most at the moment in Ukraine, where Russia was the aggressor violating international law and invading Ukraine, and China is a huge help to Russia in evading our sanctions by buying Russian gas and by its efforts to ship into China material for the war. And then you add in, as you mentioned, Iran and North Korea, which are suppliers of drones and other lethal material to Russia. And this unholy alliance, or I think you call it Alliance of Aggression, is extremely dangerous. Let's remember that both North Korea has nuclear weapons, Iran is at breakout for nuclear weapons, and the other two countries are nuclear countries. And where this goes is, it seems to me, terrifying. And that is, again, why we need to leverage all elements of national power to make sure we deter these countries from acting against us. Eric Edelman: Ukraine offered to give up, and I was involved in some of the diplomacy of this back in the nineties, the nuclear weapons that were left on its territory after the end of the Soviet Union. As a result of that, Ukraine gave them up, but in exchange for assurances from the United States, Russia, Great Britain and France, that its territorial integrity would be recognized along the borderlines that existed before the 2014 seizure of Crimea by Putin, which was a violation of those undertakings. If our assurances in the non-proliferation realm in this instance are shown to be hollow, it will raise questions in the minds of all of our allies about the assurances we've given them, our extended deterrent assurances, whether it's for our allies in Europe, part of our multilateral NATO alliance, or our bilateral allies in East Asia, or our partners, parts of special relationships we've developed in Middle East with Israel, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt and others. So the whole fabric, frankly, of the international order is at risk here, depending on the outcome in Ukraine. And to your point, if Putin is successful in Ukraine, the lesson that Xi Jinping is likely to draw is that he too can be successful in Taiwan or in the East China Sea or the South China Sea. Eric Edelman: Nuclear deterrence, Senator Fisher, is the fundamental on which everything else is built in terms of our national security. It's operating every day. It's not visible to American citizens, but the fact of our nuclear deterrent force, all three legs of the triad being available is the most powerful deterrent that we have to conflict. It's not sufficient, but it is the absolute basis, and we really, I think, agreed with the conclusion our colleagues on the Strategic Posture Commission reached, which is that we have to move forward with alacrity on all the elements of modernization of the nuclear triad. That's the GBSD Sentinel Program, that is the B-21, that is the Ohio replacement class. All of those things have to be accomplished and there are problems. One of the reasons we highlighted education is that some of the problems that GBSD are running into have to do with lack of skilled workers to be able to pour the kind of special reinforced concrete that you need for the new silos for missiles, the new control systems for missiles. We lack welders in the submarine industrial base, as Senator Wicker knows well. So there's a lot that has to be done across the board in order to move forward with nuclear modernization, but it is absolutely fundamental to our ability to deter aggression against our allies and of course against the homeland. Eric Edelman: The force right now is too small, and so we have to grow the force, and that's in the face of the recruiting challenges that we've highlighted in the report that the Army in particular, but also the Navy and the Air Force have faced. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): And I'm going to interrupt you. Please. Why is it too small? Can you explain in this setting the threats that we are facing when we look at the adversaries that we face and how that has changed over the last decade? Eric Edelman: It's too small, in part because the Department was sizing itself for one conflict. But if you have to be present in three theaters, as we are now, we've got conflicts in two theaters now, if we have a third conflict in the third theater, it's going to require a lot more forces. People talk, for instance, about the Indo-Pacific being largely a Navy and Air Force fight. That's correct, but the logistics that support the Navy and the Air Force will largely be manned by the Army. And so we have to have an Army that is sufficiently large that it can operate in all of these places, potentially simultaneously, because honestly, it is very hard to imagine today a conflict in the Indo-Pacific that doesn't become a global conflict very quickly. Someone asked earlier in the hearing about cooperation between Russia and China. The last time I testified before this committee was two years ago about the so-called "Three Body Problem," Russia and China being both nuclear peers of the United States. And one of the criticisms that was leveled at my colleague, Frank Miller and me, was that, well, there's no evidence that Russia and China are collaborating in the nuclear area. Well, we just saw them flying strategic bombers together up near Alaska, so I don't know what more evidence you want that they're beginning to collaborate in that strategic area. Eric Edelman: If we got into some kind of conflict in the Indo-Pacific, whether it be over Taiwan or the South China Sea or East China Sea, what might Russia do? One thing that comes to mind is take advantage of the separatist movement in Moldova to move on Moldova, a country that's trying to move closer to the European Union and to the West, which would then precipitate additional conflict in Europe, or take advantage of the ethnic Russian speaking minorities in the Baltic states, say Latvia, to initiate a conflict there. How would we manage that? When you raise that question with Department [of Defense] leaders, they basically say, well, that — to go back to the chairman's point earlier — well that would be sort of like World War II or would require national mobilization, and that's correct, but we haven't really taken the next steps to really focus on what that and what a protracted conflict would actually look like. We're optimized to fight very short wars. 1:21:00 Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD): There are five different domains in which our country will be attacked in the future. Air, land, and sea, most people would understand, but space and cyberspace are the new domains, which will precede any attack on the first three. Jane Harman: On cyber, it's a huge threat and I don't think we minimize it in any way. One of the things we might anticipate, for example, is if China decides to annex Taiwan, or whatever euphemism they might use, they might engage in a major cyber attack here first, for which we are under-prepared, a cyber attack of our infrastructure. When I was in Congress, I represented the Port of Los Angeles, which with the Port of Long Beach is the largest container port complex in the country. 50% of our container traffic enters and exits through those ports. There are cranes on the port to move the cargo, and those cranes have Chinese technology. So guess what? Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD): All of which are subject to the possibilities of cyber attack. Jane Harman: Absolutely. We should anticipate that our ports could go down. