Insider: Short of War

Defense Industrial Mobilization Needs More than Startups and Drones

In this episode based on the article "Defense industrial mobilization needs more than startups and drones," we examine the balance between emerging defense tech startups

To Disrupt Russia’s Shadow War, Follow the Money

In this deep-dive episode, we explore how Russian illicit finance has evolved into the operational backbone of Moscow’s irregular warfare strategy. From Bulgarian spy rin

Ukraine’s Drone Diplomacy: Turning Battlefield Expertise into Strategic Leverage

Explore how Ukraine is converting years of high-intensity counter-UAS combat into powerful diplomatic, economic, and strategic leverage. In this deep dive, we break down

25th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks

In this deep dive episode, we examine the evolution of global terrorism a quarter-century after September 11. Despite decades of U.S. counterterrorism pressure, al-Qaeda

Before Rogers' Rangers: Legitimacy, Partnership, and the Limits of External Sponsorship

In this deep-dive episode, we unpack the structural dynamics of irregular warfare partner forces through the historical lens of 18th-century French-Canadian partisans and

Mind the Gap: Asymmetric Maritime Warfare in Southeast Asian Chokepoints

In this episode, we unpack the strategic potential of asymmetric maritime warfare across Southeast Asia's maritime chokepoints. Analyzing lessons from recent low-cost dro

Cornered, Not Conquered: Turkish Intelligence and the End of the PKK Insurgency

In this episode, we explore the convergence of high-tech surveillance, targeted strikes, and political off-ramps that led to the dissolution of the PKK insurgency. Analyz

Russian Psychological Operations and Informational Warfare in the Middle East and North Africa

In this episode, we unpack how Russian psychological operations and information warfare are deployed across the Middle East and North Africa. From RT Arabic and Sputnik t

Terrorism After Ideology

In this episode, we unpack how state proxies, transactional violence, and hybrid tactics are reshaping security across Europe. We explore the operational shift from tradi

Meaning, Myth, and Force Design in U.S. Special Operations

A deep-dive conversation exploring how strategic demand, historical mythology, and institutional feedback reshape U.S. Special Forces force design. This episode examines

A Case for Cyber Privateering

In this episode, we unpack the strategic argument for employing private cyber actors ("cyber corsairs") to deter state-sponsored cyber aggression. We analyze historical 1

What Iran's Crypto Insurance Proposal Means for Irregular Warfare and Shipping in Asia

In this episode, we explore Iran’s "Hormuz Safe" proposal—a Bitcoin-backed insurance mechanism for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. We discuss how Tehran uses digit

Pakistan’s Nuclear Arsenal is Becoming More Vulnerable

Explore a deep-dive discussion on how the escalating Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict and shifting geopolitical dynamics are straining Pakistan’s nuclear security. This epis

Why Iranian Propaganda Is Getting Uncomfortably Good

In this deep-dive episode, we unpack how state messaging transitioned from rigid revolutionary rhetoric into fluent, algorithm-optimized digital content. We explore the c

Mexico’s Network War—Without a Network Strategy

In this episode, we unpack why Mexico’s two-decade security campaign against organized crime has operated as irregular warfare without a true network strategy. We discuss

AI in Cyber Conflict: Short-term Offensive Opportunities, Long-term Defensive Advantage

Join us for a deep dive into "AI in Cyber Conflict: Short-term Offensive Opportunities, Long-term Defensive Advantage." This episode unpacks the complex automation gap be

The Future of Conflict and Special Operations Forces

This episode explores how rapid technological shifts, persistent gray-zone competition, and accelerating innovation are dissolving traditional military advantages. It arg

Irregular Warfare Is Not A Thing

This episode argues that "irregular warfare" is an artificial construct rather than a cohesive concept, which has led to muddled doctrinal definitions that create strateg

The Afghan Army: What Advisors Couldn’t See and Officers Couldn’t Change

The collapse of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces was not a conventional military defeat, but the inevitable culmination of two decades of systemic institut

What Makes a Weapon Too Horrific to Use?

Public support for military force is heavily driven by the legitimacy of the weapon type and the prevention of civilian harm, rather than tactical effectiveness alone. Be