Avatar photoThe Decade of Factionalism and the Search for Icons

Lyric of the week: “Stay in my corner, babe Stay in my corner, please Stay in my corner, babe I will fight for you if you fight for me too” –Dan Auerbach and the Arcs The New York Times columnist Bret Stephens labels the past ten years of dashed hopes and damaged norms as the …

Avatar photoWhy No Mushroom Clouds?

Quote of the week:  “In order to know what is going to happen, one must know what has happened.” — Nicolo Machiavelli How have we managed to avoid mushroom clouds in warfare since 1945? Deterrence has to get credit, but not as much as deterrence strengtheners would have you believe. The possession of nuclear weapons …

Avatar photoThe U.S.’s Post-INF Ballistic Missile

Launch a missile, get a pod, post-INF Treaty edition.  On December 12, 2019, the U.S. Air Force and the Strategic Capabilities office tested a “prototype conventionally-configured, ground-launched ballistic missile” from Vandenberg AFB. The trio talks Twitter hot takes, the Strategic Capabilities Office, the future of U.S. missile procurement, and the future of intermediate-range ballistic missiles. …

Avatar photoNorth Korea’s Mysterious Engine Test

Sohae is open for business! The ACW Gang talks North Korea’s recent engine test at Sohae and marvels (again) at the power of satellite imagery. Was this test Kim’s “Christmas Gift” to Trump? Or just a stocking stuffer?  Support us over at Patreon.com/acwpodcast!