School of War
Nebulous Media
This podcast seeks to learn what war teaches. There has been a steady decline in the study of military history and its associated theoretical discipline, strategy.This podcast seeks to fill that gap through in-depth interviews on military and diplomatic history. Our guests have included former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Cold War historian John Lewis Gaddis, and former China Select Committee chairman Mike Gallagher. We discuss the battlefield commanders, diplomats, strategists, policymakers, and statesmen who have had to make wartime decisions in the ancient and modern eras. The subject of an episode may be an historical battle, campaign, or conflict; the conduct of policy in the course of a major international incident; the work of a famous strategist; the nature of a famous weapon; or the legacy of an important military commander or political leader. Aaron MacLean is a senior fellow at Hudson Institute. He has worked as a foreign policy advisor and legislative director to Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and spent seven years in the U.S. Marine Corps.Visit our Substack for episode transcriptsFollow along on Instagram
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 18, 2023 • 44min
Ep 82: Charles Edel on John Quincy Adams (New Makers of Modern Strategy #8)
Charles Edel, senior adviser and Australia Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and contributor to New Makers of Modern Strategy, joins the show to talk about one of the founding architects of American foreign policy, John Quincy Adams. ▪️Times • 01:33 Introduction • 02:20 Democratic strategy • 04:43 Adams • 08:03 Early threats to the Republic • 13:20 A potential challenger to Europe • 18:10 Unity and strength • 25:08 “In search of monsters to destroy” • 30:07 British parallels • 34:11 Slavery • 38:36 Public serviceFollow along on Instagram
Jul 11, 2023 • 49min
Ep 81: Max Hastings on the Cuban Missile Crisis
Max Hastings, journalist, military historian, and author most recently of Abyss: The Cuban Missile Crisis 1962, joins the show to talk about the world’s brush with World War III. ▪️Times • 01:41 Introduction • 01:59 From journalism to history • 07:06 Recollections • 09:40 Castro and the Bay of Pigs • 19:46 Overflights • 26:46 Quarantine and blockade • 33:45 Russian floundering • 35:52 Dealmaking • 40:07 Uncomfortable proximity • 42:36 Spheres of influenceFollow along on Instagram
Jul 4, 2023 • 50min
Ep 80: Holger Afflerbach on How Germany Lost WWI
Holger Afflerbach, Professor of Modern European History at the University of Leeds and author of On a Knife Edge: How Germany Lost the First World War, joins the show to talk about the origins of the First World War, how much Germany is to blame, and why the July Crisis of 1914 is relevant in 2023. ▪️Times • 01:59 Introduction • 02:46 Fritz Fischer • 10:34 1914 and today • 15:24 The Kaiser • 21:54 Bethmann Hollweg • 27:46 Military necessity • 37:25 How did Germany lose? • 44:10 Murderers or sleepwalkers?For context, and a better sense of the events unfolding in 1914, checkout the National World War One Museum Interactive Timeline and Summer 1914 Day By Day.Follow along on Instagram
8 snips
Jun 27, 2023 • 55min
Ep 79: Mark Galeotti on Russia’s Military
Mark Galeotti, director of Mayak Intelligence, host of the In Moscows’s Shadow podcast, and author of Putin's Wars: From Chechnya to Ukraine, joins the show to talk about the post-Cold War Russian Armed Forces.▪️Times • 02:13 Introduction • 04:26 The peak • 10:04 In decline • 13:04 A day in the life of a ’90s Russian soldier • 16:23 The First Chechen War • 21:17 Putin and Chechnya • 24:42 Russia’s claims • 35:10 Modernization • 40:49 Historical karma in Ukraine • 46:10 Big picture • 48:20 Ukraine’s counter-offensive • 51:49 Wagner and PrigozhinFollow along on Instagram
Jun 20, 2023 • 46min
Ep 78: Hew Strachan on Clausewitz (New Makers of Modern Strategy #7)
Hew Strachan, Bishop Wardlaw Professor at the University of St. Andrews, digs into the enduring impact of Carl von Clausewitz on military strategy. He discusses the distinctions between limited and total war, emphasizing the emotional and political contexts that shaped Clausewitz's insights. The conversation explores the American embrace of Clausewitz and how his theories continue to influence modern conflicts, especially in light of the situation in Ukraine. Strachan also contrasts Clausewitz's ideas with those of Jomini, highlighting the complexities of military decision-making.
