A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast Podcast

A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast
This is the podcast of WAR ROOM, the official online journal of the U.S. Army War College. Join us for provocative discussions about U.S. national security and defense, featuring prominent national security and military professionals.
BONUS EPISODE -- THE MELTING POINT: GENERAL FRANK MCKENZIE, USMC, RETIRED
On 3 February 2025, the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC) hosted the former commander of U.S. Central Command, General Frank McKenzie, USMC, Retired, to discuss his book The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century. Joined by Tom Spahr on stage they discussed his experience as a combatant commander and the challenges of leadership in wartime. Their conversation emphasized the importance of history and its influence on senior leader decision-making. The presentation examined the drone strike that killed Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian Quds Force commander, the raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the challenges faced during the evacuation from Kabul. https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/the-melting-point The audio for this episode is provided by our friends at USAHEC and the video presentation can be found in its entirety on their YouTube channel. Learn more about the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center on their website or follow them on their social media accounts Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter
Feb 14
1 hr 3 min
WAR, WORDS, AND THE FOURTH ESTATE
The complex and evolving relationship between the military and the media has spanned various periods in U.S. history. In a discussion with War Room editor-in-chief JP Clark, Thomas Crosbie, author of The Political Army: How the U.S. Military Learned to Manage the Media and Public Opinion, explores how the military has grappled with integrating media considerations into its operations. Crosbie examines how figures like George C. Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, and Matthew Ridgway navigated media relations, highlighting the challenges of balancing transparency and control. Their conversation delves into the impact of the Vietnam War on military-media relations, when attempts to manage the media often backfired. https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/war-words
Feb 11
40 min
DATA-DRIVEN DEFENSE: THE MAVEN SMART SYSTEM
Hold on tight, this episode is a whirlwind of data-infused targeting, intel, and logistics. Joe O'Callaghan joins host Tom Spahr in the virtual studio to discuss the Department of Defense's Maven Smart System. Maven was first developed to leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to help speed intelligence analysis, but has since been applied to targeting, logistics, and even disaster relief. Joe, as the former Chief of Fires in the XVIII Airborne Corps, was one of the key architects of the system. He is the perfect guest to describe the digital and procedural nuts and bolts required to make the Maven Smart System work. Their conversation also touches on the trail-blazing development process and the kind of leaders required to drive such innovation. AI is about data and about how you have the governance on that data to make that data usable for your algorithms. Joseph “Joe” O’Callaghan, is from Chicago, Illinois, and was commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer from Christian Brothers University, Memphis, Tennessee in 1994. He retired as a colonel and was previously the XVIII Airborne Corps Chief of Fires overseeing the Corps Joint Fires and Targeting Enterprise and the Corps subject matter expert on Algorithmic Warfare. He has served in both Conventional and Special Operations units. He is one of the key architects of the Department of Defense's Maven Smart System (MSS). 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 Description: U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jesus Bustamante, a Houston, Texas, native and a high mobility artillery rocket system operator with 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division rides in a M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during exercise Scarlet Dragon in Dugway, Utah, Feb. 2, 2023. Scarlet Dragon is a joint exercise in which the U.S. military branches test their interoperability capability with joint units. Photo Credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Emma Gray
Feb 5
PATRIOTISM, POPULISM, AND THE POLITICS OF MILITARY SERVICE
In an era where public trust in institutions has seen a sharp decline, the United States military has managed to maintain relatively high levels of public confidence. However, recent trends indicate a concerning decrease in this trust, raising questions about the future of civil-military relations. Ronald Krebs, a professor of political science at the University of Minnesota, joins host Carrie Lee to discuss the intricate relationship between the military and the public. Their conversation explores the factors contributing to this decline, the impact of political polarization, and the unique reverence Americans hold for their armed forces. And it echoes the theme of his most recent article Trump vs. the Military. It’s the latest episode in our Civil-Military Relations Center speaker series. https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/civil-military-relations/patriotism-populism-politics
Jan 21
43 min
FIGHTING TOGETHER: THE CANADIAN-AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP IN WORLD WAR II (ON WRITING)
