The hottest Military Substack posts right now

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Can Israel & the U.S. Sustain Iran's Military Power? (w/ Alastair Crooke) | The Chris Hedges Report

The Chris Hedges Report • 339 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Iran has strong, resilient military capabilities. It has large missile stocks, uses older missiles and drones to exhaust interceptors, and has damaged expensive radar and surveillance systems while keeping hypersonic and siloed launch options for a long war.
  2. The U.S. and Israel miscalculated and overreached. Their strikes and the assassination of Iranian leaders have provoked broad regional backlash and revealed shortages in intercept capacity and contingency planning.
  3. The conflict is reshaping the region and global markets. Gulf security and the Strait of Hormuz are at risk, energy and investment flows are shifting away from Gulf hubs, and political instability is rising in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel and for Palestinians.

The Coalition That Was Built After the Bombs Fell

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 556 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Operation Epic Fury is creating a new way for regional powers to coordinate responses to Iranian attacks.
  2. During the First Gulf War, the United States spent months building a broad international coalition and prioritized Arab participation while keeping Israel out of direct action.
  3. Israel once chose restraint—refraining from retaliation even when targeted—to avoid breaking a fragile coalition, showing how political considerations can shape military responses.

Why Not to Mourn NATO, Volume II: The Bush-Putin Files

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 5000 implied HN points • 15 Jan 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Declassified Bush–Putin transcripts show the U.S. pushed NATO expansion despite Russian warnings that adding countries like Ukraine would create long-term confrontation and instability.
  2. Expanding NATO while developing new offensive and defensive systems deepened mutual distrust and helped spark an arms race that alarmed Russian leaders.
  3. Repeated U.S. choices to prioritize enlargement over arms-control talks (like START II) meant missed chances to reduce tensions and preserve post‑9/11 cooperation.

Who Will Rule Iran? Plus. . .

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 449 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. A weakened Iranian regime is likely to cling to power unless an organized force removes it, and Kurdish fighters are emerging as a pivotal force that could either topple the government or plunge the country into civil war.
  2. Widespread internet outages and the sidelining of U.S. broadcasting tools have left Iranian dissidents fragmented and made it much harder for outside actors to rally or inform domestic opposition.
  3. The conflict is already reshaping the region and global politics: U.S. strikes have degraded Iranian forces, NATO has acted to intercept missiles, and the war is producing wide political, security, and economic ripple effects.

In the Time of the Mad King.

Breaking the News • 3719 implied HN points • 12 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. A president who can’t tell fact from fiction is proposing reckless, unnecessary actions—like trying to seize Greenland—that would offend allies and add burdens the country doesn’t need.
  2. Powerful aides and politicians are keeping him in place by lying, manipulating, or becoming true believers, which lets destructive and self-serving policies spread.
  3. This mix of a disintegrating leader and enabling henchmen raises the real risk of institutional breakdown, including split loyalties in the military and harsher enforcement at home, with dangerous consequences for everyone.
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Empires Fall

Slack Tide by Matt Labash • 239 implied HN points • 14 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. Our leaders are leaning on meme-speak and spectacle instead of serious strategy, turning big decisions into performative shows. That makes policy shallow, erratic, and hard to trust.
  2. The current campaign has poorly defined objectives and shaky competence, which makes it likely to become a costly, unresolved conflict; asymmetric tactics and disruptions (like hits on shipping and higher oil prices) already show the damage.
  3. Empires decline when they grow decadent, overextend, and believe their own hype, and America may be following that pattern; if so, the world could lose a once-reliable stabilizing power and face an uncertain rearrangement.

The Increase in Ukrainian Casualties

Glenn’s Substack • 1378 implied HN points • 04 Sep 24
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Ukrainian military losses are rising, which is common as wars reach their final stages. When a side is losing, they often struggle with resources, morale, and communication.
  2. The situation in Ukraine is worsening with fewer troops and equipment. As their frontlines weaken, many soldiers are defecting or surrendering, leading to a chaotic military environment.
  3. NATO faces difficult choices in response to the war. There's growing pressure to either negotiate peace or increase involvement, while the risk of a direct conflict with Russia looms large.

