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Ukraine

"Small wars are operations undertaken under executive authority, wherein military force is combined with diplomatic pressure in the internal or external affairs of another state whose government is unstable, inadequate, or unsatisfactory for the preservation of life and of such interests as are determined by the foreign policy of our Nation."

— Small Wars Manual, 1940

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Journal

Losing the High Ground: How the U.S. lost Moral Justification for the War in Afghanistan
by Dan Pace | Wed, 08/17/2022 - 3:36am | 0 comments
The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to destroy the terrorists responsible for the 9/11 attacks, dismantle the Taliban government that provided the perpetrators with safe haven, and deny Afghanistan as a base of operations for future terrorist attacks. At the time, the war received widespread international support and was generally regarded as “a legally appropriate use of force,” but by the war’s end in 2021, regard for the justice of the U.S. cause had diminished somewhat. What changed, and how did the U.S. lose the moral high ground it enjoyed in 2001?
Demystifying the Art of Assessment & Selection
by Patrick B. Roberson, by Stuart Gallagher, by Kurtis Gruters | Wed, 08/17/2022 - 3:24am | 0 comments
At the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (SWCS), Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) is a job interview. Eight times a year, soldiers travel to Fort Bragg from all over the world to attend Assessment and Selection (A&S) to see if they have what it takes to become a member of the elite Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF).
What The Palestinian Islamic Jihad Won from The War in Gaza
by Anna Mahjar-Barducci | Wed, 08/17/2022 - 3:02am | 0 comments
Despite the severe blows inflicted by the Israeli army, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement in Gaza has gained various advantages from the last war against Israel. Some Western media reported that Israel "won" the war. However, even though Israel eliminated two important leaders of the terrorist movement, the Islamic Jihad managed to strengthen its image and influence in the region. Until August 5, when Israel launched the preemptive strike against Gaza, initiating the "Breaking Dawn" operation, the Islamic Jihad was only a secondary movement, which could not compete with the popularity of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, after three days of war and about 1,100 missiles sent towards Israel, the Islamic Jihad became one of the most important resistance movements in the region and obtained Teheran's full support.
Why is Mexico so Dangerous for Journalists?
by Natalie D. Baker , by Jonathan Landry | Wed, 08/17/2022 - 1:28am | 0 comments
This essay examines the problem of violence against journalists and media workers in Mexico. We use data on killings collected over the past three decades by advocacy groups to provide an empirically rooted answer to why Mexico seems so dangerous for media workers. The reasons, tied to the country's overall governance problems, lead to impunity, government collusion with drug trafficking organizations, and widespread corruption. Further, we find some issues with collecting and maintaining data by advocacy groups, creating problems of accuracy about the scope of killings in Mexico.
The Politics of Decisive Battle: How Alexander the Great Conquered the Persian Empire
by Andreas Foerster | Sun, 08/14/2022 - 12:11am | 0 comments
This paper is not the first to argue this interpretation of Alexander’s strategic thinking. However, this view usually came as a part of a greater examination of Alexander’s policies, not a self contained hypothesis in of itself. These historiographical opinions then often looked at Alexander as simply pragmatic, adapting his policy as he went to fit he needs of the moment, with minimal consideration of the young king’s long term plans before a campaign; that is to say, there is no evidence given in these sources that their authors believed Alexander had any sort of master plan.
A Red Army of Private Ryans: What Wargaming Says about Chinese Willingness to Strike First and Stay Long
by Jesse R. Humpal | Sat, 08/13/2022 - 3:24pm | 0 comments
A recent strategic wargame that pitted the People’s Republic of China against a U.S. backed Taiwan, resulted in the trading of intercontinental ballistic missiles, a 25-percent drop in the global economy, 10s of thousands of Chinese, Taiwanese, and Americans dead…and a protracted guerilla conflict on the small island. During the adjudication, leaders from both sides–who were played by some of U.S.’s most prominent academics, military leaders, politicians, and statesmen (they were all men)–concluded that their side behaved with restraint while the other acted as provocateur. Absent from their rationale, was an acknowledgment that in global conflict seeking manifest destiny, if just one of the sides actually acted with restraint, they would be steamrolled.
The Man in the High Castle: Alternate Reality Lessons for Modern Warfighters
by Tom Ordeman, Jr. | Thu, 08/11/2022 - 8:48pm | 1 comment
One uncomfortable lesson from the recent conclusion of the First World War’s centenary was the reminder that, prior to its outbreak, flag and general officers were committed to utilizing Napoleonic era tactics that were long obsolete. Similarly, more than three quarters of a century after the Second World War’s conclusion, American officers continue to treat the fight against fascism as the gold standard of warfare, even as its practical lessons for modern warfare wane to near obsolescence. One rare exception to this trend has been the alternate history presented by The Man in the High Castle, Amazon Prime’s dystopian drama, which ran from 2015 to 2019.
The SciOps Conundrum: A Case Study on Applied Analytics
by Patrick B. Roberson, by Stuart Gallagher, by Kurtis Gruters | Mon, 08/08/2022 - 4:26pm | 0 comments
As technology proliferates it becomes increasingly important to integrate science into operational practice. Two years ago, the United States Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School (USAJFKSWCS) embarked on an aggressive campaign to overhaul its management information system. This overhaul included a massive paradigm shift moving the organization from a transactional data approach to that of a transformational one – an approach that proactively anticipates and solves problems in advance to supplement human knowledge and inform decision making. This significant shift demanded the forging and fostering of a strong relationship between science and operations in order to realize progress and mission accomplishment. This article explores the importance of this sacred relationship and its impact on the organization by utilizing lessons learned from the past two years of work at the USAJFKSWCS.
Observations from the Donbas Front Line 
by Lee Van Arsdale, by Daniel Rice | Fri, 08/05/2022 - 9:38am | 0 comments
To the American military eye, the first impression of the Ukrainian Army is that it’s more a quasi-uniformed biker gang than an army.  An occasional pony tail, many beards in various stages of maturity, a variety of mixed uniforms, and footwear that ranges from combat boots to flip flops.  However, this impression would be dead wrong.  To an individual, these are totally committed Soldiers.  Life on the front line is anything but easy, but the dedication and love of country is universal.  There is an easy camaraderie, and all tasks are performed with professional efficiency.  From the commanding general to the brigade and battalion commanders, to the front line troops, this is a dedicated, motivated, war hardened army.  
Why Ukraine Will Defeat Russia and How, from Kherson to Crimea, from Zaporizhzhia to the Donbas
by Brian E. Frydenborg | Thu, 08/04/2022 - 9:59am | 0 comments
Dynamics over time are the key to analyzing just about anything, and they (“why”) clearly favor Ukraine in Russia’s failing war of conquest, meaning Ukraine can possibly push Russia out entirely in the coming months by sweeping through the south all the way to Donetsk (“how”)

