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    Decisive Point Podcast

    Decisive Point Podcast

    Audio | U.S. Army War College Public Affairs
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    About

    Decisive Point, the Parameters podcast companion series, furthers the education and professional development of senior military officers and members of the government and academia who are concerned with national security affairs. The podcast debuted in August 2020 and spans four seasons and more than 100 episodes, featuring Parameters authors discussing the research presented in their articles. Episodes range from 10–15 minutes long and cover various topics, including foreign policy, strategy, military history, gender-related issues, counterinsurgency, Landpower, and more. The entire series can be found at: https://www.dvidshub.net/podcast/582/decisive-point-podcast



    Episodes


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-18 – MG David C. Hill, Dr. David D. Dworak, and LTC Aaron Blair Wilcox – “The Forward Edge of the Fifth US Army War College”.mp3

      In this episode, Major General David C. Hill, Dr. David D. Dworak, and Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Blair Wilcox discuss their article, “The Forward Edge of the Fifth US Army War College.” They address the evolution of the War College, focusing on curriculum adaptations in response to technological advancements and modern warfare challenges. They highlight the importance of personalized education and the value of multinational collaboration in fostering effective leadership and the necessity... read more

      09/09/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-17 – Dr. Jeff McManus –“Operating Successfully Within the Bureaucracy Domain of Warfare: Part One”

      In this episode of Decisive Point, Dr. Jeff McManus, an expert in strategic studies, explores his compelling argument for recognizing bureaucracy as a sixth domain of warfare. The conversation highlights how this perspective can reshape the interactions of military officers and policymakers within the intricate bureaucratic landscape. McManus articulates key fundamentals for adeptly navigating this realm, emphasizing the complex nature of politics, the impact of individual personalities, and... read more

      08/29/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-16 – BG Leon L. Robert Jr., US Army (retired), and COL Carl J. Wojtaszek – “Closing the Gap: Officer Advanced Education STEM+M (Management)”

      The Army has made insufficient progress in arming its officers with science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and management (STEM+M) knowledge. The contemporary battlefield is faster paced, technologically enabled, and data driven, requiring officers to possess more skills, knowledge, and experience. We examine the Army’s history with STEM education and show that, in terms of education, the current Army officer corps has fallen behind its requirements for technology-enabled forces... read more

      08/26/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-15 – Oleh Hukovskyy –“The Combat Path: Sustaining Mental Readiness in Ukrainian Soldiers”

      Oleh Hukovskyy, a Ukrainian military officer and psychiatrist, shares insights on the Russia-Ukraine War’s impact on soldiers’ mental health. He discusses the daily challenges faced by troops and highlights signs of post-combat stressors. Hukovskyy coauthored an article on stress management for soldiers that draws on Western principles and emphasizes on-site counseling and timely interventions. He introduces the concept of combat path debriefing, focusing on unit history to foster a... read more

      08/15/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-14 – COL Thomas W. Spahr – “Raven Sentry: Employing AI for Indications and Warnings in Afghanistan”

      US Army Colonel Thomas W. Spahr discusses the development and implementation of the AI model, Raven Sentry, to predict attacks on Afghan centers using unclassified data sources. He highlights the need for innovative solutions in Afghanistan as coalition presence waned. The success of Raven Sentry emphasizes the importance of leadership, collaboration with the commercial sector, and utilizing unclassified information for predictive intelligence. This experience showcases the potential of AI... read more

      07/29/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-13 – Andrea Malouf – “Iraq’s Ministry of Interior: NATO, Capability Building, and Reform”

      Andrea Malouf, a consultant and adviser, discusses her article, “Iraq’s Ministry of Interior: NATO, Capability Building, and Reform.” She emphasizes the importance of defining clear end states for successful reform, avoiding a sole focus on training, making strategic decisions based on practical constraints, questioning assumptions and biases, collaborating with partner organizations, understanding public perceptions, and conducting thorough assessments for effective reform efforts.... read more

      07/22/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-12 – Dr. Zenel Garcia and Dr. Phillip Guerreiro – “What American Policymakers Misunderstand about the Belt and Road Initiative”

      American accounts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) contend that it is a coherent grand strategy that reflects Beijing’s geopolitical ambitions. These accounts ignore the BRI’s fragmented nature, whereby Chinese provinces have been pivotal actors in its development and implementation. Furthermore, these accounts disregard the agency of participant countries and their capacity to shape the BRI. This article illustrates this fragmentation and agency by studying the Yunnan province and... read more

      07/10/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-11 – Michael J. Kelley – Understanding Russian Disinformation and How the Joint Force Can Address It

      Russia will dominate information warfare if the United States does not treat disinformation as central to Russian strategy. This podcast examines the vital role disinformation played in post–Cold War Russian strategy, including its strategy in the current Russia-Ukraine War, and in a departure from previous scholarship, this podcast observes that US defense leaders are aware of Russian disinformation but have failed to assess its impact or sufficiently negate Russian influence. The podcast... read more

      07/02/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-10 – Colonel Rich Butler and Josh Arostegui – “Building a Purposeful Research Agenda”

      The China Landpower Studies Center Director Richard Butler and Joshua Arostegui, the center’s research director

      06/18/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-9 – Christina Lai – “Taiwan’s Contribution to Liberal Order and the Future of US-Taiwan Relations”

      Strengthening ties with Taiwan is the best chance the United States has to preserve the liberal international order in Asia and improve its security relative to China. This study offers a normative perspective on how Taiwan can contribute to US-led international institutions and the Asian regional order and reduce conflict risk. It concludes with recommendations for the United States and its partners to integrate Taiwan into multilateral institutions in Asia.

