A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

One in five people on the planet by 2050 will be an African. One in ten will be a Nigerian. You have tremendous potential. ... And it all depends on one thing. It's a question of governance. With North Korea and other national security challenges dominating headlines, Africa is garnering less attention than before. So what are the important interests that the U.S. has with Africa today? And what interests do Africans have nowadays with the U.S.? To answer these and other questions, WAR ROOM welcomes special guest Ambassador (Retired) Phil Carter. Ambassador is the former Deputy to the Commander for Civil-Military Engagement of U.S. Africa Command and former U.S. Ambassador to Guinea and Ivory Coast. U.S. Army War College Director of African Studies Chris Wyatt moderates.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-025-Carter-Wyatt-US-Africa-in-21st-Century.mp3 You may also download the podcast here.   Ambassador (Retired) Phil Carter is the former Deputy to the Commander for civil-military engagement of U.S. Africa Command and former U.S. Ambassador to Guinea and Ivory Coast. Chris Wyatt is a colonel in the U.S. Army and serves as the Director of African Studies at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this podcast 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: A Senegalese soldier with 1st Paratrooper Battalion carries an 81mm mortar tube during a patrol July 22, 2016 in Thies, Senegal as part of Africa Readiness Training 16. ART16 is a U.S. Army Africa exercise designed to increase U.S. and Senegalese readiness and partnership through combined infantry training and live-fire events. Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Candace Mundt/U.S. Army

The United States says over and over that the U.S. supports a rules-based international order but is not party to one of the most important rules-based [international treaties]. The United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea is an important international agreement from the 1970s that establishes the rights and responsibilities of States engaging in any maritime activity. 164 United Nations Member States have signed and ratified the treaty. Meanwhile, the United States signed it in 1994, but has never ratified it. What is the treaty? What are its provisions? What does the US object to, and what are the implications of this decision? U.S. Army War College professors Al Lord and Jacqueline E. Whitt discuss.     Al Lord is a retired Captain from the U.S. Navy and serves as Professor of Theater Planning at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is Professor of Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and WAR ROOM's podcast editor. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speaker and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andre T. Richard/U.S. Navy

How should Europe respond to a US that might be pivoting away or might not see Europe as useful anymore? There's a number of camps, one might say. The relationship between US and Europe has faced many stresses and strains over the years, especially in present times as European leaders debate over the transatlantic partnership. Thus, WAR ROOM is pleased to welcome to the studio special guest Peter Sparding, a transatlantic fellow in the Washington office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. As the US faces increased competition from other regions of the world, whither Europe? And what does Europe have to say about the US?     You can also download a copy of the podcast here.   Peter Sparding is a transatlantic fellow in the Washington office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, where he works on foreign and economic policy developments in the United States and Europe. Darrell Driver is a colonel in the U.S. Army and the Director of European 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 Credit: NATO

We need to consider what's important here. We need to worry ... a lot more about protecting our allies Japan and the Republic of Korea. WAR ROOM welcomes Wallace "Chip" Gregson (Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps Retired), former Assistant Secretary of Defense, Asian and Pacific Security Affairs and former Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific to discuss the current and future relations between Japan and the U.S. and other issues of the Asian-Pacific Region. The long-standing friendship between U.S. and Japan remains vital as Japan reconsiders its military posture under the emergence of North Korea, China, and other regional competitors and challenges. What are U.S. options to keep this alliance strong in the years ahead? https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-027-Gregson-Greene-Japan-US-Relations.mp3   You may also download a copy of the podcast here   Wallace "Chip" Gregson (Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps Retired) is a former Assistant Secretary of Defense, Asian and Pacific Security Affairs and former Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific. Ray Greene is a career foreign service officer with the Department of State specializing in the Asia-Pacific Region and a faculty instructor at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this warcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: U.S. Air Force Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, right, Pacific Air Forces commander, greets Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) Gen. Yoshiyuki Sugiyama, center, JASDF chief of staff, upon the arrival of attendees on day two of the 2017 Pacific Air Chiefs Symposium at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kamaile Casillas

The direction that Latin America takes is going to be, of course, up to the people of the region, but the region could look quite differently a year from now. WAR ROOM welcomes special guest Eric Farnsworth, Vice President of the Washington Office from the Council of the Americas, to discuss Latin American relationships with the U.S. Among the topics discussed are the North American Free Trade Agreement, Venezuela's political situation, Brazil's economic development, and the peace agreement in Colombia. Meanwhile, the U.S.'s role in the region is changing as other world powers are taking active interest, especially China. U.S. Army War College Director of American Studies Ian Lyles moderates.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-026-Farnsworth-Lyles-Latin-American-Security.mp3   You may also download a copy of the podcast here.   Eric Farnsworth is the Vice President and Head of the Washington Office, Americas Society and Council of the Americas. Ian Lyles is a colonel in the U.S. Army and serves as the Director of Americas Studies at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this warcast 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:  The Colombian team stands in formation and renders honors during the opening ceremony for Fuerzas Comando 2014 on Fort Tolemaida, Colombia, July 23, 2014 (Department of Defense Photo).

