A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

Getting that idea from the battlefield...back into the hands of someone who can fix it back in the states or elsewhere in the world rapidly is absolutely critical. In September of 2019 we introduced you to the Eisenhower Series College Program. Members of the Eisenhower Program began the year on the road visiting colleges and universities, interacting with audiences often unfamiliar with members of the U.S. Military. Unfortunately the DOD's Travel Policy, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, has curtailed the Spring schedule for the program. It is our hope at WAR ROOM to bring you a glimpse of what some of those presentations might have looked like via A BETTER PEACE: The WAR ROOM Podcast. The first two episodes discussed diversity and inclusivity in the military and social media's impact on national security. In this episode A BETTER PEACE editor Ron Granieri is joined by three members of the U.S. Army War College AY20 resident course Ryan Ehrler, Henry Schantz and Dave Short. The four of them discuss technology's role on the battlefield, and whether or not new tech truly requires new domains or simply levels the playing field and speeds up the battle. Their conversation ranges from the new Space Force to prop-driven aircraft to lightweight batteries and the infantryman that still has to carry them to the fight. While some of this technology leads to dramatic new ways to fight much of it just enhances tried and true tactics. Ryan Ehrler is a Colonel and a Special Forces officer in the U.S. Army. Henry Schantz is a Lieutenant Colonel and F-22 pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Dave Short is a Lieutenant Colonel and an Air Defense officer in the U. S. Army. All three of them are graduates of the AY20 resident class at the U.S. Army War College. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Lt. Col. Keith Colmer, a test pilot with the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve Command Test Center in Tucson, Ariz., successfully releases a 500-pound GBU-12 laser-guided weapon from an AT-6C experimental light attack aircraft Sept. 28, 2011. The Air Force has stated as recently as March 2020 that it will only purchase a limited number of light attack aircraft for experimentation and training foreign militaries. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/James Haseltine Other releases in the "Eisenhower Series": PARTNER AND COMPETITOR: MANAGING THE U.S.-CHINA RELATIONSHIPALLIES AND INFLUENCE: CONVERSATIONS FROM THE EISENHOWER SERIESTHE REAL FOREVER WAR: THE WAR ON DRUGS(EISENHOWER SERIES)GREAT POWER COMPETITION: ALLIANCES IN INDOPACOM (EISENHOWER SERIES)PRESERVING DOMESTIC SECURITY (EISENHOWER SERIES)OBSERVATIONS FROM NATO’S NORTHERN FRONT REVISITED (EISENHOWER SERIES)THE EISENHOWER SERIES COLLEGE PROGRAM: 50 YEARS OF OUTREACH(BACK TO SCHOOL)TO WHAT END? INTERESTS AND VALUES IN AFGHANISTAN(EISENHOWER SERIES)RECONSIDERING GREAT POWER COMPETITION(EISENHOWER SERIES)STRATEGY FROM THE INSIDE OUT(EISENHOWER SERIES)SERVICE TO THE NATION: CLOSING THE CIVIL-MILITARY DIVIDE(EISENHOWER SERIES)NEW WEAPONS FOR NEW DOMAINS?(EISENHOWER SERIES)SOCIAL MEDIA: GOOD MEDICINE OR A BAD PILL (EISENHOWER SERIES)THE EISENHOWER SERIES COLLEGE PROGRAM: 50 YEARS OF OUTREACH

What do you do when the training your organization requires you to accomplish doesn't actually prepare you for your mission or enhance your unit readiness. You create a board game, of course. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Mike Loftus, Will McKannay and Jim Markley to discuss how Mike and Will, with Jim's help, came to create a board game during their year at the U.S. Army War College. The three join podcast editor Ron Granieri to explain how their game helps to illustrate the development of appropriate requirements, training plans and reporting cycles for Brigade Combat Teams across the Army. Mike and Will sought out Jim to advise them on the actual game construction and the central question they were trying to answer. They then incorporated inputs from offices in the Pentagon, actual units in the field and the commanders that are living the readiness drill. I struggled and I questioned why we did so much training to meet certain gates to go someplace and then ultimately be told 'Hey that training was very useful, it got you ready, but doesn't meet the requirements of this particular mission.'   Lieutenant Colonel Mike Loftus is an Army Engineer who most recently served as Brigade Engineer Battalion Commander with the 1st Armored Division and forward deployed to the Republic of Korea. He previously served as a Fellow for the Chief of Staff of the Army Strategic Studies Group. Colonel Will McKannay is a Military Policeman with 26 years of service across all echelons most recently as a Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Battalion Commander. A former Joint Staff Intern, COL McKannay served on both the Joint and Army Staffs. They are both graduates of the AY20 Resident Class of the U.S. Army War College. Jim Markley is the Deputy Director of Wargaming at the Center for Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force Photo/Airman 1st Class Christopher R. Morales Other releases in the "Wargaming Room" series: WAR FIGHTING, WAR THINKINGSIMULATING DIPLOMATIC DISASTER (WARGAMING ROOM)BETTER STRATEGY? IT’S ALL IN THE GAME(WARGAMING ROOM)WARGAMING IN THE SEMINAR: A STUDENT’S VIEW (WARGAMING ROOM)NOT JUST WAR GAMES: SIMULATING CRISIS NEGOTIATIONS (WARGAMING ROOM)LIKE YOUR BRAIN HAS JUST GONE TO THE GYM (WARGAMING ROOM)A LABORATORY FOR MILITARY PROFESSIONALS (WARGAMING ROOM)GAMES, PLAY, AND THE AFFECTIVE DOMAIN (WARGAMING ROOM)