      Read the article here: https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/vol54/iss1/6/

      Email usarmy.carlisle.awc.mbx.parameters@army.mil to give feedback on this podcast or the genesis article.

      Keywords: US foreign policy, China, Taiwan, Indo-Pacific, rules-based order

      06/13/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-8 – MG Brian N. Wolford, COL Marvin Haynes, COL James “Cowboy” Landreth, COL Eric Hartunian, and COL Rich Butler – “Recognizing the Increasing Importance of the US-ROK Alliance”

      The essay this podcast episode is based on sets the stage for the Strategic Studies Institute’s research on the growing importance of South Korea to the US alliance system and security objectives across the Indo-Pacific region, provides reasons why South Korea may become commensurate with Japan as the region’s primary US ally, and proposes ways the United States should leverage this reality to maximize this relationship and maintain a free and open Pacific. This important analysis... read more

      05/30/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-7 – Eric A. Heinze – “International Law, Self-Defense, and the Israel-Hamas Conflict”

      This podcast examines the international law of self-defense as it applies to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict to determine whether the October 2023 attacks by Hamas against Israel can be interpreted under Article 51 of the UN Charter as an “armed attack” that gives Israel the right to use military force in self-defense against non-state actors. It situates the conflict within ongoing legal and political debates, shows how this conflict fits into a changing global reality where the most... read more

      05/23/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-6 – Sheena Chestnut Greitens – China’s Use of Nontraditional Strategic Landpower in Asia

      This article argues that the People’s Republic of China uses its police and internal security forces as a nontraditional means of projecting strategic Landpower in the Indo-Pacific and Central Asia. Instead of limiting analysis of China’s power projection to military forces, this article employs new data on Chinese police engagements abroad to fill a gap in our understanding of the operating environment in Asia. Policymakers will gain an understanding of how these activities enhance... read more

      05/09/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-5 – Andrew Payne – The Politics of Restraint in the Middle East

      Domestic constraints make it difficult for the United States to pursue a coherent program of restraint in the Middle East. As events in Gaza revive debates about the appropriate size and scope of the military footprint in the region, this article shows the importance of grounding any revised posture on a firm domestic foundation. Going beyond accounts that blame the obstructionism of a foreign policy establishment, it explores barriers to strategic adjustment and supports its claims through... read more

      04/30/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-4 – Jeffrey H. Michaels – Rethinking the Relevance of Self-Deterrence

      Self-deterrence is critically understudied in deterrence theory. Similarly, deterrence practitioners prefer to focus on adversaries’ threats rather than seeking to account for the full scope of fears influencing the decision calculus of policymakers. Through historical case studies, this article identifies where self-deterrence has occurred, highlights the benefits of incorporating the concept in future strategic planning and intelligence assessments, and recommends that policymakers,... read more

      04/24/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-3 – Andrew Carr – Strategy as Problem-Solving

      This article proposes a new definition of strategy as problem-solving that challenges the focus on goals and assumptions of order within many post–Cold War approaches to strategy. It argues that the military needs strategy to diagnose the complex problems of the twenty-first century before they can be solved. Inspired by practitioners such as Andrew Marshall and George F. Kennan, this new definition clarifies what strategists do and offers a logic for distinguishing the use of the term... read more

      04/09/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-2 – David J. Katz – “Toward a Strategic Art for Sanctions”

      New strategic art is required to maneuver political economies to meet the demands of future engagements and campaigns. Current discussions of the projection of political-economic power are typically abstract, high-level, and policy-focused or present singular tactical actions as strategic actions, creating a gap for campaign practitioners. This article addresses the gap by drawing on Joint Planning, Joint Publication 5-0, and Joint Campaigns and Operations, Joint Publication 3-0, to further... read more

      04/02/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 5-1 – Rebecca W. Jensen and Anthony L. Tingle – “Ukraine: The Case for Urgency”

      If the United States and its allies seek to deny Vladimir Putin an objective victory in the Russia-Ukraine War, they must commit to providing sufficient aid to the Ukrainian army soon because the window of opportunity to provide sufficient resources is narrow—and closing. This article argues that the West must articulate a reasonable strategy for Ukrainian victory now, as a failure in Ukraine will weaken relationships between the United States and Western European states and their global... read more

      03/27/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-32 – Zachary E. Griffiths – “Are Retired Flag Officers Overparticipating in the Political Process?”

      Retired United States general and flag officers participate politically as individuals and in groups. Purportedly, participation damages civil-military relations. This article argues these activities, including but not limited to endorsements of candidates, do little harm to US democratic institutions and to the nonpartisan reputation of the military institution.

      Read the article here: https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/vol53/iss4/15/.

      Email usarmy.carlisle.awc.mbx.parameters@army.mil to give feedback on this podcast or the genesis article.

