Midrats

Look who we have on a short-turnaround visit to Midrats, Dr. Emma Salisbury!We’re going to cover the waterfront issues in the Anglosphere, but we’ll kick off the discussion with the issues she outlined in her recent Behind the Front post, Franken-FREMM: How the Constellation Class Became a Monster.Emma recently completed her PhD at Birkbeck College, University of London, with research focusing on the history of the U.S. military-industrial complex. She is the Sea Power Research Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, Fellow at UK Strategic Command Defence Futures, and an assistant editor at War on the Rocks.ShowlinksFranken-FREMM: How the Constellation Class Became a Monster - Emma SalisburyBeyond the Iron Triangle: The Military-Industrial Complex as Assemblage - Emma SalisburyThe US Navy has Fallen Victim to the British Disease - Tom SharpeSummaryThe conversation discusses the challenges and systemic problems in naval shipbuilding, specifically focusing on the Constellation Class FFG program. The guests highlight the lack of learning from previous failures, the accumulation of unnecessary changes, and the desire for perfection at the outset. They also explore the mindset issue in shipbuilding, the impact of economic considerations on decision-making, and the importance of maintaining shipbuilding capacity. The conversation emphasizes the need for an iterative approach and long-term planning to address these issues. The conversation explores the challenges and issues surrounding naval procurement and shipbuilding in the UK and the US. It discusses the underfunding of the armed forces, the problem of project creep, the need for investment in defense, and the importance of having a clear vision for ship designs. The conversation also touches on the potential of AI and unmanned assets in the future, the need for flexibility in ship designs, and the importance of maintaining a strong defense industrial base.TakeawaysNaval shipbuilding faces systemic problems and a lack of learning from previous failures.The desire for perfection at the outset and the accumulation of unnecessary changes contribute to shipbuilding challenges.Economic considerations and the impact on local communities often influence decision-making in shipbuilding programs.Maintaining shipbuilding capacity is crucial for national security and requires long-term planning.An iterative approach, similar to China's shipbuilding strategy, could be beneficial for naval shipbuilding programs. Both the UK and the US have historically underfunded their armed forces, leading to challenges in naval procurement and shipbuilding.Project creep, the tendency to continuously add features and modifications to a design, has been a major problem in naval procurement.Investment in defense is necessary to ensure the readiness and capability of armed forces.There is a need for a clear vision and focus on the intended role and capabilities of ships, rather than trying to make them do everything.While AI and unmanned assets hold promise for the future, there is still a long way to go in terms of technology development and integration into fleet structures.Flexibility in ship designs is important to accommodate future upgrades and capabilities.Maintaining a strong defense industrial base is crucial for national security and the success of naval procurement and shipbuilding.Chapters00:00: Introduction01:21: Systemic Problems in Naval Shipbuilding03:03: The Constellation Class FFG Program and its Challenges06:01: The Desire for Perfection and Accumulation of Changes10:26: The Need for an Iterative Approach in Shipbuilding17:47: Economic Considerations and Decision-Making in Shipbuilding22:40: The Importance of Maintaining Shipbuilding Capacity25:23: Long-Term Planning for Naval Shipbuilding29:48: Underfunding and Sea Blindness33:01: The Problem of Project Creep35:44: The Need for Defense Investment38:41: Making the Case for Defense Spending44:12: The Importance of Clear Ship Designs46:09: The Potential and Limitations of AI and Unmanned Assets49:32: Flexibility in Ship Designs for Future Upgrades52:09: The Challenge of Limited Space and Displacement55:09: Fixing the Defense Industrial Base

