War on the Rocks
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Experience. Conflict. Commentary. Join our community:
https://warontherocks.com/membership/
What might happen to Cuba now that Maduro has been captured? (Members Only) Listen here:
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What Maduro’s Fall Would Mean for Havana
Joseph sits down with Michael Bustamante to discuss how rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela could impact Cuba. They unpack how the country...
https://warontherocks.com/episode/unspent-rounds/42294/what-maduros-fall-would-mean-for-havana/
about 17 hours ago
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One operation changed the conversation overnight. The hard questions come next. (Members Only) Listen here:
warontherocks.com/ep...
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about 18 hours ago
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Why do analysts keep misreading Trump abroad? The Maduro operation offers a sobering clue.
warontherocks.com/2026/01/trum...
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Trump’s Venezuelan Regime Change: Why Do People Keep Getting Him Wrong on Foreign Policy?
A number of thoughtful observers argued President Donald Trump would not pursue regime change in Venezuela. I was never convinced. On our podcast and in
https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/trumps-venezuelan-regime-change-why-do-people-keep-getting-him-wrong-on-foreign-policy/
about 20 hours ago
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Toppling Maduro is only the beginning. The day after is the real fight in Venezuela.
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The Day After: What Successful Regime Change in Venezuela Would Really Take
What if the “counternarcotics” strikes against boats suspected of moving drugs aren’t really about cocaine at all, but about toppling Venezuelan President
https://warontherocks.com/2025/11/the-day-after-what-successful-regime-change-in-venezuela-would-really-take/
about 23 hours ago
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The 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama to capture Manuel Noriega would make an excellent black comedy. Does it have any similarities to America's seizure of Maduro?
warontherocks.com/2017/06/reme...
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Remembering Manuel Noriega and His Capture
When my book on the history of manhunts was published, I was often asked by friends and family which of the military operations would make the best film.
https://warontherocks.com/2017/06/remembering-manuel-noriega-and-his-capture/
1 day ago
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13
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Don’t just keep up. Get ahead. Become a War on the Rocks member and join thousands of professionals who already have.
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Membership
War On The Rocks Platinum An All-Access Pass to War on the Rocks What Our Members Are Saying “I’ve been a member since 2016. War on the Rocks is a melting
https://warontherocks.com/membership/
1 day ago
0
2
0
“Members of the profession of arms should remember the Christmas Truce for everything it was, and they should learn about it because of all the things it was not,” writes Joseph D. Eanett.
loading . . .
The Last Gasp of Peace: The Christmas Truce of 1914 and the Modern Profession of Arms
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2019. The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914 is often considered “played out,” especially in
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-last-gasp-of-peace-the-christmas-truce-of-1914-and-the-modern-profession-of-arms-5/
1 day ago
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Myth makes the Battle of Trenton comforting. Reality makes it useful.
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The First U.S. Army Christmas: Washington and the Hessians
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2023. It is a story so well known it has become a meme. “Americans: Willing to cross a frozen
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-first-u-s-army-christmas-washington-and-the-hessians-3/
1 day ago
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Looking back at 2025, what do the year’s most-read articles have in common?
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Most Read Cogs of War Articles of 2025
2025 was a busy year for defense tech, but this year’s most-read Cogs of War pieces have a clear throughline. Readers were most interested in whether the
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/most-read-cogs-of-war-articles-of-2025/
1 day ago
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“We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas,” wrote Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe.
loading . . .
“NUTS!” — McAuliffe’s 1944 Christmas Letter
Editor’s Note: In honor of Christmas, we proudly publish the text of Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe's 1944 Christmas letter to the U.S. 101st Airborne
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/nuts-mcauliffes-1944-christmas-letter-6/
1 day ago
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India faces China as both a security threat and a critical economic partner. What makes this uneasy coexistence possible?
loading . . .
The Indispensable Adversary: India's Approach to China
On a frozen Himalayan ridgeline, Indian and Chinese troops still stare at each other through rifle sights. Thousands of miles away, Indian factories hum
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-indispensable-adversary-indias-approach-to-china/
1 day ago
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Get exclusive insights from Michael Kofman on The Russia Contingency and Afshon Ostovar on The Iran Reckoning: only for War on the Rocks members. Join today.
loading . . .
Membership
War On The Rocks Platinum An All-Access Pass to War on the Rocks What Our Members Are Saying “I’ve been a member since 2016. War on the Rocks is a melting
https://warontherocks.com/membership/
1 day ago
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U.S.-Chinese crisis hotlines exist on paper. When tensions rise, Beijing often chooses silence instead.
