Chasing Ghosts: An Irregular Warfare Podcast

Bill Buppert
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8 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 57min

Ep 080 "The Cargo Cult of Martial Belief, Wishcasting and Bloodshed"

A critique of blind faith in defense planning and the rise of ritualized, surface-level thinking in military institutions. Discussion of wishful procurement and how hope replaces method in weapons and doctrine choices. Concerns about outdated force structure for 21st century threats and proposals to shift toward homeland defense, unmanned systems, and Arctic missile posture.
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Mar 16, 2026 • 44min

Ep 079 "Iran, Salvo Competition and the Inevitable Stalemate"

I'll discuss Iran and the grunt math of salvo competition.Buppert’s Law of Military Topography:“Mountainous terrain held by riflemen who know what they are about cannot be militarily defeated.”For other insight on Iran, I recommend CG episodes 061 , 067 and 078.References:The Boogeyman of 21st-Century Warfare: DronesWhy the US is facing strategic defeatPoints of Resistance and Departure: An interview with James C. ScottLester Grau and Charles J. Bartles Mountain Warfare and Other Lofty Problems: Foreign mountain combat veterans discuss movement and maneuver, training and resupply (Helion Studies in Military History)Lester Grau The Bear Went Over The Mountain: Soviet Combat Tactics In Afghanistan [Illustrated Edition]Lester Grau The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan WarMark Thompson The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915-1919James C. Scott The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast AsiaSun Tzu The Art of WarCarl von Clausewitz On WarMiyamoto Musashi A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to StrategyH. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO’s Contribution to WarfareChristian Brose The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech WarfareQiao Liang & Wang Xiangsui Unrestricted Warfare: China's Master Plan to Destroy AmericaMy Substack:https://t.co/7a8jn2MmnxEmail at cgpodcast@pm.me.
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Mar 2, 2026 • 45min

Ep 078 "Iran and I Lost: The American Empire Tilts Again"

With Western conflict in Iran escalating and in train, I discuss the vagaries and verities of the nuclear gambit in Iran in the Middle East and what this will mean to the future of warfare for the reminder of this century.I assess how the RMAs rapidly displacing centuries-old conflict norms are going to look for the remainder of the century.Buppert’s Law of Military Topography:“Mountainous terrain held by riflemen who know what they are about cannot be militarily defeated.”For other insight on Iran, I recommend CG episodes 061 and 067.References:Points of Resistance and Departure: An interview with James C. ScottLester Grau and Charles J. Bartles Mountain Warfare and Other Lofty Problems: Foreign mountain combat veterans discuss movement and maneuver, training and resupply (Helion Studies in Military History)Lester Grau The Bear Went Over The Mountain: Soviet Combat Tactics In Afghanistan [Illustrated Edition]Lester Grau The Other Side of the Mountain: Mujahideen Tactics in the Soviet-Afghan WarMark Thompson The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front 1915-1919James C. Scott The Art of Not Being Governed: An Anarchist History of Upland Southeast AsiaSun Tzu The Art of WarCarl von Clausewitz On WarMiyamoto Musashi A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to StrategyH. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO’s Contribution to WarfareChristian Brose The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech WarfareQiao Liang & Wang Xiangsui Unrestricted Warfare: China's Master Plan to Destroy AmericaMy Substack:https://t.co/7a8jn2MmnxEmail at cgpodcast@pm.me.
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Jan 6, 2026 • 51min

Ep 077 "The CG Mailbag: Question Time and the Backbenchers Lament 26.1"

It's been quite some time since I have responded to "mail" so I have curated five questions to address:.What are your thoughts on the Maduro and VZ kerfuffle?How do you fix the defense acquisition system and fraud?What should the US Navy do in the 21st century?How did GEN Paul Emil von Lettow-Vorbeck do it (preview)?Are American SOF capable of 21st century mission success?References:Soryu (16SS) class Attack Submarine - SSKRobert Gaudi African Kaiser: General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck and the Great War in Africa, 1914-1918David Smith The East Africa Campaign 1914–18: Von Lettow-Vorbeck’s Masterpiece (Campaign, 379)RAND wish-casting on drones in 2015.Slaughterbots (2017)Slaughterbots: if human: kill() (2021)How are Drones Changing Modern Warfare?Sun Tzu The Art of WarCarl von Clausewitz On WarMiyamoto Musashi A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to StrategyH. John Poole The Last Hundred Yards: The NCO’s Contribution to WarfareChristian Brose The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech WarfareQiao Liang & Wang Xiangsui Unrestricted Warfare: China's Master Plan to Destroy AmericaMy SubstackEmail at cgpodcast@pm.me
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10 snips
Dec 8, 2025 • 1h 4min

Ep 076 "Modern Antifa: Communist Insurgency in the US Part Five (Conclusions)"