There is a concept called collective coping. It's using social media and specifically social relationships to cope with issues...more than ever you can see that people are reaching out.   In September of 2019 we introduced you to the Eisenhower Series College Program. Members of the Eisenhower Program began the year on the road visiting colleges and universities, interacting with audiences often unfamiliar with members of the U.S. Military. Unfortunately the DOD's Travel Policy, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, has curtailed the Spring schedule for the program. It is our hope at WAR ROOM to bring you a glimpse of what some of those presentations might have looked like via A BETTER PEACE: The WAR ROOM Podcast. Our first episode in the series discussed diversity and inclusivity in the military. In our second episode our podcast editor Ron Granieri is joined by War College students Ryan Ehrler, Steve McNamara and Henry Schantz. In their conversation they try to address the overarching topic of modern communications and social media including how they impact national security and how they shape contemporary politics and society. For all the good social media can do for the world there are dangers associated with its use and abuse. Military members in particular must guard against the information leaks that are inherent to the world of social media. Ryan Ehrler is a Colonel and a Special Forces Officer in the U.S. Army. Henry Schantz is a Lieutenant Colonel and F-22 pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Steve McNamara is a Lieutenant Colonel and Tactical Air Control Party member in the U. S. Air Force. All three of them are members of the AY20 resident class at the U.S. Army War College. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit:Original Photo by cottonbro from Pexels Other releases in the "Eisenhower Series": PARTNER AND COMPETITOR: MANAGING THE U.S.-CHINA RELATIONSHIPALLIES AND INFLUENCE: CONVERSATIONS FROM THE EISENHOWER SERIESTHE REAL FOREVER WAR: THE WAR ON DRUGS(EISENHOWER SERIES)GREAT POWER COMPETITION: ALLIANCES IN INDOPACOM (EISENHOWER SERIES)PRESERVING DOMESTIC SECURITY (EISENHOWER SERIES)OBSERVATIONS FROM NATO’S NORTHERN FRONT REVISITED (EISENHOWER SERIES)THE EISENHOWER SERIES COLLEGE PROGRAM: 50 YEARS OF OUTREACH(BACK TO SCHOOL)TO WHAT END? INTERESTS AND VALUES IN AFGHANISTAN(EISENHOWER SERIES)RECONSIDERING GREAT POWER COMPETITION(EISENHOWER SERIES)STRATEGY FROM THE INSIDE OUT(EISENHOWER SERIES)SERVICE TO THE NATION: CLOSING THE CIVIL-MILITARY DIVIDE(EISENHOWER SERIES)NEW WEAPONS FOR NEW DOMAINS?(EISENHOWER SERIES)SOCIAL MEDIA: GOOD MEDICINE OR A BAD PILL (EISENHOWER SERIES)THE EISENHOWER SERIES COLLEGE PROGRAM: 50 YEARS OF OUTREACH