      Keywords: civil-military relations, general officers, promotions, flag officers, political participation

      03/12/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-31 – Brian G. Forester – “Competing for Global Influence: How Best to Assess Potential Strategic Partners”

      To compete effectively for global influence, US Army and defense planners should focus on economic globalization in addition to security interests when assessing potential foreign military partners. The results of a quantitative analysis of US-led exercise participants between 1990 and 2016 demonstrate the variety of interests, including economic, that underly a partner’s decision to train or not with US forces. Since the US Army bills itself as the “partner of choice,” this piece will... read more

      02/28/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-30 – Richard D. Butler – "Introduction to the China Landpower Studies Center"

      The China Landpower Studies Center will open in 2024. It is intended to be an approachable organization. It will tackle the complex and pressing questions about China’s emergence as a global power and its implications for the US military and provide senior leaders and practitioners with a better understanding of the strategies, capabilities, and the integration of the PLA into the CCP’s campaign to turn the rules-based international order to its advantage. Further, the Center will share... read more

      02/15/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-29 – Maria W. R. de Goeij – "Reflexive Control: Influencing Strategic Behavior"

      Reflexive control aims to change the other’s perceptions about their utility sets. It contains underlying elements that could help give structure to analyses of strategic behavior by using a nonlinear approach that aims to improve the quality of assessments. This podcast explores the interpretations of the concept of reflexive control, how elements of ref lexive control link to the more widely accepted body of knowledge, and how these elements could be valuable additions to the current... read more

      02/06/2024


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-28 – John M. Schuessler – “Ambivalent Balancer in the Middle East and Beyond”

      This podcast enters the debate on American grand strategy by questioning the logic underpinning offshore balancing. It concludes that the United States is an ambivalent balancer due to the stopping power of water. It builds on the relevant literature in international relations, producing a novel set of theoretical propositions that are applied to the contemporary Middle East. There and elsewhere, the United States could fail to maintain the balance of power when it is most threatened.

      12/15/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-27 – Cliff R. Parsons – "Deterring Russian Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons A Revised Approach"

      A change in deterrence thought and strategy is necessary to avoid nuclear escalation in armed conflict with Russia. Traditional threat-based deterrence strategies will not be successful, and a new strategy must address the conditions that might cause Russian leadership to employ nuclear weapons. An examination of the Able Archer 83 exercise using an original framework highlights the ways Russian interests and US actions interact to generate misperception and inhibited deterrence. The US... read more

      12/06/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-26 – Harry Halem – Ukraine's Lessons for Future Combat: Unmanned Aerial Systems and Deep Strike

      The Russia-Ukraine War holds many lessons for the US Army and American policymakers and leaders on the nature and role of reconnaissance-strike complexes in modern combat, especially Ukraine’s development of a battle-management system that uses unmanned aerial systems and satellite reconnaissance to enable the fire coordination for deep strikes into the enemy rear. In the research presented here, open-source analysis and interviews in Ukraine focus on the development and employment of... read more

      11/29/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-25 – Bettina Renz – “Was the Russian Invasion of Ukraine a Failure of Western Deterrence?"

      In February 2022, many observers initially evaluated the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a failure of Western deterrence.That assessment was and is f lawed inasmuch as the West never articulated a clear strategy to deter such an invasion. Engaging with relevant conceptual debates about how deterrence works and relating this information to what the West did and did not do in the run-up to the invasion, this article shows that deterrence efforts were based on problematic assumptions about the... read more

      11/22/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-24 – Ryan J. Bridley and Kevin W. Matthews – The Impact of Antarctic Treaty Challenges on the US Military

      The Antarctic Treaty of 1961 largely prevented conflicts on the continent, but growing pressure on the treaty system could affect the global community and the United States. This article utilizes historical documents and press reports to examine these challenges, which include ice deterioration, unreported and unregulated fishing, resource extraction preparation, and hostilities between treaty members. Given that these challenges involve China and Russia, it is in the United States’... read more

      11/17/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-23 – Kevin D. Stringer and Jelle J. H. Hooiveld Urban Resistance to Occupation: An Underestimated Element of Land Warfare`

      Due to a global trend toward urbanization and Russian and Chinese aggression toward Ukraine and Taiwan, respectively, urban resistance to occupation merits greater study. The research here presents a much-needed and unique analysis of Dutch-language primary sources on the Netherlands’ World War II urban resistance to occupation. It provides deeper insights into the occupation experiences of a highly urbanized, densely populated country in which clandestine underground and auxiliary... read more

      11/16/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-22 – Luke P. Bellocchi – The Strategic Importace of Tawian to the United States and Its Allies: Part Two

      Taiwan has become increasingly important to the United States and its allies as the Russia-Ukraine War has united democracies against authoritarian expansionism and indeed has developed an international democracy-authoritarianism dynamic in global affairs. Part one of this article clearly outlined the geopolitical, economic, and soft-power reasons why Taiwan is strategically important. Part two reviews the development of US and allied policy statements on Taiwan—from the invasion of... read more

      10/30/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-21 – Caitlin P. Irby – US-Russia Foreign Policy: Confronting Russia’s Geographic Anxieties

      The United States must place Russia’s focus on geographic concerns at the center of future strategy development to build a constructive relationship with Russia and achieve US regional goals. This article analyzes Russia’s geography and historical impact on Russian foreign policy, outlines Moscow’s current foreign policy goals, and highlights underlying concerns for US policymakers and military practitioners. By pursuing policies that support Russian goals of economic integration,... read more

      10/13/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-20 – Wilson Jones – The Chechen Kadyrovtsy’s Coercive Violence in Ukraine

      Episode Transcript
      Stephanie Crider (Host)
      You're listening to Decisive Point (https://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/mod/67423/details/582).
      The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army, the US Army War College, or any other agency of the US government.
      I'm speaking with Wilson Jones, author of “The Chechen Kadyrovtsy’s Coercive Violence in Ukraine... read more

      10/05/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-19 – Katie Crombe and John A. Nagl – A Call to Action: Lessons from Ukraine for the Future Force

