The hottest War Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Garbage In, Garbage Out

The Radar β€’ 39 implied HN points β€’ 02 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics War Military Government Leadership Organization
  1. Fast Communication Loops: In complex operations, keep communication channels direct and rapid to maintain agility and outpace competition.
  2. Don't Compound Mistakes: Avoid making a bad situation worse by questioning decisions and empowering individuals to prevent wasteful actions.
  3. Never Take Advantage of Your People: Ensure that organizational values are upheld to prevent disillusionment and maintain intrinsic motivation among team members.
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How American Shock Capitalism Fostered the Russia-Ukraine War

JoeWrote β€’ 30 implied HN points β€’ 27 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Nationalism Oligarchy Capitalism War
  1. Geopolitical conflicts, like the Russia-Ukraine War, are often oversimplified as 'Good Guys vs. Bad Guys,' but understanding the complexities behind these conflicts is crucial to preventing future tragedies.
  2. The implementation of Shock Capitalism in Russia post-Soviet Union led to a catastrophic economic collapse, increased income inequality, and the rise of an oligarchy, setting the stage for social unrest and Putin's consolidation of power.
  3. Nationalism, particularly in Russia, has been used by leaders like Putin to distract from domestic issues, justify military action, and boost popularity, highlighting the dangerous impact of nationalism when fueled by political agendas.

Commentator

Castalia β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 18 Nov 22
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics War National Security Foreign Relations Political Commentary Tech Policy
  1. The war in Ukraine is ongoing with Ukraine recapturing Kherson, highlighting the differences in motivation and organization between Ukrainian and Russian forces. Despite fatigue from the constant news, it's important to recognize the significance of these events.
  2. The collapse of FTX and the downfall of Sam Bankman-Fried has brought a mix of schadenfreude and concern over the fragile state of the crypto industry. Many view the situation as a cautionary tale about the financial reality of crypto and the dangers of unchecked ambition.
  3. There’s a growing call to ban TikTok in the U.S. due to national security concerns, as the app is seen as a tool for espionage by the Chinese government. This reflects a shift in how we view technology, realizing it can be controlled and influenced by powerful entities.

Letter from the Western Front, Christmas Day 1914

Logos β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 20 Dec 23
πŸ’Ύ History War Conflict Peace Christmas Letters
  1. During the Christmas truce of 1914, British and German soldiers stopped fighting to sing carols and celebrate together. This surprising moment of peace showed their shared humanity despite being enemies.
  2. Soldiers exchanged gifts, stories, and even laughter, realizing they had things in common like hope, fears, and loved ones back home. It highlighted that they were not just soldiers but human beings with feelings.
  3. The letter reflects on how this brief friendship made the soldiers question the nature of war. It suggests that if countries could communicate with kindness instead of hostility, perhaps conflicts could be resolved more peacefully.

Commentator

Castalia β€’ 59 implied HN points β€’ 02 Feb 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics War AI Media Government Society
  1. There is a debate about the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on writing and communication. While some think they make writing less important, others worry about losing human creativity and memory.
  2. Many Russian soldiers are struggling with poor conditions and lack of support, leading to high desertion rates. Reports show that a significant number of convicts recruited for the war are now either dead or missing.
  3. Recent revelations about the origins of COVID-19 suggest that the decision to rule out the lab leak theory was influenced by political concerns, not just scientific evidence. This highlights the need for transparency in health discussions.

Event: Giving Veterans More than β€œThanks" (Sunday, May 29, 2022)

Humanities in Revolt β€’ 79 implied HN points β€’ 28 May 22
πŸ₯ Health & Wellness Veterans Service Understanding War
  1. Honoring veterans goes beyond superficial 'thanks' - it involves understanding their service and the complexities of war.
  2. Popular culture often oversimplifies the experiences of veterans, leading to empty gestures of gratitude.
  3. Genuine conversations with veterans about their experiences and taking civic responsibility for sending them to war are crucial gestures of respect.