What has the People’s Republic of China been doing to grow its influence in the Pacific Island nations that proved so crucial in the Pacific theater in WWII, and will be just as important for the next Great Pacific War?Our guest for the full hour is be Cleo Paskal.Cleo is Non-Resident Senior Fellow focusing on the Indo-Pacific at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. She has testified before Congress multiple times and regularly lectures for seminars for the U.S. military. She is also a columnist with India's The Sunday Guardian newspaper. She is surprisingly short, but as this is a podcast, no one will notice.Showlinks:Protecting the Corridor of Freedom to America’s Asian Border, by Cleo Paskal. Published July 1, 2024 in Journal of INDO-PACIFIC Affairs.Island-Hopping with Chinese Characteristics—What the PRC Is Island-Hopping with Chinese Characteristics, by Cleo Paskal. Published in the Autumn 2023 edition of the Naval War College Review.Chinese Lessons From the Pacific War: Implications for PLA Warfighting, by Toshi Yoshihara. Published January 5, 2023 at Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.The Compacts of Free Association report by the Congressional Research Service, April 2024.Map of the South Pacific Ocean.Summary:The conversation discusses China's growing influence in the Pacific Island nations and its comprehensive national power strategy. The Pacific Island nations, located between Hawaii and Guam, are strategically important for the US. China's comprehensive national power metric ranks countries based on various factors, including economic, military, and political influence. China's approach is externally focused and aims to increase its own power while decreasing the power of other nations. The Chinese Communist Party's influence extends beyond government and includes economic, social, and criminal elements. The US and its allies need to be aware of China's grand strategy and its impact on the Pacific region. The principal themes of the conversation are the importance of addressing corruption in the Pacific Islands, the strategic significance of the Pacific region, the need for maritime domain enforcement, and the role of the US in supporting the Pacific Islands.Takeaways:China is actively growing its influence in the Pacific Island nations, which are strategically important for the US.China's comprehensive national power metric ranks countries based on various factors and aims to increase China's power while decreasing the power of other nations.China's approach is externally focused and includes economic, social, and criminal elements.The US and its allies need to be aware of China's grand strategy and its impact on the Pacific region. Corruption in the Pacific Islands is a major issue that needs to be addressed, as it undermines national security and allows China to gain influence in the region.The Pacific region is strategically significant, and control over the islands and maritime routes is crucial for both the US and China.Maritime domain enforcement is essential to protect the rights and interests of the Pacific Islands and to counter illegal activities by China.The US should provide support to the Pacific Islands in terms of intelligence sharing, investigations, and strengthening their legal systems to combat corruption and defend their communities.The US needs to increase its presence and engagement in the Pacific Islands to counter China's influence and protect its own interests in the region.Sound Bites:"If you have a Pacific centered map, you know, the Indo-Pacific is going to be the, to the 21st century, what the Atlantic was to the 20th century.""China's comprehensive national power mentality seems to have actually translated into action in the way that they interact with the region.""China's approach is not just a kind of zero-sum game. They will go into the other side loses more.""You are sending in the mercy or Guard cut or whatever corruption that's happening on the ground is what's feeding out into the maritime environment, the air environment, and the entire national security bubble and corroding it.""We should have an unlimited prosecution and investigation budget. You don't compete on their terms, you compete on our terms because fundamentally, I think our system is better.""Unless we raise the cost of taking the money from China and give breathing space to the people who are trying to defend their communities and the things that they believe, it's not going to tip in our favor."Chapters:00:00: Introduction and Call to Join the Conversation02:10: Overview of the Pacific Island Nations07:24: China's Comprehensive National Power Strategy13:33: China's Influence in the Commonwealth of Northern Marianas21:23: China's Braided Approach and Challenges for the US32:18: The Corrosive Effect of Corruption on National Security34:44: The Significance of the First and Second Island Chains38:29: The Importance of Geography in Conflict41:58: The Need for a Stronger US Presence in the Pacific Islands47:14: China's Political Warfare in the Pacific Islands53:22: China's Maritime Strategy in Latin America56:20: Enforcing Maritime Domain Awareness in the Pacific Islands59:41: The Importance of FBI Field Offices in the Pacific Islands