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD): Throughout our entire society, we find that to be the case though. Jane Harman: I'm agreeing with you and this is devastating. Does the American public understand this? No. Jane Harman: You also mentioned space. Again, something I know something about, since I used to call my district the aerospace center of the universe, where most of our intelligence satellites were made. We are more dependent on space as a country and more vulnerable in space because of that dependency than any other country. Shoring up space, which is one of the threats we address, is absolutely crucial. And it's not just military space, but commercial space. You talked about communication. A lot of how we communicate is through commercial space and think how inconvenienced the public would be if all of a sudden their little devices, which we're all dependent on, didn't work. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL): What's hurting us too is a lot of our government schools, I call 'em government schools because I went in thousands of them while I was coaching, recruiting, and the problem we have is hate that's being taught in a lot of our government schools, towards our country. Why would any young man or woman want to fight for a country that they don't believe in, that they're being taught to hate? It's absolutely amazing to me the direction this country is going. So is there any agreement there, Representative Harman? Jane Harman: There is agreement there. I think hate on both sides is totally destructive. I think the absence of civics education and the absence of institutions that help people understand what patriotism means. We had a conversation about national service, which might be a way to get all of our youth back together. I mean, this country sadly, is in a point where many people say our biggest enemy is us fighting each other. 1:33:35 Jane Harman: One of the problems is the kind of deployments the military does every two years. Moving somewhere where in many cases the spouse works and having to change his or her job every two years is very burdensome. It's also hard on kids, and so that could change. 1:36:20 Eric Edelman: The BRICS was actually kind of an invention of Goldman Sachs. It's not really a serious military organization. Jane Harman: But I think that Congress is somewhat complicit in the way the budget process doesn't work, and this insistence on requirements and oversight rather than on what is the problem set we are solving for, which is how the tech sector thinks. I've been making a comment about DIU, the Defense Innovation Unit, that was set up by the late Secretary Ash Carter, that maybe we should outsource the Pentagon to DIU, which is ably headed by someone named Doug Beck, who had 11 years experience in the private sector, because they know how to think about this. I couldn't agree with you more. The budget of DIU is $1 billion out of $850 billion. Doug Beck says he can leverage that. Sen. Angus King (I-ME): It's technologies that win wars, new technology, right? Jane Harman: I'm in violent agreement with you. He says he can leverage that into $50 billion of commercial investment, but that's still a pittance compared to the kind of change we need to undergo. Not just at the Pentagon, but at the Pentagon lashed up with other government agencies, with the tech sector, and with partners and allies. That is our point about all elements of national power, which will win the next war. 1:42:55 Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR): Ambassador Edelman, you spoke with Senator Fischer about the multiple theater force construct. Basically the kind of threats we're planning for, and there's a time when this nation planned to fight two major wars at a time, and I think now we're down to a force that can fight one conflict and protect our homeland, and hopefully scare bad guys everywhere else around the world and not starting war. Is that right? Eric Edelman: That is correct. That's what the 2022 NDS describes. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR): So that's what our national Defense Strategy says. Is the current force even capable of doing that, in your opinion? Putting aside what it should be capable of doing, which I'll come to momentarily. Can it even do that? Eric Edelman: I think there are very serious questions about whether the force in being could actually execute the strategy. Jane Harman: The word pivot probably should be retired. I don't think we can leave anywhere. I think we have to have an understanding of the threats against us, not just against regions, everywhere. The whole idea of this multiple force construct is flexibility and having an adequate deterrence so we don't engage in more wars. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): In your report you talked about the current force structure that we have, and I think you had identified that the Marines are only ones meeting that. We agree with that. What you failed to do is basically identify why we have not, or why you all did not, take up women being in selective service or joining selective service, because women make up 74% of the healthcare and education industry, 52% of financial activities. They're a tremendously strong force. And there's a lot of women I don't want to go up against. I can tell you that in so many ways. I guess my question is simple. Does the commission support women registering for selective service? Jane Harman: Well, I'll speak for myself. I do. I think that women are, a majority of our population, a majority of the talent pool, many of the most talented women serve on this committee. So yes, they should be. We should be. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): I'll make it clear that what we talked about does not require women to participate in military draft. Jane Harman: I understand. It's registering. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV): Yeah, registering, that's all. Jane Harman: And my answer to that is yes. Eric Edelman: Our view was that you have to be able to deter and potentially defeat adversaries in all three of the main theaters that we have been engaged in since the end of the Second World War, and which we repeatedly engaged in. I mean, there's been no shortage of efforts to try and extricate the United States from the Middle East. The last NDS in 2018 said we should be willing to run risk in the Middle East. I think on October 7th we got a sense, and then again on April 13th, of what running additional risk means in the Middle East. So it's our view that we have to be able to manage to do all of those things. Eric Edelman: The homeland, if there's a conflict, is not going to be a sanctuary anymore. And the first attacks will likely be in the cyber domain, and they will be incredibly disabling for our society, but also for the department. But getting all of the agencies of government that would have a role in all this, because it goes beyond just DoD, it goes beyond just DHS, I mean, it goes to the Department of Transportation, it goes to Commerce. I mean, it's an unbelievably complex issue. And we're only now wrapping our minds around it and it needs a lot more work and attention from the department. Jane Harman: The public is essentially clueless about the massive cyber attacks that could be launched any day by our adversaries, not just nation states, but rogue actors as well. Music by Editing Production Assistance

