Show Notes
One of the many diverse educational opportunities at the U.S. Army War College are specialized seminars that deep-dive into specific areas of interest. Kurt McDowell and Mike Smith participated in the AY25 Futures Seminar, and they're in the studio with host Darrell Driver to discuss their findings. Sponsored by the J-7, Lieutenant General Anderson, the seminar was tasked with exploring innovation for maneuver warfare in 2040. , McDowell, Smith and the team advocate for an "elastic mindset" and "effectual logic," a means-based approach that focuses on what's available, rather than a traditional causal, end-state approach. They contrast this with the military's current high-certainty planning scenarios, which are often based on specific threats like Russia and China.
More from A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast
Forty years ago, the Goldwater-Nichols Act reshaped how the U.S. military operates. Passed in 1986 following coordination breakdowns in operations like Vietnam and the Iranian hostage rescue, the law forced the branches to overcome fierce rivalries and operate as a joint team.
Battles are won in the mind before shots are fired. Strategist Mike "Quatto" Posey joins host Tom Spahr joins to break down military deception, from WWII ghost armies to modern decoys, and how psychology drives outcomes on and off the battlefield.
Drones dominate the headlines, but protracted warfare still comes down to people. Gil Barndollar joins host Steve Trynosky to discuss why Western militaries cannot afford to ignore the human demands of mobilization and manpower.
Marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11, host Jadwiga Biskupska sits down with deRaismes Combes to examine how the attacks reshaped American security, daily life, and the perception of threats, asking whether post-9/11 choices have truly made us safer.
How do "sunk costs" influence wartime decisions? JP Clark interviews Brian Groves on his book, "When Presidents Fight the Last War."