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Seatbelts for Speeders: Why Beijing Ignores Washington’s Red Phone
In early November, after meeting China’s defense minister, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth performed a longstanding ritual in military relations
https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/seatbelts-for-speeders-why-beijing-ignores-washingtons-red-phone/
1 day ago
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If you’re working where defense meets innovation,
@Cogs0fWar
is for you. Follow our dedicated vertical on defense technology and industrial base issues for cutting-edge analysis.
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Cogs of War
Our dedicated vertical on defense tech & industry, brought to you by an epic partnership between War on the Rocks & Booz Allen Hamilton. National security is inextricably linked to technological prowess, talent, and industrial capacity. We aim to leverage deep expertise and thought leadership to foster the most substantive, impactful conversation possible.
https://warontherocks.com/category/vertical/cogs-of-war/
1 day ago
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Mechanized warfare now lives in the gaps created by deception, disruption, and timing.
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Why Mechanized Warfare Will Still Be Decisive in the Next Land War
Mechanized warfare is not dead. Observers have been debating this topic since the Ukrainian military and volunteers beat back the Russian assault on Kiev
https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/why-mechanized-warfare-will-still-be-decisive-in-the-next-land-war/
1 day ago
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Want to write for War on the Rocks?
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Submissions
Want to write for War on the Rocks? Start here.
https://warontherocks.com/submissions/
1 day ago
0
4
1
From history’s pull to tomorrow’s wars, these pieces shaped the conversation in 2025.
loading . . .
Most Read War on the Rocks Articles of 2025
As 2025 comes to an end, we at War on the Rocks reflect on the stories and events that our readers found most compelling in a year marked by fresh
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/most-read-war-on-the-rocks-articles-of-2025/
2 days ago
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If you have something to say about defense technology and industry, we want your voice. Contribute to
@Cogs0fWar
and shape the debate.
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How to Contribute to Cogs of War
Cogs of War is our dedicated vertical on defense technology and defense industrial base issues produced in partnership with Booz Allen Hamilton. Read on
https://warontherocks.com/join-the-conversation-contribute-to-cogs-of-war/
2 days ago
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Five experts look back on a year that caught even insiders off guard. (Members Only)
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U.S. Foreign Policy Surprises in 2025
The first year of President Donald Trump’s second term brought many significant changes to U.S. foreign policy, as the administration worked to reshape
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/u-s-foreign-policy-surprises-in-2025/
2 days ago
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Your insider access to world-class national security content. Premium experience starts with War on the Rocks.
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Membership
War On The Rocks Platinum An All-Access Pass to War on the Rocks What Our Members Are Saying “I’ve been a member since 2016. War on the Rocks is a melting
https://warontherocks.com/membership/
2 days ago
0
1
0
Before America became the arsenal, it had to admit it was behind schedule.
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FDR’s Message on the Defense Industry for the New Year
Editor’s Note: Defense tech enthusiasts may be familiar with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous Arsenal of Democracy speech, which solemnly and
https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/fdrs-message-on-the-defense-industry-for-the-new-year/
2 days ago
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The question isn’t whether Germany is changing, it’s what it can deliver, and whether it’s fast enough.
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From Restraint to Readiness? Germany Considers Conscription
On Dec. 5, 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reached a significant milestone in his bid to build “Europe’s strongest conventional army”: Germany’s
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/from-restraint-to-readiness-germany-considers-conscription/
2 days ago
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What happens when a leader faces fewer limits than outsiders assume? (Members Only) Listen here:
warontherocks.com/ep...
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2 days ago
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Builders, policymakers, investors, and operators: this is your arena. Follow
@Cogs0fWar
to join the conversation on the future of defense innovation.
loading . . .
Cogs of War
Our dedicated vertical on defense tech & industry, brought to you by an epic partnership between War on the Rocks & Booz Allen Hamilton. National security is inextricably linked to technological prowess, talent, and industrial capacity. We aim to leverage deep expertise and thought leadership to foster the most substantive, impactful conversation possible.
https://warontherocks.com/category/vertical/cogs-of-war/
2 days ago
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2
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The problem may not be broken hotlines, but mismatched expectations about what they are for.
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Seatbelts for Speeders: Why Beijing Ignores Washington’s Red Phone
In early November, after meeting China’s defense minister, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth performed a longstanding ritual in military relations
https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/seatbelts-for-speeders-why-beijing-ignores-washingtons-red-phone/
2 days ago
0
6
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Drones and sensors have made the battlefield more transparent than ever, but that does not automatically make mechanized warfare obsolete.
loading . . .
