Insider: Short of War

Nov 20 2024 29 ep. 16 mins 3

Insider: Short of War Podcast artwork

Welcome to the Irregular Warfare Initiative’s Insider: Short of War, where IWI transforms its thought provoking articles into compelling audio pieces. Our podcast bridges the gap between scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, offering in-depth analysis and expert commentary on the dynamic world of irregular warfare. Stay informed and engaged with the latest insights from leading voices in the field, right at your fingertips.

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Money Talks and Hunger Walks: Buying Down State-Actor Influence Risk

Nov 20 2024 16 mins

by Tom Johansmeyer, a PhD candidate in international conflict analysis at the University of Kent. When natural disasters strike, foreign actors often exploit food insecurity to spread disinformation and influence vulnerable populations. In this episode, Tom Johansmeyer proposes an innovative solution: parametric insurance that provides rapid economic relief to affected communities.

The Day After Nasrallah: Succession and Strategic Opportunities

Nov 18 2024 16 mins

by Alexandra Veyne, the Chief Human Resources Officer of the Irregular Warfare Initiative. In this analysis of Hezbollah's leadership crisis, Alexandra Veyne examines the strategic implications of Hassan Nasrallah's elimination and his successor Naim Qassem's appointment. She argues that Qassem's lack of charisma and weaker leadership profile could prove more devastating to Hezbo

Beyond Binaries: Cyber Force Generation and the SOCOM-like Model

Nov 07 2024 20 mins

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 invite you to contribute to the discussion, explore the difficult questions,

“I Want to Live”: Psychological Warfare for the Modern Era

Nov 03 2024 17 mins

Peter Schrijver is a Ph.D. researcher affiliated with the Netherlands Defence Academy. His academic interests focus on Ukraine’s operations in the information environment. This essay analyzes Ukraine's "I Want to Live" project, a modern psychological operations (PSYOP) campaign that uses smartphones and social media to encourage Russian soldiers to surrender. The project, launc

Israel, Hezbollah, and Arab Hostility

Oct 23 2024 18 mins

by Amir Asmar, a former senior executive and Middle East analyst in the US Department of Defense. Amir Asmar examines Israel's latest military campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah and what it reveals about the limitations of military solutions to fundamentally political problems. Drawing on decades of experience as a Middle East analyst, Asmar traces how Israel's repeated milita

Ukraine’s Railway Wars: How to Sabotage Russian Military Logistics

Oct 22 2024 9 mins

by Doug Livermore the Director of Engagements for the Irregular Warfare Initiative. In this eye-opening analysis, Doug Livermore examines Ukraine's sophisticated sabotage campaign against Russia's railway infrastructure and its critical impact on the war effort. Drawing parallels to World War II resistance operations, the article details how Ukrainian special forces and intellige

Bridging the Gap: Why Conventional Forces Need Irregular Warfare Training

Oct 09 2024 15 mins

By Austin Wesley, a US Army officer. This essay argues that the US Army must break its cycle of neglecting irregular warfare (IW) by fully integrating IW concepts into its Professional Military Education (PME) for conventional forces. Drawing lessons from Vietnam and Iraq, the author demonstrates how the Army's focus on Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) has repeatedly left it

Partners in Peril: Hybrid Threats Come for Jordan

Oct 08 2024 20 mins

By Anthony Marco a US Army officer and advisor to the Irregular Warfare Initiative's Proxies and Partners Special Project. This article is part of Project Proxies and Partners, which explores the promises and pitfalls of security cooperation in war, at peace, and in between. Anthony Marco examines the complex security challenges facing Jordan, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East.

Decapitating The Hydra: Iran’s Response Options To Israel’s Offensive

Oct 02 2024 10 mins

by Doug Livermore the Director of Engagements for the Irregular Warfare Initiative. This essay analyzes Israel's recent strikes against Iran's proxy forces, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. It examines the strategic implications of these operations, which have significantly degraded Tehran's regional influence network. The author explores Iran's limited response optio

Call for Submissions: Policy Recommendations for the New Administration

Sep 29 2024 2 mins

By Tobias Bernard Switzer, the Editorial Director of the Irregular Warfare Initiative When a new American president takes office on January 20th, they will confront a dangerous national security environment shaped by Irregular Warfare (IW) challenges. From cyber warfare and gray zone conflicts to terrorism and insurgency, these challenges demand immediate, actionable solutions. T