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PODCAST

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare

Chris Mayer National Security and Strategy Consultant

Exploring changes in the practice of war while the fundamental nature and principles of war are unchanging. Includes mercenaries, PMSC, Hybrid Warfare, revolution in military affairs. For in-depth information see my blog at blog.ctmayer.net

government social sciences

All Episodes

08:06

Naming the Rose, Part 2

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/12/09

If Wagner and similar Russian mercenary-like organizations do not meet the internationally accepted criteria for being mercenaries or Private Military and Security Companies, then what are they? This podcast explores the suitability of other terms, including militia, volunteer corps, terrorist, and criminal organizations. The challenge is to find a term that accurately describes what they are in a way that offers the possibility for accountability under the law. Disclaimer: The information in these

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10:00

E81: Naming the Rose

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/11/30

Whether the infamous Wagner continues to exist or not, the problem they created is only growing. There may be more than 30 Russian paramilitary organizations operating across the world, many of them fighting in Ukraine. At least one has a reputation from brutality and criminal conduct rivaling Wagner’s. But what do we call them? They do not fulfil the definition of mercenary in some international conventions, and they are not PMSCs as understood in internationally agreed frameworks or by the UN

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11:13

E80: Rules for the Use of Force for Private Security...

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/11/15

The presence of Private Security Companies, or PSCs, in conditions of armed conflict continues to be an item of concern to the international community. PSCs seem to blur the distinction between combatants and civilians. They use force, but are not members of the armed forces. Rules for the Use of Force, appropriate to PSC tasks and restrictions under international and local national law, issued by a competent authority and properly enforced, can clarify this murky condition. This episode describes

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15:13

E79: Rules for the Use of Force

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/11/03

The mission of the US Army is to fight and win our nation’s wars. That, however, is not the only task we ask the Army to perform in potentially hostile environments. Missions such as military support to civil authority, humanitarian assistance missions, and disaster relief are not governed by the law of war, but by human rights law. In this context, military use of force is regulated by Rules for the Use of Force (RUF), rather than the combat-oriented Rules of Engagement (ROE). This episode

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10:53

E78: ROE and the Law of War

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/10/27

How do rules of engagement promote compliance with the laws of war when those fighting war seem to do so without any basic consideration of humanity? I think that to answer this question, we must revisit the laws and customs of war, sometimes called International Humanitarian Law. This includes understanding that not every act of violence in war is a war crime. Effective ROE is a control to manage the risk that the violence inherent to war does not become an excuse for war crimes. Disclaimer: The

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14:54

E77: Rules of Engagement

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/10/15

Rules of engagement, or ROE, often get a bad reputation. But what are rules of engagement and why do we need them? If well constructed, ROE focus military action, manage risk of unintended consequences, such as escalation of the conflict and violations of the law of war, and as an economy of force, by minimizing unproductive action. On the other hand, poorly constructed, complex, or difficult to understand ROE, can result in the death of persons who pose no military threat or can surrender tactical

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15:22

E76: Limited War with China

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/09/08

It is probable that Russia’s lack of success in Ukraine gives the People’s Republic of China cause for reconsidering any existing plans for an invasion of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Perhaps, using the PRC’s unrestricted war model, they might instead resort to pursuing limited aims that will set conditions for later strategic victory. In other words, limited war. But what is limited war and is limited war even possible in the 21st Century? Disclaimer: The information in these podcasts is my

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10:18

Wagner Decapitated?

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/08/27

Wagner is dead, or apparently so. At least the senior leadership of PMC Wagner, along with Wagner himself, Dmitri Utkin. What does this mean? Anyone who says they know is either deluding you or deluding themselves. Although the specifics may be in doubt, I believe that Wagner will continue in some form if not in that name. Prigozhin’s statement from Mali last week is correct. The services Wagner type operations provide to Russian strategic interests are too valuable to set aside. Disclaimer: The

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14:59

E74: Niger -- Military Coup as Hybrid Warfare?

