War on the Rocks

Michael Eisenstadt, a Washington Institute expert on Iran, joins defense analysts Stacie Pettyjohn and Mark Cancian to examine how the war is testing U.S. military readiness. They discuss depleted missile interceptors and munitions, extended deployments, production bottlenecks, Iran’s missile and drone strategy, and what China may learn from America’s strained forces and exposed vulnerabilities.

Colonel Eric Clark, a leader behind Ground Combat Element 2040 who champions human-centric modernization, and Major General Jason Morris, a senior architect focused on future maneuver and naval integration, discuss drones, resilience, long-range fires, logistics, distributed operations, human-machine teaming, and preserving close combat while adapting maneuver warfare to pervasive sensors and contested electromagnetic space.

Dara Massicot, a Carnegie researcher on conflict and military effectiveness, and Michael Kofman, a Carnegie analyst of the Russian military, discuss battlefield fluidity and local offensives. They cover drones and air defense shortages, Black Sea strikes and export disruption. They also examine political shakeups in Kyiv, leadership changes in command, and prospects for renewed Russian mobilization.

A deep dive into why fighting between the United States and Iran has settled into a stalemate. Discussion of diplomatic backchannels through Oman and Qatar and competing shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz. Analysis of Tehran power shifts after Mohsen Rezaei's promotion and what recycling old IRGC figures means for Iran’s leadership. Possible endgame scenarios and regional incentives are sketched.

Francis Beaudette, retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and former USASOC commander, reflects on a career from Desert Storm to recent conflicts. He discusses formative war books and family ties to Normandy. He recalls early combat lessons, people-first leadership amid tech change, and how watching Ukraine helps avoid misapplied lessons.

Dara Massicot, a defense analyst on Ukrainian tactics and logistics, and Mike Kofman, a Russian military specialist, explain how Ukraine’s expanding drone campaign is altering momentum. They discuss strikes into Russian territory and energy infrastructure. They cover tactical adaptation, Russian manpower and limits, political effects in Moscow, and risks of escalation.

Col. Scott Cuomo, who led the Quantico weapons unit stand-up; CWO5 Steve Pearsall, an ordnance and safety expert; GySgt Jude Stewart, lead attack drone instructor. They recount turning a holiday task into a Corps-wide FPV attack drone training program. Rapid fielding, simulator-first training, safe arming procedures, regional hubs, and lessons drawn from Ukraine drive the story.

Dean Cheng, longtime analyst of PLA developments; Mira Rapp-Hooper, U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy expert; and Amanda Hsiao, China specialist on Taiwan and conflict risk. They debate whether Beijing sees time as working for reunification. Short-term invasion risk seems low. They explore Beijing's nonmilitary pressure, timelines around 2028, shifting goalposts, and implications for U.S. deterrence and alliances.

Rose Gottemoeller, former NATO deputy secretary general and arms control official now at Stanford, reflects on U.S.-Russia relations after the war. She discusses rebuilding cooperation in space and arms control. She examines Russia-China ties, tech gaps, nuclear diplomacy, proliferation risks, and practical paths toward predictable, post-conflict engagement.

Gen. Frank Donovan, a USMC general leading U.S. Southern Command and autonomous warfare initiatives. He unveils SOUTHCOM's new Autonomous Warfare Command. Short takes cover integrating drones and autonomy beyond experiments. Talks hub-and-spoke structure, affordable maritime systems, partner capacity building, and lessons from Ukraine on maritime drones.