Why Mechanized Warfare Will Still Be Decisive in the Next Land War
Mechanized warfare is not dead. Observers have been debating this topic since the Ukrainian military and volunteers beat back the Russian assault on Kiev
https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/why-mechanized-warfare-will-still-be-decisive-in-the-next-land-war/
2 days ago
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Today in War on the Rocks: Why Mechanized Warfare Will Still Be Decisive in the Next Land War Seatbelts for Speeders: Why Beijing Ignores Washington’s Red Phone
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Home
A platform for analysis, commentary, debate and multimedia content on foreign policy and national security issues through a realist lens.
https://warontherocks.com/
2 days ago
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War on the Rocks brings together the best minds in strategy and defense. Join us in shaping the conversation.
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Events and Sponsorships
War on the Rocks is in a category of its own in terms of audience, reach, and convening power. Our audience is composed of policymakers, current and
https://warontherocks.com/events-and-sponsorships/
2 days ago
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As we enter 2026, these were the themes readers couldn’t look away from over the last year.
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Most Read War on the Rocks Articles of 2025
As 2025 comes to an end, we at War on the Rocks reflect on the stories and events that our readers found most compelling in a year marked by fresh
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/most-read-war-on-the-rocks-articles-of-2025/
2 days ago
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Stay sharp. Stay informed. War on the Rocks delivers the insights serious professionals rely on. Join now.
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Membership
War On The Rocks Platinum An All-Access Pass to War on the Rocks What Our Members Are Saying “I’ve been a member since 2016. War on the Rocks is a melting
https://warontherocks.com/membership/
2 days ago
0
2
0
The politics were complicated, the authorities debated, and the costs were real. Roosevelt opened the new year in 1941 on familiar terrain.
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FDR’s Message on the Defense Industry for the New Year
Editor’s Note: Defense tech enthusiasts may be familiar with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous Arsenal of Democracy speech, which solemnly and
https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/fdrs-message-on-the-defense-industry-for-the-new-year/
2 days ago
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5
1
After decades of restraint, Germany is under pressure to do more. Is it ready?
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From Restraint to Readiness? Germany Considers Conscription
On Dec. 5, 2025, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reached a significant milestone in his bid to build “Europe’s strongest conventional army”: Germany’s
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/from-restraint-to-readiness-germany-considers-conscription/
2 days ago
1
5
2
One day in 1914, soldiers left the trenches and proved that even in war, humanity endures.
loading . . .
The Last Gasp of Peace: The Christmas Truce of 1914 and the Modern Profession of Arms
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2019. The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914 is often considered “played out,” especially in
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-last-gasp-of-peace-the-christmas-truce-of-1914-and-the-modern-profession-of-arms-5/
2 days ago
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6
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The Hessians weren’t drunk fools. Washington still outmaneuvered them.
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The First U.S. Army Christmas: Washington and the Hessians
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2023. It is a story so well known it has become a meme. “Americans: Willing to cross a frozen
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-first-u-s-army-christmas-washington-and-the-hessians-3/
2 days ago
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Defense tech and industry sparked no shortage of ideas this year. These were the arguments readers returned to most.
loading . . .
Most Read Cogs of War Articles of 2025
2025 was a busy year for defense tech, but this year’s most-read Cogs of War pieces have a clear throughline. Readers were most interested in whether the
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/most-read-cogs-of-war-articles-of-2025/
2 days ago
0
4
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The story behind one of World War II’s most famous replies begins with this Christmas Eve letter.
loading . . .
“NUTS!” — McAuliffe’s 1944 Christmas Letter
Editor’s Note: In honor of Christmas, we proudly publish the text of Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe's 1944 Christmas letter to the U.S. 101st Airborne
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/nuts-mcauliffes-1944-christmas-letter-6/
2 days ago
0
7
1
India’s China policy is increasingly defined by compartmentalization. What does that mean in practice?
loading . . .
The Indispensable Adversary: India's Approach to China
On a frozen Himalayan ridgeline, Indian and Chinese troops still stare at each other through rifle sights. Thousands of miles away, Indian factories hum
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-indispensable-adversary-indias-approach-to-china/
2 days ago
1
5
0
The new bill seeks speed in acquisition and contracting without easing oversight. How the Pentagon follows through will matter.
loading . . .
