SSI Live Podcast

Getting the Indo-Asia-Pacific and relations with China right is the key to a peaceful and prosperous 21st Century. The challenge for the U.S. administration, and for policy experts writ large, is to build an effective strategy for a whole-of-government approach that will achieve a free and open Indo-Asia-Pacific while avoiding the Thucydides Trap. U.S. Army War College professors Fred Gellert, David Lai, and Jef Troxell joined host John R. Deni to discuss their new book on this subject, which provides analysis and policy recommendations on topics regarding the instruments of national power, regional affairs, and key Asia-Pacific countries. Released 7 June 2018.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration released its first National Defense Strategy (NDS). What's new about this strategy and what does it tell us about the direction of U.S. defense strategy and policy? What does the new NDS get right, and where does it fall short? SSI Live host John R. Deni sat down with SSI colleagues Chris Bolan and Nate Freier to discuss these questions and more. Released 26 January 2018.

In gross or raw potential, the United States remains the world’s leading global military power. At present though, American power is either dormant in or ill-adapted to many if not most of the world’s most important competitive spaces. American military position and influence are most immediately under duress in the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Area of Responsibility. In PACOM, enduring U.S. defense objectives and the nation's most active, complex, and dangerous multi-domain security challenges converge. To discuss these issues and more, SSI host Dr. John R. Deni sat down with the SSI's Prof. Nate Freier. Released 8 January 2018.

On 13 October, President Trump announced his intention not to certify Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) and threatening to leave the nuclear deal altogether if it was not amended in various ways. Why did the President announce this? Meanwhile, there are reports that some of his senior advisors opposed this move -- what were their counterarguments? More broadly, what is the outlook with regard to Iran's nuclear program? To discuss these issues and more, SSI host Dr. John R. Deni sat down with the SSI's Middle East expert, Dr. Chris Bolan. Released 17 October 2017.

Continuing security challenges in Eastern Europe as well as saber rattling on the Korean Peninsula have raised questions once again about the capabilities, posture, and positioning of U.S. overseas forces. In this podcast, SSI Live host Dr. John R. Deni examines the reasons why the Army has become an increasing U.S.-based force, assesses the shift toward rotational peacetime deployments over the last several years, and offers a series of practical recommendations for returning balance to the Army's posture. This podcast is based on Dr. Deni's recent study on forward presence. Released 15 September 2017.

On 21 August, President Trump announced a new strategy toward the conflict in Afghanistan, America's longest war. What's new about the strategy? Does a renewed focus on Pakistan, and the role it plays in Afghanistan, have any chance of succeeding? And how will the new approach toward the war affect broader U.S. objectives with regard to Afghanistan? The SSI's Dr. Chris Mason, author of The Strategic Lessons Unlearned from Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan, discusses these and related questions with SSI Live host Dr. John R. Deni. Released 25 August 2017.

How does DoD go about defining, identifying, and mitigating risk? Are DoD risk assessment practices and procedures effective and useful to the Department and other stakeholdiers? SSI Research Professor Nate Freier joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss the release of a major U.S. Army War College study on DoD risk assessment. Prof. Freier led an interdisciplinary team of faculty and student researchers in researching and writing At Our Own Peril: DoD Risk Assessment in a Post-Primacy World. Released 11 July 2017.

– Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of the number of Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs)? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of expanding the number of maneuver units? What steps should the Army consider to overcome these hurdles? Over the last nine months, an interdisciplinary team of Army War College student researchers, under the direction of Dr. Tony Echevarria, have examined issues related to great power war and whether the Army is ready. One of those team members, COL Esli Pitts, a resident student at the War College, joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss increasing the number of BCTs, the last in a series of podcasts on challenges of and recommendations for expanding the Army. Released 5 July 2017.

Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of its organization and materiel? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of expanding its organization and ensuring sufficient materiel? What steps should the Army consider to overcome these hurdles? Over the last nine months, an interdisciplinary team of Army War College student researchers, under the direction of Dr. Tony Echevarria, have examined issues related to great power war and whether the Army is ready. One of those team members, COL Mitch Mitchell, a resident student at the War College, joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss organization, materiel, and an expanded Army. Released 21 June 2017.

Is the Army ready for a ‘Great Power War’ against a peer competitor, in terms of personnel? If the Army had to double in size, what challenges would it face in terms of expanding its personnel pool? What steps should the Army consider to overcome these hurdles? Over the last nine months, an interdisciplinary team of Army War College student researchers, under the direction of Dr. Tony Echevarria, have examined issues related to great power war and whether the Army is ready. One of those team members, LTC Chad Bridges, a resident student at the War College, joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss personnel and an expanded Army. Released 12 June 2017.