Foreign policy analyst Dr. Hal Brands joined Rep. Crenshaw to discuss why America abandoned pre-WWII isolationism to become the global superpower and the unprecedented prosperity that came from it. They examine the growing threats posed by Russia and China to that prosperity and the international order. And they look at the potential consequences for America if it retreats again to an isolationist foreign policy. Dr. Hal Brands is a Senior Fellow at American Enterprise Institute and the Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Dr. Brands has served as Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Strategic Planning and lead writer for the Commission on the National Defense Strategy for the United States. He is a member of the State Department's Foreign Affairs Policy Board and consults with a range of government offices and agencies in the intelligence and national security communities. Follow him on X at @HalBrands.

Donate (no account necessary) | Subscribe (account required) Join Bryan Dean Wright, former CIA Operations Officer, for another riveting episode of The Wright Report. This episode covers crucial developments shaping America and the world, featuring these updates: US Military Readiness: We dive into a sobering report from the bipartisan Commission on the National Defense Strategy, which reveals that the US armed forces are ill-prepared for a global conflict, facing significant challenges in both the Pacific and European theaters. Venezuelan Crisis: The political turmoil in Venezuela continues as President Maduro declares that his opposition will never gain power, leading to violent clashes and a rising death toll. We explore the implications for the region and the potential impact on the US southern border. Wagner Group in Mali: Russia's Wagner Group faces heavy losses in Mali while battling Islamic radicals. We analyze the broader geopolitical consequences and the potential for a natural hydrogen energy revolution in the region. Monkeypox Outbreak: A new, more transmissible and deadly strain of monkeypox spreads in Central Africa and Kenya. We update you on the situation and the efforts to contain the outbreak. Ukraine's F-16s: Ukraine receives its first F-16 fighter jets, but will they make a difference in the war? We discuss the logistical and strategic challenges that lie ahead. California's Renewable Energy: Stanford University reports that California met its electricity demand with 100% renewable energy for over 100 days. We dig deeper to understand the reality behind the headline. Dark Chocolate Warning: Researchers from George Washington University find high levels of heavy metals in dark chocolate and cocoa products, raising health concerns. We discuss the implications and potential solutions. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32

WILL TAIWAN BE MENTIONED IN THE DEBATE? 3/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.  1910 INDIGENOUS TAIWAN

WILL TAIWAN BE MENTIONED IN THE DEBATE? 4/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.  1820 HONG KONG

WILL TAIWAN BE MENTIONED IN THE DEBATE? 5/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.  1890 HONG KONG

WILL TAIWAN BE MENTIONED IN THE DEBATE? 2/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.  1963 KUOMINTANG

WILL TAIWAN BE MENTIONED IN THE DEBATE? 1/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.  1922 TAIWAN FOR VISIT OF CROWN PRINCE HIROHITO

WILL TAIWAN BE MENTIONED IN THE DEBATE? 6/8  The Strategy of Denial: American Defense in an Age of Great Power Conflict, by Elbridge A. Colby. Elbridge A. Colby was the lead architect of the 2018 National Defense Strategy, the most significant revision of U.S. defense strategy in a generation. Here he lays out how America's defense must change to address China's growing power and ambition. Based firmly in the realist tradition but deeply engaged in current policy, this book offers a clear framework for what America's goals in confronting China must be, how its military strategy must change, and how it must prioritize these goals over its lesser interests. The most informed and in-depth reappraisal of America's defense strategy in decades, this book outlines a rigorous but practical approach, showing how the United States can prepare to win a war with China that we cannot afford to lose—precisely in order to deter that war from happening.  1850 HONG KONG