SummaryIn this conversation, Sal and Mark discuss various topics related to national security and the military. They start by questioning the purpose and effectiveness of the US presence in the Red Sea. They also touch on the lack of accountability in the executive branch, the importance of congressional oversight, and the decline in military press coverage. They highlight some positive developments, such as improvements in ship maintenance and the increased visibility of sailors through social media. They also mention the exoneration of the Chicago 50 and the extended screen time given to sailors by the Commanding Officer of the USS Eisenhower. Overall, the conversation explores the challenges and successes in the military and national security arena. The conversation covers various topics related to the Navy and its operations. Some of the main themes include the importance of the Navy's distinctive uniforms and theatrical landscapes for visibility and recruitment, the need for effective shipbuilding and acquisition processes, the limitations of relying on a single aircraft design, the importance of a diverse toolkit for a complicated world, the challenges of extending the range of strike forces, the need for search and rescue capabilities in the Pacific, and the significance of logistics and resupply ships in operations.TakeawaysThe purpose and effectiveness of the US presence in the Red Sea is questioned, highlighting the need for clear guidance and intent from the executive branch.Congressional oversight is crucial in holding the executive branch accountable, but it may be limited during an election year.There has been a noticeable improvement in ship maintenance and corrosion control in the past 18 months, which is a positive development.The increased visibility of sailors through social media and the efforts of the CEO of the USS Eisenhower to showcase their work are commendable.The exoneration of the Chicago 50 and the recognition of their contributions is a step towards acknowledging past injustices.There is a need for more personalized and relatable storytelling to showcase the importance and impact of the military. The Navy's distinctive uniforms and theatrical landscapes are important for visibility and recruitment.Effective shipbuilding and acquisition processes are crucial for the Navy's success.Relying on a single aircraft design limits the Navy's capabilities.A diverse toolkit is necessary for navigating a complicated world.Extending the range of strike forces is a challenge that needs to be addressed.Search and rescue capabilities are essential in the Pacific.Logistics and resupply ships play a significant role in operations.Chapters00:00 - Introduction and Invitation to Engage01:40 - Questioning the Purpose of the US Presence in the Red Sea05:04 - The Importance of Congressional Oversight10:10 - Improvements in Ship Maintenance and Corrosion Control18:15 - Increasing Visibility of Sailors through Social Media24:14 - The Need for Personalized Storytelling in the Military33:51 - The Importance of Visibility and Recruitment36:16 - The Need for Effective Shipbuilding and Acquisition41:43 - The Limitations of Relying on a Single Aircraft Design46:20 - Navigating a Complicated World with a Diverse Toolkit52:14 - Challenges in Extending the Range of Strike Forces59:30 - The Significance of Search and Rescue in the Pacific01:02:21 - The Role of Logistics and Resupply Ships in Operations

How have the modern European navies developed since the start of the Cold War, and how are they positioned to address the challenges we see today?Returning to Midrats this Sunday at 3pm Eastern will be Dr. Jeremy Stöhs.Jeremy is an Austrian-American security and defense analyst. He co-heads the Austrian Center for Intelligence, Propaganda & Security Studies at the University of Graz and is a senior fellow at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University. His publications include The Decline of European Naval Forces: Challenges to Sea Power in an Age of Fiscal Austerity and Political Uncertainty (Naval Institute Press, 2018) and newly published European Naval Power: From Cold War to Hybrid Wars (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024).The new book will be the focus of our discussion.

In a news cycle dominated by the attempted assassination of former President Trump, give yourself a break with an update on the Russian military in year three of the Russo-Ukrainian War, with regular Midrats guest Dr. Dmitry Gorenburg.Dmitry Gorenburg is Senior Research Scientist in the Strategy, Policy, Plans, and Programs division of CNA, where he has worked since 2000. Dr. Gorenburg is an associate at the Harvard University Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies and previously served as Executive Director of the American Association of the Advancement of Slavic Studies (AAASS). His research interests include security issues in the former Soviet Union, Russian military reform, Russian foreign policy, and ethnic politics and identity. Dr. Gorenburg is author of Nationalism for the Masses: Minority Ethnic Mobilization in the Russian Federation (Cambridge University Press, 2003), and has been published in journals such as World Politics and Post-Soviet Affairs. He currently serves as editor of Problems of Post-Communism and was also editor of Russian Politics and Law from 2009 to 2016. Dr. Gorenburg received a B.A. in international relations from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in political science from Harvard University. TakeawaysThe Russo-Ukrainian War has been ongoing for three years, with Russia's goals evolving over time.Both Russia and Ukraine continue to engage in offensives, but significant territorial gains have become increasingly difficult.The war has had a significant impact on the demographics of the fighting forces, particularly in rural and poorer areas.Electronic warfare plays a crucial role in the conflict, with both sides adapting and evolving their tactics.Russia's defense industry faces challenges in terms of production and sourcing components, but they have found alternative ways to maintain supplies.The Russian economy has shifted to a war economy, with a focus on defense spending and investment.The labor shortage in Russia poses a challenge for the long-term sustainability of their defense industry and economy. China's relationship with Russia is driven by a significant coincidence of interests, particularly in weakening the United States and its alliance with Europe.The war in Ukraine is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, with both sides believing they are inching closer to victory.The resolution of the conflict will require negotiation and potential concessions from both sides, but the outcome is uncertain.The relationship between Russia and the West is unlikely to return to the pre-war era, and a new normal will have to be established.The role of China in supporting Russia and the impact of Western assistance on Ukraine are critical factors to watch in the coming months.Chapters00:00 - The Evolving Goals of the Russo-Ukrainian War07:50 - Winter Offensives and Stalemate11:46 - Long-Range Strikes and Demoralization17:14 - Demographics and Impact on Rural Areas20:03 - The Role of Electronic Warfare24:58 - Challenges in Russia's Defense Industry29:49 - The Shift to a War Economy31:25 - Labor Shortage and Inflation32:54 - The Russia-China Partnership37:32 - The Existential Threat to Russia44:50- - Russian Sabotages and Assassination Efforts48:02 - The Battle in Central Europe and Western Europe52:18 - The Stalemate in Ukraine and Potential Solutions56:30 - The Role of China and Western Assistance01:00:08 - Key Factors to Watch