It's time for another episode in our On Writing series. Host Michael Neiberg is joined in the studio by Tim Cook, the chief historian at the Canadian War Museum. Tim emphasizes the importance of making history accessible to the public, which involves finding compelling ways to tell stories and connect with readers. Their discussion covers Cook's latest book, The Good Allies, which explores the relationship between Canada and the United States during World War II. Cook highlights the challenges of writing a book that is both chronological and thematic, and the importance of situating historical events within their specific time period. He explains that while there is an abundance of literature on World War II, he seeks to find unique angles and approaches to the topic. https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/fighting-together
Jan 14
31 min
WAR CRIMES AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN LOAC
The Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), also known as international humanitarian law (IHL), is a set of rules that govern warfare and aim to minimize harm to civilians and non-combatants. Alexandra Meise joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to examine the development of LOAC, which stems from treaties like the Geneva Conventions, domestic laws of individual states, and the Rome Statute that established the International Criminal Court. Their conversation delves into war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression. Alexandra emphasizes the importance of LOAC in providing a framework for accountability in the chaos of war, even if enforcement can be challenging. She stresses that despite its limitations, LOAC serves as a reminder that even in conflict, there must be rules to protect human life and dignity. https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/accountability-in-loac
Jan 7
31 min
BEYOND INTUITION: AI'S ROLE IN STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING (PART 2)
Andrew Hill and Steve Gerras return to the studio with host Tom Spahr to further explore the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in national defense. This episode delves into the critical question of human oversight in lethal force decisions with AI assistance. Join the debate as they dissect the potential consequences of over-reliance on human intuition and the bottlenecks human intervention can create in the process. They emphasize the need for transparency and open dialogue about AI's role in warfare. Steve and Andrew urge listeners to confront their own assumptions and engage in this crucial conversation. It's a great wrap-up to the topic and companion to their compelling three-part article. Find the three part series here warroom.armywarcollege.edu/tag/ai-vs-intuition https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/beyond-intuition-2
Dec 17, 2024
25 min
BEYOND INTUITION: AI'S ROLE IN STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING (PART 1)
In September 2024, Andrew Hill and Steve Gerras authored a compelling three-part series that explored the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in national defense. They provocatively argued that the conventional wisdom is wrong: human intuition is not indispensable, even though we might all wish it were. Recognizing the significance of this debate, War Room invited the authors to join host Tom Spahr for a deeper dive into their perspective. This episode, the first of a two-part discussion, dissects the complexities of human intuition, examining its inherent limitations and the potential for AI to surpass human capabilities in an increasingly automated battlespace. Find the three part series here warroom.armywarcollege.edu/tag/ai-vs-intuition https://warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/beyond-intuition-1
Dec 10, 2024
26 min
ECHOES OF ERASURE: POLAND’S MEMORY AND IDENTITY
With the invasion of Poland in 1939, Nazi Germany set the stage for conflict and strife that has repercussions to this day. Jadwiga Biskupska is an expert on Poland under Nazi occupation and she joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to discuss the intricate relationship between Poland's historical memory and its contemporary identity. Their discussion particularly focuses on the impact of World War II on Polish national identity, the complexities of remembering the war under the shadow of communism, and the nuances of historical debate in modern Poland. The conversation underscores the enduring significance of the wartime experience in shaping Poland's national consciousness and its evolving relationship with its past.
Dec 3, 2024
36 min
BLOOD FOR STONES? PROTECTING CULTURAL PROPERTY IN WAR  (PART 2)
Cultural property encompasses both tangible artifacts and intangible heritage that shapes societies. Historian Matthias Rogg is back in the studio, this time with Laurie Rush, an archaeologist and anthropologist working as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Drum, NY.  Laurie, who has extensive experience supporting the Army in cultural property protection missions, highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage during conflicts. Their conversation turns to the need for increased awareness and training within the military on identifying and protecting cultural property. The discussion underscores the strategic significance of cultural property protection in warfare and its impact on post-war reconstruction efforts. This is the second in a two-part series exploring these complex issues. For more information regarding cultural property and it's protection please consider these additional resources: The Monuments Men (2014) based on the bestseller by Robert M. Edsel The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History Charlie English's bestseller The Book Smugglers of Timbuktu (2018) about the attempt to save Mali's world-famous library. Frederik Rosén, NATO and Cultural Property. A Hybrid Threat Perspective, PRISM Vol. 10, No. 3 (2023) NATO and Cultural Property. Embracing New Challenges in the Era of Identiy Wars. Report of the NATO Science for Peace and Security Project: Best Practices for Cultural Property Protection in NATO-led Military Operations (2017) Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence, Factsheet: Cultural Property Protection (CCP). Concepts, Interoperability and Capability Branch (2020)
Nov 29, 2024
33 min
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