Suddenly I was distracted by this amazing roar...and I turned to the umpire and I said 'What is that?' absolutely dumbstruck by this vision and sound and he said 'That's a Spitfire' A BETTER PEACE welcomes James Holland, internationally acclaimed and award-winning historian, writer, and broadcaster. A familiar and trusted face appearing in numerous WWII documentaries, James is also the author of over two dozen books and novels. He joins Michael Neiberg in the studio to discuss how he began writing, where he finds his passion and the immense pleasure he derives from interviews and research that have made him a highly sought after subject matter expert. In this episode Holland explains to the listener how a chance encounter with a Supermarine Spitfire lead him back to his childhood fascination with WWII and his first novel about the Battle of Britain. Neiberg interviewed Holland at the new U.S. National World War II Museum in New Orleans last year. Michael Neiberg (L) and James Holland (R) in front of WWII themed artwork at the Higgins Hotel adjacent to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. James Holland is an internationally acclaimed and award-winning historian, writer, and broadcaster. The author of the best-selling historical novels, he has also written nine works of historical fiction. He regularly appears on television and radio, and has written and presented the BAFTA-shortlisted documentaries. Michael Neiberg is the Chair of War Studies at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Ray Hanna at the controls of his famous Spitfire MH434 at the Flying Legends of 2005 Photo Credit: Bryan Fury75 at French Wikipedia. Other releases in the "On Writing" series: BEYOND VIETNAM: SUNK COSTS IN PRESIDENTIAL STRATEGYEXPLOITING THE VOID: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF MODERN PROPAGANDA(ON WRITING)COLONELS WRITING FOR COLONELS (RE-RELEASE)ON WRITING: MILITARY AUTHORS AND THE HARDING PROJECT (RE-RELEASE)FIGHTING TOGETHER: THE CANADIAN-AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP IN WORLD WAR II(ON WRITING)THE SCHOLAR AND THE STRATEGIST:SIR HEW STRACHAN(ON WRITING)COLONELS WRITING FOR COLONELSON WRITING: MILITARY AUTHORS AND THE HARDING PROJECTUNDERSTANDING RUSSIAN CULTURE: JADE McGLYNN(ON WRITING)CHINA’S SHIFTING HISTORY: STEPHEN PLATT (ON WRITING)UNDERSTANDING CHINA THROUGH ITS RECRAFTED PAST: RANA MITTER (ON WRITING)WRITING ON A DEADLINE: SHASHANK JOSHI (ON WRITING)REAGAN AS THE PEACEMAKER: WILL INBODEN(ON WRITING)RUSSIAN IMPERIAL HISTORY-THEN AND NOW: ALEXANDER MIKABERIDZE(ON WRITING)TAKING COMMAND: TAMI DAVIS BIDDLE(ON WRITING)HOW TO WRITE THE HISTORY THAT HASN’T ENDED: IAN ONA JOHNSON(ON WRITING)AS TIME GOES BY: UNDERSTANDING FREE & VICHY FRANCE (ON WRITING)SHIFTING MENTAL GEARS: PHILIP CAPUTO (ON WRITING)GENERAL HISTORY: H.R. McMASTER (ON WRITING)WHEN A GENERAL WRITES FOR THE GENERALIST (ON WRITING)THE VALUE OF WRITTEN THOUGHT: STEPHEN VOGEL (ON WRITING)TWO AUTHORS UNDER THE SAME ROOF (ON WRITING)THE MORE BEAUTIFUL QUESTION: ALEXANDRA RICHIE (ON WRITING)FACT AND FICTION: THE RECOUNTING OF WWII WITH JAMES HOLLAND (ON WRITING)THE U.S. ARMY IN THE 20TH CENTURY: AN INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN LINN (ON WRITING)LIBERATION FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE LIBERATED (ON WRITING)PARIS 1919: A CONVERSATION WITH MARGARET MACMILLAN (ON WRITING)THE CHALLENGES OF WRITING BIOGRAPHIES (ON WRITING)FINDING “WOW” MOMENTS (AND OTHER WRITING TIPS FOR SENIOR LEADERS) (ON WRITING)THE ART OF WRITING HISTORY (ON WRITING)

The Defense Acquisition System is the management process by which the Department of Defense provides effective, affordable, and timely systems to the users. -Department of Defense Directive Number 5000.01 Misunderstood, under-appreciated, Congressionally scrutinized, and even mocked and immortalized in a Hollywood movie, the acquisition corps of each of the services have a difficult job. Charged with acquiring all of the stuff necessary to train and equip the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines of the nation's military, the professionals in the acquisition world face daily challenges. Good, fast and cheap are a great set of guiding principles but everybody knows you can only have two of those thing at the same time. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Jason Tate, an Army acquisition officer, to share his experiences and thoughts based on his time in this crucial career field. He joins podcast editor Ron Granieri as they delve into COTS, GOTS, PMs and PEOs along with a number of other misunderstood tools and terms of the acquisition community. Jason Tate is a Lieutenant Colonel and Acquisition Officer in the U.S. Army. He is a student in the AY20 Resident class of the U.S. Army War College. And yes he passed his oral comps. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Bruce Jette (center), Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics & Technology (ASA(ALT)) & Army Acquisition Executive (AAE), gets a briefing on product improvements for cannon systems. Photo Credit: John Snyder/U.S. Army

There is no "Latin America" right? It is a region made up of independent sovereign countries, some with different histories, some with different languages...based on that they're going to have different relationships with the United States. In the present day examination of global security, much of the United States' attention is focused on the Middle East, East Asia and Eastern Europe. All too often Western hemisphere countries, activities and interests get short changed on resources and attention. The United States's top trade partner is Canada, and Mexico is close behind. Many countries in the Western hemisphere share values and forms of governance, and have been important security partners for the United States. But does the United States undervalue these long-term partnerships, running the risk of losing their support against adversaries such as China and Russia? A BETTER PEACE welcomes Eric Farnsworth back to the studio to examine the risks of the United States' current behaviors in Latin America and Canada. He's joined by our Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline E. Whitt, as they discuss the unique relationships the United States has with its Western hemisphere neighbors and what might be done to ensure they endure. Eric Farnsworth is the Vice President and Head of the Washington Office, Americas Society and Council of the Americas. Jacqueline E. Whitt is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: U.S. Army Soldiers conduct a multinational exercise alongside National Army of Colombia at Tolemaida Air Base, Nilo, Colombia on January 23, 2020. The exercises demonstrate operational readiness and enhance interoperability in Airborne Operations. Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc Edward Randolph

