John Forsberg

Just Arrived!

"The New Cold War At Sea: Maritime Implications of the China-Russia Quasi-Alliance" by Lyle J. Goldstein and Vitaly A. Kozyrev.

www.usni.org/press/books/...
@usni.org

Looking forward to reading this and piling on to the existing mountain of unease inside my head of late.

China investigating senior military officials Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli, says defence ministry China's Communist Party has decided to open an investigation into senior military officials Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli for suspected serious violations of discipline and law, China's Ministry of Nati...

This legitimately hard to fathom. The entire surviving CMC now consists of Xi and a political officer. www.reuters.com/world/china/...

And its soul-crushing

Quick update | Flat Circle History Get more from Flat Circle History on Patreon

Work continues on the scripts for episodes 21-23, which is coming along nicely. I'm liking the process of ganging scripts together during the writing phase. In meantime, I thought I'd pass along a couple things I'm reading or listening to:

www.patreon.com/posts/quick-...

This. 100%.

Excellent article about the necessity for integrated red teaming

Inside US Plans to reopen WWII air bases for war with China The United States is expanding "air corridors" that will deliver combat power to China's doorstep in a future conflict.

www.newsweek.com/inside-us-pl...

A great article

US announces more than $10bn of arms sales to Taiwan Package includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, and has drawn an angry response from China

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...

Movie night by accident. Awkwardly relevant.

What I'm Reading and Listening To Right Now | Flat Circle History Get more from Flat Circle History on Patreon

What I'm reading and listening to right now for episode 21:
www.patreon.com/posts/what-i...

A Boeing 737 pilot discovered after landing that his aircraft was 5 tons heavier than the instruments showed. Nearly 11,000 pounds. The weight of 3 cars. Invisible. One investigation later: A… | Dan... A Boeing 737 pilot discovered after landing that his aircraft was 5 tons heavier than the instruments showed. Nearly 11,000 pounds. The weight of 3 cars. Invisible. One investigation later: A single...

Whoa. This is eerily close to what happens in episode 11:
www.linkedin.com/posts/daniel...

Thank you for the kind words, Michael. And based on your background, that means a great deal.

Thanks, Royce!

YouTube video by Flat Circle History The Next World War | Episode 20 | The Hypersonic Blitz

New Episode release!
youtu.be/eURsuxZnRKo

warontherocks.com/2025/12/grou...
Key takeaway: of approx 5000 USAF aircraft, only 62% are mission capable.

Opinion | Overmatched: Why the U.S. Military Must Reinvent Itself Investing in the old ways of war leaves America at risk.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

China & Taiwan Update, November 25, 2025 Reuters reported that PLA experimented with multiple types of civilian vessels in amphibious landing exercises in July and August 2025.

understandingwar.org/research/chi...

Supercarrier launches jets in disputed South China Sea A U.S. Navy carrier strike group has resumed high-tempo flight operations in the disputed South China Sea, with aircraft from USS George Washington conducting launches and recoveries as regional tensions remain acute.

A U.S. Navy carrier strike group has resumed high-tempo flight operations in the disputed South China Sea, with aircraft from USS George Washington conducting launches and recoveries as regional tensions remain acute.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/supercarrier...

Shadow navy: How China's civilian fleet could be a potent weapon in a Taiwan invasion A Reuters visual investigation of China's annual naval exercises off the Chinese coast opposite Taiwan shows how Beijing's

Love the time they put into this @reuters.com :
www.reuters.com/graphics/USA...

YouTube video by P Gatcomb C: MO - Manual Time on Target Calculation

#CMO - Manual Time-on-Target Calculation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=84hR...

Philippine Marine Corps flaunts BrahMos missiles in first public display - Naval News The Philippine Marine Corps publicly unveiled its BrahMos anti-ship missile system for the first time on Friday, highlighting significant progress in its modernization efforts.

www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

When Logistics Decided Victory: The Battle of Leyte Gulf The largest naval battle of World War II offers lessons for today’s naval planners.

A great read: @usniproceedings.bsky.social
www.usni.org/magazines/pr...

Lights Out? Wargaming a Chinese Blockade of Taiwan YouTube video by Center for Strategic & International Studies

www.youtube.com/live/-kD308C...

Oh, to have been a fly on the wall during those wargames. If you’re listening @csis.org, my Go Bag is at the ready.

I feel good that my scenario aligns pretty well:

youtu.be/L1EbvL13POU?...

Attack Helicopters Must Hunt the Hunters “Bingo” means the point of no return: the call that fuel is running dry and the mission is over. The same call now threatens the attack helicopter itself.

warontherocks.com/2025/11/atta...

An excellent read.

China & Taiwan Update, October 31, 2025 Toplines The PRC’s agreement to temporarily suspend export controls on rare earth elements is likely a short-term de-escalation measure amid its long-term strategic intent to inhibit US technological ...

understandingwar.org/research/chi...

A narrow Pacific waterway is at the heart of U.S. plans to choke China’s vast navy The U.S. has deployed troops and anti-ship missiles into the northern Philippines as part of almost continuous, joint war drills throughout the country. One goal: to block the Bashi Channel and deny Chinese warships access to the Pacific Ocean if Beijing attacks Taiwan.

www.reuters.com/investigatio...

Well this feels relevant for my season 2.

Russia's Harmony Network - Operational Strength but Strategic Weakness - Naval News Russia might be operating a network of sonar systems in the Barents Sea designed to detect submarines. The Harmony Network appears to be an equivalent of the famous SOSUS network

www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Russia’s SOSUS.

China-Taiwan Weekly Update, October 24, 2025 CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping has expanded his military purges, expelling nine of the seniormost generals from the CCP.

understandingwar.org/research/chi...

Interesting that the Commander of the Eastern Theater Command was purged.

The 12 Days of War That Didn’t Ignite the Middle East or the World For decades, predictions about a war with Iran carried an air of inevitability: Analysts warned a conflict would close the ranks of the Iranian military

No world war. No oil shock. No rally-around-the-flag. Just a reckoning for Tehran.

Some fun reading tonight in prep for episode 20. Heard about this book listening to the Arms Control Wonk podcast. @armscontrolwonk.bsky.social