In this gripping and timely episode of the J100 Podcast, host David M. Cohen speaks with John Spencer, one of the world’s leading experts on urban warfare and modern military strategy. Spencer, a retired U.S. Army officer and West Point scholar, shares powerful insights from his on-the-ground research in Gaza, his deep study of the IDF, and his analysis of the evolving face of warfare in the Middle East.

From October 7th to the Israel-Iran War, Spencer dismantles media misinformation, explores the psychological warfare of propaganda, and explains why the war against Hamas and the Iranian regime is about much more than just military objectives — it's about defending Western values and the integrity of truth itself.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to John Spencer and His Background

05:40 The Role of Misinformation in Modern Warfare

08:08 Israel's Military Strategy and Challenges

10:33 The Complexity of Hostage Situations in Warfare

13:09 Understanding Hamas and Its Current Leadership

15:39 The Dichotomy of Success and Failure in Israeli Defense

18:37 Strategic Decisions and Intelligence Failures

21:08 Iran and Hezbollah's Strategic Missteps

28:13 The 12th Day War: An Overview

32:21 America's Role in the Conflict

36:09 Leadership Decisions and Their Impact

38:37 Media Narratives and Public Perception

40:44 The Threat of Nuclear Weapons

42:32 Contrarian Views on Military Action

44:51 Risks and Realities of Military Operations

47:58 Future Predictions for the Middle East

50:04 Personal Insights and Reflections

You can find the condensed transcript & summary of this episode and more episodes at ⁠https://open.substack.com/pub/thealgemeiner/p/urban-warfare-truth-and-the-future?r=5m0oyd&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

This episode of "The J100 Podcast" was produced by David Taragin.