David Kilcullen, a leading counterinsurgency expert and author, joins Carl Miller to discuss how adversaries like Al-Qaeda have evolved their tactics in the modern battlefield. They delve into how global powers, particularly China, are using economic strategies to expand influence while posing security threats. The conversation highlights the rise of information warfare, the unique struggles democracies face, and the importance of adapting military strategies to new geopolitical realities. Kilcullen emphasizes the need for cohesive approaches to ensure stability in this complex conflict landscape.
58:15
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Al-Qaeda's After-Action Review
David Kilcullen was called "Petraeus's Australian mercenary" on an Al-Qaeda messaging board.
This highlighted Al-Qaeda's adaptive learning, analyzing their failures during the surge.
insights INSIGHT
Dragons and Snakes
Adversaries are categorized as dragons (state actors) and snakes (non-state actors).
Originally, snakes were the primary concern, but now dragons have returned, having learned from Western conflicts.
insights INSIGHT
Convergence of Dragons and Snakes
Snakes are becoming more like dragons, acquiring greater lethality.
Dragons are adopting snake-like tactics, exploiting unconventional warfare.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The book examines the roles of central bankers Benjamin Strong Jr., Montagu Norman, Émile Moreau, and Hjalmar Schacht in the lead-up to the Great Depression. It highlights their adherence to the gold standard and the consequences of their decisions, which significantly contributed to the economic catastrophe. The narrative also draws parallels between past and present economic challenges and emphasizes the importance of flexible monetary policies, as advocated by John Maynard Keynes.
Unrestricted Warfare
Two Chinese Colonels
Hate Inc.
Why Today’s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
Matt Taibbi
In this book, Matt Taibbi provides an insider's guide to the ways in which today's mainstream media distorts the news. He argues that the news has become a twisted wing of the entertainment business, where media companies master the art of monetizing anger, paranoia, and distrust. Taibbi, drawing from his extensive experience covering elections, offers a rich taxonomic survey of American political journalism's dirty tricks and how the media has evolved into a form of entertainment that fosters division and conflict[1][2][5].
In this episode, leading soldier-scholar David Kilcullen speaks to Carl Miller about how the West’s opponents have learned from twenty-first-century conflict and explains how their cutting-edge tactics and adaptability pose a serious threat to America and its allies, disabling the West’s military advantage. Click here to find out more about David's book 'The Dragons and The Snakes': https://bit.ly/3fQrOTD.
-------------------------
Intelligence Squared+. The world's best speakers. Your questions. £4.99 per month.
Intelligence Squared+ will bring you live, interactive events every week on our new online platform. Just like at our real-life events, you’ll be able to put your questions to our speakers, vote in live polls and interact with other members of the audience. Your subscription will give you access to multiple events featuring the world’s top thinkers and opinion formers, including Thomas Piketty, Margaret Atwood, Clive Woodward, Thomas Friedman, Meera Syal and Paloma Faith.
For a full list of Intelligence Squared+ events and to subscribe, click here: https://bit.ly/2yfYIfm
Intelligence Squared 