The 2018 National Defense Strategy was clear in its call to shake off strategic atrophy - to maintain competitive advantage against our Nation's adversaries we must evolve. - Commander's Foreword, Army Special Operations Forces Strategy In the realm of national security very few elements ever remain stagnant, and those that do are relegated to irrelevance. As the environment changes, capabilities are developed, motivations shift, loyalties fade, new players rise and old players fall. In order to account for those changes new guidance flows downward from the highest levels of leadership increasing in detail and specificity as it descends to the lowest echelons of the military. Bryan Groves joins A BETTER PEACE editor Ron Granieri to discuss U.S. Army Special Operations Command's (USASOC) latest iteration of its command strategy. In the words of the Commanding General, LTG Francis Beaudette, this strategy "charts our course to drive evolutionary changes in how we man, train and equip our formations in the Information Age." Bryan and Ron examine how USASOC forces intend to execute their mission in support of the national defense amongst general purpose, joint and coalition forces against ever changing adversaries. The Army Special Operations Forces Strategy can be found online here or a PDF can be directly downloaded here. LTC(P) Bryan Groves is the Chief of the Strategic Planning Division, U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: All images from U.S. Army Special Operations Forces Strategy document

The old adage under Atatürk was zero problems with the neighbors; now the adage is zero neighbors without problems. You would be hard pressed to find a current member of the U.S. military who remembers a time in their service when the United States wasn't involved in conflict in the Middle East. Forty years ago this year Operation EAGLE CLAW, the rescue attempt of American hostages in Iran failed at a remote site known as DESERT ONE. Thirty years ago began DESERT SHIELD, followed by DESERT STORM. Nineteen years ago ENDURING FREEDOM began in Afghanistan and seventeen years ago IRAQI FREEDOM. And the current Syrian conflict, INHERENT RESOLVE began nine years ago. A BETTER PEACE welcomes David Sorenson to examine the underlying historical causes behind the modern day conflicts that plague the region, cause terrible death and destruction, and draw in the resources and attention of the entire world.  Dave joins podcast editor Ron Granieri in the studio to discuss lessons that should be learned by the United States when dealing with this chaotic region. He gives his thoughts as to what the future holds for the Middle East and implications for the rest of us. Dr. David Sorenson is professor of international studies at the U.S. Air Force Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: The Flag of Iran, the Flag of Saudi Arabia overlaid on a geographic map of the Middle East Photo Credit: All images courtesy of the CIA World Fact Book

It's very hard to implement a long term development project when rebels might overrun and destroy or steal whatever you've implemented. To say that Central Africa has been a tumultuous region for the last three decades is an understatement. Genocide, civil and proxy wars and disease have lead to a death count that numbers in the millions and several million more displaced persons. But how much does the American citizen understand about the region, and how much should they be concerned? A BETTER PEACE welcomes Laura E. Seay to the studio to share her expertise on the topic. Laura is hosted by podcast editor Ron Granieri to discuss international efforts in the sub-Saharan region to develop countries and governance through security and stability operations. Dr. Laura E. Seay is an Assistant Professor of Government at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. Ron Granieri is an Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Army War College and the Editor of A BETTER PEACE. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Africa political map, 16 May 2019 Photo Credit: Map Library, Central Intelligence Agency, 2019

International law can actually be a very powerful tool in the regulation of warfare In 1907 the major powers of the world gathered in the Netherlands for the Second Hague Conference. Building on the agreements of the First Hague Conference of 1899 the participants noted that many warring parties were not observing the international laws agreed upon by civilized nations. Of particular concern was the forces that had continued armed resistance after defeated nations were occupied by their conquerors. A BETTER PEACE welcomes Jonathan Gumz, a Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. Jonathan joins JP Clark in the studio to discuss the attempts and failings of both Hague conventions as well as the Geneva Conventions to try and maintain civility and order in the midst of the brutality of war. Dr Jonathan E Gumz is a Senior Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom. COL JP Clark was the Deputy Director for Academic Engagement for the Strategic Studies Institute and a WAR ROOM Senior Editor as well as a student in the AY20 resident class at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Female Yezidi resistance fighters of the Êzidxan Women's Units (YJÊ), September 2015 in Sinjar Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons PanchoS