A Better Peace: The War Room Podcast

In September 2024, Andrew Hill and Steve Gerras authored a compelling three-part series that explored the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in national defense. They provocatively argued that the conventional wisdom is wrong: human intuition is not indispensable, even though we might all wish it were. Recognizing the significance of this debate, War Room invited the authors to join host Tom Spahr for a deeper dive into their perspective. This episode, the first of a two-part discussion, dissects the complexities of human intuition, examining its inherent limitations and the potential for AI to surpass human capabilities in an increasingly automated battlespace.

With the invasion of Poland in 1939, Nazi Germany set the stage for conflict and strife that has repercussions to this day. Jadwiga Biskupska is an expert on Poland under Nazi occupation and she joins podcast editor Ron Granieri to discuss the intricate relationship between Poland's historical memory and its contemporary identity. Their discussion particularly focuses on the impact of World War II on Polish national identity, the complexities of remembering the war under the shadow of communism, and the nuances of historical debate in modern Poland. The conversation underscores the enduring significance of the wartime experience in shaping Poland's national consciousness and its evolving relationship with its past. For Poles, the fact that that war began on the 1st of September 1939 is something that can't really be removed from public consciousness. They, the Poles, by definition, were there. Jadwiga Biskupska is associate professor of military history at Sam Houston State University and co-director of the Second World War Research Group, North America. She received her PhD from Yale University. Her first book, Survivors: Warsaw under Nazi Occupation, was published in 2022 with Cambridge University Press and won the Heldt Prize and an honorable mention  for the Witold Pilecki International Book Award. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Army War College, U.S. Army, or Department of Defense. Photo Description: Suppression of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising - Captured Jews are led by German Waffen SS soldiers to the assembly point for deportation (Umschlagplatz). The woman at the head of the column, on the left, is Yehudit Neyer (born Tolub). She is holding onto the right arm of her mother-in-law. The child is the daughter of Yehudit and her husband, Avraham Neyer, who can be seen to the girl's left. Avraham was a member of the Bund. Of the four, only Avraham survived the war. Between 19 April and 16 May 1943. Photo Credit: Unknown author (Franz Konrad confessed to taking some of the photographs, the rest was probably taken by photographers from Propaganda Kompanie nr 689.

Cultural property encompasses both tangible artifacts and intangible heritage that shapes societies. Historian Matthias Rogg is back in the studio, this time with Laurie Rush, an archaeologist and anthropologist working as a Department of the Army civilian at Fort Drum, NY. Laurie, who has extensive experience supporting the Army in cultural property protection missions, highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage during conflicts. Their conversation turns to the need for increased awareness and training within the military on identifying and protecting cultural property. The discussion underscores the strategic significance of cultural property protection in warfare and its impact on post-war reconstruction efforts. This is the second in a two-part series exploring these complex issues.

Cultural property encompasses both tangible artifacts and intangible heritage that shapes societies. Historian Matthias Rogg and international law expert Lando Kirchmair delve into the critical issue of protecting cultural property during armed conflicts. They discuss the multifaceted threats to cultural property, including destruction, seizure, misuse, and humiliation. Their conversation emphasizes the vital role of international law in safeguarding cultural treasures. They also highlight how threats to cultural property often trigger destabilization, bolster violence and are part of information campaigning. Matthias and Lando grapple with the ethical dilemmas inherent in protecting cultural property during wartime, questioning the balance between safeguarding cultural treasures and protecting soldiers' lives. This episode is the first in a two-part series exploring these complex issues.