Discover a controversial take on modern Antifa and its ties to communist movements in the U.S. The host explores America's political civil war, challenging listeners with historical contexts ranging from Wilberforce to Marx. He critiques universities as breeding grounds for radicalism and discusses tactics for counterinsurgency, advocating for forensic investigations over military solutions. The conversation also delves into the implications of legal frameworks and modern leftist parties, emphasizing the need for rigorous analysis of activist networks.
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10 snips
Nov 24, 2025 • 57min

Ep 075 "Modern Antifa: Communist Insurgency in the US Part Four"

Explore how education acts as a breeding ground for extreme ideologies, particularly within Antifa and its ties to government supremacy. The discussion reveals historical influences of radicalism in American classrooms and critiques public schooling’s role in shaping predictable citizens. Delve into the consequences of technological distractions on learning and the leftward drift fostered by universities. The conversation warns against romanticizing communism, drawing parallels with past totalitarian regimes and emphasizing the need for caution in contemporary academia.
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Nov 10, 2025 • 57min

Ep 074 "Modern Antifa: Communist Insurgency in the US Part Three"

Delve into the roots of modern Antifa and the ideological landscape of American radicalism. Explore how education has become a breeding ground for collectivist ideas and why universities often amplify these beliefs. Discover the troubling dynamics of political violence and the potential for civil conflict in the U.S. Bill examines the strengths of communist movements and emphasizes the importance of understanding adversary motivations. This thought-provoking discussion warns of the dangers posed by collectivist factions in shaping future conflicts.
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Oct 27, 2025 • 54min

Ep 073 "Modern Antifa: Communist Insurgency in the US Part Two"

I examine the domestic communist and terrorist insurgency that is Antifa and its affiliated organizations both governmental and non-government. In this second episode, we examine the history that brought the US to the brink of civil war it is at now.America is in a Civil War with a major political party and its blacked-shirted paramilitary arm going from cold to hot war.Prepare accordingly.Part One at Episode 72.I did a primer on cell organization in Ep 051 "Cellular Ecology: Guerrilla Organizations and Grunt Math".References:House Un-American Activities Committee records, 1945-1975How They Hunt***Bryan Borrough Days of Rage: America's Radical Underground, the FBI, and the Forgotten Age of Revolutionary ViolenceAndy Ngo Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy DemocracyAQ Training ManualThe IRA GreenbookHunting the SleepersAn Analysis of Al-Qaida TradecraftModeling Terrorist Networks - Complex Systems at the Mid-RangeUnderstanding the Form, Function, and Logic of Clandestine Insurgent and Terrorist Networks: The First Step in Effective Counternetwork OperationsHR Kedward In Search of the Maquis: Rural Resistance in Southern France, 1942-1944George Millar Maquis: An Englishman in the French ResistanceIan Wellsted SAS with the Maquis: In Action with the French Resistance, June–September 1944Stephen Biddle Nonstate Warfare: The Military Methods of Guerillas, Warlords, and MilitiasMy SubstackEmail at cgpodcast@pm.me
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Oct 13, 2025 • 56min

Ep 072 "Modern Antifa: Communist Insurgency in the US Part One"

I examine the domestic communist and terrorist insurgency that is Antifa and its affiliated organizations both governmental and non-governments;. In this first episode, we shall examine origins, terminology and some expositions on methodology.America is in a Civil War with a major political party and its blacked-shirted paramilitary arm going from cold to hot war.Prepare accordingly.I did a primer on cell organization in Ep 051 "Cellular Ecology: Guerrilla Organizations and Grunt Math".References:House Un-American Activities Committee records, 1945-1975How They Hunt***Andy Ngo Unmasked: Inside Antifa's Radical Plan to Destroy DemocracyAQ Training ManualThe IRA GreenbookHunting the SleepersAn Analysis of Al-Qaida TradecraftModeling Terrorist Networks - Complex Systems at the Mid-RangeUnderstanding the Form, Function, and Logic of Clandestine Insurgent and Terrorist Networks: The First Step in Effective Counternetwork OperationsHR Kedward In Search of the Maquis: Rural Resistance in Southern France, 1942-1944George Millar Maquis: An Englishman in the French ResistanceIan Wellsted SAS with the Maquis: In Action with the French Resistance, June–September 1944Stephen Biddle Nonstate Warfare: The Military Methods of Guerillas, Warlords, and MilitiasMy SubstackEmail at cgpodcast@pm.me
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10 snips
Sep 22, 2025 • 1h 1min

Ep 071 "The Devil's Thermostat: Turning Up the Heat on American Civil War"

Explore the unsettling rise of civil conflict risks in the U.S., with predictions that the doomsday clock is ticking closer. Delve into the dynamics of cold versus hot civil war, and examine the factors that could ignite spontaneous attacks on American soil. Personal reflections from a recent heart attack lead to thoughts on life changes and military education. The discussion also highlights the complexities of irregular warfare and the potential for extremist threats. Stay informed and prepared as tensions escalate.

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