      A Call to Action: Lessons from Ukraine for the Future Force

      Fifty years ago, the US Army faced a strategic inflection point after a failed counterinsurgency effort in Vietnam. In response to lessons learned from the Yom Kippur War, the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command was created to reorient thinking and doctrine around the conventional Soviet threat. Today’s Army must embrace the Russo-Ukrainian conflict as an opportunity to reorient the force into one as... read more

      09/29/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-18 – Brian McAllister Linn – A Historical Perspective on Today’s Recruiting Crisis.mp3

      This podcast analyzes the US Army’s successive recruiting crises, identifying their consistent patterns and the efforts to resolve them, and makes three provocative arguments. First, there is a long-standing institutional tension between recruiting personnel for the combat arms and technical and administrative specialists. Second, many of today’s talent management problems were first identified in a 1907 General Staff report and reiterated in subsequent studies. Third, the Army has... read more

      09/15/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-17 – Conrad C. Crane – Parameters Autumn 2023 Issue Preview

      This podcast offers a preview of the latest Parameters demi-issue and full issue. Read the issue here: https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/vol53/iss3/7/

      Keywords: recruiting, Ukraine, Taiwan, Antarctica, Russia, Chechen Kadyrovtsy

      09/06/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-16 – John A. Bonin and James D. Scudieri – Change and Innovation in the Institutional Army from 1860–2020

      This episode showcases the understudied institutional Army, the generating force, as a critical prerequisite for overall strategic success. Competition, crisis, and conflict require more than the manned, trained, and equipped units that deploy. This podcast analyzes six case studies of institutional Army reforms over 160 years to examine adaptation in peace and war. The conclusions provide historical insights to inform current practices and fulfill the Army’s articulated 2022 Institutional Strategy.

      https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/vol53/iss2/14/

      Keywords: institutional Army, generating force, Department of the Army staff, Army Futures Command, adaptation, innovation

      08/23/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-15 – Spencer L. French – "Innovation, Flexibility, and Adaptation: Keys to Patton’s Information Dominance"

      In 1944, Third US Army created a cohesive and flexible system for managing information and denying it to the enemy that aligned operational concepts with technological capabilities. The organization’s success in the European Theater highlights its effective combined arms integration. An examination of the historical record shows the creative design of the Signal Intelligence and Army Information Services enabled Third Army to deliver information effects consistently and provides a useful... read more

      08/08/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-14 – Luke P. Bellocchi – "The Strategic Importance of Taiwan to the United States and Its Allies"

      This podcast presents four factors to consider in evaluating Taiwan’s strategic importance to the United States and its allies and answers a question often raised at forums concerning the Indo-Pacific: “Why should the United States care” about this small island in the Pacific? The response often given is simply US credibility, and while this is an important factor, this podcast reviews a wider array of possible factors to consider when answering that question. The study of these... read more

      07/31/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-13 – Allison Abbe – “Understanding the Adversary: Strategic Empathy and Perspective Taking in National Security”

      National security practitioners need to understand the motives, mindsets, and intentions of adversaries to anticipate and respond to their actions effectively. Although some authors have argued empathy helps build an understanding of the adversary, research points to its cognitive component of perspective taking as the more appropriate skill for national security practitioners to have. In this podcast, Dr. Allison Abbe synthesizes previous research on the development and application of... read more

      07/05/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-12 – Nicholas A. A. Murray – “Geniuses Dare to Ride Their Luck: Clausewitz's Card Game Analogies”

      Scholars have been using the wrong card games to analyze Carl von Clausewitz’s analogies in On War, which has led to errors in understanding his ideas. This podcast identifies the games Clausewitz discusses, allowing for a more accurate interpretation of his original meaning for the study of war. Since Clausewitz’s ideas underpin strategy development within service education systems, it is critical his ideas are fully understood in context.

      Read the article:... read more

      06/30/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-11 – Diane DiEuliis and James Giordano – “Responding to Future Pandemics: Biosecurity Implications and Defense Considerations”

      In an evolving and expanding biothreat landscape caused by emerging biotechnologies, increases in global infectious disease outbreaks, and geopolitical instability, the Department of Defense now faces challenges that alter its traditional approach to biothreats and prompt the need for modernized, improved preparedness for—and response to—potential biothreat scenarios. These challenges further complicate specific weaknesses revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Department’s... read more

      06/08/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-10 – Gustavo F. Ferreira and Jamie A. Critelli – “Taiwan’s Food Resiliency—or Not—in a Conflict with China”

      The US military, intelligence, and diplomatic communities have overlooked a key vulnerability in their assessment of a potential military conflict between China and Taiwan—Taiwan’s growing reliance on agricultural imports and its food stocks (except for rice) that could endure trade disruptions for only six months. This podcast assesses Taiwan’s agricultural sector and its ability to feed the country’s population if food imports and production are disrupted; identifies the food... read more

      06/02/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-09 – Ned B. Marsh and Heather S. Gregg – “Daoism and Design: Mapping the Conflict in Syria”

      In contemporary military operations, some problems are so complex they do not give way to linear solutions but require problem management instead. Combining the fundamentals of Dao De Jing philosophy with the US military design process offers a new perspective to analyze complex security problems, devise management strategies, and plan military operations. Applying this new approach to the complex security environment in Syria allows for a nonlinear mapping of long-term goals and a new... read more

      05/16/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-08 – Conrad C. Crane – Parameters Summer Preview

      This podcast offers a preview of the latest Parameters demi-issue and full issue.