Law. Ethics. Morality. Character.What do these words mean, and why are they important in the profession of arms. That is the subject of this week’s Midrats.We have just the right person to dig in to this topic, returning to Midrats, Dr. Pauline Shanks-Kaurin.Professor Shanks-Kaurin is the Admiral James B. Stockdale Chair in Professional Military Ethics at the Naval War College. She holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Temple University and specializes in military ethics, “just war theory” and philosophy of law and applied ethics. She is author of “On Obedience: Contrasting Philosophies for Military, Community and Citizenry” and “Achilles Goes Asymmetrical: The Warrior, Military Ethics and Contemporary Warfare.” She served as a contributor for The Strategy Bridge and has published in War on the Rocks, Real Clear Defense, The Wavell Room, Grounded Curiosity, Newsweek and Just Security.Showlinks:Reviewing The Character Gap: 2021 review at The Strategy Bridge of, The Character Gap: How Good Are We?, by Christian B. Miller.The Smartest Guys in the Room.Ethics: Starting at the Beginning: 2018 article in The Wavell Room.High Noon.The Cruel Sea.Dereliction of Duty: Johnson, McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to VietnamFat Leonard: How One Man Bribed, Bilked, and Seduced the U.S. NavyWith the Old BreedMy Helmet for a Pillow

Anyone even remotely around the Navy or the national defense area in DC and the Pacific knows this two words, “Fat Leonard” and the unprecedented impact it has had on the navy as an institution and its very highest uniformed leadership for well over a decade. Visiting the topic on Midrats for the full hour will be Craig Whitlock, investigative reporter for The Washington Post. #1 NYT Bestselling author of "Fat Leonard: How One Man Bribed, Bilked, and Seduced the U.S. Navy" (2024) and "The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War" (2021).

Hope you enjoy the new audio quality for this month's melee!We kick things off with an overview of the Gaza Pier debacle, the Eisenhower deployment extension, the Constellation Class frigate purgatory, the potential fun with the #AsianNATO, and finish things up with a former VCNO who is not in a happy place.Showlinks:Better Tabletop Exercises for Wartime Acquisition By Ron WeinbergerArmy JLOTS v. Navy ELCASYou Go to War with the Industrial Base You Have, by Mackenzie Eaglen"Just as PLA is clearly communicating its threats to the world, it's also communicating its insecurities." - Zach OtaAdmiral Paparo shows the correct attitude at the Shangri-La Dialogue.Former VCNO not having a good week

Midrats returns for a broad-reaching discussion on maritime and national security issues from the Gaza Beaches to the South China Sea!My audio was a bit poppy early in the show, but it gets better.Mentioned links:PRC is playing games with undersea cablesCONGRESSIONAL GUIDANCE FOR A NATIONAL MARITIME STRATEGY Reversing the Decline of America’s Maritime PowerWhen US Army tried to deactivate the unit that built the Gaza pierSECNAV has a testy time on The HillAzeri percentage of Iranian populationCFR report on the challenge of the PRC invading TaiwanPRC's Drone Carrier

Just as they share a common tradition going back to before the American Revolution, the United State's Navy and Britain's Royal Navy, today both nations' navies share a similar challenge of prioritizing and finding the navy - and the industrial base to support it - that both nations need in order to secure their nation's from global threats and challengers.We'll cover both nations' military industrial base, the latest lrelated essons from the Red Sea, AUKUS, and even a funny little moment in the series, "3 Body Problem."Coming back to Midrats for a long ranging discussion will be Dr. Emma Salisbury, Phd.Emma recently completed her PhD at Birkbeck College, University of London, with research focusing on the history of the U.S. military-industrial complex. She is an associate fellow at the Council on Geostrategy, an associate fellow at the UK Ministry of Defence's Development, Concepts, and Doctrine Centre, and an assistant editor at War on the Rocks.