The Voices of War Vedran ’Maz’ Maslic

Today, I spoke with Dr Christopher Coyne, who is a Professor of Economics at George Mason University and the Associate Director of the F. A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the Mercatus Center.
He is the author of five books and numerous academic articles, book chapters, and policy studies. He joins me today to discuss his latest book, In Search of Monsters to Destroy: The Folly of American Empire and the Paths to Peace (2022), which is a pragmatic and unashamedly critical appraisal of American foreign policy.
Some of the things we talked about are:
Chris’ background and entry into academia and
How and why training in economics shaped Chris’ worldview
Importance of understanding incentives and their power
An argument against the concept of a 'Hobbesian world'
Definition of the American Empire and its governance of 'dominion'
Dangers of crony capitalism and its ties to the Military Industrial Complex
Issues with broken or non-existent chains of accountability
Concerns surrounding the 'revolving door' principle
Origins of US militarism and the Permanent War Economy
Military Keynesianism and the 'Iron Triangle'
Limitations and unintended consequences of American interventionism
Unpredictability of complex systems
Impact of technological advances and the shift from 'defence' to 'offence'
Exploring alternatives to war
Previous episodes that address similar topics and were referenced in this discussion include:
Samuel Moyn - On ‘Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War‘
Marc Garlasco - War through the eyes of a Pentagon Chief of High Value Targeting
Amos Fox - Beyond the illusion of manoeuvre: Navigating the clash between intentions and reality in modern warfare

David McBride, a retired Major and former legal officer in the Australian Army, discusses his actions of leaking information to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that ultimately led to the exposure of alleged war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. David highlights the political manipulation of the war narrative and emphasises the need for clear rules of engagement. David became disillusioned with the Australian military's handling of war crimes and the seeming politicisation of the war in Afghanistan. He observed a lack of proper investigations into war crimes and a focus on appearances rather than effectiveness. McBride suspected that the Australian government was trying to cover up war crimes to maintain their alliance with the US.  David decided to take action and expose the political games played by leaking classified documents to the media. David McBride discusses his career and the challenges he faced when he discovered evidence of mishandling of allegations by Defence and political seniors. He highlights the lack of accountability and poor leadership within the military, and the difficulty he faced in trying to bring attention to these issues. McBride emphasises the need for a fair trial and public support to address the systemic problems within the military. He also shares his thoughts on ANZAC Day and the importance of genuine care for veterans.Key Takeaways
David McBride, a former legal officer in the Australian Army, leaked information about alleged war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.
He highlights the excessive investigation of special forces soldiers and the political manipulation of the war narrative.
McBride emphasises the need for clear rules of engagement and the importance of holding soldiers accountable for their actions.
He also discusses how the Australian military mishandled war crimes and prioritised appearances over justice.
The government may have tried to cover up war crimes to maintain their alliance with the US.
David McBride took action by leaking classified documents to expose political games. The military leadership needs to be held accountable for potential war crimes and poor leadership.
There is a need for a fair trial and public support to address systemic problems within the military.
ANZAC Day should be a day of genuine care for veterans, not just political window dressing.
Chapters03:00 Uncovering Alleged War Crimes
12:01 The Power of Narratives
35:46 The Australian Military's Mishandling of War Crimes
01:02:06 David McBride's Whistleblowing and Exposing the Truth
01:12:22 The Problem Starts at the Top
01:21:09 The Need for Accountability and Leadership
01:32:11 The Legal Dilemma
 

Summary
The conversation with Meron Rapoport, an Israeli journalist, focuses on the use of AI in Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza. The investigation reveals that an AI machine, called Lavender, was used to create a list of targets, resulting in a high death toll and destruction. The conversation covers the level of involvement in the investigation, the role of military censorship in Israel, the surprise at the article passing censorship, and the lack of awareness about this process globally. The main themes include the technological side of AI in warfare, the use of private homes as targets, the collateral damage caused, and the allocation of munitions based on target importance. The conversation explores the principal themes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, focusing on the trauma experienced by Jewish Israelis, the goals of the Israeli military campaign, the impact on the Gaza population, the lack of reporting in Israel, and the long-term consequences for Israeli society. The conversation also touches on the use of AI technology in warfare and the potential dangers it poses. The main takeaways include the need for a political solution, the fear and insecurity felt by Jewish Israelis, and the importance of understanding the human cost of the conflict.
 
