A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

The INF was a successful treaty, in that it was fully implemented. ... [and it was] intended not to be easy to pull out The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (also known as INF) has garnered significant attention in the latter half of 2018 as President Trump announced that the US would withdraw from it. But before then, the INF was rather obscure and not well known. Thus, A BETTER PEACE explores the history of the INF and the controversies and implications of withdrawing from it in a two-part podcast series. This release is the first, in which we welcome Grace Stettenbauer, a former State Department Foreign Service Officer and former instructor at the Army War College. She had experience with the verification and monitoring processes involved in the INF in the early days of the treaty. In her conversation with U.S. Army War College Professor of Strategy Jacqueline E. Whitt, she explains what the INF was about and what was desirable and undesirable about it.   Grace Stettenbauer is a former foreign service officer and former faculty member of the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev signing the INF Treaty in the East Room of the White House, 1987. Photo Credit: Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, public domain

How do you explain how well-intentioned, patriotic, bright people make poor judgments that lead to so much suffering? Historian and U.S. Naval Academy Professor Brian VanDeMark joins the podcast to discuss his acclaimed new book, Road to Disaster: A New History of America's Descent into Vietnam.  How do advances in cognitive psychology help explain how intelligent, well-intentioned leaders led America into the tragedy of Vietnam? What lessons does this hold for our own era? In this podcast, Brian VanDeMark talks about his book, discussing how factors such as incomplete information, unchallenged assumptions, lack of creative thinking, and short-sightedness led to a compounding of errors by the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief Andrew Hill moderates.   Brian VanDeMark is Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy. Andrew A. Hill is WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief. 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 the Department of Defense. Photo: Secretary of State Dean Rusk, President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara at a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House. Photo Credit: Yochi Yokamoto, Executive Office of the President of the U.S., public domain

Napoleon stands out in history for being an individual who understood the interplay between war and politics WAR ROOM welcomes Lieutenant General Christopher Cavoli, Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, to discuss his perspectives on strategic leadership. In this interview, he uses the examples of prominent historical figures to describe the qualities of strong strategic leaders, and the importance of reading classic texts as a way of better understanding today's national security issues. He shows the importance of taking the time to read and reflect, and not give military history a rushed, cursory look. WAR ROOM Podcast Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.   Christopher Cavoli is a lieutenant general in the U.S. Army and Commander, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the WAR ROOM Podcast Editor. 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: U.S. Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and Polish soldiers pose for a photo at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania, Sept. 3, 2018. U.S. Army leaders of 2-5 Cav, 1st ABCT, 1st CD met with Polish soldiers to discuss future joint training opportunities in support of Atlantic Resolve, an enduring training exercise between NATO and U.S. forces Photo Credit: U.S. Army National Guard photo by SPC Hannah Tarkelly, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment, 1st ABCT, 1st Cavalry Division Other Releases in the Leader Perspectives series: A CONVERSATION WITH THE HONORABLE MELISSA DALTON OF DEFENSE POLICYCAMPAIGNING IN THE PACIFIC: A CONVERSATION WITH GEN FLYNNA TRANSATLANTIC PERSPECTIVE ON NATO (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)OBSERVATIONS FROM NATO’S NORTHERN FRONT (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)ALLIES ARE MORE THAN FRIENDS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)THE CHALLENGES OF KEEPING SPACE SECURE (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)TENSIONS AND PARADOXES FACING SENIOR LEADERS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEADING AND WINNING IN GREAT POWER COMPETITION (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)LEARNING ABOUT LEADERSHIP THROUGH THE CLASSICS (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)WHAT IT TAKES FOR COLONELS TO BE SUCCESSFUL (LEADER PERSPECTIVES)BALANCING BETWEEN CIVILIAN LIFE AND SERVICE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD“WHAT GOT YOU HERE WON’T GET YOU THERE” — AND OTHER CAUTIONARY TALES FOR LEADERSWHEN THE MILITARY IS NOT IN CHARGE: DEFENSE SUPPORT TO CIVIL AUTHORITIESWHAT DOES ‘SUCCESS’ MEAN AS A STRATEGIC LEADER?STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP AND CHANGING THE US ARMY IN EUROPETHE CHALLENGES OF SENIOR LEADER COMMUNICATIONTHE SENIOR NCO AS A STRATEGIC LEADERSTRATEGIC LEADERSHIP FROM AN AUSTRALIAN PERSPECTIVEWHAT DO THE BRITS THINK OF AMERICAN OFFICERS?PERSPECTIVES ON STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP — GEN. ROBIN RAND, U.S. AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMANDGROWING AFRICAN PEACEKEEPING CAPACITY

The promise of much of this outsourcing was to reduce cost. ... but the total costs [of all contracts] have gone up. So contracts are not cheaper The joint force has long depended on the private sector to provide necessary goods and services to support and sustain the warfight. This has been true since the days of the American Revolution, but reliance on contracted support has steadily increased over time. Business interests, emergence of dual-use technologies and commodities (e.g., tents), and political pressures have shaped this relationship. Has the promise been realized of cost savings due to contracting under conditions of private sector competition? Or, has the dependence on the private sector caused overall costs to increase? Addressing these and other questions are Dr. Jennifer Mittelstadt of Rutgers University and former U.S. Army War College faculty member, and Dr. Jacqueline E. Whitt, Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College.     Jen Mittelstadt is Professor of Political and Military History at Rutgers University and former Harold K. Johnson Chair of Military History at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Scene from the 2014 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting. U.S. Army photo.

