A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

I wrote to my mother, who was living in France, saying, 'We're not going to win this war. We're making the same mistakes the French made only on a larger scale.' Every late summer, resident War College students immerse themselves in the Theory of War and Strategy, a challenging core course that covers the fundamentals of war at the national level. But for those who have fought, war is anything but an abstract concept. The experiences of war leave indelible impressions that last a lifetime. In this podcast, former U.S. Marine Corps pilot David Bennett tells his story of Vietnam a half-century ago, relaying memories that remain as vivid now as the original experiences.   David Bennett is a retired foreign service officer and veteran of the Vietnam War. Andrew A. Hill is the Editor-in-Chief of WAR ROOM. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Paul McErlane

In "Preserving Peace Through Economic Strength" C. Richard Neu and Joel Hillison return to the WAR ROOM studio for the second installment of our podcast series on Economics. looks at the uneasy nexus between U.S. grand strategy and its economic instrument of power. While America's strategic position is strong and has withstood challenges from other emerging powers for the past decade, it is because of a hands-off (rather than hands-on) approach toward its economic development. This has implications for economic stability both at home and abroad, and for America being able to use economic incentives to foster partnerships and influence opponents.

Young people are capable of extraordinary things as long as they are given the opportunity by the adults in their lives An all-volunteer force depends on the willingness, capabilities, and capacities of a nation's youth to serve. While much has been made of the paucity of youths who meet the physical and moral qualifications to serve in the military, there are also open questions about the desire of upcoming generations to serve. But what builds that desire, and what roles should older generations play? The film High School 911 tells the story of an emergency medical service in Darien, Connecticut staffed and run entirely by high school students. The results not only include a needed enhancement in a town's emergency services but also the development of important life skills and empowerment of youth. High School 911 director Tim Warren and WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief Andrew A. Hill discuss these and other topics related to the development of our future generations.     Tim Warren is director and producer of the documentary "High School 911." Andrew A. Hill is Chair of Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Photograph of members of Darien Post 53 Emergency Services from 2008, showing four teens and one of the adult mentors. Photo Credit: Kevin Robinson, used with permission

We continue our Great Strategists series with "Three Pioneers of Airpower." In the early 20th century, Italian Giulio Douhet, American Billy Mitchell, and British officer Hugh Trenchard saw the battlefield changing as a result of the introduction of airplanes. What were their stories and what are the lasting impacts? Presenting these pioneers are War College professors Tami Davis Biddle and Jacqueline E. Whitt.

Subsequent events after the election seem to bear out that perhaps we do have old wine in new bottles. In February 2018, Chris Wyatt and Jacqueline E. Whitt discussed the Strange Bloodless Coup in Zimbabwe in which Robert Mugabe was quietly deposed and new President Emmerson Mnangagwa assumed power. At the time, there were a lot of questions about what would happen next. Would Zimbabwe normalize its international relations? Would Zimbabwe transition to a peaceful democracy? Or would the roots of authoritarian rule stand firm and the military retain a stronghold on power? With the 2018 Presidential elections complete, Chris and Jackie return to the studio to report on what has happened in the six intervening months and what it portends for the future.   Chris Wyatt is a colonel in the U.S. Army and is the Director of African Studies at the U.S. Army War College. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the WAR ROOM podcast editor. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Activists and demonstrators protest following election results in Zimbabwe, outside the Zimbabwe embassy in London, Britain, August 4, 2018. Photo Credit: REUTERS/Toby Melville

In "The Fragility of U.S. Economic Prosperity," C. Richard Neu and Joel Hillison discuss the state of the U.S. economy and its impact on the on-going conversation among civilian and military leaders in the U.S. Why does significant growth not necessarily lead to a stronger economy, and what does the level of the federal debt really mean? The dialogue exposes the complexity of such questions and why Congress and military leaders may not always be on the same page.

