Exploring the Implications of Precise Mass

Back from their holiday break, Chris, Melanie, and Zack discuss
Michael Horowitz and Joshua Schwartz’s recent War on the Rocks’
article, which considers whether and how the United States and
its allies should incorporate new technologies into their
military forces. Is it time for cheap, uncrewed systems to
replace larger, manned platforms? What is the optimal mix of
high-end, exquisite systems, and low-end, attritable assets? And
how should the Pentagon, NATO, and our other allies invest
resources to be best situated for potential conflicts? President
Joe Biden’s decision to block Nippon Steel’s planned purchase of
U.S. Steel receives not one but two grievances. Chris complains
about misinformed reactions to the tragic incidents on New Year’s
Eve. Hearty attas to President-elect Donald Trump for suggesting
that U.S. allies could build U.S. warships, to the National
Security Archive at George Washington University, and to Finland
for seizing the Russian ship suspected of cutting undersea cables
(and for the Finns’ general seriousness on matters of national
defense). 


 


This episode's reading