One Step at a Time: The Stages of War

Comment is Freed β€’ 81 implied HN points β€’ 26 Feb 23
🌍 World Politics War Diplomacy Military Geopolitics Peace
  1. The duration of the war and the steps involved are uncertain, with constant speculation about its eventual end.
  2. Both sides are preparing for potential offensives, with the outcome of each stage shaping the next.
  3. Diplomatic efforts for peace face challenges due to differing priorities and the complexity of issues like war crimes and border demarcation.

The Bomb, the Man, the Morality

Skeptic β€’ 49 implied HN points β€’ 24 Jul 23
🎭️ Culture History Politics Film War
  1. Christopher Nolan's film 'Oppenheimer' renews debate on the use of nuclear weapons to end World War II and the nature of moral conflicts.
  2. Human conditions are rarely black-and-white, and approach-avoidance conflicts are common in life, culture, and politics.
  3. The dropping of the atomic bombs, while not a moral act, was the least destructive option at the time and likely saved lives by ending the war and preventing a potentially higher death toll from prolonged conventional bombing or invasion.

Why doesn't Masters of the Air work?

Kvetch β€’ 19 implied HN points β€’ 17 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture TV shows War Entertainment History Cinematography
  1. Stories about bombers might feel repetitive and confining, making it challenging to create engaging content.
  2. Creating great television like 'Band of Brothers' sets a high bar that is difficult to match.
  3. The challenges of portraying the realities of war, character development, and moral dilemmas in 'Masters of the Air' result in some storytelling and thematic issues.

Memoirs of the First Donbass War

Nemets β€’ 66 implied HN points β€’ 12 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics War Memoirs Nationalism Rebellion Conflict
  1. The First Donbass War started in 2014 after an armed rebellion by those sympathetic to Russia in eastern Ukraine.
  2. The Ukrainian military relied on volunteer paramilitary formations due to neglect in the years leading up to the conflict.
  3. Various memoirs provide insights into the complexities and motivations behind the different factions involved in the war.

WWIII: Winning the Peace

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast β€’ 32 implied HN points β€’ 27 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics War Geopolitics Satellites Energy Influence
  1. Different conflicts around the world are interconnected and involve superpowers to varying degrees.
  2. Some wars, like those in space and underwater, are not as visible because they lack human casualties and photo opportunities.
  3. Contested regions are becoming more important due to valuable resources, leading to increased geopolitical tensions.

War

The Leftovers β€’ 59 implied HN points β€’ 26 Feb 22
🌍 World Politics War
  1. The author reflects on the futility of words in the face of war, expressing a sense of silence as words fail to adequately convey the magnitude of conflict.
  2. Memories are triggered in response to the specter of war, suggesting a deep impact that personal experiences and recollections have when confronted with such a grim reality.
  3. The post offers a 7-day free trial to explore more content from The Leftovers, enticing readers with a sample of the full post archives.

βœ… Monday briefing: Exiting Russia, brand vandals, war misinformation, niche podcasts, local media newsletters, Socially Mobile, Twitter downvote, Google Analytics, and more...

Wadds Inc. newsletter β€’ 59 implied HN points β€’ 21 Mar 22
πŸ“° News Media War Misinformation Corporate Technology
  1. Over 400 companies have stopped doing business in Russia due to the war in Ukraine, but some still remain there. Yale researchers are tracking these corporate decisions.
  2. Niche podcasts are becoming popular and can make money through sponsorships and branded content. They offer creative and focused storytelling.
  3. Twitter has added a downvote feature to help users filter out unwanted content. This change is now available on both Android and iOS apps.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Reckoning

Big Serge Thought β€’ 16 implied HN points β€’ 15 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics War Conflict Strategy Defense Negotiation
  1. The Russo-Ukrainian War in the age of social media and cameras revealed the complexities of modern warfare.
  2. Footage from Ukraine offers valuable insight into tactics and weapon systems in near-real-time.
  3. American entertainment elements in war coverage may not reflect the reality of conflict outcomes and the challenges faced by both sides.