We should focus [artificial intelligence] in assisting and helping us make more timely and effective decisions Artificial intelligence (AI) is making a lot of noise today, what does its continued development mean for national security? Will AI solve problems, or are there important limits to the technology that AI is unlikely to overcome? What should be the role of AI in the future force? Recent U.S. Army War College graduate Mike Navicky discusses these and many other AI-related topics with Andrew A. Hill, WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief.     Mike Navicky is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and a graduate of the U.S. Army War College resident class of 2018. Andrew A. Hill is the WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: U.S. Marines test new counter-unmanned aerial vehicle technologies during a naval technology exercise at Camp Pendleton in March 2018. Photo Credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Corporal Rhita Daniel

"Bridging the Gap Between the Civilian World and the Military" is a follow-up to a recent WAR ROOM article on professional military education prepared by former Harold K. Johnson Chair of Military History Dr. Jennifer Mittelstadt. In this podcast, Dr. Mittelstadt reflects on her one-year tour at the U.S. Army War College, where she experienced cultural differences between the military and civilians both in approaches to education, work, and life that many service members take for granted. WAR ROOM Podcast Editor Jacqueline E. Whitt moderates.

There is one thing for the event to occur; but the manner in which it was handled was more institutionally damning. In a follow-up to his article published in WAR ROOM in June, Richard Lacquement sits down with WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief Andrew A. Hill to go over the aftermath of My Lai as it continues to influence Army professionalism today. The atrocities highlighted significant institutional problems across the Army. For example, a damning 1970 U.S. Army War College study exposed numerous morale and careerism problems that contributed to an environment whereby more My Lai events were possible. How did the institution respond, shaping the meaning of the Army as a profession today?     Richard Lacquement is Dean of the School of Strategic Landpower at the U.S. Army War College. Andrew A. Hill is the WAR ROOM Editor-in-Chief. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Unidentified Vietnamese bodies on a road. Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Ronald Haeberle

In "What Got You Here Won't Get You There," WAR ROOM welcomes Dr. Rebecca Johnson to discuss her perspectives on strategic leadership as Dean of Academics at the Marine Corps University. Having witnessed many officers and civilians graduate from senior service college, Dr. Johnson reflects on the challenges of transitioning to senior leadership in the military. Her discussion includes some pitfalls and common traps, avoiding them, and staying focused on improving their organizations and the people within them. WAR ROOM Social Media Editor Buck Haberichter moderates.

In "What is the Role of Religion in the Modern Military?" Ronit Stahl and Jacqueline E. Whitt explore a number of questions and controversies surrounding the institutionalization of religion in the armed forces. Included in the discussion are questions about First Amendment right, the chaplaincy and what chaplains can and cannot do, which faiths and belief systems are accommodated, and many more.

We are better than we were, in that our communities [and individuals] are more integrated, but not necessarily totally so This podcast is the second of two commemorating the seventieth anniversary of EO 9981 and its influence over the U.S. armed forces today. WAR ROOM welcomes Brigadier General Earl Simms, U.S. Army Retired, whose thirty-three year career culminated as Commanding General of the U.S. Army Soldier Support Institute. BG Simms relays his experiences as an African-American officer in the early days of integration and his perspectives on the state of race relations in the U.S. military and society today. Army War College Professor of Leadership and Cultural Studies Chuck Allen moderates.     Brigadier General Earl Simms, U.S. Army Retired, culminated his career as Commanding General, U.S. Army Soldier Support Institute. Charles Allen is Professor of Leadership and Cultural Studies at the U.S. Army War College. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Air Force Colonel Fred Vann Cherry attends the unveiling of his portrait in the Pentagon, 1981. Col. Cherry was a colonel and command pilot in the U.S. Air Force. A career fighter pilot, he served in the Korean War, the Cold War and the Vietnam War. Col. Cherry was also the first and highest ranking black officer among U.S. Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War. Photo Credit: National Archives Photo by Mickey W. Sanborn, public domain Other posts in the "Anniversaries" series: OUR 300th FREAKIN’ EPISODE!EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: WHAT INTEGRATION MEANS FOR TODAY’S MILITARY (RE-RELEASE)EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: DESEGREGATING THE ARMED FORCES (RE-RELEASE)EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: WHAT INTEGRATION MEANS FOR TODAY’S MILITARYEXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: DESEGREGATING THE ARMED FORCESLOOKING TO THE PAST TO CHANGE THE FUTUREREMEMBERING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGEREFLECTIONS ON THE HUE CITY MASSACREEXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: WHAT INTEGRATION MEANS FOR TODAY’S MILITARYEXECUTIVE ORDER 9981 AT 70: DESEGREGATING THE ARMED FORCESTHE TET OFFENSIVE: 50 YEARS LATERON BEING A ‘DIFFERENT’ KIND OF COMMAND — AFRICOM AT 10 YEARS (PART 2)