      Read the demi-issue: https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/vol53/iss2/1/

      Episode Transcript
      Stephanie Crider (Host)

      You’re listening to Decisive Point, a US Army War College Press production focused on national security affairs. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army, the US Army War College, or any... read more

      04/26/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-07 – Robert J. Sparrow and Adam Henschke – “Minotaurs, Not Centaurs: The Future of Manned-Unmanned Teaming”

      Contesting Paul Scharre’s influential vision of “centaur warfighting” and the idea that autonomous weapon systems will replace human warfighters, Sparrow and Henschke propose that the manned-unmanned teams of the future are more likely to be minotaurs—teams of humans under the control, supervision, or command of artificial intelligence. They examine the likely composition of the future force and prompt a necessary conversation about the ethical issues raised by minotaur... read more

      04/12/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-06 – Andrew Colvin – “The Case for an Army Stability Professional”

      The US Army is unprepared to occupy and stabilize territory because it does not adequately educate active-duty officers to do so. One way to professionalize the Army’s ability to carry out military government and stability operations is to develop active-duty functional area officers who can advise commanders and integrate staff planning for these operations. In this episode, author Andrew Colvin analyzes case studies, doctrine, and commentary to envision specialized staff officers with... read more

      04/05/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-05 – Brenda Oppermann – “Enhancing US Global Competitiveness through Women, Peace, and Security”

      In this episode: Global powers, regional hegemons, and non-state actors engaged in a perennial state of competition dominate today’s security environment. In response, the Department of Defense has adopted the competition continuum model of cooperation, competition below armed conflict, and armed conflict. The military could significantly improve its efforts to compete along this continuum and achieve national security objectives by leveraging the Women, Peace, and Security global policy... read more

      03/27/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-04 – Dr. John Nagl and Alex (Special Operations NCO) – Review and Reply: On “Why America’s Army Can’t Win America’s Wars”

      Since achieving victory in World War II, the United States military has a less than enviable combat record in irregular warfare. This exchange provides differing perspectives on where past decisions and doctrines have led to defeat and where they may have succeeded if given more time or executed differently. This episode responds to John A. Nagl’s article, “Why America’s Army Can’t Win America’s Wars,” published in the Autumn 2022 issue of Parameters (vol. 52, no. 3).

      Read the... read more

      03/13/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-03 – Jody M. Prescott – “Factoring Gender into Kinetic Operations”

      US military practice neither considers the gendered effects of kinetic actions in the planning and executing operations nor tracks and measures them. The Department of Defense’s implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 instead focuses on the role of women in preventing armed conflict and resolving it. The implementation of the Department of Defense’s new Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan, however, provides an opportunity to close this gap in an... read more

      03/09/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-02 –COL George Shatzer – “Afghanistan: The Logic of Failing Fast and Slow”

      In the fifth installment of the SRAD Director’s Corner, “Afghanistan: The Logic of Failing, Fast and Slow,” George Shatzer focuses on the failure of the US-led war and reconstruction campaign in Afghanistan. He reviews The Forty-year War in Afghanistan: A Chronicle Foretold by Tariq Ali and The Fifth Act: America’s End in Afghanistan by Elliot Ackerman. He brings personal experience to bear in his review, painting a picture of why the United States failed in Afghanistan and posing... read more

      03/02/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 4-01 – Joseph J. Collins – “Defeat in Afghanistan: An Autopsy”

      Policy initiatives in the Trump administration and the Biden-Harris administration significantly accelerated the Taliban victory in Afghanistan. This podcast supports the conclusion that the major factors in this defeat were the historical difficulty in governing Afghanistan, the Afghan republic’s two inefficient and corrupt governments, an ineffective US strategy, operational shortcomings by US forces, an ineffective Afghan military, Pakistan’s duplicitous policy, and the strength and... read more

      02/17/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-47 – Dr. Conrad Crane – Parameters Spring 2023 Preview

      In this episode, Parameters acting editor-in-chief offers a preview of the upcoming Parameters Spring demi-issue and touches on what the full Spring issue will include.

      Read the 2023 Spring issue of Parameters: https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/vol53/iss1/

      Episode transcript: Parameters Spring 2023 Preview
      Stephanie Crider (Host)

      You’re listening to Decisive Point, a U.S. Army War College Press production focused on national security affairs.

      The views and opinions... read more

      01/26/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-46 – COL Everett S. P. Spain, COL Katie E. Matthew, and COL Andrew L. Hagemaster – Why Do Senior Officers Sometimes Fail in Character? The Leaky Character Reservoir

      In this episode, the authors argue senior officers may fail in character because their rate of character development throughout their careers typically decreases as environmental stressors rise. They conceptualize character as an open system with both gains and leaks over time and integrate existing scholarship on personality and ethical development to create the Leaky Character Reservoir framework and then explain how it applies to Army officers’ careers. Military leaders will gain a new... read more

      01/20/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-45 – MAJ Thomas H. Nassif and CPT George A. Mesias – Leader Perspectives on Managing Suicide-related Events in Garrison

      Leaders who have personally experienced the aftermath of a suicide-related event can provide important lessons and recommendations for military leadership and policymakers. This podcast executes a thematic analysis of interviews with leaders, chaplains, and behavioral health providers who responded to garrison suicide-related events and explores leader decision-making related to memorials, investigations, and readiness

      Read the article:... read more

      01/03/2023


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-44 – MAJ John T. Pelham IV – Security Force Assistance Brigades and US Indo-Pacific Command Multi-domain Competition

