How to Challenge China's Military Deception Tactics
The United States’ pivot from counterinsurgency to peer conflict over the past decade has exposed a critical vulnerability: a diminished focus on detecting deception by operational and tactical level practitioners. Throughout history, US military strategy has adapted to specific threats. During the Cold War, the AH-64 Apache helicopter was developed
Culture, Access, Influence: The FAO Advantage in Irregular Warfare
Episode 120 explores the critical role of Foreign Area Officers (FAOs) in irregular warfare and strategic competition with Mike Burgoyne and Jim Marckwardt. Our guests examine the foundational aspects of the FAO program and its evolution, highlighting how FAOs serve as "Pentagon diplomats" maintaining critical defense relationships worldwide.
The Emergence of Two Distinct Jihadist Ways of War
On November 27, the jihadist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Syria initiated an offensive against the regime of embattled dictator Bashar al-Assad. In a matter of 11 days, HTS forces advanced more than 50 miles east and 200 miles south from its bases in the northwest Idlib region, seizing
The Age of Decentralized Information Warfare is Here
Since February 2022, Russia has focused its war effort across numerous fronts, one of which is informational warfare. Throughout the past two years, Russia has found success in spreading disinformation to undermine support for Ukraine in the West. The information battlefield is equally as important as the physical battlefield, as
Solar Diplomacy: The Role of Renewable Energy in Great Power Competition
The United States, in its quest to counter Russia and China, neglects Central Asia’s key geopolitical advantage by focusing resources on Europe and the Asia-Pacific. Within Central Asia, the United States has the opportunity to actively encourage private sector investment in the region’s promising renewable energy industries to
The Wagner Group’s Use of Chinese Space Intelligence
Editor’s note: This article is part of Project Air & Space Power, which explores and advocates for the totality of air, aviation, and space power in irregular, hybrid, and gray-zone environments. We invite you to contribute to the discussion, explore the difficult questions, and help influence the future of
Sneaky Wars in the Indo-Pacific
Episode 119 discusses irregular warfare in the Indo-Pacific with Dr. Sean McFate, and COL Ed Croot. Our guests discuss the evolving landscape of irregular warfare. They critique the conventional vs. irregular warfare paradigm, introduce the concept of 'sneaky war,' and explore the importance of unconventional strategies in countering
Money Talks and Hunger Walks: Buying Down State-Actor Influence Risk
Editor’s note: This article is part of Project Cyber, which explores and characterizes the myriad threats facing the United States and its allies in cyberspace, the information environment, and conventional and irregular spaces. Please contact us if you would like to propose an article, podcast, or event environment. We
The Day After Nasrallah: Succession and Strategic Opportunities
On October 15, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released an interrogation video of the first captured Hezbollah militant since the beginning of Israel’s ground incursion in southern Lebanon. Wadah Younis, who was found hiding in a tunnel, describes a demoralized movement mired in fear and internal chaos. Starting with
SOF’s Role in Conflict
Episode 118 focuses on SOF in Conflict. The podcast falls within the SOF Special Project. Contact Director SOF Adam Darnley-Stuart to join the team. Episode 118 of the Irregular Warfare podcast explores the definitions of conflict and SOFs value proposition to the joint force. Our guests discuss the unique capabilities
Bridging the gap between irregular warfare scholars, practitioners, and policymakers.
