Working Intelligence: Making Americans Irreplaceable From 9/11 to AI: Mike Gallagher on How American Workers Will Win the 21st Century
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Sep 11, 2025 Mike Gallagher, a former Marine Corps intelligence officer and Congressman now at Palantir, shares his insights on resilience and innovation in America. He discusses how the aftermath of 9/11 transformed national strategy and parallels it with today’s AI-driven technological race against China. Gallagher passionately argues that AI should enhance rather than replace American workers, showcasing real-life examples of AI's positive impact in shipyards and agriculture. His optimistic vision for the future emphasizes the crucial role of human ingenuity augmented by technology.
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A Personal Path From 9/11 To Service
- Mike Gallagher describes watching 9/11 in his AP American Government class and how it gradually shaped his career choices.
- He changed majors to study Arabic and later joined the Marine Corps to serve and apply those skills.
Seeing Counterinsurgency Work Firsthand
- Gallagher recounts learning on the ground in Anbar and seeing counterinsurgency tactics evolve during his deployments.
- He witnessed local tribal leaders shift to support U.S. efforts and saw security tangibly improve across deployments.
China's Patient Long-Term Strategy
- While the U.S. focused on the Middle East, China quietly pursued a long-term strategy to displace U.S. influence.
- Gallagher argues China never intended to fully integrate into the existing rules-based order and has grown more assertive.
