Insider: Short of War

Imposing Costs in the Indo-Pacific: Lessons from Operation Spider Web

This episode examines Operation Spider Web, Ukraine’s drone strike on Russian bases, and the lessons it offers for imposing strategic costs on China using drones and AI-enabled conventional weapons.

Maximizing The Indigenous Approach: Using Secondment to Enable Our Partners and Constrain Our Adversaries

This episode explores how the indigenous approach in Special Operations Forces can be maximized through secondment. Learn how embedding SOF with Indo-Pacific partners builds trust, frustrates Chinese influence, and strengthens U.S. alliances.

Applying the Alaska Territorial Guard Concept to Modern Indo-Pacific Irregular Warfare

In this episode, we explore Patrick Latham’s award-winning analysis on applying the Alaska Territorial Guard concept to Indo-Pacific irregular warfare. Learn how local knowledge, unconventional partnerships, and preemptive preparation can help U.S. allies strengthen resilience against modern threats.

Austronesian Identity as “Networked Deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific

This episode explores how Austronesian identity strengthens networked deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. From cultural exchanges to security cooperation, learn how heritage and trust can counter China’s gray zone strategies and build resilience among regional allies.

Irregular Solutions for Irregular Threats: Maritime Lessons from Dutch Counterpiracy Operations in Colonial Indonesia

This episode explores how Dutch counterpiracy operations in colonial Indonesia shaped maritime strategy. We connect historical lessons to today’s challenges in piracy, irregular threats, and global shipping security.

The History of U.S.-Iranian Irregular Warfare

This podcast explores the complex history of U.S.-Iranian irregular warfare. From the 1953 coup and Iranian Revolution to cyberattacks, proxy conflicts, and the twilight war, Dr. Lumpy Lumbaca examines how unconventional tactics shaped today’s geopolitical landscape.

Preparing for the Silent Surge: Countering North Korea’s Gambit in a Dual Contingency

This episode explores how North Korean irregular warfare could unfold in a dual contingency with China, threatening U.S., Japanese, and South Korean security. We discuss SOF tactics, sabotage scenarios, lessons from Ukraine, and why resilience must become a strategic priority.

Rebuilding Combat Electromagnetic Warfare for U.S. Ground Forces

This episode explores the future of combat electromagnetic warfare and why U.S. ground forces must modernize to meet the growing threat from Russia and China. From the lessons of the “Wild Bill” prototype to a reimagined CEWI 2.0, discover how spectrum dominance will define success in irregular and conventional conflicts.

Democratized Intelligence: How Open-Source Intelligence is Reshaping Asymmetric Advantage

In this episode, we explore how open-source intelligence (OSINT) is transforming global security. From Bellingcat’s investigations to the OSINT revolution, discover how non-state actors now challenge state dominance in intelligence, reshape irregular warfare, and shift the balance of information power.

Russia’s Shadow Fleet: The Dangerous Tanker Network Threatening Global Waters

Explore how Russia’s Shadow Fleet has evolved from a sanctions workaround into a weapon of irregular warfare. This podcast unpacks how aging, uninsured tankers exploit legal gaps to spread environmental risks, destabilize critical waterways, and challenge global maritime security. Learn why targeting the fleet’s enabling infrastructure—not just the ships themselves—is essential to restoring order at sea.