The Weekend Press: A Soldier’s Letters Home

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 301 implied HN points • 07 Mar 26
🎭️ Culture Military
  1. A retired general’s wartime journal shows how fear, love, and the human cost of war shape soldiers and the families they leave behind. It reminds readers that each casualty represents a whole life and many lost plans.
  2. A new subculture of AI enthusiasts wants to outsource everyday work and even whole jobs to agents, celebrating tools that automate digital life and reduce admin tasks. Their excitement highlights how quickly people are ready to hand responsibilities over to machines.
  3. The newsletter mixes sharp cultural picks and lively opinion pieces, from a striking Iranian-set vampire film that speaks to women’s lives to debates about motherhood, plus weekend recommendations for books, films, and food. It offers varied reads and viewing ideas for the weekend.

The Case Against the War

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 500 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🌐 International Military
  1. Even if a war looks like it could succeed, it’s very easy to imagine it spiraling out of control and causing huge, unintended harm.
  2. Opponents shape the course of a war, so plans can be derailed and you can’t assume events will go as intended.
  3. Firsthand combat experience highlights the deep human cost and lasting reminders of loss that come with military action.

War Hits Hard for Families of Soldiers Sent Off to Fight

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 185 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. Deployment causes intense worry that shows up as physical symptoms like cold sweats and heart palpitations, creating a constant, underlying dread.
  2. Loved ones often don’t know where soldiers actually are or what dangers they face, leaving them feeling helpless and uncertain.
  3. Everyday life and caregiving continue, and people use small routines and distractions to cope, but those strategies don’t remove the ongoing fear and stress.

Reading List 11/29/25

Construction Physics • 8768 implied HN points • 29 Nov 25
🕹 Technology Military
  1. NIMBYism, which is the opposition to housing development, is partly driven by how buildings look. People often prefer aesthetically pleasing structures, and this preference can influence their support for new housing.
  2. Drones are now being used in emergencies to deliver medical devices like defibrillators faster than ambulances can arrive. This could help save lives by reducing the time it takes to get crucial medical equipment to people in need.
  3. Iran is considering moving its capital due to severe water shortages in Tehran. The government is exploring relocation as the city faces a dire ecological crisis caused by climate change and poor management of resources.

Life and Death and Other Numbers

Thinking about... • 332 implied HN points • 24 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Numbers can show the scale of death, but each number is a unique person with a life and relationships that statistics cannot capture.
  2. Anniversaries and counts risk turning loss into an abstraction and can let individuals and states avoid moral responsibility.
  3. The war’s length and size are the result of ongoing political and economic choices, so ending it depends on changing those choices and actions.

Weekend Update #175: The Week In Which Ukraine Stood Up To Help The USA And The USA Stood Up To Help Russia

Phillips’s Newsletter • 363 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Ukraine has developed cheap, effective ways to shoot down attack drones and quickly stepped in to help the US and other allies who lacked that capability.
  2. Recent US decisions around the Iran conflict — defending Russian actions, easing oil restrictions, and expending large amounts of advanced air-defense missiles — have effectively aided Russia politically and economically while depleting US and allied stocks.
  3. On the ground, Ukraine made net territorial gains in February and is inflicting high Russian personnel losses, suggesting their drone-heavy, lower-manpower strategy is producing results.

The Rescuers Who Go Where the U.S. Government Can’t

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 366 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🌐 International Military
  1. A private nonprofit made up of former special-operations and intelligence veterans runs daring international rescue and evacuation missions where governments can’t or won’t act.
  2. They’ve pulled off high-profile extractions using covert tactics and mixed transport like cars, boats, and private planes, and are getting many urgent requests from Americans stuck in dangerous places.
  3. Facing high-risk situations, the team is mobilizing to evacuate people from Middle East conflict zones and other hotspots, highlighting growing demand for private rescue options.

Middle East-focused US/UK intel contractors discussed price for their spies to 'break stuff'

All-Source Intelligence Fusion • 773 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Court filings show US/UK intelligence contractors discussed charging extra to move spies from passive surveillance into risky operations, including possible electronic attacks framed as an "internet coverage test".
  2. Messages reveal planning of port surveillance projects targeting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz to monitor Iran–China trade after their 2021 agreement, with codenames like METALLICA and QUIXOTE.
  3. The firms operated through layered shell companies and strict compartmentalization while holding large U.S. defense contracts, and their covert acquisition, payouts, and PR risks led to lawsuits and internal concern.

Against All Enemies

Unpopular Front • 150 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. The current military action lacks a clear strategy or legal rationale, and leadership looks impulsive and unfocused, making outcomes unpredictable.
  2. Domestic failures and a turn toward neocon influence are pushing risky foreign adventures as a way to distract from problems at home, but there’s no real effort to win public support.
  3. The campaign appears materially unsustainable — interceptors and munitions are being depleted and even friendly forces have been lost to errors — raising a serious risk of prolonged escalation.

