A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

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

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. For nearly four decades, Robert Mugabe reigned over the African nation of Zimbabwe, a reign that ended as the result of a struggle over his succession followed by a military coup. But unlike military coups elsewhere, Zimbabwe's was bloodless and long-time minister Emmerson Mnangagwa would assume the Presidency peacefully. U.S. Army War College Director of African Studies Chris Wyatt tells the long and complicated story of how the transition occurred and what it means for the future of Zimbabwe and relations with African Union and United States. WAR ROOM podcast Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-020-Wyatt-Whitt-Zimbabwe-Coup.mp3   You can also download a copy of the podcast here.   Chris Wyatt is a colonel in the U.S. Army and is the Director of African Studies at the U.S. Army War College. 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: Protesters demonstrate outside the Embassy of Zimbabwe in London to call on the leader of the country Robert Mugabe to resign on November 18, 2017 in London, England. Photo Credit: Jack Taylor/Getty Images

I would urge your listeners ... Don't fall under this illusion that there are easy military answers to difficult geo-political questions. WAR ROOM welcomes Max Boot, Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Boot is a critic of the Trump Administration, and during this podcast he challenges the President's approach to national decision making. He expresses concerns that the Administration's approach is ill-suited to today's challenges. He also directs some of his concerns toward military officials, especially on the potential of the U.S. to become too enamored with military solutions. Could the U.S. find itself again embroiled in unconventional fights where tactical successes are undermined by strategic setbacks? WAR ROOM podcast editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-024-Max-Boot-NDS.mp3   You can also download the podcast here.   Max Boot is the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow in National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the WAR ROOM podcast editor. 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: U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior national security staff attend a briefing with senior military leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in October 2017.  Photo Credit: Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images

[COOK SAID,] 'These faces. I didn't get to know all their names. They joined my platoon, and many of them were dead by morning.' For forty-six years after the Korean War, veteran John A. Cook would be haunted by the memories of fighting and of his fellow soldiers being killed or wounded. What is now recognized as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD had no name at the time, and veterans like Cook had nowhere to turn to get help. Instead, as the horrific images of war would waken him at night, he began drawing those images on paper as a way of dealing with his inner pain. The resulting collection of his "Midnight Drawings" are now in the possession of the Army Heritage and Education Center, and the subject of this podcast. Jim McNally, AHEC's Curator of Art, tells this powerful, moving story with Jacqueline E. Whitt, War Room podcast editor.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-004-McNally-Whitt-DS-Cook-artwork.mp3   You can also download the podcast here. Click here to access the Army Heritage and Education Center page on the Cook "Midnight Drawing" collection. Below is the drawing referenced in the podcast, titled "Mattson - Head and Back Wounds."   Jim McNally is Curator of Art at the Army Heritage and Education Center. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the WAR ROOM podcast editor. 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. Image: Close-up of "Mattson - Head and Back Wounds" by John A. Cook. Posts in the "Dusty Shelves" series: BOOK LOVERS NEED APPLY: A DUSTY SHELVES PODCASTHOW A HOMING PIGEON SAVED THE LOST BATTALION OF WORLD WAR I (DUSTY SHELVES)COOK’S ‘MIDNIGHT DRAWINGS’ AND THEIR HAUNTING VIEWS OF WAR (DUSTY SHELVES)BUILDING THE CONTINENTAL ARMY: VON STEUBEN’S “BLUE BOOK” (DUSTY SHELVES)RECEIPT: BOMB, ATOMIC, 1 EACH (DUSTY SHELVES)NSC-68: THE POLICY DOCUMENT THAT SHAPED THE COLD WAR (DUSTY SHELVES)RIDGWAY’S MEMO: “WHY WE ARE HERE” (DUSTY SHELVES)

What becomes the dominant narrative? [The Vietnam War has] been examined principally through American eyes. The Tet Offensive was an important event during the U.S. war in Vietnam. After three years of direct involvement by U.S. combat troops, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong were convinced that the relationship between the U.S. and South Vietnam was fragile, and that military action could drive a wedge between them. This could bring about an uprising by the South Vietnamese people against their own government and severely weaken the ARVN, the South's military. Despite being arguably a military victory for the U.S. and its South Vietnamese ally, the Offensive was ultimately a strategic defeat. WAR ROOM welcomes U.S. Army War College Professor of Security Studies Dr. Frank Jones to discuss why this is so and what it means for the U.S. fifty years later.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-018-Jones-Whitt-Tet-50th-Anniversary.mp3   You can download a copy of the podcast here.   Frank Jones is Professor of Strategic Studies 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 speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Leathernecks of the 3d Bn., Fourth Marine Regiment salute fallen Marines during Memorial Services held at Khe Sanh. The unit of the 3d Marine Division was joined by soldiers of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam during the Memorial Services. Photo Credit:  SSgt Fred Lowe III, U.S. Marine Corps, accessed via DoDLive.mil Posts in the "Anniversaries" series: ON BEING A ‘DIFFERENT’ KIND OF COMMAND — AFRICOM AT 10 YEARS (PART 2)THE TET OFFENSIVE: 50 YEARS LATERREFLECTIONS ON THE HUE CITY MASSACREREMEMBERING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGELOOKING TO THE PAST TO CHANGE THE FUTUREOUR 300th FREAKIN’ EPISODE!

Iraqis came up to [COL Rick Schwartz] and said, 'Thanks for getting rid of Saddam. What do we do now?' Rick had no answer. That coalition forces were ill-prepared and ill-equipped to secure the peace after capturing Baghdad is well understood. How has the joint community evolved its doctrine and postured itself better to address the demands of post-conflict environments? WAR ROOM welcomes Bill Flavin and Scott Braderman from the U.S. Army War College's Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute to present on-going discussions at joint and interagency levels.   https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-002-Securing-Victory-FIXED.mp3   You can also download a copy of the podcast here.   Bill Flavin is Assistant Director at the Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI) at the U.S. Army War College. Scott Braderman is PKSOI's chief of research. 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: US soldiers deploy in a street during clashes with Iraqis in the northern city of Mosul 13 June 2003. Photo Credit: Ramzi Haidar/AFP/Getty Images

I tell people today that history makes you smarter, but your heritage makes you prouder. The U.S. Army War College routinely hosts senior military and civilian leaders who come to meet and work with faculty and students on matters of national security, strategic leadership, and professional military education. WAR ROOM is pleased to welcome Gen Robin Rand, U.S. Air Force, Commander of the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command who graciously accepted our invitation to come to the studio and provide his perspectives on strategic leadership. WAR ROOM Social Media Editor Buck Haberichter moderates. https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/wp-content/uploads/18-005-Rand-Haberichter-Senior-Leader-Perspectives.mp3 You can also download a copy of the podcast here. General Robin Rand, U.S. Air Force, is commander of the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command and Commander, Air Forces Strategic - Air, U.S. Strategic Command, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Buck Haberichter is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force and is WAR ROOM's Social Media Editor. Photo Credit:  Senior Airman Hailey R. Staker, U.S. Air Force Releases from 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