A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast
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This is the podcast of WAR ROOM, the official online journal of the U.S. Army War College. Join us for provocative discussions about U.S. national security and defense, featuring prominent national security and military professionals.
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TEACHING THE PROFESSIONALS: SHAPING THE PROFESSION
General Randy George, Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA), has identified four priorities for the service during his tenure: building cohesive teams, delivering ready combat formations, continuous transformation and strengthening the army profession. Today's episode focuses on the profession, and we're pleased to have Allison Abbe and Ron Granieri in the studio to discuss the Army War College's efforts to support the CSA's priorities. They join Editor-in-Chief J.P. Clark to examine both the traditional elements of the profession as well as the adaptations that must occur in light of the changing character of war and an evolving society.
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A CONVERSATION WITH THE HONORABLE MELISSA DALTON OF DEFENSE POLICY
One of the benefits of being located so close to Washington, D.C., is that the U.S. Army War College has access to some of the nation's most senior leaders. Most recently, the Honorable Melissa Dalton addressed the Homeland Defense Symposium in Carlisle and took time out of her busy schedule to join podcast editor Ron Granieri for an intriguing conversation. Sworn in as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs on March 4, 2022, Secretary Dalton currently performs the duties of Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. She shares how she found her way to the civil service and the challenges her office faces in pursuit of national defense priorities. Her portfolio includes Indo-Pacific Affairs, International Security Affairs, Space Policy, Special Operations Low-Intensity Conflict and Homeland Defense Hemispheric Affairs.
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SOLVING DATA PROBLEMS AT SUPERHUMAN SPEEDS
Depending on who you talk to, artificial intelligence (AI) will either be the ruination of mankind or its savior. As ever, the truth is likely somewhere between those extremes. It certainly will be important. For this reason, the Chief of the Staff of the Army (CSA) has charged Dr. Alexander Miller to find the necessary technology and tools so the Army can best understand and uses its masses of data. Alex is the CSA's Senior Advisor for Science and Technology, and he found the time to sit down with guest host Tom Spahr to discuss how the Army is approaching AI, machine learning, and other related technologies. The ultimate goal is to ensure the United States doesn't lose its advantages in decision-making in the intelligence world and on the battlefield.
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CHINA'S SHIFTING HISTORY: STEPHEN PLATT (ON WRITING)
Understanding the history, or perhaps more importantly, the treatment of history in China, is a critical skill for anyone seeking greater comprehension of the national security arena. Stephen Platt has spent a great deal of his career as a historian and author studying events like the Taiping Civil War and the Opium War in the nineteenth century. During his time researching these topics, he acquired an excellent understanding of culture and history in China, as seen by both the people and the government of China. And now he's in the studio with host Michael Neiberg for another episode in our On Writing series. Their conversation covers Stephen's books Imperial Twilight and Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom and how the perception of both historic events and their participants has changed over time in China.
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ADAPTING TO CHANGE: HOW THE DOD HANDLES LGBT ISSUES
What a society accepts as normal changes over time. As it does, inevitably the military organizations that protects that society adapt to reflect those changes. Throughout history, the U.S. military has both led and lagged societal changes. Heather Haley is in the studio to discuss how the Department of Defense has handled LGBT issues and the changing attitudes in American society. She joins guest host Carrie Lee for a conversation about the acceptance of lesbian, gay ,and bisexual service members and the ongoing discussion about transgender service members.
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HOPE THEN DISAPPOINTMENT: HISTORICAL PATTERNS FOR THE POST-WAR ARMY
There are plenty of studies of armies at war or in pre-war periods as preparations were made for conflict, but the study of post-war armies, specifically the U.S. Army, is far less complete. Fortunately, we happen to know Brian Linn, a renowned scholar of the U.S. Army as an institution and the author of "Real Soldiering: The US Army in the Aftermath of War, 1815–1980", and he's in the studio to discuss his body of research. He joins Editor-in-Chief J.P. Clark for a comprehensive conversation on the Army's behavior after multiple major conflicts in the 19th and 20th centuries. Brian shares his insights about the institution's actions and mindset following successive periods of preparation and execution, always resulting in drawdowns and often leading to the unintended loss and degradation of readiness and warfighting capabilities.
Customer Reviews
Ron Granieri excites us when it comes to history and strategy
This is an outstanding podcast for anyone interested in understanding modern events with some historical perspective.
Ron Granieri is a fantastic host with a sultry voice that leaves me purring like a relaxed kitten while simultaneously exciting the listener like a teen at a Harry Styles concert with his profound knowledge of German military history.
I highly recommend this podcast as a means to have a better understanding of the world around you and how events unfold.
Re: Dressed for Success
This is an interesting and atypical topic for War Room. Having spent nearly 30 uniformed years in the Army and undergone several “new uniform” drills, I sympathize with the challenges of creating a product that inevitably engenders strong feelings on both sides. I take particular exception to the new Army service uniform cap which lacks the stiffener and thus looks like a misshapen frisbee rather than the headgear of a serious professional.
Editorial comment: as I’ve told students at the SSC, CSC, and pre-commissions levels for decades, “use precise terms precisely.” What you described as “dress uniforms” are actually “service” uniforms, intended for daily wear in environments other than training or combat. “Dress uniforms” always have a bow tie, and are usually not worn before 1800 hours.
Content correction: the Marines were the first to deviate from the universal woodland camouflage pattern, in 2003. The Army followed with its own digital experiment, the execrable ACU, which has thankfully gone the way of the dodo.
Thanks—I look forward to the next cast.
COL(R) Tom Hanson, PhD
Outstanding Col Robert Payne
Thank God someone is now researching this important subject. Information and training from time in the military can be the best tools to use against the defense of a free nation. Keep going with your studies you are on the right path!