CLSC Dialogues

CLSC Dialogues – Ep 17 – COL Rich Butler and Markus Garlauskas – Protracted War Series: A Discussion with Markus Garlauskas

CLSC Dialogues

Show Notes

In this episode of CLSC Dialogues, Markus Garlauskas discusses why we should think about the potential for a protracted war in the Indo-Pacific and what lessons we should be learning from analyzing the topic. He talks about why we should think about the likelihood of a potential protracted war should peace break in a place like Taiwan and why preparedness matters. He then discusses potential escalation dynamics associated with a protracted and how that changes the deterrence calculus. The conversation then turns to factors the US national security community should consider.

Keywords: China, DPRK, Russia, PLA, decision making, landpower, protracted war, escalation dynamics, simultaneity, authoritarian collusion, coalitions

More from CLSC Dialogues

Jul 22, 2026

Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, visiting faculty at the China Landpower Studies Center at the US Army War College and an associate professor at the University of Texas—Austin, joins the CLSC Dialogues to discuss the People’s Republic of China’s four Global Initiatives and her recent publication on China’s mobilizational initiatives. Keywords: China, Global Initiatives, Community of Common Destiny

May 22, 2026

Guest host Tom Spahr and General Xavier Brunson, commander of United Nations Command, ROK-US Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea (UNC/CFC/USFK), discuss Korea, the Indo-Pacific, and mission command. Keywords: Korea, China, mission command

May 14, 2026

In part two of this two-part episode, COL Kyle Marcrum and Dr. Jessica Liao discuss Taiwan President Lai’s special defense budget and the Kuomingdang Chair, Cheng Li-wun, visit to Beijing. Keywords: Taiwan, defense, budget

May 13, 2026

In part one of this two-part episode, COL Kyle Marcrum and Dr. Jessica Liao discuss Taiwan President Lai’s special defense budget and why it is stalled in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan. Keywords: Taiwan, defense, budget

Apr 28, 2026

In this episode, COL Mike Long and LTG Joel B. Vowell discuss the US Army Pacific and the role of USARPAC.

See all episodes →