Fred Kagan

Fred Kagan, a senior fellow and director of the Critical Threats Project at AEI, discusses Ukraine’s bold drone strikes on Russian air assets. He highlights the remarkable tactics employed and the implications for modern warfare. The conversation delves into the complexities of nuclear deterrence and the risks of escalation. Kagan also emphasizes the importance of surprise in combat, examining how traditional strategies adapt to high-tech warfare. Ultimately, he critiques the dynamics influencing military strategies and peace negotiations in the ongoing conflict.

Next week we will release the new book by Saul Singer and me: "The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World", which you can order now at: www.amazon.com/Genius-Israel-Small-Nation-Teach/dp/1982115769/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LKV3ZLWLBOL1&keywords=dan+senor&qid=1694402205&sprefix=dan+senor%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1 OR www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-genius-of-israel-dan-senor/1143499668 The speech that I reference in today's episode -- in which I discuss the resilience of Israelis in this moment -- can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WygtNbwf-tk By the time you listen to this episode, we may be witnessing escalation on Israel’s Northern border. Certainly there’s a highly anticipated address by Hassan Nasrallah, the head of Hezbollah. This will be his first major address since the October 7 War began. If there is major escalation, we will be dropping an emergency episode with Dr. Matthew Levitt, an expert on Hezbollah who was on this podcast last week. Today’s guest is Dr. Fred Kagan, an expert in understanding war theaters – as he tries to help us understand the various battlefields in which Israel is currently fighting or might be fighting in the future. Fred is a former professor of military history at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He spent meaningful time in the Middle East informally advising US military commanders. You can find more of Fred’s work at: The Critical Threats Project – https://www.criticalthreats.org/ Institute for the Study of War – https://understandingwar.org/

Fred Kagan, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a strategic military analysis expert, joins the discussion to delve into the complexities of modern warfare. He shares insights on Ukraine's military strategies and how the U.S. can navigate future conflicts with Russia. The conversation highlights the shifting dynamics of the Ukraine war, contrasting Russian and Ukrainian tactics, and touches on Putin's conflicted narrative on conscription. Kagan also addresses the implications of drone technology and the ongoing situation in Israel, connecting these geopolitical issues with historical contexts.