Life Under Iran’s Rockets

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 268 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Iran launched ballistic missiles toward Israel, reigniting a new round of conflict after months of relative calm.
  2. Daily life is heavily disrupted: schools and shops are closed, holiday celebrations are canceled, and many people are staying inside.
  3. Israelis are following well-practiced civil defense routines, staying near bomb shelters and enduring anxious waits to see where strikes will land.

The Dangerous Obsession with Territory in a War of Attrition

Glenn’s Substack • 1418 implied HN points • 20 Aug 24
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. In a war of attrition, the goal is to wear down the enemy, not just take land. Taking territory requires a lot of resources and can be costly.
  2. Territorial gains often get celebrated, but they’re not always strategic. Advancing too far can harm supply lines and weaken defenses.
  3. There's pressure in the West to support any gains by Ukraine, which complicates discussions about effective strategies. Sometimes, focusing on PR can overshadow the real military needs.

Hafiz; Ervand Abrahamian; Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi

Unpopular Front • 35 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. A classic poet casts spiritual and romantic struggle as a kind of holy war, urging tenderness and a questioning of rigid ideas about God.
  2. Sanctions have devastated Iran’s salaried middle class and driven many into deep poverty, creating widespread economic resentment, yet the regime still rests on a lower-middle-class base tied to the Revolutionary Guards and will likely fight to stay in power.
  3. Western focus on Iran’s missiles and proxies may overstate their practical threat, and calls for regime change ignore how deeply the IRGC is embedded; pressing too hard risks prolonged conflict or efforts to break the country apart like in other cases.

The USA And Israel Have Started Bombing Iran: A Primer

Phillips’s Newsletter • 372 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. The US and Israel have concentrated a huge amount of air and sea strike power around Iran — carriers, destroyers, submarines, and stealth aircraft — making one of the largest strike forces in decades.
  2. The publicly stated goal is regime change in Iran rather than a negotiated nuclear deal, with leaders framing limited military action as a way to overthrow the Iranian government.
  3. Key unknowns are how they will achieve regime change: can they locate and decapitate Iran’s leadership, have they secured inside collaborators, and will the Iranian people or military rise up — watch for leadership hits, defections, or mass protests.

Your Review: Joan of Arc

Astral Codex Ten • 18307 implied HN points • 01 Aug 25
💾 History Military
  1. Joan of Arc was a young girl who claimed she received messages from God, urging her to save France from English rule. She inspired others to follow her and fought in key battles.
  2. Despite facing a powerful enemy, she helped turn the tide for France, leading to the crowning of Charles VII as king. Her charisma and leadership rallied troops and boosted morale.
  3. After being captured, Joan was tried and executed for her beliefs. Over time, many came to see her as a martyr and a saint, highlighting the impact of her life and death on history.

Ted Postol: U.S. Missile Defense Is 'A Giant Technical Fraud'

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 120 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Iran fields large numbers of well-equipped missiles and drones with effective countermeasures and real‑time targeting that make them much harder to stop than many expect.
  2. Israel’s air defenses are being worn down and risk being overwhelmed as interceptors and systems are depleted by sustained, sophisticated attacks.
  3. Many U.S. missile defense programs can be defeated by common countermeasures, calling into question the effectiveness of expensive systems and suggesting major procurement and technical problems.

Deep Fear!

Aether Pirates of the Matterium! • 18455 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Military
  1. Military analysts are afraid of the future and the rapid advancement of technology.
  2. Tech-minded individuals are seen as a threat by the military due to their knowledge and innovative capabilities.
  3. The release of Zero Point Technology to the public, especially techies, is a major concern for the military as it would shift power dynamics significantly.

Western democracies are actually pretty good at war

Noahpinion • 21706 implied HN points • 19 Jun 25
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Western democracies can actually be very effective in wars, often outperforming autocracies when they choose to engage. This challenges the common belief that autocratic regimes are inherently stronger in military situations.
  2. Democracies tend to be more careful about the wars they fight, often only choosing battles when they have a good chance of winning, which contributes to their higher success rates. Their economy and technological advantages also play a significant role.
  3. While democracies have historically had support from the U.S., the rise of China as a strong autocracy poses new challenges. If conflict arises, democracies might not have the same military or technological edge they used to rely on.