Jun 13, 2023 • 58min
Ep 77: Iskander Rehman on Sully, Richelieu, and Mazarin (New Makers of Modern Strategy #6)
Iskander Rehman, Ax:son Johnson Fellow at the Kissinger Center at Johns Hopkins SAIS and contributor to New Makers of Modern Strategy, joins the show to talk about French grand strategy during the 16th and 17th century rivalry between the Bourbons and Habsburg Spain. ▪️Times • 02:41 Introduction • 04:35 A nagging curiosity • 06:59 Sully at the start • 13:27 The genesis of a struggle • 21:19 French internal cohesion • 26:51 Naval power • 29:28 Religious factions and Richelieu • 32:14 The 30 Years War and France • 36:22 The fruits of disorder • 41:44 Defender of the faith • 44:41 Mazarin • 49:48 Hegemonic France • 53:56 Rapid-fire lessonsFollow along on Instagram
5 snips
Jun 6, 2023 • 51min
Ep 76: Levi Roach on the Normans
Levi Roach, Associate Professor of Medieval History at the University of Exeter and author of Empires of the Normans: Conquerors of Europe, joins the show to talk about the rise, violent spread, and ultimate normalization of the group of Viking raiders know as the Normans. ▪️Times • 01:25 Introduction • 01:53 Who were the Normans? • 06:40 Transformations • 11:41 Parallel outbursts • 14:35 “If a Frank is your neighbor, he’s not your friend” • 16:01 Towards 1066 • 22:20 Dukes and kings • 26:34 Hastings • 31:42 William’s victory • 36:13 Rule by castle • 39:26 Siege and counter-siege • 41:27 Normans in the Mediterranean • 47:24 “Noteworthy, not unique”Follow along on Instagram
May 30, 2023 • 53min
Ep 75: Toshi Yoshihara on Sun Tzu (New Makers of Modern Strategy #5)
Toshi Yoshihara, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, author of Mao’s Army Goes to Sea, and contributor to the New Makers of Modern Strategy, joins the show to talk about Sun Tzu and Mao’s strategic thought.▪️Times • 02:14 Introduction • 02:33 Who was Sun Tzu? • 05:38 Spring and Autumn • 08:27 Legitimizing the text • 11:18 Rational analysis • 13:51 Clausewitz versus Sun Tzu • 20:28 A dangerous optimism • 24:40 Shih • 29:59 Mao in ’49 and ’50 • 34:11 Chinese intervention in Korea • 38:36 The origins of Chinese sea power • 43:11 Amphibious operations • 47:33 D-Day without any advantages Andrew Rhodes Map D-Day Invasion compared to potential Taiwan InvasionFollow along on Instagram
May 23, 2023 • 51min
Ep 74: Mark Moyar on Vietnam (New Makers of Modern Strategy #4)
Mark Moyar, the William P. Harris Chair of Military History at Hillsdale College, author of Triumph Regained: The Vietnam War, 1965-1968 and contributor to New Makers of Modern Strategy, joins the show to reconsider the history of the Vietnam War.▪️Times • 01:53 Introduction • 04:30 Beginnings • 08:43 Early success • 12:23 Fallout from the coup• 14:00 LBJ takes over • 19:06 Domino theory• 22:20 China and Vietnam • 25:40 Buying time• 28:23 Johnson and McNamara• 34:22 Maintaining the shield • 35:53 Westmoreland and attrition • 41:42 South Vietnam • 45:33 ParallelsFollow along on Instagram
May 16, 2023 • 47min
Ep 73: Carter Malkasian on Counterterrorism and Counterinsurgency (New Makers of Modern Strategy #3)
Carter Malkasian, chair of the Defense Analysis Department at the Naval Postgraduate School and contributor to New Makers of Modern Strategy, joins the show to talk about counterterrorism and counterinsurgency since 9/11.▪️Times • 01:39 Introduction • 02:01 From academia to Garmsir • 03:48 Center for Naval Analysis • 05:45 Two faces of the same coin • 08:51 Counterterrorism vs counterinsurgency • 13:00 McChrystal and Petraeus • 16:29 Types of insurgency • 20:34 The Sunni Awakening and the Surge • 24:32 Two different wars • 30:51 Gilding the lily • 37:46 The Obama Administration • 41:42 ISIS • 44:45 Withdrawal deadlineFollow along on Instagram