Keywords
AI, Israel, Gaza, bombing campaign, investigation, military censorship, surprise, technological side, private homes, collateral damage, munitions, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, trauma, military campaign, Gaza, reporting, AI technology, political solution, fear, insecurity, human cost
Takeaways
AI was used in Israel's bombing campaign in Gaza, resulting in a high death toll and destruction.
The military censorship in Israel requires approval for any information related to the army, leading to self-censorship and limited dialogue.
The use of private homes as targets and the high collateral damage raises ethical concerns.
The allocation of munitions based on target importance shows a pragmatic and systematic approach to warfare. The trauma experienced by Jewish Israelis is a significant aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The goals of the Israeli military campaign include destroying Hamas and making life in Gaza impossible.
There is limited reporting on the conflict in Israel, leading to a lack of awareness of the human and infrastructure costs in Gaza.
The use of AI technology in warfare raises ethical concerns and can lead to large-scale destruction.
A political solution is necessary to address the root causes of the conflict and ensure long-term peace.
 

Chris Gunness discusses the role and mandate of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and the challenges it faces amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza. He highlights the size and scope of UNRWA's operations, providing education, healthcare, and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Chris also addresses the historical context of the Palestinian refugee crisis and the failure to find a durable solution. He explores the motivations behind Israel's opposition to UNRWA and its campaign to delegitimise the organisation. The conversation delves into the impact of the information war and the desensitisation of the Israeli population to the suffering of Palestinians. The conversation then delves into the impact of the smear campaign against UNRWA, the role of media in shaping narratives, and the asymmetry in the information war. We discuss the systematic efforts to dismantle UNRWA and the consequences of its defunding. The conversation also explores the enduring impact of the recent events in Gaza on geopolitics and the potential for a just and durable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.KeywordsUNRWA, Palestine, refugees, Gaza, genocide, humanitarian, Israel, mandate, education, healthcare, social services, history, right of return, durable solution, occupation, genocide, asymmetry, information war, desensitisation, UNRWA, smear campaign, media, information war, defunding, humanitarian organisations, Gaza, geopolitics, Israeli-Palestinian conflictKey Takeaways• UNRWA is a massive organisation that provides education, healthcare, and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East.• The Palestinian refugee crisis is a result of the 1948 Middle East War and the failure to find a durable solution, including the right of return for refugees.• Israel opposes UNRWA and seeks to delegitimise the organisation due to its fear of a demographic shift and the potential loss of a Jewish majority.• The information war and asymmetry in power contribute to the desensitisation of the Israeli population to the suffering of Palestinians.• The international community must read and understand the history and context of the conflict to challenge false narratives and work towards a just and lasting solution. The smear campaign against UNRWA and the defunding of humanitarian organisations have had a significant impact on their operations and reputation.• The asymmetry in the information war, with right-wing Zionists dominating the narrative, has hindered the dissemination of accurate information.• The recent events in Gaza have further damaged the prospects for a just and durable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.• The enduring impact of the events in Gaza includes a loss of faith in international law and a potential increase in regional instability.• There is a need for independent investigations and accountability for the crimes committed during the recent conflict.

In this monologue, I reflect on my absence before expressing frustration with the limited and oversimplified coverage of war and conflict, especially Israel's war on Gaza. I unequivocally criticise Israel's actions, highlighting the need to look beyond headlines and focus on immediate reduction of human suffering. I also announce upcoming interviews with experts to shed light on geopolitical machinations and analyse global conflicts, including Chris Gunness, Francesca Albanese, and David Petraeus.

As 2023 draws to a close, I want to take a moment in this special year-end episode to reflect on the enlightening journey we've embarked on together through 'The Voices Of War.' This year, we’ve traversed a wide array of topics, spanning more than 35 hours of interviews across 26 episodes, reaching over 100,000 downloads, and connecting with listeners in more than 150 countries.
 
Our conversations have taken us deep into the heart of current global conflicts, including the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war, where we've attempted to unravel the complex layers of these protracted struggles. We've dived into the dark waters of radicalisation, seeking to understand the roots and paths that lead individuals down this route. We explored the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence and its ethical implications in both civilian life and warfare, highlighting how technology is reshaping the character of war, if not its nature. We've grappled with the ethics of war, questioning the moral dilemmas faced by those on the front lines and the decision-makers behind them. We delved into war’s impact on mental health, and the unseen scars it leaves on individuals and societies, offering a sombre yet necessary reflection on the unspoken costs of conflict. We’ve looked at dehumanisation, the impact of information on our behaviour and we explored how our desire for status makes us vulnerable to exploitation. All these topics sought to contribute to the same goal—to scratch below the simple narratives of war, that dominate our mainstream and social media channels. 
 
Lastly, as I prepare for my transition from the Army to civilian life (a surprise to some but not to others), these conversations have certainly enriched my perspective on the world we live in. I hope they have done the same for you. Thank you for joining me on this journey and here's to continuing our quest for nuance and depth in 2024.
 
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