School of War

Jonathan Schanzer, Senior VP at Foundation for Defense of Democracies, discusses the ongoing war in Israel, the history of Hamas, Israeli objectives, strategic goals, and the role of Iran. The podcast also explores the potential escalation risks, challenges in achieving strategic goals, and staying informed about the conflict.

Michael Doran, director of Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, discusses the recent Hamas attack on Israel, potential Israeli objectives, Iranian involvement, intelligence failures, and parallels with the Yom Kippur War.

Cliff May, founder and president of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, talks about defending democracies, starting FDD, cracks in the Axis of Tyrannies, Chinese imperialism, and understanding ourselves abroad in this entertaining podcast.

Paul Rahe, Charles O. Lee and Louise K. Lee Chair in the Western Heritage at Hillsdale College, and author of Sparta's Sicilian Proxy War: The Grand Strategy of Classical Sparta, 418-413 BC, joins the show to talk about proxy wars, the strategy of Sparta, and the role of regimes in the shaping of foreign policy.▪️Times     •    01:37 Introduction     •    06:43 Donald Kagan    •    08:32 The Spartan point of view    •   11:59 Why change the perspective?    •    17:30 Sparta’s goals    •    24:59 Why does Sparta matter?     •    31:56 “Putin’s completely irrational”    •   33:56 Is Realism dangerous?    •    39:17 Why do the Athenians go to Sicily?    •    44:35 Alcibiades    •    47:06 Could the Athenians have won?    •    49:11 The significance of victoryFollow along  on InstagramFind a transcript of today’s episode on our School of War Substack

Andrew Krepinevich, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and author of The Origins of Victory: How Disruptive Military Innovation Determines the Fates of Great Powers, discusses military revolutions, force protection, technological change, and adaptation in the military. Topics include Andy Marshall's approach to net assessment, the Russian perspective on military revolutions, the rapid pace of technological change in warfare, and the importance of adaptation and institutional capacity.

Mick Ryan, retired Major General in the Australian Army and author of White Sun War, discusses the war in Ukraine and the potential war in Taiwan. Topics include China's impact on Australia, Ukrainian progress, China's strategies, past wars, and Ryan's book.

John H. Maurer, the Alfred Thayer Mahan Professor of Sea Power and Grand Strategy at the Naval War College and contributor to New Makers of Modern Strategy, joins the show to talk about Mahan and his relevance today.▪️Times     •    01:30 Introduction     •    02:06 Mahan struck from the syllabus    •    06:30 Early writings    •    09:19 Looking out at the world     •   12:17 Six elements of seapower    •    15:01 Arming for peace    •    20:35 Corbett     •    22:54 The 18th century     •   29:49 A political scientist     •    35:10 Where might one go wrong?    •   39:03 Free security    •    42:26 Who should we be reading? Follow along on Instagramhttp://schoolofwar.substack.com

Wayne Lee, Bruce W. Carney Distinguished Professor of History at UNC and author of The Cutting-Off Way: Indigenous Warfare in Eastern North America, 1500-1800, joins the show to talk about war in the ‘Eastern Woodlands’, both before and after European contact.▪️Times     •    01:48 Introduction     •    02:50 Coincidences    •    07:19 “Woods and rivers, deer and rabbits, corn and beans”    •    12:51 Unused land    •   19:29 Sacred spaces    •    21:56 Strategic objectives    •    28:35 Why not occupy?     •    32:50 Logistics    •   41:57 The role of the prisoner     •    49:10 Something like the truth     •    54:34 Offense and defenseFollow along on Instagram

David Betz, Professor of War in the Modern World at King’s College London, joins the show to talk about what the status of the Ukrainian counteroffensive has to teach us about the enduring relevance of fortifications and the defense as a form of war.▪️Times     •    02:02 Introduction     •    02:16 Modern War    •    03:36 Counteroffensive progress    •    06:08 Tracking events    •   11:08 Russia’s defensive scheme    •    23:07 Fortified strategic complex    •    32:9 Maginot reconsidered     •    40:47 The pendulum     •   48:07 What if… To read the article discussed on this episode click the link -Russian fortifications present an old problem for Ukraine - JULY 20, 2023 DAVID J BETZFollow along on Instagram

Antulio J. Echevarria, General Douglas MacArthur Chair of Research at the U.S. Army War College and a contributor to New Makers of Modern Strategy, joins the show to talk about one of the most influential military thinkers of the modern age, Antoine-Henri Jomini. ▪️Times     •    01:55 Introduction     •    02:22 Who was Jomini?    •    06:13 A charlatan?    •    08:57 Summary of the Art of War    •   11:50 Clausewitz vs Jomini     •    14:26 The center of gravity    •    16:03 Lines of operation    •    21:21 Regard for the enemy    •   24:44 Interpreting Napoleon     •   28:09 Mahan and Jomini    •    30:47 Air power   •   31:55 Clausewitz revival    •    34:02 Jomini today