      Security force assistance brigades can enable multi-domain convergence in competition in the US Indo-Pacific Command. Rather than focusing on conventional Joint force capabilities, this podcast analyzes recent US Army operational experience in security force assistance and security cooperation in US Indo-Pacific Command and identifies capability gaps and opportunities for competition. Finally, military leadership and policymakers will find recommendations on how US Army security force... read more

      12/20/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-43 – COL Benjamin W. Buchholz – Planning for Positive Strategic Shock in the Department of Defense

      A concept of positive strategic shock would benefit the US Department of Defense’s planning processes. Some US doctrine demonstrates awareness of the need to plan for negative strategic shocks but lacks consideration of positive strategic shock—any shock with a non-zero-sum outcome—which could create a situation where the Department of Defense misses opportunities. This podcast clarifies the term “positive strategic shock,” provides a brief review of where and how planning for any... read more

      12/16/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-42 – COL Tyrell O. Mayfield – Indian Perspectives: Insights for the Indo-American Partnership

      To buttress stability in the Indo-Pacific, the United States must understand how India sees the region and the world. The theories and ideas of Kautilya, a leading but little-studied Indian philosopher, provide significant insight into Indian perspectives on strategic partnerships and silent war. India has lived out Kautilyan perspectives in its recent foreign policy; therefore, a US understanding of the Indian perspective could advance the national security interests of both countries,... read more

      12/15/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-41 – COL Dan Herlihy – Cognitive Performance Enhancement for Multi-domain Operations

      Despite its desire to achieve cognitive dominance for multi-domain operations, the Army has yet to develop fully and adopt the concept of cognitive performance enhancement. This article provides a comprehensive assessment of the Army’s efforts in this area, explores increasing demands on soldier cognition, and compares the Army’s current approach to its adversaries. Its conclusions will help US military and policy practitioners establish the culture and behaviors that promote cognitive... read more

      12/09/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-40 – Dr. Sarah J. Lohmann – What Ukraine Taught NATO about Hybrid Warfare

      The Russian invasion of Ukraine has highlighted the long-term energy dependencies on Moscow that Europe will neither be able to resolve quickly nor without great sacrifice. Russia’s hybrid warfare—a combination of kinetic strikes against key infrastructure, information manipulation, malign finance, economic coercion, and cyber operations—has used Ukraine to target the heart of Europe’s energy security. This war has forced the Continent to consider how to realize its economic,... read more

      12/05/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-39 – COL George Shatzer – SRAD Director’s Corner: Preserving Taiwan as Strategic Imperative

      In the fourth installment of the SRAD Director’s Corner, Shatzer focuses on the Taiwan/China relationship. He reviews The Trouble with Taiwan: History, the United States and a Rising China by Kerry Brown and Kalley Wu Tzu-hui and Taiwan Straits Standoff: 70 Years of PRC–Taiwan Cross-Strait Tensions by Bruce A. Elleman and shows how these books might help strategists better understand the contentious and violent history of cross-strait relations between Taiwan and China so they can deal... read more

      12/01/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-38 – Dr. Jeffrey McCausland – Putin Chooses between a Series of Bad Options

      Now that Vladimir Putin has chosen a path of escalation in his unnecessary war of aggression against Ukraine, it is imperative Western policymakers know the consequences and how he might escalate further. This podcast examines recent events on the battlefield; the implications of the announced annexation of territory, mobilization of forces, and threats to employ “all means” to defend Russian territory; the domestic ramifications and Russian thinking on “hybrid warfare”; and the... read more

      11/04/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-37 – Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff – Coercing Fluently: The Grammar of Coercion in the Twenty-first Century

      To illustrate the logic and grammar of coercion, this analysis relies on decision-theory methods, such as game theory, that examine the strategic decision-making process in interactions with adversaries and partners. The intent here is not to offer predictive models of rational-actor behavior. Rather, the intent is to use game theory and similar approaches to understand how coercion works better. This analysis considers competitive interactions between actors that have discrete and... read more

      10/31/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-36 – Henry D. Sokolski – Present Danger: Nuclear Power Plants in War

      After Russia’s unprecedented seizure of Ukraine’s nuclear plant at Zaporizhzhya, the United States needs to adjust its military planning and policies to cope with hostile military forces’ targeting, seizure, and garrisoning of armed forces at large, operating nuclear plants and clarify its policies regarding possible US targeting of such plants. This podcast analyzes these concerns. It compares Russia’s assaults with previous strikes against research reactors and nonoperating nuclear... read more

      10/28/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-35 – Dr. Thomas Bruscino and Louis G. Yuengert – The Future of the Joint Warfighting Headquarters: An Alternative Approach to the Joint Task Force

      The US military must create standing, numbered, and regionally aligned Joint warfighting headquarters— American Expeditionary Forces (AEFs)—around a command council and a staff organized into Joint centers and cells. Calls for standing Joint force headquarters are not new, but the demonstrated military effectiveness of the Joint Task Force (JTF) model coupled with increasing service-specific resource requirements and tightening fiscal constraints have resulted in little evolution in... read more

      10/03/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-34 – Dr. Erik W. Goepner – “Linking Trauma to the Prevalence of Civil War”

      This podcast argues the more trauma endured by a population, the more civil war the country will experience in the future. Drawing on mental health, trauma, and neurobiological research, it builds a new theory of civil war that fills existing gaps in current civil-war literature, and then tests the theory via statistical analysis of a large sample size (large-n statistical analysis). The conclusions will help policymakers and US military leadership better understand civil wars and the limits... read more

