For many, Afghanistan and the lessons that should have been learned have been overshadowed recently by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. And as much as Ukraine deserves the...
military history
Victory goes to the side that correctly identifies its strategic problem, masses the right technology and combined arms advantages, and fully resources the will to win. Bernard B. Fall...
MacArthur mastered info warfare: strategic messaging + showmanship = victory. Mike Posey shows how he weaponized his image (pipe, sunglasses) to project authority.
How do "sunk costs" influence wartime decisions? JP Clark interviews Brian Groves on his book, "When Presidents Fight the Last War."
Michael Neiberg & Peter Pomerantsev discuss propaganda history at CVHF 2024! Hear the parallels between WWII & Ukraine, focusing on Sefton Delmer's counter-Nazi tactics.
In 2014 Ukrainian Col. Ihor Hordiichuk, rcvd the order "Hold the ground at all hazards!" Like Chamberlain at Gettysburg he defended his position at Savur-Mohyla.
Grant Golub explains how Henry Stimson transformed the WWII War Department into a political force, cementing the military's influence on U.S. foreign policy.
Trường Chinh, the former general secretary and leading theoretician of the Vietnamese Communist Party, is often overlooked for his contributions to Vietnam's revolutionary war strategies. Frank Jones examines Chinh's...
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....
The U.S. Army is at a critical juncture in determining how to best integrate drones into both its doctrine and organization. While the creation of a specialized Drone Corps...
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...
Last week, the U.S. Army War College welcomed Sir Hew Strachan, a distinguished British military historian and accomplished author. He graciously took the time to sit down with Michael...
Ten days after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Rear Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was named commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPACFLT). He was quickly...
USING ALTERNATIVE HISTORY TO THINK THROUGH CURRENT AND FUTURE PROBLEMS
(WARGAMING ROOM)
(WARGAMING ROOM)
8 minutes read
Professional historians often dismiss alternative or counterfactual history as nothing more than entertaining—the fodder of fantasy sci-fi novels. But a team of analysts and academics has recently incorporated the...
Understanding the history, or perhaps more importantly, the treatment of history in China, is a critical skill for anyone seeking greater comprehension of the national security arena. Stephen Platt...
There are plenty of studies of armies at war or in pre-war periods as preparations were made for conflict, but the study of post-war armies, specifically the U.S. Army,...
In our recent four-part series on learning lessons from present conflicts, Gian Gentile questioned whether all lessons observed should be learned. Specifically he questioned the value of counterinsurgency operations...
The word strategy gets overused. People have a strategy for getting fit. They have a strategy for dealing with relatives during the holidays. They have a strategy for getting...
In every conflict, there are lessons to be observed, but should they all be "learned"? Should the U.S. military incorporate the insights that are gained from these observed conflicts...
When a new piece of technology arrives in your unit, your service, or your national defense organization, does it enhance your operations and capabilities, or is it a disruptor...