WAR ROOM INDEX - VOL. 15 (FALL 2020) - War Room

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Volume 15 (Fall 2020) INDEX of Articles and Features

WEEK OF 05 October 2020 – ISSUE 1

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING AND HE’S HERE TO HELP

By Mandi Bohrer and Ron Granieri October 6, 2020

Once the stuff of science fiction, facial recognition is here & it has been for a while. But this incredible tool has a much-feared Big Brother aspect. @Mandi_Bee joins @ronaldgranieri to discuss how the tech can be safely & legally employed.

MAKING SENSE OF THE RUMBLINGS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA

By Nate Kerkhoff October 8, 2020

Jun ’20 – S. Korean activists launched 20 balloons filled w/ anti-N Korean leaflets & banners, $’s & SD cards. N. Korea reacted badly, but then deescalated. Nate Kerkhoff looks at the internal factors at play in this most recent round of tensions.

SWARM GAMING: REGAINING THE STRATEGIC INNOVATION INITIATIVE (WARGAMING ROOM)

By Stephen Downes-Martin October 9, 2020

Wargames are an amazing developmental tool. But for true mental agility @StephenDownesM1 says “swarm gaming” is the best way to understand novel scenarios of the future @NavalWarCollege.

WEEK OF 12 October 2020 – ISSUE 2

GAMES, PLAY, AND THE AFFECTIVE DOMAIN

By Megan Hennessey and Ken Gilliam October 13, 2020

What does an educational methodologist think of wargames? She loves them! @MegJHennessey & @AWC_ORSA talk @LEGOSERIOUSPLAY and gaming in general at @ArmyWarCollege.

BATTLE CRY: A COMPREHENSIVE CIVIL WAR STUDY (DUSTY SHELVES)

By Justin Magula October 15, 2020

2020 got you down? Concerned by all the divisiveness? @JustinMagula tells DUSTY SHELVES to read “Battle Cry of Freedom” to gain some perspective on what true civil war looks like

TURNKEY ALLIES: ISRAEL BACKING THE SUNNI CAUSE

By Andrew Narloch October 16, 2020

In an armed confrontation between Sunni Arab states and Iran where would Israel fit in. @andrewnarloch believes they’d be integral based on recent relations normalizations with Sunni neighbors

WEEK OF 19 October 2020 – ISSUE 3

THE VALUE OF WRITTEN THOUGHT: STEPHEN VOGEL (ON WRITING)

By Stephen Vogel and Michael Neiberg October 20, 2020

@Steve_Vogel is a Pulitzer nominated journalist, incredibly successful author & passionate historian. He joins @MichaelNeiberg to share thoughts on journalism vs writing & what future historians face documenting the current electronic era.

A MODERN APPLICATION OF LANDPOWER IN SYRIA

By Phillip Brown October 22, 2020

The ability to gain, sustain, & exploit control over land – that’s landpower defined. Phil Brown tells WAR ROOM how recent engagements in Syria & Iraq prove landpower is central to nat’l security & its employment is indicative of nat’l priorities.

SECURITY COOPERATION: COLLABORATION IN THE ERA OF POWER COMPETITION

By Jonathan Swoyer and Assad Raza October 23, 2020

Army SOF & Foreign Area Officers are 2 communities that regularly work together but don’t know each other well enough. @AssadRaza12 & @swoychuk argue more familiarity w/ each other’s msns & skills benefits all & enhances the U.S. Strategic msn.

WEEK OF 26 October 2020 – ISSUE 4

UNDERSTANDING A DIFFERENT PEOPLE: THE OKINAWAN IDENTITY

By Courtney Short and Jacqueline E. Whitt October 27, 2020

It’s human nature to make assumptions about a person or peoples based on their race, nationality or culture. @cashort01 joins @notabattlechick to discuss how assumptions about the Okinawan people affected the U.S. invasion of the Ryukyus in WWII.

THE INFORMATION APOCALYPSE PART VIII: CIVICS LESSONS

By Mari Eder October 29,2020

@mk2353 wants to restore faith in the U.S. election process. No partisanship. No hyperbole. Just vote.

COVID-19 AND THE INFORMATION WAR: CHANGING THE NARRATIVE

By Leon Hartwell October 30, 2020

@LeonHartwell views the story of this year’s pandemic through the lens of Karpman’s Drama Triangle and he cautions the U.S. to change the narrative and move to the rescuer role, or at least not be the victim or perpetrator. @CEPA.

WEEK OF 02 November 2020 – ISSUE 5

A FATAL DOSE IN 2 MILLIGRAMS: FENTANYL AND NATIONAL SECURITY

By Heidi Munro and Ron Granieri November 3, 2020

The U.S. has struggled w/ the opioid crisis for decades. The most recent “combatant” on the battlefield is fentanyl, responsible for 31K+ deaths in ’18. @hmu65 joins @RonaldGranieri to discuss how this once legal pain killer threatens nat sec.

OPIOID MISUSE/ABUSE BY SOLDIERS AND VETERANS OF THE U.S. ARMY

By Greg Gharst November 5, 2020

War is hell & its psychological & physical toll has wreaked havoc on too many military members. Greg Gharst warns the Army to pay close attn to how opioids are used to treat those wounds & its impact on the force.