      09/30/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-33 – MAJ John Fernandes, MAJ Nicolas Starck, CPT Richard Shmel, MAJ Charles Suslowicz, Dr. Jan Kallberg, and LTC Todd Arnold – “Assessing the Army’s Cyber Force Structure”

      The skill and capacity of Army cyber forces have grown in the decade since their creation. This podcast focuses on needed structural changes to the Army’s portion of the Cyber Mission Forces that will enable their continued growth and maturity since the Army’s past organizational and structural decisions impose challenges impacting current and future efficiency and effectiveness. This assessment of the current situation highlights the areas military leadership must address to allow the... read more

      09/23/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-32 – Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff – “Professionalizing Special Operations Forces”

      The special operations community could best address the perceived ethical crisis it faces by professionalizing as an institution. While earlier assessments have attributed special operations forces’ ethical issues to a focus on mission accomplishment that led to a broken force generation process and a high operations tempo, such diagnoses obscure a more comprehensive solution. Using sociologist Andrew Abbott’s work on professions as a framework, this article explores the benefits of... read more

      09/20/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-31 – Dr. Heather S. Gregg – “The Grand Strategy of Gertrude Bell: From the Arab Bureau to the Creation of Iraq”

      The remarkable life of early-twentieth-century British adventurer Gertrude Bell has been well documented through her numerous travel books and biographies. Bell’s role as a grand strategist for the British government in the Middle East during World War I and the postwar period, however, is surprisingly understudied. This monograph offers insights into the role women play as grand strategists. It shows how Bell helped to devise Great Britain’s military strategy in the Middle East during... read more

      09/19/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-30 – Dr. Arthur I. Cyr – “The Cuban Missile Crisis: Miscalculation, Nuclear Risks, and the Human Element”

      Nuclear weapons have vastly raised the stakes and potential costs of crisis, making leadership and related human qualities of judgment and temperament crucial. This podcast analyzes one exceptionally dangerous US-Soviet confrontation, which barely averted war. Military and policy professionals will see how understanding the perspectives, incentives, and limitations of opponents is important in every conflict—and vital when facing crisis situations like nuclear war.

      Read the article:... read more

      09/14/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-29 – Dr. Roger Cliff – Enabling a More Externally Focused and Operational PLA – 2020 PLA Conference Papers

      Although the People’s Liberation Army is not yet a global expeditionary force on par with the US military, the former has nevertheless significantly expanded its ability to operate abroad. Through enhanced technological capabilities, robust relationships with foreign militaries, increased access to overseas military bases and dual-use facilities, and the implementation of major structural reforms, the People’s Liberation Army has built a more integrated joint force capable of conducting... read more

      08/31/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-28 – COL George Shatzer – “SRAD Director’s Corner: Understanding North Korea and Key to Security in East Asia”

      In this episode, Colonel George Shatzer focuses on North Korea and the Kim family regime. He reviews Becoming Kim Jong Un: A Former CIA Officer’s Insights into North Korea’s Enigmatic Young Dictator by Jung H. Pak and Rationality in the North Korean Regime: Understanding the Kims’ Strategy of Provocation by David W. Shin and shows how these books might help readers better understand North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un and the implications of his actions for US foreign and military policy in the region. The books also provide insights for strategists attempting to plan for security in East Asia.

      Read the article: https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/vol52/iss3/5/

      08/25/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-27 – Dr. Zenel Garcia and Dr. Kevin D. Modlin – “Sino-Russian Relations and the War in Ukraine”

      Claims that China has taken “Russia’s side” in the Ukrainian War oversimplify Sino-Russian relations. Garcia and Modlin contend Sino-Russian relations are a narrow partnership centered on accelerating the emergence of a multipolar order to reduce American hegemony and illustrate this point by tracing the discursive and empirical foundations of the relationship using primary and secondary materials. Furthermore, they highlight how the war has created challenges and opportunities for... read more

      08/18/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-26 – Dr. John Nagl – “Why America’s Army Can’t Win America’s Wars”

      Since achieving victory in World War II, the United States military has a less than enviable combat record in irregular warfare. Through a detailed historical analysis, this article provides perspective on where past decisions and doctrines have led to defeat and where they may have succeeded if given more time or executed differently. In doing so, it provides lessons for future Army engagements and argues that until America becomes proficient in irregular warfare, our enemies will continue... read more

      08/10/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-25 – Dr. Richard A. Lacquement and Dr. Thomas P. Galvin – Framing the Future of the US Military Profession

      The military profession needs to be redefined by examination of its expertise and jurisdictions of practice, whereas previously the focus was on securing its professional identity. Twenty years ago, the original Future of the Army Profession research project responded to growing concerns among officers that the Army was no longer a profession in light of the post–Cold War drawdown and the onset of global operations including Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, the profession faces recurrent... read more

      08/08/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-24 – Dr. Tami Davis Biddle – “Character Traits Strategic Leaders Need”

      Strategic leaders must possess a range of skills to work successfully in complex environments. To use those skills to best effect, they rely on character traits that enhance the likelihood of their effectiveness as leaders and maximize their success when working in teams. Certain character traits facilitate work in demanding settings that rely heavily on communication, integration, and cooperation. Programs designed to educate senior leaders must help future national security professionals... read more

      07/05/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-23 – Dr. Alexander G. Lovelace – “Tomorrow’s Wars and the Media”

      Distilling lessons from the author’s book, The Media Offensive: How the Press and Public Opinion Shaped Allied Strategy during World War II, this podcast provides applicable suggestions for the US military today. As in World War II, the press is both a weapon and a possible vulnerability in modern warfare.

