School of War

Mackenzie Eaglen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and an expert in defense strategy and budgets, delves into the stark realities of U.S. military funding. She highlights the alarming gap between China's reported and actual defense spending, stressing its implications for U.S. military readiness. Eaglen also discusses the critical need for strategic responses to China's advancements and the long-term impacts of budget constraints on national security and education. Her insights reveal the urgent necessity for the U.S. to modernize its defense approach.

Thomas Barfield, a renowned anthropologist and author, shares his insights on imperial strategies and the historical dynamics of empires. He discusses the complexities of Afghan politics and the clash between American assumptions and local realities. Barfield examines the governance structures of different empires, highlighting their unique approaches to authority. He also explores the evolution of imperial strategies, the impact of nostalgia on political power, and how America's maritime legacy shapes current global dynamics, particularly in relation to China.

Rebeccah Heinrichs, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and author of Duty to Deter: American Nuclear Deterrence and the Just War Doctrine, joins the show to make the moral argument for why the United States should modernize and grow its nuclear arsenal. ▪️Times     •      01:15 Introduction     •      01:48 A net good    •      04:50 Tactical nuclear weapons    •     10:25 The argument of disarmament     •      14:03 Cold War strategy    •      19:53 Capability and will    •      26:06 Downside of “no first use”      •      32:03 The nuclear triad     •      37:20 Russia and China     •      40:56 The moral argumentWatch today’s episode on YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcastFollow along  on InstagramFind a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

Randall Schriver, Chairman of the Board at The Project 2049 Institute, and Dan Blumenthal, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, join the show to discuss a road map for economic competition—and warfare—between the U.S. and China. ▪️Times     •      01:55 Introduction     •      02:30 Planning for economic warfare    •      06:27 Endstate    •     10:18 Leadership    •      12:21 NSDD    •      14:59 Starting points    •      17:10 Decoupling      •      20:03 Where is the stuff coming from?     •      23:50 Degrading the Chinese economy     •      27:33 A dream of cooperation    •      32:17 Slow the growth    •      36:08 Wargaming      •      41:41 Protraction    •      44:49 International and Congressional concernsClick the link to read the report - DEFEATING THE CCP A RUNNING STARTFollow along  on Instagram or YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcastFind a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

Watch this episode on YouTube. Frank Cohn joins the show to talk about his life: fleeing Hitler’s Germany, his return as a U.S. soldier tasked with hunting Nazi’s, his service in Vietnam, and more.▪️Times     •      01:55 Introduction     •      02:15 A Nazi in the classroom    •      05:47 Martin and Ruth    •     17:35 Leaving Germany    •      19:22 New York City    •      22:50 Pearl Harbor    •      30:47 Back to Europe     •      35:30 Nazi Hunter     •      39:48 POW for a moment     •      42:32 The Dutch lady    •      50:40 Camps    •      52:30 Crossing the Elbe     •      59:20 Interrogations    •      01:05:40 Paying back the country     •      01:08:51 Paula     •      01:14:50 Military Police and Vietnam    •      01:18:40 Angus     •      01:21:12 LessonsFollow along  on InstagramFind a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

Nicholas Eberstadt, Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute, joins the show to discuss the North Korean regime and the geopolitical impact of its decision to send troops to support Russia in Ukraine.▪️Times     •      01:36 Introduction     •      01:49 Finding North Korea    •      04:00 The Sung dynasty    •     09:24 Beijing and Moscow    •      14:43 Kim Jong Il    •      22:14 Mackinder’s World-Island    •      26:29 Interconnected     •      33:18 Why commit to Russia?     •      36:55 Limited imaginations      •      39:03 New differencesFollow along  on InstagramFind a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

Nick Lloyd, Professor of Modern Warfare at King's College London and author of 'The Eastern Front: A History of the Great War, 1914-1918,' dives into the critical yet often overlooked Eastern Front of World War I. He discusses the significance of the Battle of Tannenberg, revealing its strategies and the chaos within the Russian army. Lloyd explores the impact of munitions shortages on Russia's war effort, the collapse of their forces leading to revolution, and Lenin's dramatic return, challenging the very fabric of the war and reshaping geopolitics.

Ben Noon, an expert on US-China rivalry and a contributor to the Vandenberg Coalition, shares insights on the high-stakes semiconductor competition. He explains the significance of both legacy and advanced chips, detailing their roles in everyday technology and cutting-edge innovations. The discussion highlights the importance of robust trade policies to counter China's market strategies and emphasizes how this chip dominance is crucial for national security and economic competitiveness amid rising tensions.

Scott Hartwig, author ofI Dread the Thought of the Place: The Battle of Antietam and the End of the Maryland Campaign, joins the show to discuss the single bloodiest day in American military history, the Battle of Antietam.▪️Times     •      01:46 Introduction     •      02:19 Why Antietam?    •      09:09 Sourcing history    •     12:45 Limited to total war    •      21:24 McClellan     •      28:00 Lee in Maryland     •      34:57 Geography     •      46:20 South Mountain to Antietam     •      55:49 The fighting    •      01:02:12 Mass and maneuver    •      01:04:44 Lee escapesFollow along  on InstagramFind a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

Jacqueline Deal, President and CEO of the Long Term Strategy Group and a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, discusses the complexities of U.S.-China competition. She reveals how U.S. policies may inadvertently empower China. The conversation dives into China's strategic rivalry, its military mindset resembling early 20th-century Germany, and the critical vulnerabilities in supply chains influencing national security. Deal emphasizes the importance of boosting domestic production to navigate this competitive landscape successfully.