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Book Review: Putin’s War on Ukraine: Russia’s Campaign for Global Counter-Revolution
September 25, 2024 — Senior Russia analyst Dr. Lionel M. Beehner provides thoughtful praise and critiques on Samuel Ramani’s 2023 book, Putin’s War on Ukraine, calling it “a must-read for diplomats and defense experts.” According to Beehner, Ramani provides “a front-row seat to the war,” helpfully “recalls incidents that may be buried in readers’ minds,” and “masterfully shows the chaos within Russian leadership circles near the invasion.” Beehner also distills and explains Ramani’s main point—that the reason behind Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “not fear of NATO encirclement but of regime change and popular revolution from within” (or “counter-revolution”)... MORE

cover of Putin’s War on Ukraine: Russia’s Campaign for Global Counter-Revolution

Bargaining for Justice: Ukraine, Gaza, and the Ethics of Conflict Termination
September 23, 2024 — This book, drawing on the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, offers a unique perspective by combining insights from bargaining theory and the just-war tradition. It demonstrates how moral commitments can serve as a framework for war termination, a topic relevant to scholars, policymakers, and practitioners in international relations and conflict resolution... MORE

Cover for Bargaining for Justice: Ukraine, Gaza, and the Ethics of Conflict Termination

The Role of America’s European Allies in the Russia-Ukraine War, 2022–24
September 19, 2024 — What more can US allies in Europe do to assist Ukraine militarily? More broadly, what can the United States expect from its closest allies in Europe in strategic competition with Russia and China? The authors assess steps Washington can take to ensure its allies fulfill their potential now and in the future... MORE

Cover for John R. Deni and Lisa A. Aronsson's monograph, "The Role of America’s European Allies in the Russia-Ukraine War, 2022–24"

Parameters | Autumn 2024
August 29, 2024 — In this edition: The Commandant's Strategic Vision "The Forward Edge of the Fifth US Army War College" David C. Hill, David D. Dworak, and Aaron Blair Wilcox; "Avoiding the Escalatory Trap: Managing Escalation during the Israel Hamas War" C. Anthony Pfaff "The Challenge of Next-Gen Insurgency," Steven Metz and “A Long, Hard Year: Ukraine War Lessons Learned 2023,” Michael T. Hackett and John A. Nagl; A Major's Perspective “Resources Designed to Promote Professional Discourse”; Civil-Military Relations Corner, " The Military and the Election: Thinking through Retired Flag Officer Endorsements"; “Exploring Strategy in India" by Vinay Kaura... MORE

Book Reviews - Autumn 2024
August 29, 2024 — Autumn 2024... MORE

Exploring Strategy in India
August 29, 2024 — This review essay discusses Rajesh Basrur's Subcontinental Drift: Domestic Politics and India’s Foreign Policy and Feroz Hassan Khan's Subcontinent Adrift: Strategic Futures of South Asia and explores Indian strategy, especially concerning domestic issues and the relationship between Pakistan and India. The review concludes by noting that the two books agree on the oversized role of the Pakistani military in India’s national politics, where most security and foreign policy decisions are directed toward Pakistan... MORE

The Military and the Election: Thinking through Retired Flag Officer Endorsements
August 29, 2024 — This article tackles the prevalence of retired general and flag officer endorsements during political elections. The column reflects on the influence of these endorsements on public opinion, the need for further scholarship, and the potential effects of partisan endorsements on the next generation of military leaders... MORE

Resources Designed to Promote Professional Discourse
August 29, 2024 — The US Army War College and Army University Press recently published resources to help the force prioritize professional discourse. These documents provide a starting point for aspiring researchers and a reference guide for individuals and organizations. Combined, these new publications will help the force to take up Chief of Staff of the Army Randy A. George’s charge to revitalize professional discourse in the Army... MORE

Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander: A Reappraisal
August 29, 2024 — This article argues that the historical assessment of Dwight D. Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in World War II lacks objectivity and balance. It identifies several strategic errors and missteps attributable to Eisenhower, which resulted in severe casualties and prolonged the war in Europe. The conclusions can help US military practitioners and policymakers assess the background and qualities required for successful theater command during wartime and senior commanders’ performances... MORE

The Fallacy of Unambiguous Warning
August 29, 2024 — The Indications and Warnings subfield of intelligence has traditionally divided warnings into a dichotomy of “ambiguous” and "unambiguous" that gives policymakers a false sense of security. This article examines how unambiguous warning has been conceptualized and why it has become an inadequate planning tool that can lead to dire consequences in the quest for certainty. Using the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the Pearl Harbor attack as case studies, the article shows unambiguous warning is an inadequate planning tool that can lead to dire consequences in the quest for certainty. The article concludes with observations about the role of intelligence and the future of military planning... MORE