A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

By A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

What's A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast about?

This is the podcast of WAR ROOM, the official online journal of the U.S. Army War College. Join us for provocative discussions about U.S. national security and defense, featuring prominent national security and military professionals.

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A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast episodes:

04.23.2024
A TIME OF CHANGE: THE U.S. ARMY IN THE 90s
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Despite a stunning victory over Iraq during Operation DESERT STORM, the U.S. Army of the 1990s was beset by doubts about its post-Cold War mission, the challenges of...
03.26.2024
HORSESHOES, RELATIONSHIPS, AND SHARED UNDERSTANDING: CHESTER NIMITZ'S ART OF COMMAND
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 promoted to admiral, and his demonstrated leadership and strategic thought are...
03.19.2024
UNDERSTANDING RUSSIAN CULTURE: JADE McGLYNN (ON WRITING)
It's time for another episode in our On Writing series, and joining host Michael Neiberg in the virtual studio is author and Russia specialist Jade McGlynn. Jade is the author of Russia’s War and Memory Makers: The Politics of the...
03.12.2024
TEACHING THE PROFESSIONALS: SHAPING THE PROFESSION
General Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA), has identified four priorities for the service during his tenure: building cohesive teams, delivering ready combat formations, continuous transformation and strengthening the army profession. Today's episode focuses on the profession,...
03.05.2024
A CONVERSATION WITH THE HONORABLE MELISSA DALTON OF DEFENSE POLICY
One of the benefits of being located so close to Washington, D.C., is that the U.S. Army War College has access to some of the nation's most senior leaders. Most recently, the Honorable Melissa Dalton addressed the Homeland Defense Symposium...
02.27.2024
SOLVING DATA PROBLEMS AT SUPERHUMAN SPEEDS
Depending on who you talk to, artificial intelligence (AI) will either be the ruination of mankind or its savior. As ever, the truth is likely somewhere between those extremes. It certainly will be important. For this reason, the Chief of...
02.21.2024
CHINA'S SHIFTING HISTORY: STEPHEN PLATT (ON WRITING)
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 has spent a great deal of his career as a historian...
02.16.2024
ADAPTING TO CHANGE: HOW THE DOD HANDLES LGBT ISSUES
What a society accepts as normal changes over time. As it does, inevitably the military organizations that protects that society adapt to reflect those changes. Throughout history, the U.S. military has both led and lagged societal changes. Heather Haley is...
02.13.2024
HOPE THEN DISAPPOINTMENT: HISTORICAL PATTERNS FOR THE POST-WAR ARMY
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, is far less complete. Fortunately, we happen to know Brian Linn,...
02.06.2024
AT THE CENTER OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE: THE LIBRARY PT 2
The boxes are unpacked, the books are on the shelves, both real and virtual, and the library is open for business in the new Root Hall at the U.S. Army War College. Greta Braungard and Heather Goyette are back in...
02.02.2024
CIV-MIL RELATIONS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT
It's time for another episode in our special series supporting the U.S. Army War College’s Civil-Military Relations Center. This time, the conversation shifts beyond the borders of the United States and looks at the African continent. Comprised of 54 countries and...
01.30.2024
OFFICERS AND GENTLEWOMEN
Whenever Kara Dixon Vuic comes through Carlisle, we are sure to bring her into the War Room for a conversation that never disappoints. She joins host Ron Granieri for a wide-ranging discussion about sex, gender, the military and society. They...
01.26.2024
CIVILIAN CONTROL OF THE MILITARY: A CRUMBLING FOUNDATION?
Civilian control of the military is a foundational concept of democracy in the United States. In recent years, voices in the community that study the civilian-military relationship have raised concerns that civilian control is being slowly eroded away by the...
01.23.2024
WAR FIGHTING, WAR THINKING
One of the priorities of U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George is war fighting, particularly the charge to refocus and prioritize efforts that build lethality and cohesive teams. This follows previous guidance from the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
01.19.2024
FOREIGN POLICY VERSUS PUBLIC OPINION
Max Margulies is in the studio with guest host Carrie Lee for the fifth episode in our multi-part special series supporting the U.S. Army War College’s Civil-Military Relations Center. Max and Carrie discuss the relationship between the government and society when...
01.09.2024
A CONSENSUAL HALLUCINATION: THE U.S. DOLLAR'S WORLD ROLE
An exorbitant privilege. That is what French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing called the U.S. dollar's role as the global international reserve currency. That role brings many advantages but is it sustainable and worth any costs? What would it take for...
01.05.2024
THE DRAFT'S END AND THE TOTAL VOLUNTEER FORCE'S BEGINNING
