Had the amazing opportunity to watch the Remembrance Day memorial at Fort Locin, BE. Wonderful ending to a whirlwind trip through Dunkirque, Iepres, Ghent, & Ardennes. Whether it’s Veterans Day or Remembrance Day to you, I’m thankful for the opportunity to take a moment to honor their sacrifices

Pre-ordered, your turn #civmilsky

@michaelkofman.bsky.social does a wonderful job as usual, but (and I’m hoping to hear this in part two) is a better analysis of the “integrated” part of IADS in as much as Ukraine and Iran were/not able to effect a sufficient defense. The (lack of) disaggregation of C2 plays a key role in both

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... #civmilsky A great primer for civmil from a mil focus. More importantly, happy to see SAMS, the podcast team, and in particular Dr Gorman (USAF retired) for a great episode

Marie not getting enough credit for everything Carl did really does prove it’s all just gender lol

God does not play dice. Mars does.

Friends, I am so excited to share that my book is finally available for pre-order, and it’s CHEAP 😁 (They accidentally put up a cover image w an older version of the title - no “allegiance”) www.bloomsbury.com/us/on-order-...

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/r... Needed to hear this today. Been struggling with a paper I’ve been writing hung up on “being right” vs presenting a logical argument. Just write, accept criticism, learn, write again.

Sometimes you’re in the Cuban missile crisis, sometimes you’re at Munich. Statesmanship is (to echo Clausewitz) having the coup d'œil to tell what situation you are in and whether your opponent can be managed or must be defeated. Mere performance of “responsible” behavior is not enough.

Cheers/Slainte/Prost to a just and worthwhile 2025

In Bastogne visiting the museum, thankful to @doctrinatrix.bsky.social for her teaching about museums/context/messaging. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

I would be terrified at the possibilities

Can’t read this w/o hearing Net Assessment commentary @zackcooper.bsky.social

23. the commander of the Special Warfare Command is conducting a YouTube live interview NOW. He has acknowledged Yoon's active role in deploying the military and stated that, even if Yoon attempts to mobilize the military again, the Special Warfare Command will not follow those orders.

Fell down a rabbit hole and loved this thought experiment. If I were to add anything it would be understanding the contextual purpose of a strategy. Is a state strategy to survive? Balance against hegemon? Expand for resources? Prepare for invasion? The answers frames the problem of strat dev

This is one of 100+ questions and follow-ons I have. Unfortunately, answers may have to wait 10-20 years for candid interviews and FOIA type releases to confirm much of the speculation. 1. Did social media influence decision making? 2. How were orders/responses briefed/justified? So much more…

D. All of the above The past few years I’ve been playing catch up but if I was to put anything down Kant - Critique of Pure Reason / Metaphysics Aristotle - Ethics / Politics Mahan & Corbett + hundreds/thousands more

AP has done some really good reporting on the issue of extremism in the military. The extent of extremism in the military is likely very low, but an unwillingness to examine the extent of the problem is troubling. apnews.com/article/pent...

Notice no one says potatoes Because potatoes are king

"This is the central paradox among military oath-takers in democracies undergoing a crisis: efforts to save democracy also require eroding it." ...I had some thoughts on civil-military relations and the upcoming democratic transition. press.armywarcollege.edu/parameters/v...

Read it, all of it, learn from it

The Strategy Bridge Archives remain free and open to the public; no paywall, no ads. The Journal hosts thousands of articles on Civ-Mil Relations, National Security, International Relations, and Book Reviews. Don’t forget to check out @prbeckman.bsky.social’s Podcast too! thestrategybridge.org

The past 24 hours has seen a massive migration. Welcome. I enjoy it more here, and hope you do too. I post rarely. Someday I’ll have an article or book to promote (hopefully) but until then, my opinions are my own found here. Apolitical ≠ nonpartisan, Boyd > Warden, air littoral doesn’t exist

I suspect the issue of civ-mil relations and the military #profession will be topics of discussion in the coming year. This book offers an evaluation of the major contributors to this body of work, as well as contemporary perspectives from practitioners, academics, and thinkers.

In Berlin and surrounded by the 35th anniversary of the fall of the wall. Reminded and overwhelmed by the message of hope here.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w... After listening to @risabrooks12.bsky.social presentation this week, I went back and listened to this again. At the 54 minute mark Gen (R) Dempsey says something particularly poignant (1/n)

Worth a watch. Was disappointed I couldn’t see it streamed live (stupid time zones and sleep) but thankful it was recorded.

Can’t wait to see his take on the Air Force and Space Force

But Warden’s Rings….

Two spaces? Who has time for two spaces anymore?

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Usual episode…until “post show edits” Anyone have an article from Gen Deptula on why he thinks capital J Joint isn’t a thing?

Glaucon: "But LaCroix has a flavor. It says so on the can." Socrates: "What is flavor?" Thrasymachus: [red faced] "The can's flavor is whatever LaCroix says it is!" Socrates: [drawing a triangle in the sand] "Were I to label this shape a square, would it be a square?"

Conflating politically sensitive with partisan will continue to be the hallmark of bad understanding of Civ mil relations, mcmasterism, and shaky tictok videos of “veterans who can’t stay silent anymore”

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Are Mayan and Corbett still relevant? The answer may surprise you… No it won’t, OF COURSE they are…listen anyway

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/m... Good discussion. Would be curious to expand this conversation out of the land domain into air, maritime as well as cyber, space.

Summer Reading is over, now on to unnecessarily warm fall reading (Hackett’s lectures on professionalism)

www.airandspaceforces.com/c-130-hercul... Will always be the best

open.substack.com/pub/persuasi... Well said

Classic buck passing. Honestly I’d imagine similar numbers if framed as a NATO v US across the pond

Kinda thought “Clash of Civs” was understood as NOT the preeminent work on modern strategic thinking…was rather disappointed to see it prominently displayed on a bookshelf today.

open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/w... Another great stack that highlights the political nature of conflict (yes, Carl is still right). I would still argue war’s nature is a contest a wills and ultimately ends when one side is willing to concede. By negotiation or by being compelled.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... @doctrinatrix.bsky.social

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a... TOML

If you’re watching Franklin on Apple+, good, but I hope the message is getting through. WSJ pub’d a scathing review that misses the mark entirely. Franklin is a founding father (arguably THE founding father), but the most recent episode “Pride & Gout” draws on a critical element of diplomacy /n

Shouting into the void that using a campaign ad with a candidate in uniform does more harm than good. I don’t care who they’re running against. The comments alone should indicate how partisan even military service has become. It’s sad.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n... Great conversation here. It’s critical to understand all the models in the world (DIME/PMESII/JPP/MDMP) struggle to frame complex adaptive environments. To interact is to change. Applies in and out of military thinking

Anyone else ever finish their monograph/article/chapter/book and immediately think “this is the worst piece of hot garbage the English language has ever been subjected to?”

Anyone have a copy not behind the wall? I’m always hesitant for interviews like this, but Gen Milley will be a case study in CivMil for years to come…

Another day, another brief listening to why “Soldier and the State” is the preeminent treatise on civ/mil. I’m more and more convinced that the reason this is so rooted is because there isn’t a competing theory that can supplant it. Since it is right “enough,” explaining nuances doesn’t disprove it