At its best, integrating women or any new group of people makes you re-evaluate where the Army is as a whole The current discourse on the inclusion of women in combat roles follows a long history of questions surrounding the roles and restrictions afforded to women in the military. Positive change often came about out of necessity, as the demands of war exceeded available manpower, leading to opportunities for women to make significant and lasting contributions to the force. But positive change was subject to systemization as the defense enterprise had to answer questions of 'how' integration would take place. As this podcast shows, the devil is in the mundane details such as figuring out how to outfit, equip, train, house, and care for the well-being of female Soldiers. These efforts were neither simple nor easy as shown by guest Dr. Miranda Summers-Lowe of the Smithsonian Institution and WAR ROOM Podcast Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt.   Miranda Summers-Lowe is Modern Military Curator for Armed Forces History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the WAR ROOM Podcast Editor. 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: PFC Janice Hayes, U.S. Army, participates in a field exercise in April 1974. Photo Credit: U.S. Army Women's Museum

A day in the Army where you don't learn something new is a day wasted WAR ROOM welcomes Lieutenant General Wayne Eyre of the Canadian Armed Forces to the studio to discuss his perspectives on strategic leadership. He focuses most of his comments toward colonels entering the strategic level and the need for them to show self-awareness, develop their character, be lifelong learners, and lead teams. An excellent presentation for mid-grade officers to learn what it takes to make it as a senior leader. WAR ROOM podcast editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Wayne Eyre is a lieutenant general in the Canadian Armed Forces and 2012 graduate of the U.S. Army War College. He currently serves as the Deputy Commander, United Nations Command, Republic of Korea. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the WAR ROOM Podcast Editor. 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, Department of Defense, or the Canadian Armed Forces. Photo: Scene from a video celebrating Canada Day 2016. Photo Credit: Canadian Armed Forces.

If you look at all the civil wars over the past two hundred years, you can document foreign fighters in more than a quarter of them Foreign fighters are "individuals who are not citizens of a state where there is a conflict but who travel to that state to become part of the non-government forces participating in insurgencies," according to our guest speaker Dr. David Malet of American University. Although it is only recently that scholars have taken an interest in people willing to travel to faraway places and fight, foreign fighters have been an integral part of many insurgencies over the past two centuries. These fighters are not mercernaries as they are unlikely to be paid well (or paid at all), so what drives them to participate? Is it ideology or something else? Does the nature of the conflict matter? David Malet presents a number of cases from the 1800s onward and finds the answer to be quite complex. WAR ROOM Podcast editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.   Dr. David Malet is an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs, American University. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the WAR ROOM Podcast Editor. 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: Somali policemen look at the wreckage of a car at the scene of an explosion following an attack in Somalia's capital Mogadishu in 2016. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Feisal Omar

The Navy's trying to figure out, 'how can you expand your reach.' ... And in all the agreements that they forge with the studios, at no point is the Navy supposed to be paying for any of this WAR ROOM welcomes Ryan Wadle from Air University to discuss the history of how the war film industry emerged out of the interwar period. Focusing on the Navy, he relates how the military's relationship with Hollywood began as an opportunity to enhance public relations at a time when the service could only devote a couple individuals to the task. As naval films grew in popularity and Hollywood began investing in them, challenges arose such as questions over operations security, accuracy in the depictions of military life, and commercial pressures. What are the implications for the relationship between the military and Hollywood today? WAR ROOM podcast editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.     Ryan Wadle is an Associate Professor of Comparative Military Studies at the eSchool of Graduate Professional Military Education and author of Selling Seapower: Public Relations and the U.S. Navy 1917-1941. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and the WAR ROOM Podcast Editor. 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: Cast members Charlie Hunnam (R) and Rinko Kikuchi pose at the premiere of "Pacific Rim" at Dolby theatre in Hollywood, California July 9, 2013. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Even a big country like the United States can't efficiently produce everything we need and want The third and final installment in our economic series focuses on how U.S. post-World War II "leadership" in the international system and burgeoning global economy has shaped U.S. strategy ever since. C. Richard Neu and Joel Hillison discuss how the U.S. once served as the exemplar of prosperity that other nations desired to follow, such that it was tolerant of its economic struggles so long as it maintained its abilities to set the rules and establish order. This position is now being challenged by actors who follow different rules, which has led to a loss of American confidence in the global economy. How does uncertainty in the global economy affect the U.S. national security interests, and therefore the U.S. military?     C. Richard Neu is a Professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and a former senior economist at RAND. Joel Hillison is Professor of National Security Studies at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Bin Li, CEO of Chinese electric vehicle start-up NIO Inc., celebrates after ringing a bell as NIO stock begins trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) during the company’s initial public offering (IPO) at the NYSE in New York, U.S., September 12, 2018. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

How do I stay true to two masters--the Army & Air Force, and also the employers? Our series on Senior Leader Perspectives continue with an interview with the 28th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, Air Force General Joseph Lengyel. In the past two decades, the roles and commitments of the National Guard have grown tremendously, with ten percent of the force engaged worldwide whether for contingencies overseas or in response to state level missions, such as disaster response. But many men and women of the National Guard also work for an employer at home, and the demands of military service can put stress on relationships with employers. How does the Bureau Chief deal with these relationships at the national and state levels so to sustain and enhance the readiness of the National Guard?   Joseph Lengyel is a General in the U.S. Air Force and the 28th Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the WAR ROOM Podcast Editor. 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: Soldiers with the South Carolina National Guard conduct traffic as they build a barrier to prevent flooding off of Highway 501 in Conway, S.C. Photo Credit: U.S. Army National Guard/Staff Sgt. Jorge Intriago