The U.S. Department of Defense underwent several significant changes in 1973. First, the law that empowered the draft expired when Congress didn't extend it, and the all-volunteer force (AVF) was born. Second, Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger initiated "the...
12.19.2023
SEARCHING FOR PEACE IN TIMBUKTU: THE UN MISSION IN MALI PT 2
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established on April 25, 2013 to stabilize the country after the Tuareg rebellion of 2012. In June 2023, a new government that had come to power in a coup...
12.15.2023
OVERSIGHT, AUTHORITIES AND CONFIRMATIONS:CONGRESS AND THE MILITARY
It's not odd for discussions about civil-military relations to focus on the civilian control exercised by the President of the United States (POTUS). Obviously, in his role as Commander-in-Chief, POTUS sits atop the military chain of command. But a complete...
12.12.2023
SEARCHING FOR PEACE IN TIMBUKTU: THE UN MISSION IN MALI PT 1
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was established on April 25, 2013 to stabilize the country after the Tuareg rebellion of 2012. In June 2023, a new government that had come to power in a coup...
12.08.2023
SHIFTING GROUND: POLARIZATION AND THE MILITARY
The U.S. military is to a certain extent a microcosm of the population it serves. While this ensures that the military includes the best characteristics of society, it also means that the military must contend with societal challenges as well....
12.05.2023
THE AIR FORCE HAS SPIES?! RISE OF THE MAVERICKS
The United States Air Force Security Service (USAFSS) was created in October 1948, just 13 months after the recognition of the Air Force as a separate branch with the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947. Cloaked in secrecy,...
12.01.2023
THE JOINT CHIEFS: POLITICS VERSUS PROFESSIONALISM
Joint. The term is used ubiquitously in the U.S. Department of Defense. Joint operations, joint professional military education, joint mindedness, joint staff, etc.—at a certain point in a professional's career, you can't go an hour without hearing a joint-associated term....
11.28.2023
THE SPY WHOM WE LOVE: JAMES BOND BEYOND THE COLD WAR
Born in the midst of the Cold War, James Bond was often considered the consummate Cold Warrior. But within the 14 original novels, 9 short stories, 40 continuation novels, 10 Young Bond novels and 25 movies to date, the fictional...
11.14.2023
PEOPLE, PRIORITIES & PROGRESS - FUTURES COMMAND: (HOW SHOULD THE ARMY RUN?)
What happens when you get three experienced soldiers together to discuss something they've worked on for much of their careers? Well, the first thing that happens is that they "go secure" and start speaking in acronyms. More importantly, you get...
11.07.2023
FINDING TIME FOR GROWTH: DISTANCE EDUCATION AT USAWC PT 4
It’s time for another episode about the U.S. Army War College’s Distance Education program. COL Heather Smigowski, Chair of the Department of Distance Education (DDE), is back in the studio, and this time she’s brought along two joint military and...
10.31.2023
UNDERSTANDING CHINA THROUGH ITS RECRAFTED PAST: RANA MITTER (ON WRITING)
It's time for another episode of On Writing with Michael Neiberg. For this conversation, Michael is joined by Rana Mitter, author of China’s Good War: How World War II is Shaping a New Nationalism. Their discussion took place in the...
10.24.2023
ARMY WAR COLLEGE 360: A CONVERSATION WITH MG DAVID HILL (USAWC BEYOND CARLISLE)
Editor-in-Chief JP Clark had the opportunity to sit down for a conversation with Major General David Hill, the 53rd Commandant of the U.S. Army War College. Their discussion begins with the best-known activity at Carlisle, the education of strategic-minded, joint-qualified...
10.17.2023
PRESERVING DOMESTIC SECURITY (EISENHOWER SERIES)
It's time once again to feature some of the smart conversations that occur around the country through the Eisenhower Series College Program. For over 50 years, the Eisenhower Program has reached out to colleges and town halls across the nation...
10.10.2023
LESSONS FROM FORT LIVING ROOM: DISTANCE EDUCATION AT USAWC PT 3
It's time for another episode about the U.S. Army War College's Distance Education program. COL Heather Smigowski, Chair of the Department of Distance Education (DDE), is back in the studio and this time she's brought along two recent grads of...
10.03.2023
ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR FORCE MANAGEMENT: GFIM (HOW SHOULD THE ARMY RUN)
When faced with a challenge, a soldier will always come up with some sort of solution to make the system, process or piece of equipment work. It may not be an elegant solution or a good use of time, but...
09.26.2023
RECRUIT, RETAIN, DRAFT?: RAISING AN ARMY FOR LARGE SCALE CONFLICT
In the closing scene of James Michener's novel The Bridges of Toko-Ri, an admiral thinks of the aircrew he just sent to the Korean conflict--some never to return--and asks, "Where did we get such men?" President Ronald Reagan asked the...
09.19.2023
WRITING ON A DEADLINE: SHASHANK JOSHI (ON WRITING)
Michael Neiberg is back in the studio for the next installation of the On Writing series. This week's guest is Shashank Joshi, Defense Editor for The Economist. This episode is a slight variation from the normal On Writing discussion because...
09.12.2023
OBSERVATIONS FROM NATO’S NORTHERN FRONT REVISITED (EISENHOWERS SERIES)
