SSI Live Podcast

Is the U.S. Army prepared to address the challenge that Russia poses to U.S. interests and the NATO alliance in Europe? During the 2015-16 academic year, six U.S. Army War College resident students conducted an in-depth examination of this question. In support of U.S. Army Europe and U.S. European Command, the students co-authored a book on whether and how the Army, the Joint Community, and the NATO alliance are strategically postured and operationally prepared to safeguard Western interests. Three of the co-authors – LTC Reed Anderson, LTC Tony Paz, and LtCol Jay Vaughan joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss their book and its recommendations. Released 6 May 2016.

Is the U.S. Army prepared to address the challenge that Russia poses to U.S. interests and the NATO alliance in Europe? During the 2015-16 academic year, six U.S. Army War College resident students conducted an in-depth examination of this question. In support of U.S. Army Europe and U.S. European Command, the students co-authored a book on whether and how the Army, the Joint Community, and the NATO alliance are strategically postured and operationally prepared to safeguard Western interests. Three of the co-authors – LTC Reed Anderson, LTC Tony Paz, and LtCol Jay Vaughan joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss their book and its recommendations. Released 4 May 2016.

A new U.S. administration will take office in January 2017, and it will face a broad range of challenges: an expansionist China, a resurgent and aggressive Russia, the continuing globalization of terrorism, an increasingly violent and unstable Middle East, and a socially and politically-fractured Europe. Professor Nate Freier joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss how the 27th annual U.S. Army War College Strategy Conference will tackle these and related issues on 27 and 28 April, including through an innovative distributed structure. Released 15 April 2016.

In locations as disparate as Syria, Mexico, and Ukraine, insurgencies of various sorts continue to unfold. In light of these and other conflicts and crises below the level of major inter-state war, the subject of insurgency is a vitally important one for academics and practitioners alike. But how are scholars and policy-makers grappling with the subject of insurgencies? What are the most likely or most significant threats that insurgency poses to U.S. security today? And what more can or should the U.S. government do to prepare to mitigate the threat of insurgency? SSI Live host John R. Deni invited his colleague Dr. Robert Bunker to discuss the latter's latest SSI monograph entitled, "Old and New Forms of Insurgency." Released 30 March 2016.

Halfway through his six-year term, Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto is earning mixed reviews for his policies, especially those focused on security issues and combating organized crime. The SSI’s Dr. Evan Ellis recently traveled to Mexico to conduct research into the situation there and to assess the way ahead. He joined Dr. John R. Deni to discuss his research and his insights into how the United States can best support Mexico’s efforts in the drug war. Released 15 March 2016.

Comments by some NATO leaders like Polish President Andrzej Duda have raised questions about the adequacy of NATO's force posture in an upended European security environment. The recent announcement of a significant increase in funding for the European Reassurance Initiative (ERI) appears to be a step in the right direction, but will it satisfy NATO leaders in Central and Eastern Europe? The SSI's Dr. John R. Deni examines these and issues surrounding the prospects for a revised NATO force posture east of Germany. This podcast is based in part on his recently published essay at The National Interest. Released 22 February 2016.

Military engagement and forward-based U.S. military forces offer decision-makers effective and efficient options for achieving American national security goals. However, factors such as significant cuts to overseas permanent presence and continuing institutional bias against engagement as a force multiplier and readiness enhancer have combined to limit the perceived leverage possible through these two policy tools. Are these tools really still useful to policymakers today, and if so, how? The SSI's Dr. John R. Deni addressed how military engagement and forward presence can still be used to expand options available to any future President. Released 28 January 2016.

Last weekend, Saudi Arabia executed a leading Shiite cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who was an outspoken critic of the Saudi government and an advocate for minority Shi'ite rights in majority Sunni Saudi Arabia. This execution sparked a violent protest at the Saudi Embassy in Iran's capital, Tehran, in which the embassy was stormed and partially burnt. Since then, tensions have only increased. Dr. John R. Deni invited his SSI colleague Dr. Andy Terrill to discuss these events, the international and domestic-level factors that led to them, and the implications for broader security in the region. Released 8 January 2016.

Early last week, President Barack Obama delivered a rare oval office address in which he essentially reiterated the administration's strategy toward the Islamic State, which continues to avoid the commitment of major U.S. ground forces. This past Monday, following a meeting of the National Security Council at the Pentagon, President Obama said the US-led coalition is making progress against Islamic State militants in both Iraq and Syria, citing evidence of reclaimed territory and elimination of key leaders in Syria and Iraq. Most recently, Saudi Arabia announced yesterday the formation of a 34-nation Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism, which will share information and train, equip, and provide forces if necessary for the fight against Islamic State militants. Dr. John R. Deni invited his SSI colleague Dr. Andy Terrill to share insights on these and related events as the U.S. strategy against the Islamic State continues to unfold. Released 16 December 2015.

The come-from-behind victory of center-right candidate Mauricio Macri in the 22 November presidential run-off election holds major implications for relations within Latin America and between the United States and Argentina. Will Macri be able to affect the many changes he promised as a candidate? Are we on the cusp of a major shift in trends in South America? Dr. John R. Deni invited his SSI colleague Dr. Evan Ellis to discuss the election and its multifaceted implications. Released 1 December 2015.