Profiles in Strategy

In this episode Jon O'Gorman talks with guests John Maurer, James Holmes and David Stone about several topics. We start with the causes of World War I and how it is easy to start a war but not stop one. We speak about the concept of peripheral strategies and if those type of cumulative campaigns can win against a continental opponent. We then look at the saltwater side of the war and how decisions at sea effect decisions made on land. We explore how Germany's strategic options both at sea and on land are limited. We discuss problems of the culminating point of victory for Germany vs. Russia and with the allies as a whole. We end with a shift to the contemporary realm and how this conflict has lessons learned and dire warnings about the war in Ukraine and the rise of communist China today.

This week Jon O'Gorman asks James Holmes, Kevin McCranie, and David Stone about the Russo-Japanese war. We discuss the naval implications of this war, why countries are risk adverse when it comes to fleets and how both Mahan and Corbett see the conflict. We also look at implications of Tsushima and the Russians vs. Japanese strategic and geographical advantages/disadvantages in the concentration of its fleet. Lastly, we talk about the contemporary relevance of the conflict in 1904 on Russia's war today in Ukraine.

Jon O’Gorman hosts John Maurer, George Satterfield and Marc Genest as they debate how the British might have prevented the American rebellion and how they could have crushed it once it started. Also, once the nature of the war changed with France coming in, what options did the British have then? Contemporary parallels to Afghanistan are drawn about the nature of insurgencies.

In this week's episode, Jon O'Gorman asks guests Michael Pavkovic, Marc Genest and Josh Hammond about the true causes of the Peloponnesian War, why the war was so difficult to bring to an end, and the failed Peace of Nicias. We end by talking about the Thucydides Trap and its relevance on the contemporary environment.

In this week's episode on the Theorists, Jon O'Gorman asks John Maurer, Timothy Hoyt, and Andrew "Dex" Wilson about the attributes of Clausewitz. Sun Tzu and Mao. We debate their views on strategy, where they agree/disagree or rhyme, and their thoughts on Civil-Military relations. We also bring this into the contemporary realm and debate what some of their concepts mean for Russia in the Ukraine.