An Industry Guide to the FY2026 NDAA
President Donald Trump signed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act last week. At more than 3000 pages, the document reflects a series
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/an-industry-guide-to-the-fy2026-ndaa/
2 days ago
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The U.S. military has spent years modernizing for future war. Whether it is actually shaping that future is a harder question. (Members Only)
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Shaping the Character of the Future Fight
In 2020, Justin Lynch wrote “Yet Another About Information Technology and the Character of War,” where he argued that the character of war changes over
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/shaping-the-character-of-the-future-fight/
2 days ago
0
3
0
Don’t just keep up. Get ahead. Become a War on the Rocks member and join thousands of professionals who already have.
loading . . .
Membership
War On The Rocks Platinum An All-Access Pass to War on the Rocks What Our Members Are Saying “I’ve been a member since 2016. War on the Rocks is a melting
https://warontherocks.com/membership/
2 days ago
0
4
0
“Members of the profession of arms should remember the Christmas Truce for everything it was, and they should learn about it because of all the things it was not,” writes Joseph D. Eanett.
loading . . .
The Last Gasp of Peace: The Christmas Truce of 1914 and the Modern Profession of Arms
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2019. The story of the Christmas Truce of 1914 is often considered “played out,” especially in
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-last-gasp-of-peace-the-christmas-truce-of-1914-and-the-modern-profession-of-arms-5/
2 days ago
0
3
1
Myth makes the Battle of Trenton comforting. Reality makes it useful.
loading . . .
The First U.S. Army Christmas: Washington and the Hessians
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2023. It is a story so well known it has become a meme. “Americans: Willing to cross a frozen
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-first-u-s-army-christmas-washington-and-the-hessians-3/
3 days ago
0
9
1
The new bill seeks speed in acquisition and contracting without easing oversight. How the Pentagon follows through will matter.
loading . . .
An Industry Guide to the FY2026 NDAA
President Donald Trump signed the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act last week. At more than 3000 pages, the document reflects a series
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/an-industry-guide-to-the-fy2026-ndaa/
3 days ago
0
5
0
“We are giving our country and our loved ones at home a worthy Christmas present and being privileged to take part in this gallant feat of arms are truly making for ourselves a Merry Christmas,” wrote Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe.
loading . . .
“NUTS!” — McAuliffe’s 1944 Christmas Letter
Editor’s Note: In honor of Christmas, we proudly publish the text of Brig. Gen. Anthony McAuliffe's 1944 Christmas letter to the U.S. 101st Airborne
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/nuts-mcauliffes-1944-christmas-letter-6/
3 days ago
0
10
1
India faces China as both a security threat and a critical economic partner. What makes this uneasy coexistence possible?
loading . . .
The Indispensable Adversary: India's Approach to China
On a frozen Himalayan ridgeline, Indian and Chinese troops still stare at each other through rifle sights. Thousands of miles away, Indian factories hum
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/the-indispensable-adversary-indias-approach-to-china/
3 days ago
0
5
1
Get exclusive insights from Michael Kofman on The Russia Contingency and Afshon Ostovar on The Iran Reckoning: only for War on the Rocks members. Join today.
loading . . .
Membership
War On The Rocks Platinum An All-Access Pass to War on the Rocks What Our Members Are Saying “I’ve been a member since 2016. War on the Rocks is a melting
https://warontherocks.com/membership/
3 days ago
0
5
0
From history’s pull to tomorrow’s wars, these pieces shaped the conversation in 2025.
loading . . .
Most Read War on the Rocks Articles of 2025
As 2025 comes to an end, we at War on the Rocks reflect on the stories and events that our readers found most compelling in a year marked by fresh
https://warontherocks.com/2025/12/most-read-war-on-the-rocks-articles-of-2025/
3 days ago
0
7
1
If you’re working where defense meets innovation,
@Cogs0fWar
is for you. Follow our dedicated vertical on defense technology and industrial base issues for cutting-edge analysis.
loading . . .
Cogs of War
Our dedicated vertical on defense tech & industry, brought to you by an epic partnership between War on the Rocks & Booz Allen Hamilton. National security is inextricably linked to technological prowess, talent, and industrial capacity. We aim to leverage deep expertise and thought leadership to foster the most substantive, impactful conversation possible.
https://warontherocks.com/category/vertical/cogs-of-war/
3 days ago
0
5
0
Before America became the arsenal, it had to admit it was behind schedule.
loading . . .
FDR’s Message on the Defense Industry for the New Year
Editor’s Note: Defense tech enthusiasts may be familiar with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous Arsenal of Democracy speech, which solemnly and
https://warontherocks.com/2026/01/fdrs-message-on-the-defense-industry-for-the-new-year/
3 days ago
0
16
3
Want to write for War on the Rocks?
loading . . .
Submissions
Want to write for War on the Rocks? Start here.
https://warontherocks.com/submissions/
3 days ago
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4
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