      Read the article: https://press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/vol52/iss2/15/

      Episode Transcript

      Stephanie Crider (Host)

      Welcome to Decisive Point, a US Army War College... read more

      06/30/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-22 – Zachary Kallenborn – “InfoSwarms: Drone Swarms and Information Warfare”

      This podcast discusses drone swarms, which can be used at sea, on land, in the air, and even in space, are fundamentally information-dependent weapons. No study to date has examined drone swarms in the context of information warfare writ large. This article explores the dependence of these swarms on information and the resultant connections with areas of information warfare—electronic, cyber, space, and psychological—drawing on open-source research and qualitative reasoning. Overall, the... read more

      06/23/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-21 – MAJ Brandon Colas – “Defining and Deterring Faits Accomplis”

      This podcast examines faits accomplis—how states attempt to seize disputed territory using military force, hoping to avoid war in the process—and offers suggestions for how to deter them. Since 1945, faits accomplis have become the most common means by which states attempt to take over territory, even though they frequently result in armed conflict. US deterrent efforts, however, often focus on stopping invasions, not limited land grabs. This study combines the traditional literature on... read more

      06/17/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-20 – CPT Mark T. Vicik – “Strengthen Arctic Governance to Stop Russian and Chinese Overreach”

      This podcast argues shortfalls in the international institutions governing the Arctic have allowed Russia and China to expand control over the region. It provides an overview of regional governance and power dynamics, outlines a three-part approach to correcting deficiencies, highlights attempts by Russia and China to circumvent international governance, examines how the Arctic’s governing institutions address Russian and Chinese growth in the region, and focuses on the institutional... read more

      06/15/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-19 – MAJ Ryan J. Orsini – “Economic Statecraft and US-Russian Policy”

      This podcast assesses the American-Russian economic relationship, identifying how Russia exploits strategic asymmetries to gain advantage in the space below armed conflict and how the United States can modernize its economic statecraft. It draws upon a wide range of comparative research, from US-Russian military thought to the American-Eurasian economic interrelationship, to evaluate the full range of economic statecraft within a single dyad of countries in the context of coercion theory.... read more

      06/07/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-18 – COL George Shatzer – “SRAD Director’s Corner: Russia’s Strategy and Its War on Ukraine”

      In this podcast, Colonel George Shatzer, director of the Strategy Research and Analysis Department of the Strategic Studies Institute at the US Army War College, discusses books of relevance to US Joint planners and strategists, as well as those of allies and strategic partners. He applies his experience and education as a US Army senior strategist to extract insights useful to anyone contemplating how to confront the challenges of today’s strategic environment.

      Read the article:... read more

      06/01/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-17 – Dr. Antulio J. Echevarria II – “Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine in 2022: Implications for Strategic Studies”

      In this podcast, Colonel George Shatzer, director of the Strategy Research and Analysis Department of the Strategic Studies Institute at the US Army War College, discusses books of relevance to US Joint planners and strategists, as well as those of allies and strategic partners. He applies his experience and education as a US Army senior strategist to extract insights useful to anyone contemplating how to confront the challenges of today’s strategic environment.

      Read the article:... read more

      06/01/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-16 – Dr. Meghan Fitzpatrick, Dr. Ritu Gill, and Maj. Jennifer F. Giles – “Information Warfare: Lessons in Inoculation to Disinformation”

      While propaganda and disinformation have been used to destabilize opposing forces throughout history, the US military remains unprepared for the way these methods have been adapted to the Internet era. This article explores the modern history of disinformation campaigns and the current state of US military readiness in the face of campaigns from near-peer competitors and proposes education as the best way to prepare US servicemembers to defend against such campaigns.

      Read the article:... read more

      05/23/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-15 – COL Zhirayr Amirkhanyan – “A Failure to Innovate: The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War”

      The root cause for the defeat of the Armenian forces in the second Nagorno-Karabakh War was flawed military doctrine inherited from the Soviet Union. This article analyzes the major problems faced by Armenia, uncovers the main reasons for unsuccessful innovation, tests empirical findings against some of the most authoritative theories in the field, and outlines current research on the conflict, while substantiating the analysis with established scholarship in the field of military... read more

      05/16/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-14 – Dr. Patrick Paterson – Civil-Military Relations: Guidelines in Politically Charged Societies

      Current events warrant a review of US civil-military relations doctrine. This article examines eight principles of military subordination to elected civilian officials and addresses the fundamental question at the heart of civil-military relations theory and practice—what options, if any, does the military have when civilian leadership disregards military advice? Examples drawn from US history provide an important framework to understand the complex interrelational dynamics at... read more

      05/05/2022


    • Decisive Point Podcast – Ep 3-13 – Henry D. Sokolski - Underestimated Our Not So Peaceful Nuclear Future

      Does it matter if more countries have nuclear weapons? Will the weaponization of space make nuclear weapons less of a threat or even obsolete? In this podcast, author Henry D. Sokolski gives an overview of his monograph, Underestimated: Our Not So Peaceful Nuclear Future, and explores potential future nuclear trends.

      Read the monograph: https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/933/

      Episode Transcript

      Stephanie Crider (Host)

      (Prerecorded Decisive Point intro) Welcome to... read more

      05/05/2022