It's time once again to feature some of the smart conversations that occur around the country through the Eisenhower Series College Program. For over 50 years, the Eisenhower Program has reached out to colleges and town halls across the nation...
09.05.2023
ASPIRATIONAL, VAGUE, AND STRATEGIC: THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY
Regular listeners might remember previous episodes in which we looked at the 2022 National Security Strategy and the 2022 National Defense Strategy. In this episode, we continue the examination of strategic-level documents with a review of the 2023 National Intelligence...
08.29.2023
CANDID CONVERSATIONS ON DIVERSITY
It's time once again to feature some of the smart conversations that occur around the country through the Eisenhower Series College Program. For over 50 years, the Eisenhower Program has reached out to colleges and town halls across the nation...
08.22.2023
STRATEGY IN SPACE!
For those of you of sufficient age, you should have heard that title in your head with the stentorian voice of this fine announcer. But in all seriousness, the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command have their work cut...
08.15.2023
SIMULATING DIPLOMATIC DISASTER (WARGAMING ROOM)
It's time once again for a visit to the Wargaming Room. In this episode, three recent graduates of the AY23 Resident Course at the U.S. Army War College share the wargame they developed as part of the Carlisle Scholars Program....
08.08.2023
MANAGING NATO: INTERESTS AND INTEROPERABILITY
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has revived interest in and discussions about NATO. When 31 countries, each with their own national interests and goals, come together, interoperability becomes a driving consideration. Giovanni Corrado and Joel Gleason conducted a study of...
08.04.2023
AT THE CENTER OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE: THE LIBRARY
It's back to school time across the United States, and it's no different here at the U.S. Army War College. What's different this year is that the resident class of academic year 2024 will arrive at a brand new academic...
08.01.2023
A COMMUNICATION GAP ACROSS THE GENERATION GAP
Fifty years ago, the United States Department of Defense ended the draft and chose to rely exclusively on volunteers to fill the ranks. The all-volunteer force was born and the competition was on to attract the best and brightest to...
07.25.2023
LIKE UBER IN A GANG FIGHT: THE FUTURE OF CASEVAC
In our last episode, we examined the relationship between military medicine and tactical effectiveness, as well as some of the incredible advances in combat medical care over the last few decades. In this episode, Manny Menendez asks some hard questions...
07.18.2023
MEDICINE, MORALE and MUSTERING THE FORCE
Once upon a time, a wound as simple as a scratch could lead to death. Many of incredible advances in medicine and medical care since were driven by the exigencies of war. Tanisha Fazal has conducted a fascinating study that...
06.29.2023
MOBILIZATION (STRATEGIC LANDPOWER IRP PT 4)
In May 2023, the War College hosted the second annual Strategic Landpower Symposium. Bringing together students, scholars and practitioners, the symposium presented senior leaders with original research and recommendations for the application of landpower to achieve national objectives. Included within...
06.27.2023
DRESSED FOR SUCCESS: UNIFORM DEVELOPMENT
The United States Department of Defense spends a great deal of time and resources developing uniforms. The respective organizations in each branch of service take requirements from leadership and design functional clothing that meets environmental, operational, safety and visual performance...
06.23.2023
PROTECTION (STRATEGIC LANDPOWER IRP PT 3)
In May 2023, the War College hosted the second annual Strategic Landpower Symposium. Bringing together students, scholars and practitioners, the symposium presented senior leaders with original research and recommendations for the application of landpower to achieve national objectives. Included within...
06.21.2023
BONUS EPISODE: SOURCES OF PUBLIC TRUST IN THE U.S. MILITARY
The U.S. Army War College Civil-Military Relations Center hosted its inaugural conference in May 2023. This year’s theme on the military and society was the American all-volunteer force as it turns 50. One of the major sub-themes throughout was the...
06.20.2023
RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE: REMEMBERING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK SOLDIERS
Black Americans' fight for equality in the U.S. armed forces has been a rough road. At times, the Army has been a leader in driving change in the United States. In other instances, the institution has stood with "feet of...
06.16.2023
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (STRATEGIC LANDPOWER IRP PT 2)
In May 2023, the War College hosted the second annual Strategic Landpower Symposium. Bringing together students, scholars and practitioners, the symposium presented senior leaders with original research and recommendations for the application of landpower to achieve national objectives. Included within...
06.13.2023
LAUNCH OPERATION PLUM BLOSSOM: MICK RYAN ON WAR FOR TAIWAN
Fiction can be liberating. It offers authors latitude to think, propose, and prognosticate about real-world topics in ways that non-fiction does not allow. The ability to ask "what if?" can be an incredible tool in the national security realm that...