The Last of the Zungars - Alexander Geins, 1865

The Library of Alexandria Ultima β€’ 9 implied HN points β€’ 04 Mar 24
πŸ’Ύ History Exploration Empires War
  1. The text discusses the fate of the Zungar empire, which clashed with the Qing Dynasty and faced challenges from Russian expansion, ultimately leading to their downfall.
  2. Russian influence in Asia is highlighted, showing how the empire impacted tribes and helped in the resettlement of peoples, showcasing their historical significance.
  3. Descriptions of encounters with the Kalmyk people, including cultural aspects and conflicts, give insight into their lives and the challenges they faced.

1917 and Hollywood’s false dichotomy between humanizing and politicizing war

Geopolitical Economy Report β€’ 99 implied HN points β€’ 10 Feb 20
🎭️ Culture Film War Politics Hollywood Ideology
  1. 1917 and similar Hollywood films glorify war by depoliticizing it, focusing on technical brilliance over deeper messages.
  2. Despite stunning visuals, 1917 lacks depth in its social and cultural commentary, portraying war as a backdrop for personal challenges.
  3. Hollywood's false binary of humanizing vs. politicizing war is debunked - films can humanize war without stripping it of political context.

How The American Economy Was Centrally Planned During World War II.

JoeWrote β€’ 22 implied HN points β€’ 09 May 23
πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ U.S. Politics Economy Government Socialism Policy War
  1. During World War II, the American economy was centrally planned through mechanisms like the Office of Price Administration to ensure efficient distribution of resources.
  2. Despite common belief, history shows that the US government has succeeded in providing public goods and services, like putting astronauts on the moon and saving the auto industry.
  3. The successes of central planning in the past indicate that the government could use similar mechanisms today to address issues like food insecurity, healthcare, and housing.

Vietnamerica

ThΓ‘i | Hacker | Kα»Ή sΖ° tin tαΊ·c β€’ 339 implied HN points β€’ 05 Aug 15
🎭️ Culture History Family War Art & Illustration Emotions
  1. Families often stay united despite individuals taking different sides in conflicts.
  2. Vietnamerica is a graphic novel that tells a three-generation journey through war, displacement, and resilience.
  3. Vietnamerica emphasizes the power of shared pain and turning it into love and unity among people with different backgrounds.

You ARE the Combatant in this War

Dr. Pippa's Pen & Podcast β€’ 22 implied HN points β€’ 09 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics War Leaders Nuclear Weapons Military technology
  1. Leaders around the world are escalating tensions and tests of military power, increasing the risk of conflict.
  2. The distinction between civilian and military roles is blurring, with civilians in high-tech fields potentially becoming military threats.
  3. The shift towards dual-use technologies means that modern tech innovations can have both civilian and military applications, impacting global security.

Russo-Ukrainian War: The Wagner Uprising

Big Serge Thought β€’ 14 implied HN points β€’ 26 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics War Crisis Management Mercenaries Government Security
  1. The events surrounding the Wagner Uprising were dramatic but did not pose a significant threat to the stability of the Russian state.
  2. Different ideological perspectives led to varying interpretations of the event, but it was mainly driven by Prigozhin's attempt to protect the independence of his PMC, Wagner.
  3. Despite the challenges posed by the uprising, the Russian government managed the crisis competently, showcasing overall stability and control.

The Battle of Bakhmut: Postmortem

Big Serge Thought β€’ 12 implied HN points β€’ 02 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics War Military Strategy Tactics
  1. The Battle of Bakhmut was a prolonged and bloody conflict, with slow progress and extensive destruction due to intense urban combat.
  2. Both Ukrainian and Russian sides debated the strategic importance of Bakhmut, with theories of it being used as a trap or a vital defensive anchor.
  3. The battle resulted in high casualties, with estimations of around 45,000 losses for Ukraine, 17,000 for Wagner, and a strategic advantage for Russia in terms of preserving its regular forces.