If [President Mnangagwa] wants a genuine legacy of someone who has restored Zimbabwe to great prominence, he has an opportunity here, but ... they have to show us. The elections in South Africa signal a potential turning point in the nation's politics. Since of end of apartheid, the Africa National Congress, or ANC, has been the dominant party both politically and symbolically with Nelson Mandela being the first President of the newly-integrated nation. However, due to systemic corruption and other problems, the ANC is facing growing competition from other parties for the first time. What does this mean for the nation as national elections approach. Join Dan Hampton from the Africa Center for Strategic Studies and the Army War College's Director of African Studies Chris Wyatt as the as they discuss South Africa's present and future.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-029-Hampton-Wyatt-South-Africa-Elections-NEW-INTRO.mp3   You can also download the podcast here.   Dan Hampton is Chief of Staff and Professor of Practice at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Chris Wyatt is a colonel in the U.S. Army and is the Director of African studies at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this podcast 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: A woman looks at documents as she gets ready to cast her ballot during municipal elections at a polling station on August 3, 2016 in Soweto's Freedom Park, South Africa. Photo Credit: JOHN WESSELS/AFP/Getty Images

At the NATO-Warsaw summit [this past year], there was a joint declaration, and I would say a historic [one] between NATO and the EU to decide to work together. WAR ROOM welcomes special guest Ludwig Blaurock, Counsellor for Political and Military Affairs, Security and Development Section from Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the U.S. He discusses current EU initiatives to address the emerging security challenges on the continent, and the EU's relationships with the U.S. and NATO. The latter is important as both EU and NATO are moving toward greater integration and setting aside old rivalries. U.S. Army War College's Director of European Studies Darrell Driver moderates. You can also download a copy of the podcast here. Ludwig Blaurock is Counselor for Political and Military Affairs in the Security & Development Section in the Delegation of the European Union to the United States of America, Washington, DC. Darrell Driver is the Director of European 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, the U.S. Army, or the Department of Defense. Photo: A view of the Berlaymont building, headquarters of the European Union Commission. Photo Credit: DOMINIQUE FAGET/AFP/Getty Images

How do you really make a difference to inspire people around you? WAR ROOM welcomes special guest Major General John S. Kem, the 51st Commandant of the U.S. Army War College to discuss leader development. Who does it well, and why is it so hard to do in the Army? What principles can leaders adopt to build good developmental climates in units in an era of omnipresent technology, short attention spans, and intense pace of work? The U.S. Army War College Chair of Strategic Leadership and WAR ROOM's Editor-in-Chief Andrew A. Hill moderates.     Major General John S. Kem, U.S. Army, is the 51st Commandant of the U.S. Army War College. Andrew A. Hill is Chair of Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College and WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief. The views expressed in this warcast 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: The US Capitol seen at dusk behind the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in Washington, DC. Photo Credit: MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images

Military history has been seen [in India] by the political and academic establishment as a forgettable legacy of our colonial past. WAR ROOM welcomes special guest Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) Arjun Subramaniam, who retired from the Indian Air Force after 36 years of service, to provides his perspectives on relationships between India and the U.S., and discuss the importance of preserving a nation's military history. His well-researched and thought-provoking book India’s Wars: A Military History 1947-1971 shows the importance of India's military in sustaining its young democracy, and that its military history belongs in the mainstream of historical discourse. U.S. Army War College Director of South Asia studies Patrick Bratton moderates.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-014-Subramaniam-Bratton-Indian-Military-History.mp3   You may also download a copy of the podcast here.   Air Vice Marshal (Dr.) Arjun Subramaniam is a pilot-scholar-author who retired from the Indian Air Force after 36 years of service. Patrick Bratton is Associate Professor of National Security at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this warcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, Department of Defense, or the Indian Defense Forces. Photo: Indian National Cadet Corps (NCC) members salute as they take part in 'Flags of Honour', an event held at The National Military Memorial Park in Bangalore on July 26, 2011, held to commemorate The Kargil War between India and Pakistan in 1999. The Kargil war was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan in the Kargil district of Kashmir, between May and July 1999. The conflict led to heightened tension between the two nations and a noticeable increase in national military spending. Photo Credit: STR/AFP/Getty Images

Clausewitz talkS about war being an extension of politics; for criminals, violence is ... an extension of the profit motive. Paul Kan and Jacqueline E. Whitt discuss organized crime as an important force in the global security environment. Whether organized criminal activity by large transnational groups or networks of smaller groups perpetrating similar criminal behaviors like money laundering, organized crime has a destablizing effect on governments and societies. The speakers discuss the challenges of separating legal from illegal activity and the dispels a number of myths surrounding organized crime built up in popular media.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-022-Kan-Whitt-Organized-Crime.mp3   You can also download a copy of the podcast here.   Paul Kan is Professor of National Security Studies at the U.S. Army War College. 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 the Department of Defense. Photo: Police and military specialized units personnel custody an assortment of assault rifles seized to members of the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs after an operation launched at the Marco Aurelio Soto national penitentiary in Tamara, 20 km north of Tegucigalpa, on August 29, 2017. Photo Credit: ORLANDO SIERRA/AFP/Getty Images