Weekend Update #174: Ukraine Retaking Territory And Starlink

Phillips’s Newsletter • 284 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Ukrainian forces made measurable territorial gains in February (roughly 165 sq km) by using small, well-trained units, precise intelligence, and tight battlefield communications to secure contested "greyzone" areas.
  2. A reported cut-off of Russian access to Starlink degraded Russian communications and likely helped Ukrainian operations, but it also exposes the danger of relying on privately controlled satellite services and pushes Ukraine to develop backup systems.
  3. Ukraine’s FP-5 Flamingo long-range strike showed improved accuracy and real damage to a Russian missile workshop, offering promise for a strategic strike campaign if production can be scaled, while European leaders are distancing themselves from US/Israeli strikes on Iran and signaling a more independent diplomatic stance that could matter politically for Ukraine.

The economic consequences of a war with Iran

Noahpinion • 19647 implied HN points • 22 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. A war with Iran is unlikely to escalate into a large-scale conflict, especially since other countries like China and Russia are not likely to intervene. The situation seems to remain mostly under control.
  2. The economic impact of the conflict might mainly affect oil prices. If Iran reduces its oil exports or closes the Strait of Hormuz, it could hurt global oil supply, but the U.S. is somewhat protected from these disruptions.
  3. Many fears about the economic consequences of Trump's strikes on Iran might be exaggerated. The U.S. economy is more insulated from oil supply issues than other countries, so the overall risk may not be as serious as some think.

How Gripen Philosophy Could Beat the F-35

Erik Explores • 614 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Gripen is built for coordinated, squad-level fighting—its peer-to-peer data sharing and electronic warfare let multiple jets act as a single, flexible unit, while the F-35 focuses on individual stealth and sensor fusion.
  2. Because it’s simpler and cheaper to maintain and produce, Gripen can fly more often, train pilots faster, and stay operational when logistics or supply chains are strained.
  3. Its open, modular electronics, AI-friendly design, and support from long-range sensors like GlobalEye make Gripen easier to upgrade and better suited to adaptive, resource-constrained wars where resilience matters.

THE FEAR THAT DROVE TRUMP TO WAR

Seymour Hersh • 28 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. Fear of a nuclear Iran — even if exaggerated — was presented as the main justification for the recent war and the resulting slaughter.
  2. Senior U.S. military figures engaged in highly secret contacts with Iran’s military leadership, including indirect dealings with the supreme leader, showing intense behind-the-scenes engagement before open conflict.
  3. A pointed joke about the supreme leader captures how officials saw him as inscrutable and suggests that dark humor and misperception played into serious decision-making.

Where in the world is Lloyd?

Robert Reich • 19025 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. The military chain of command is crucial in both democracies and dictatorships.
  2. Being aware of potential misuse of military power by political leaders is important.
  3. Historically, dictators heavily rely on the military to maintain power.

War on Iran: The Information Gap

God's Spies by Thomas Neuburger • 160 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Commercial satellite firms are delaying public images over Israel and the Gulf, so independent observers lack real-time visual evidence of damage there while images of Iran remain available.
  2. Other reports claim heavy damage to U.S. bases and Israeli infrastructure, meaning repairs could take years and may weaken future U.S. presence in the region.
  3. Iran looks determined to keep fighting and seems unlikely to fold, and because Israel is small even a low rate of successful strikes can cause outsized damage while Iran’s size gives it greater staying power.

Where is the off ramp for this war?

Taipology • 74 implied HN points • 01 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Missile interceptors are expensive and often miss, so the US is burning through costly stockpiles that are hard to replenish because key parts like semiconductors and rare earths mostly come from China.
  2. Iran’s missile forces are mostly mobile and spread out, which encourages a 'use it or lose it' response and means strikes are hitting regional targets while fueling widespread Shia anger after the Ayatollah’s killing.
  3. That dynamic leaves the US with few good options: either pull back without achieving regime change or stay and risk a costly quagmire, while a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could push oil prices much higher and make the situation worse.

Weekend Update #173: Ukraine Liberates Hundreds Of Square Kilometres, What Might It Mean?

Phillips’s Newsletter • 374 implied HN points • 22 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. Ukraine says it liberated about 300 square kilometres in the south, but that may mostly be clearing small Russian infiltration units rather than one big counterattack, and maps often lag real gains.
  2. US‑brokered talks look increasingly performative — negotiators walked out after a short time, Ukrainians feel pressured to cede land, and European leaders are pushing for a more serious, independent role.
  3. Ukraine used FP‑5 Flamingo cruise missiles to strike deep inside Russia at a major missile factory, showing growing long‑range strike ability and a focus on degrading Russian missile production rather than relying only on scarce air defenses.

