Join us for an enlightening fireside chat on Inside West Point: Ideas that Impact, with Retired General Raymond A. 'Tony' Thomas III, one of this generation's most experienced combat and military leaders. Thomas shares his reflections on leadership, historical lessons, and the future of warfare, particularly focusing on AI and unmanned capabilities. He discusses his extensive military career, including his role in major operations and his time leading U.S. Special Operations Command. Thomas offers profound insights into Afghanistan's strategic challenges, emphasizing the critical importance of historical study, evolving military tactics, and ethical considerations in advanced combat technologies while maintaining unwavering commitment to constitutional principles. His analysis bridges military experience with deep reflection on institutional learning and technological challenges in modern warfare. This conversation is filled with invaluable lessons for future military leaders and anyone interested in the intricacies of modern warfare.  

00:00 Introduction to the Fireside Chat  

00:29 General Thomas' Distinguished Military Career  

03:02 Leadership and Historical Reflections  

06:38 Lessons from Afghanistan  

13:47 The Role of Failure in Innovation  

18:52 Integrating Technology in Leadership  

23:30 Contrasting Warfare Standards  

24:00 Israel's Existential Fight  

24:55 Future Warfare and Legal Guidance  

25:12 Israel and Hezbollah Conflict  

28:30 Private Industry and Military Ethics  

28:47 The Reality of War  

30:09 Logistical Challenges in Warfare  

33:18 Global Power Dynamics  

35:51 AI in Military Operations  

41:30 Historical Lessons and Leadership  

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Recommended Books  

• "Washington's Crossing" by David Hackett Fischer  
• "The Civil War: A Narrative" (Trilogy) by Shelby Foote  
• "A History of the Twentieth Century" by Martin Gilbert  
• "An Army at Dawn: The War in North Africa, 1942-1943" (The Liberation Trilogy) by Rick Atkinson  
• "April 1865: The Month That Saved America" by Jay Winik  

Credits:      

1. Guest: General Raymond A. Thomas III:   (https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/709270/general-raymond-a-thomas-iii/)  
2. Host: Brigadier General Shane Reeves: (http://linkedin.com/in/shane-reeves-7950a31b3)     
3. Recording: West Point Public Affairs-Visual Information Division  
4. Production: Growth Network Podcasts: (https://growthnetworkpodcasts.com)   
5. Publisher: West Point Press (https://westpointpress.com)     

This episode does not imply Federal endorsement.