Reassessing U.S. Defense Strategy: Preparing for Protracted Conflict with China
As tensions between the United States and China intensify, particularly regarding Taiwan, U.S. defense strategy remains fixated on the prospect of a quick, decisive victory. The prevailing view is that the U.S. must be prepared to thwart a Chinese invasion…
Lessons Learned or Lessons Observed: The U.S. Navy’s Blind Spot in Mine Warfare
Since 1945, mines have been responsible for sinking or severely damaging 15 of the 19 U.S. ships lost in combat. Despite this sobering statistic, mine warfare remains an underdeveloped and often overlooked area of focus for the U.S. Navy. Meanwhile,…
Toward a More Nuanced View of Airpower and Operation Desert Storm
As we approach the 30th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm, discussions about airpower’s central role in the swift coalition victory are sure to be prominent. And rightfully so—airpower, particularly that of the U.S. Air Force, played a significant role in…
India to Strengthen Defenses: Russia Accelerates S-400 Deliveries Following Ladakh Clashes
In response to escalating tensions with China and the deadly clashes in Galwan Valley, India has secured an expedited delivery of the first battalion of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems from Russia. This decision comes after a high-level defense delegation…
From Deception to Attrition: AI and the Changing Face of Warfare
In his classic work The Defense of Duffer’s Drift, Ernest Swinton taught generations of military professionals key lessons in strategy through the dreams of Lieutenant Backsight Forethought, who learned from his mistakes in defending a river crossing during the Boer…
Just Let Them Compete: Nurturing the Next Generation of Wargamers
My path to becoming a wargamer was serendipitous. Hired for my insights on national security and my Marine Corps background, I entered wargaming with no prior experience, learning the craft on the job. The field, surprisingly, is built on similar…
The Economic Power of North Korea’s Nuclear Arsenal: Pyongyang’s Calculus on Sanctions and Denuclearization
Since the devastating famine and economic collapse of the 1990s, North Korea has struggled to rebuild its economy while sustaining one of the world’s largest conventional militaries. The collapse of the Soviet bloc and the rise of U.S. military interventionism…