July 26, 1948 saw a landmark event in U.S. military history, President Harry Truman's signing of Executive Order (EO) 9981 directing the desegregation of the armed forces. Preceding the Civil Rights Act by more than a decade, this Executive Order was a groundbreaker -- recognizing both the exemplary performance of African-Americans during World War II and their acceptance by white officers. In "Executive Order 9981 at 70: Desegregating the Armed Forces," WAR ROOM welcomes Major General William Walker, Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, who shares how integrating the armed forces opened doors for him and other African-Americans. U.S. Army War College Professor of Leadership and Cultural Studies Chuck Allen moderates.

The way we should approach this is 'How do we put ourselves out of a job? How do we make it so logistics is not the operational constraint?' This is the second of two podcasts discussing U.S. Army War College student and faculty research into Army sustainment. This discussion addresses a study on how to organize and design Army systems to make them more sustainable in future combat environments by reducing their dependence on logistics. How can one design weapons systems to consume less fuel, rather than design the system and figure out the logistics later? What about power, food, water, and other critical supplies? Listen in as Matt Shatzkin, Greg Gibbons, and Jacqueline E. Whitt discuss the need to reduce the logistics tail and the challenges of satisfying this need.     Matt Shatzkin recently retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army; his last assignment was in the Center for Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College. Greg Gibbons is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army and a graduate of the U.S. Army War College class of 2018. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the WAR ROOM podcast editor. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Soldiers from 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Division - Center, and the 3rd Infantry Division attach three fuel blivets to a CH-47F Chinook helicopter for a sling load mission. Photo Credit: 1st Air Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs Photo by SGT Alun Thomas

If you go to Disney World, twenty years ago there were no express lines. ... Now we have an express pass where you pay a little extra, you get escorted to the front. ... What happens if everyone who's in line needs to get to the front? This is the first of two related podcasts on strategic sustainment. Historically as an organizing construct, the Army has gone back and forth between two modes. One is based on having a forward posture and deliberately building up the force prior to conflict. The other is the subject of this dialogue, when the Army responds on short notice with limited ability to establish lines of communication before engaging in combat. An Army organized for expeditionary capability has tremendous implications for the military's (and the nation's) sustainment infrastructure. Participating in the dialogue are two recent graduates of the U.S. Army War College resident program, U.S. Army Colonels Bobby Bryant and Fred Maddox; their faculty advisor U.S. Army Colonel Matt Shatzkin from the Center for Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College; and Jacqueline E. Whitt, the WAR ROOM Podcast Editor.     Matt Shatzkin recently retired as a colonel in the U.S. Army; his last assignment was in the Center for Strategic Leadership at the U.S. Army War College. Bobby Bryant and Fred Maddox are colonels in the U.S. Army and graduates of the U.S. Army War College class of 2018. Jacqueline E. Whitt is the WAR ROOM podcast editor. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo: Cargo pallets are loaded onto a Kalitta Air Boeing 747 by 436th Aerial Port Squadron Airmen March 24, 2017, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Cacicia