WEEK OF 09 November 2020 – ISSUE 6

A LABORATORY FOR MILITARY PROFESSIONALS (WARGAMING ROOM)

By Doug Winton and Ken Gilliam November 10, 2020

@dwwinton joins @AWC_ORSA in the WARGAMING ROOM for another look at wargames at the U.S. Army War College. They look at the use of Joint Overmatch and MDO1943 in the resident program.

MILITARY GEOGRAPHY AND MILITARY STRATEGY

By Thomas Bruscino August 14, 2020

If the military fails surely it must be the fault of politicians. @BruscinoTom says NOPE -it’s time for mil strategists to return geography to its previous level of importance.

WEEK OF 16 November 2020 – ISSUE 7

PAST VISIONS OF FUTURE WARS

By Adam Seipp, Thomas Bruscino and Ron Granieri November 17, 2020

@AdamSeipp joins @BruscinoTom & @RonaldGranieri to look at the captivating genres of Cold War apocalypse and military techno-thriller in this week’s episode of A BETTER PEACE.

HELMAND: TWO YEARS LATER

By Nathaniel Lowry November 19, 2020

WAR ROOM welcomes Nathan Lowry as he recounts his time with the Marines in Helmand province in ’17-’18. He compares the most recent Taliban attacks with previous surges and asks what the future holds for the Afghan people.

WEEK OF 23 November 2020 – ISSUE 8

RUSSIAN EXPANSION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF HYBRID WARFARE

By Thomas Deen November 24, 2020

Control the narrative & you control reality. Russia understood this in ’08 & again in ’14 as they invaded Georgia & Ukraine. Today reality resides on the internet & @ThomasFDeen1 tells us how to better safeguard that space.

WOODROW WILSON: THANKSGIVING 1918

By War Room November 25, 2020

WAR ROOM commemorates Woodrow Wilson’s 1918 Thanksgiving Proclamation, given in a time when cause for thanks was perhaps easier to find.

WEEK OF 30 November 2020 – ISSUE 9

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS THE BEGINNING

By Chandler Myers December 1, 2020

National defense isn’t just about manpower and weapons and strategy. Chandler Myers makes the case for focusing on K-12 education in the name of national security. Start at the beginning.

WANTED: INNOVATION TOOLS FOR AIR FORCE LEADERS

By Elizabeth Vaughan Moyer December 3, 2020

Prototype, experiment, fail, analyze – repeat. Elizabeth Vaughan Moyer says USAF leadership can do a better job clearing the path for innovative Airmen

AFTER 2020, WHAT’S NEXT? A WHITEBOARD

By War Room December 4, 2020

This month’s Whiteboard asks “What do you envision as the greatest challenges facing homeland security and domestic intelligence for the next decade?”

WEEK OF 7 December 2020 – ISSUE 10

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: WHY THE ALLIES WON (DUSTY SHELVES)

By Heather Venable December 8, 2020

War is never a simple venture. DUSTY SHELVES welcomes @Heather_at_ACTS to review Overy’s “Why the Allies Won” to prove that point. Sometimes having the most eqpt does not ensure a victory.

LIKE YOUR BRAIN HAS JUST GONE TO THE GYM (WARGAMING ROOM)

By Chris Dougherty, Becca Wasser and Ken Gilliam December 10, 2020

A BETTER PEACE welcomes @becca_wasser & @C_M_Dougherty as they join @AWC_ORSA to discuss The Gaming Lab @CNASdc just launched in October.

THE 2020 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

By War Room December 11, 2020

It’s that time of the year again. Time to find that perfect gift for your favorite national security professional. And to help we’ve got the anxiously awaited WAR ROOM Gift Guide for 2020.

WEEK OF 14 December 2020 – ISSUE 11

HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: RADICALS IN THE RANKS

By Robert Payne and Ron Granieri December 15, 2020

When evil exists in your population it will find its way into your trusted institutions. Robert Payne joins @RonaldGranieri to discuss extremism in the military and how to weed it out.

SENIOR LEADER BEHAVIOR: WHAT DIFFERENCES MATTER?

By Craig Bullis and Charles Allen December 17, 2020

As the U.S. Army implements the Army Talent Mgmt pgm data indicates it may emphasize the wrong things. @dex17013 & Craig Bullis use 2 Div Cdr Studies to highlight the behaviors & personality traits we should really look at in leader dev.

WEEK OF 21 December 2020 – ISSUE 12

THE FUTURE OF THE UNITED STATES’ FRIENDS AND FOES

By Paula Alvarez-Couceiro December 23, 2020

A multipolar world is a complicated world and where the U.S. fits in has changed. WAR ROOM welcomes @pacouceiro to examine the role of allies & partners in retaining U.S. power & influence @SAISStrat @SAISHopkins.

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT: CHRISTMAS 1942

By War Room December 24, 2020

In keeping with WAR ROOM’s tradition of reprinting holiday messages of leaders throughout history, here is Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1942 Christmas Eve address. Happy Holidays to all of you & here’s to a bright New Year.

WEEK OF 28 December 2020 – ISSUE 13

CHINA, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND GREAT POWER COMPETITION

By Hugh Harsono December 29, 2020

Developing countries need energy. China’s got renewable energy tech. That combination makes for inroads, strange bedfellows & a big edge for China in the Great Power Competition. Hugh Harsono gives us the rundown.

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