What's A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast episodes:

A TIME OF CHANGE: THE U.S. ARMY IN THE 90s

HORSESHOES, RELATIONSHIPS, AND SHARED UNDERSTANDING: CHESTER NIMITZ'S ART OF COMMAND

UNDERSTANDING RUSSIAN CULTURE: JADE McGLYNN (ON WRITING)

TEACHING THE PROFESSIONALS: SHAPING THE PROFESSION

A CONVERSATION WITH THE HONORABLE MELISSA DALTON OF DEFENSE POLICY

SOLVING DATA PROBLEMS AT SUPERHUMAN SPEEDS

CHINA'S SHIFTING HISTORY: STEPHEN PLATT (ON WRITING)

ADAPTING TO CHANGE: HOW THE DOD HANDLES LGBT ISSUES

HOPE THEN DISAPPOINTMENT: HISTORICAL PATTERNS FOR THE POST-WAR ARMY

AT THE CENTER OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE: THE LIBRARY PT 2

CIV-MIL RELATIONS ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

OFFICERS AND GENTLEWOMEN

CIVILIAN CONTROL OF THE MILITARY: A CRUMBLING FOUNDATION?

WAR FIGHTING, WAR THINKING

FOREIGN POLICY VERSUS PUBLIC OPINION

A CONSENSUAL HALLUCINATION: THE U.S. DOLLAR'S WORLD ROLE

THE DRAFT'S END AND THE TOTAL VOLUNTEER FORCE'S BEGINNING

SEARCHING FOR PEACE IN TIMBUKTU: THE UN MISSION IN MALI PT 2

OVERSIGHT, AUTHORITIES AND CONFIRMATIONS:CONGRESS AND THE MILITARY

SEARCHING FOR PEACE IN TIMBUKTU: THE UN MISSION IN MALI PT 1

SHIFTING GROUND: POLARIZATION AND THE MILITARY

THE AIR FORCE HAS SPIES?! RISE OF THE MAVERICKS

THE JOINT CHIEFS: POLITICS VERSUS PROFESSIONALISM

THE SPY WHOM WE LOVE: JAMES BOND BEYOND THE COLD WAR

PEOPLE, PRIORITIES & PROGRESS - FUTURES COMMAND: (HOW SHOULD THE ARMY RUN?)

FINDING TIME FOR GROWTH: DISTANCE EDUCATION AT USAWC PT 4

UNDERSTANDING CHINA THROUGH ITS RECRAFTED PAST: RANA MITTER (ON WRITING)

ARMY WAR COLLEGE 360: A CONVERSATION WITH MG DAVID HILL (USAWC BEYOND CARLISLE)

PRESERVING DOMESTIC SECURITY (EISENHOWER SERIES)

LESSONS FROM FORT LIVING ROOM: DISTANCE EDUCATION AT USAWC PT 3

ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR FORCE MANAGEMENT: GFIM (HOW SHOULD THE ARMY RUN)

RECRUIT, RETAIN, DRAFT?: RAISING AN ARMY FOR LARGE SCALE CONFLICT

WRITING ON A DEADLINE: SHASHANK JOSHI (ON WRITING)

OBSERVATIONS FROM NATO’S NORTHERN FRONT REVISITED (EISENHOWERS SERIES)

ASPIRATIONAL, VAGUE, AND STRATEGIC: THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE STRATEGY

CANDID CONVERSATIONS ON DIVERSITY

STRATEGY IN SPACE!

SIMULATING DIPLOMATIC DISASTER (WARGAMING ROOM)

MANAGING NATO: INTERESTS AND INTEROPERABILITY

AT THE CENTER OF THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE: THE LIBRARY

A COMMUNICATION GAP ACROSS THE GENERATION GAP

LIKE UBER IN A GANG FIGHT: THE FUTURE OF CASEVAC

MEDICINE, MORALE and MUSTERING THE FORCE

MOBILIZATION (STRATEGIC LANDPOWER IRP PT 4)

DRESSED FOR SUCCESS: UNIFORM DEVELOPMENT

PROTECTION (STRATEGIC LANDPOWER IRP PT 3)

BONUS EPISODE: SOURCES OF PUBLIC TRUST IN THE U.S. MILITARY

RECOGNITION AND GRATITUDE: REMEMBERING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK SOLDIERS

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (STRATEGIC LANDPOWER IRP PT 2)

LAUNCH OPERATION PLUM BLOSSOM: MICK RYAN ON WAR FOR TAIWAN