Blog Posts

Ukraine: WAR BULLETIN August 18, 6.00 pm EST
by SWJ Editors | Fri, 08/19/2022 - 7:00am | 0 comments

Embassy of Ukraine in the USA

8/18/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Thu, 08/18/2022 - 11:26am | 0 comments

Access National Security News HERE.

Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:

8/17/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Thu, 08/18/2022 - 1:05am | 0 comments

Access National Security News HERE.

Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:

8/16/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Tue, 08/16/2022 - 7:32pm | 0 comments

Access National Security News HERE.

Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:

1. National Airborne Day,

Ukraine: WAR BULLETIN August 15, 6.00 pm EST WAR ROOM
by SWJ Editors | Tue, 08/16/2022 - 3:42pm | 0 comments

Embassy o

8/15/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Mon, 08/15/2022 - 5:59pm | 0 comments

Access National Security News HERE.

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National Security News Content:

8/14/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Sun, 08/14/2022 - 6:05pm | 0 comments

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Access Korean News HERE.

National Security News Content:

8/13/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Sat, 08/13/2022 - 7:00pm | 1 comment

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National Security News Content:

Ukraine: WAR BULLETIN August 12, 6.00 pm EST
by SWJ Editors | Sat, 08/13/2022 - 7:49am | 0 comments
 
8/12/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Fri, 08/12/2022 - 5:27pm | 0 comments

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National Security News Content:

8/11/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Thu, 08/11/2022 - 8:31pm | 0 comments

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National Security News Content:

Call for Papers: Journal of Strategic Security Security – Special Issue: Urban Security 2023
by SWJ Editors | Thu, 08/11/2022 - 6:22pm | 0 comments
The Journal of Strategic Security has issued a Call for Papers for its upcoming Special Issue on Urban Security. The special issue will look at a range of urban security issues including urban warfare, urban insurgency, urban crime and insecurity, operating in dense urban terrain (DUT), megacities, and subterranean spaces (SubT), and in the Urban-Littoral interface, as well as the protection of the populace.
Ukraine: WAR BULLETIN August 10, 6.00 pm EST
by SWJ Editors | Thu, 08/11/2022 - 3:57pm | 0 comments

Embassy of Ukraine in the USA

8/10/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Wed, 08/10/2022 - 9:09am | 0 comments

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National Security News Content:

8/9/22 National Security and Korean News and Commentary
by Dave Maxwell | Tue, 08/09/2022 - 9:05am | 0 comments

Access National Security News HERE.

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National Security News Content: