JP Clark

The universe definitely does not want me to write much today. A young hawk decided to give me a treat for a good minute.

It’s hard to concentrate on writing with such a pretty sunrise.

Two new recommendations for those looking for good non-fiction.

Tore Skeie's, The Wolf Age.

Danny Orbach's, Curse on This Country.

They are quite different in tone and content, but each excellent in its own way.

For other recommendations, check out my website.

www.jpclark.works/goodreads

Only a month 'til the publication of “Framing the First World War: How Divergent Views Shaped a Global Conflict”, edited by me, @mpmfinch.bsky.social & @dmorganowen.bsky.social!

US readers: get 30% discount (code: FRAMINGWWI) & free shipping if you order direct from @univpressofkansas.bsky.social

Why Ichiro won’t stop working like a player: ‘Seeing makes the message so much more believable’

If is easy to lose the plot and idolize athletes for crass outcomes rather than the noble characteristics that sport at its best brings out. I hope to be a little like Ichiro. Maybe you do, too. If so, good luck to us all.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666... Why Ichiro won’t stop working like a player.

Taiwan's "porcupine defense" aims to stop a #Chinese invasion. Jay Hsieh & Pete Roongsang say new policies need faster innovation & US aid synchronization. Sim tng & a domestic UAV industry are key to readiness. They join Tom Galvin #WARROOM

warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/por...

We hope to be back soon!

warroom.armywarcollege.edu/

The final #TRADOC cdr, Gen Gary Brito joins @jpclark97.bsky.social to discuss the U.S. Army's "continuous transformation" & the new T2COM. GEN Brito emphasizes that the Army being ready to #fightandwin depends on army leaders at all echelons #WARROOM

warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/tra...

Historian Stephan Kieninger discusses his new book on former Dep Sec of State Strobe Talbott w/ Ron Granieri. They discuss Talbott's belief that both NATO expansion and engagement with Russia were achievable, a dynamic that remains relevant today #WARROOM

warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/the...

MWI Podcast: China’s Strategic Competition with the United States - Modern War Institute The December 2017 release of a new US National Security Strategy was, in key ways, a watershed moment. The previous strategy, released in 2015, noted that "the scope of our cooperation with China is u...

As ever, Ali Wyne brings nuance, balance, and insight to the toughest subjects. This one is well worth your time.
mwi.westpoint.edu/mwi-podcast-...

Ooof. By dint of alphabetical order, I am now in the older half of living West Point graduates.

The New Yorker is on the nose this Back to School season.

This was such a fun conversation, although I am still embarrassed about how much I didn’t know about an event that took place and has had a huge effect on my military career.

The Innovation Imperative: Why Tactical Ingenuity is Not Enough | Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University A Strategist and Foreign Area Officer argue that the U.S. Army should embrace a top-down approach to innovation across all levels of wars.

The summary of the current state of the innovation/adaptation literature alone is worth the price of entry. On top of that, a well-argued, provocative argument.

smallwarsjournal.com/2025/08/11/t...

In additional to the useful, practical hints on the use of operational data, Melissa also provides good advice on how to be a useful and respected functional SME in an organization( these apply beyond just ORSAs.

“The hype around AI has prompted many companies to experiment without clear goals, adequate infrastructure, or a realistic understanding of what the technology can deliver, says Prof Li.” <—- well, this is shocking….

Maria Gregory a recent grad of the U.S. Army War College shares her top tips for success! She went from apprehensive to transformed & shares her #CarlisleExperience lessons w/ Liz Woodworth hoping to help others thrive during their studies #WARROOM

warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/app...

The U.S. Army's "transformation in contact" prepares for multi-domain ops. It requires a break from the past to create a new norm. A well-communicated plan traverses the "middle space" - old ways are gone & new ones aren't yet established #WARROOM

warroom.armywarcollege.edu/articles/tra...

Historians Politely Remind Nation To Check What's Happened In Past Before Making Any Big Decisions WASHINGTON—With the United States facing a daunting array of problems at home and abroad, leading historians courteously reminded the nation Thursday that when making tough choices, it never hurts to ...

Historians Politely Remind Nation To Check What&#39;s Happened In Past Before Making Any Big Decisions — theonion.com/historians-p...

It’s Time to Think About (and Fear) Drones and Psychological Operations - War on the Rocks Everyone knows that sound: the high-pitched whir of an unmanned aircraft system, racing through the air overhead. To a soldier below, it’s the sound of

The buzz of a drone doesn’t just signal danger — it can foment lasting psychological damage. What does that mean for modern warfare? warontherocks.com/20...

Training is credibility — This Means War In military circles, training can mean all things to different groups. Some think it is for making friends and building partnerships. Other parts of the national security community think it is for val...

Fantastic discussion of the British Army’s new training model. Truthfully, I have a hard time visualizing this, but it can’t be disputed that we need to make better use of time and think deliberately about building individual and unit competence.

overcast.fm/+AA6Yin3PbyQ

A striking message to industry from Ukrainians at #LANDEURO is the invitation to bring new products to the war for testing. Although it makes perfect sense to pitch conflict as a comparative advantage and offers legitimate win-win possibilities, the transactional honesty is nonetheless disquieting.

It was an honor to moderate a panel with doctrine guru Rich Creed, 56th MDC commander BG Steve Carpenter, and Harald Mannheim of Airbus multi-domain operations. A hot topic these days, we had plenty to discuss. Thanks to AUSA for assembling such a great panel of experts. I learned a lot!
#LANDEURO

There were upsides to the German system of replacement…so long as you weren’t in one of the Verdun divisions. It is amazing that about 80% of the French divisions rotated through at least once.

The ossuary at Verdun shocks. I didn’t take a picture and my wife hesitated for fear of disrespect. My brother-in-law didn’t think the bones were real at first. But it is a final act of honoring them to reflect on the 130k unknown of the 300k dead in just that battle. A place worth reflecting upon.

A surprising aspect of touring WWI AEF battlefields is the lack of other visitors, which makes for a very different experience certainly than Civil War but also even Normandy. We met no other Americans in two days, and only a handful of others. A relief in part but also adds a bit of melancholy.

Crossing the Rhine. Au revoir, France! Gutten morgen, Deutschland!

PODCAST | The President's Inbox: A New U.S. Grand Strategy: A Return to Spheres of Influence, With Sarang Shidore Sarang Shidore, director of the Global South Program at the Quincy Institute, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss whether a return to great power spheres of influence is practical in the twenty...

As always, President’s Inbox gives a short, smart take on international relations and national security. Spheres of influence just won’t work today…and that’s a good thing. www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi...

“In America, anybody can be president. That's one of the risks you take.”
Adlai E. Stevenson, who died on this day in 1965