The Fifth Column #525 - John Spencer Views Explosion
20 snips
Sep 25, 2025 
John Spencer, the Executive Director of the Urban Warfare Institute and a veteran with 25 years of service, dives deep into urban combat scenarios in Gaza and Ukraine. He discusses the complexities of fighting an enemy embedded in civilian populations, unpacking the tactics of Hamas and the implications for lawful military responses. Spencer also critiques media portrayals of modern warfare and highlights the importance of accurate casualty reporting. His insights into urban defense strategies and the evolving dynamics of warfare provide a compelling lens on current conflicts.
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Raid On Turkish Embassy
- John Spencer recounts leading a platoon raid on a site the Kurds identified as a Turkish embassy and recovering weapons and uniforms.
- He frames the operation as a significant but initially misunderstood international incident that later drew wider investigation.
De-Baathification's Lasting Damage
- Spencer argues de-Baathification was a catastrophic political decision that fueled chaos and insurgency in Iraq.
- He stresses that many on-ground soldiers saw its immediate disruptive effects without understanding the higher-level politics.
Phase Four Is Not One-Size-Fits-All
- Spencer cautions against applying a single 'phase four' counterinsurgency model to every war, saying initial objectives often focus on defeating the enemy.
- He notes Israel's unique constraints make direct historical analogies unreliable and complicate post-conflict planning assumptions.