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/08/19

Does the recent coup in Niger affect US security interests, or is it just one more coup on a coup plagued continent? Or is it something more than that? Could it be the next campaign in a Hybrid War? If so, who are the contestants? Disclaimer: The information in these podcasts is my own opinion and does not represent that of the US Army War College, the Department of Defense, or any other organization I am or have been affiliated with Music: Liszt, F. and the USMC Band, Les Preludes, Public

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14:51

E73 Triumph of the Will

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/08/12

Clausewitz wrote that war is an act of violence to force the enemy to do our will. But what is that “will?” A 2019 Rand Study found that there is no official or agreed definition of “will” in the context of warfighting. In this episode, I tackle the question of what will means, why it is important, and the dangers going to war without a national will for victory. (Note: I am full aware of the title. It just sounded more catchy than "The Will to Fight.") Disclaimer: The information in these

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13:00

E72: Warfighting Capabilities

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/08/06

Strategy is the application of ways and means to achieve an end. But what are means? This podcast describes the need to look beyond the weapons and other warfighting platforms to, instead, identify the capabilities needed to fight wars. Weapons systems and other elements of national power are resources to enable those capabilities. Disclaimer: The information in these podcasts is my own opinion and does not represent that of the US Army War College, the Department of Defense, or any other

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12:57

E71: War College for Civilians

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/07/30

What if I told you that civilians can attend the US Army War College? Not US Government employees, but civilians from all walks of life and professions? Two times each year, the Army War College offers that opportunity through its National Security Seminar and Commandant's National Security Program. In this podcast, I describe that program and interview faculty and guests during Battlefield Staff Ride. Disclaimer: The information in this podcast is purely my own and does not represent the

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13:49

E70: Why We Shouldn’t Help Ukraine

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/07/22

The decision whether to help Ukraine is not as black and white as it may appear. Episode 69 described reasons the United States and other nations should help Ukraine. In this episode, I address the other side, reasons why helping Ukraine is either wrong or dangerous. Choosing the right path forward requires us to understand both sides of the argument. As is the case with all of these podcasts, the views expressed are solely my own and do not represent the Department of Defense, the US Army War

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12:17

E69: Ukraine -- Why Should We Care?

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/07/18

Why does Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affect us, or other nations? Isn’t that a matter between Russia and Ukraine? Isn’t our involvement only risking escalation and perhaps a global war? In short, why should we care? This episode of the Ancient Art of Modern Warfare address the first part, why we should care. The next episode will describe and evaluate reasons for staying out of it.

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06:17

E68: Whither Wagner?

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/06/24

What is going on in Russia? Has Prigozhin lost his mind? Or is Wagner merely chess pieces being manipulated by a political chess master? I offer this special podcast in the Ancient Art of Modern Warfare to review points from previous podcasts on Wagner and military coups in light of breaking events in Russia. Even if this is all over by the time you see this, it may be worthwhile to look and see where Prigozhin did what was needed for success or where he missed the mark. Again, the views presented

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14:01

E67: Is Russia at War?

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/06/17

On February 23, 2022, the Russian Federation violated the territorial integrity of Ukraine – for the second time in a decade – calling it a “special military operation.” It certainly looks more like a war, but is it really a war? This podcast looks at the current Russian invasion in light of the definitions of war in Episode 7, which include war in theory, practice, and in international law. These podcasts do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Defense, the Army War College,

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09:51

E66: The Role of Citizens in Going to War

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/06/08

The United States of America is a republic founded on democratic principles. Not a democracy, but a republic. That means that, except in rare circumstances, the citizens do not vote on issues at the national level. Instead, we elect representatives of the people and of the component states of the United States to make those decisions. That does not, however, absolve those citizens for decisions about war, peace, what goes before, and what comes after. This episode addresses the role of the citizenry

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10:55

E65: The Battlefield Staff Ride

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/05/21

Why do we study old battles? Historic examples of strategy help us to understand enduring lessons about why nations win or don’t win wars. But historic battles and campaigns were fought using weapons, tactics, and other technology that have little relevance to modern warfare. What is the value in studying them and if we should, then how should we go about it? This episode describes one technique: the Battlefield Staff Ride. The views in these podcasts are my own and do not necessarily represent

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22:51

E64 Military Coup d’États

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/03/12

In Episode 64, Why Wagner, I said one possible risk associated the Wagner Group is the potential that, like previous elite and ostensibly politically reliable mercenary forces, Wagner could be a threat to the Russian government. But what is the likelihood of that happening? This episode explores how military or paramilitary forces might turn on their own governments in a coup d’état. Disclaimer: The views in these podcasts are my own and do not represent the official position of any organization I

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16:11

E63: Why Wagner?

The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare ·

2023/01/24

In the past few months, Moscow has used the Wagner Group as the centerpiece in recent military operations in Ukraine. This is very different from how Wagner has been used in Africa. Why is Putin giving a quasi-mercenary organization such a central and visible role in its war with Ukraine? There could be different reasons, each of which present advantages and significant risks: risks for Putin, for Russia, for Ukraine, and for future conflict and conflict resolution. Music: Liszt, Les Preludes;

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