The 1979 Playbook

European Straits • 23 implied HN points • 08 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. A late-cycle shock in the Middle East is hitting an already fragile economy, driving oil above $90 and adding fresh inflationary pressure while jobs and growth soften.
  2. We’re in the maturity phase of the tech-led paradigm, where slowing productivity, high public debt, and institutional decay mean shocks are amplified and monetary options are constrained.
  3. The United States has a history of misreading Iran, and recent strikes appear driven more by domestic politics than clear strategy; asymmetric warfare economically favors Iran and the crisis could either hasten a new global order or merely prolong the old one.

The Week Ahead (02.04.03)

The Status Kuo • 12873 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. Heavy military strikes in the Middle East led by the U.S. and U.K.
  2. Speaker Johnson tries to pass stand-alone bill for aid to Israel, splitting Democrats.
  3. Joe Biden defies polls in South Carolina primary, emphasizing his appeal among African American voters.

Trump Told Iranian Protesters Help Was on the Way. What Happened?

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 565 implied HN points • 06 Feb 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. Trump publicly warned Iran the U.S. was "locked and loaded" if the regime shot protesters, but no U.S. strike followed the subsequent deadly crackdown.
  2. Officials say a key practical reason for not striking is that U.S. missile defense and strike resources are depleted, which limits options for rapid retaliation.
  3. Instead of punishing the regime for the massacre, U.S. envoys are meeting with Iranian officials to negotiate about the nuclear program and support for terrorism rather than the protesters' fate.

Grand Illusion

The Chris Hedges Report • 1183 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military
  1. Declining empires turn to war and the worship of strength, believing violence can restore past greatness, but that obsession ultimately demands self-sacrifice and destroys the empire.
  2. Leaders who prefer force over diplomacy gut institutions of soft power and staff key posts with cronies, leaving the country unable to understand others or manage complex alliances.
  3. Constant militarism and imperial overreach erode domestic democracy and invite international blowback, risking isolation, backlash, and eventual collapse.

Antigravity and the Deep State

Tao Lin • 959 implied HN points • 06 Aug 24
🔬 Science Military
  1. Antigravity is the idea of controlling gravity, but most scientists say it's impossible based on current physics theories.
  2. Some researchers believe that experiments with antigravity technology started over a century ago and involved famous inventors like Nikola Tesla.
  3. In the 1950s, there was much excitement about antigravity and its potential for new aircraft, but after that, discussions stopped, possibly because the technology became classified.

A Positive Sign for Flying in the Future...

Breaking the News • 1244 implied HN points • 27 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Military
  1. An automated Autoland system successfully landed a Beechcraft King Air after pilot incapacitation, showing that flight automation can handle real emergencies and improve safety for single-pilot general aviation.
  2. This successful deployment is a major technological step but won’t quickly replace two-pilot rules or passenger comfort with pilotless airliners; it is instead a forward-looking advance toward more autonomous point-to-point transport.
  3. Separately, recent close calls where US military aircraft went dark or interfered with civilian flight paths reveal an urgent, avoidable safety problem in current airspace operations.

The US and Israel attack Iran: Round 2

Comment is Freed • 140 implied HN points • 28 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Military
  1. The US and Israel have launched strikes with the stated goal of regime change, and Iran now sees its survival as threatened so it has struck back across the region.
  2. Iran’s government is internally weak — corrupt, economically strained, and it recently crushed large protests — but it still relies on well-organized, ruthless forces like the revolutionary guard.
  3. Those dynamics raise the risk of a wider regional war as Iran tries to create chaos to raise the political stakes for the US, yet it remains unclear whether the strikes will actually topple the regime.

I Wrote a Novel About War. Now I’m Watching It Unfold in Iran.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 134 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
🌐 International Military
  1. Scenarios once written as fiction—Russian warships operating near Iran, hypersonic threats to U.S. carriers, and a regime desperate to survive—are now playing out in reality.
  2. Sudden events like the drone strike that killed General Qasem Soleimani can rapidly upend strategic assumptions and force analysts to rewrite their plans.
  3. Collaborating with experienced military thinkers can help fiction anticipate real crises, highlighting how fragile and fast-changing international security has become.