The hottest Warfare Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Technology Topics

The Oligarchical Corridor

Thinking about... • 724 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. A small network of wealthy private actors and close advisers — an "oligarchical corridor" — is shaping major foreign policy choices by bypassing official institutions and public debate.
  2. The war with Iran appears to benefit foreign states and wealthy interests (notably Israel, Saudi Arabia, and in some respects Russia) while harming US strategic interests by wasting weapons, weakening allies, and showing tactical unpreparedness.
  3. This dynamic erodes American institutions and citizen influence, leaving force and policy to private deals and personal loyalties, and recognizing that trend is the first step toward restoring democratic accountability.

It’s Been One Week of War in Iran. Here’s What We’ve Learned.

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 519 implied HN points • 06 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. A joint U.S.-Israel attack killed Iran’s top leadership and many senior commanders, marking an unprecedented escalation in the conflict.
  2. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes across the region targeting Israel, U.S. bases, and other countries, which has already caused U.S. military deaths and widened the war.
  3. U.S. public support is low and many worry this could be a long, unpredictable war; experts warn it might spark internal collapse in Iran and will reshape power dynamics across the Middle East and beyond.

The Clock Is Ticking for Iran’s New Supreme Leader

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 310 implied HN points • 09 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. The new Supreme Leader faces immediate personal danger because precision strikes recently killed his predecessor and other senior figures.
  2. Every smartphone, smart appliance, modern car, and camera increases the chance his location will be exposed. He needs to avoid or tightly control personal tech and public exposures to survive.
  3. Advances in sensors, data collection, and targeting have made assassinations more feasible from a distance. That change forces leaders to treat everyday technology and data as direct security threats.

Patiently Waiting to Strike

imetatronink • 3950 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. US/NATO's ISR assets are crucial in the Ukraine War.
  2. Russia has restrained from attacking US/NATO ISR assets to manage escalation.
  3. Russian military strength has grown, and they have bold objectives in the Ukraine region.
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Left in the dark

Comment is Freed • 99 implied HN points • 18 Feb 26
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. Modern battlefield operations depend heavily on continuous connectivity—commanders use live feeds, target data, and smartphones to coordinate artillery, drones, and unit movements, so losing that connection can be catastrophic.
  2. Russia recently lost access to thousands of unauthorized Starlink terminals and suffered deliberate degradation of Telegram, disrupting troop communications and slowing information flow; those disruptions have already hindered Russian operations and opened opportunities for a Ukrainian counter-offensive.
  3. This episode is a real-world test of how a military adapts when cut off from internet-based systems, and it exposes weaknesses in Russia’s reliance on improvised, unofficial connectivity solutions.

SITREP 6/30/23: Winds Gather Before the NATO Summit

Simplicius's Garden of Knowledge • 7593 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. Ukraine struggles to make significant advances against Russia, facing setbacks and casualties in its offensives.
  2. Western partners are pushing Ukraine towards negotiations for conflict resolution over air cover and supplies issues.
  3. Russia maintains overwhelming pressure on all frontlines, awaiting potential further escalation next year with more troops mobilized.

Bleeding the Beast

imetatronink • 3518 implied HN points • 15 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. The Ukrainian forces armed by NATO have been systematically wrecked.
  2. Russia's military power has strengthened significantly over the years.
  3. The imperial domain is being depleted of limited armaments stockpiles.

CROSSPOST: MICHAEL SELLERS: How the CIA & Israel Pulled Off the Successful Opening Leadership Strike on Iran

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 15 implied HN points • 02 Mar 26
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. A timely intelligence 'pivot' that Iranian leaders would all be together created the chance for a decapitation strike, making a single simultaneous attack effective.
  2. The operation combined standoff weapons, compound-level targeting, and coordinated simultaneous hits while keeping surprise until impact, showing how precision intelligence and munitions can enable rapid, high-value strikes.
  3. This episode shows modern war shifting in the attention-info-bio-tech era: leaders can be exposed in unhardened urban settings, and intelligence-driven targeting is reshaping how twenty-first-century conflicts are fought.

The Costs of War at Sea

CDR Salamander • 1650 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🌐 International Warfare
  1. Large war at sea is inevitable and will have significant costs in terms of lives and resources.
  2. When war erupts, naval and air battles in the Pacific will be intense and potentially overwhelming.
  3. The historical context of war at sea highlights the challenging nature of such conflicts and the need for readiness and action.

After Ukraine, US readies 'transnational kill chain' for Taiwan proxy war

Geopolitical Economy Report • 1076 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. The US approved the sale of the Link 16 system to Taiwan as a key step in completing a 'transnational coalition kill chain' against China for potential war.
  2. Link 16 system enables coordination between various military platforms and forces, including sea, air, land, nuclear bombers, fighters, satellites, and more, positioning Taiwan as a critical link in the potential war offensive against China.
  3. US's preparations for war involve dispersed, network-centric warfare strategies focused on surrounding China with allies, further facilitated by military sales like Link 16, indicating a push towards a multifront war approach.

Scattered thoughts on slavery and the Byzantine Empire

Something to Consider • 59 implied HN points • 22 Jun 24
💾 History Warfare
  1. The time period between 600 and 900 AD was marked by constant warfare and widespread slavery, making it an unsafe and anxious era to live in.
  2. Historical records from this time mainly focus on kings and religious leaders, leaving out the everyday struggles and events of regular people.
  3. Slavery's demand mainly stemmed from economic reasons, with foreign slaves often seen as more profitable due to their cultural differences and the dynamics of warfare.

US blew up Nord Stream pipelines connecting Russia to Germany, journalist Seymour Hersh reports

Geopolitical Economy Report • 558 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. The US government, with the help of CIA, Navy divers, and NATO member Norway, reportedly destroyed the Nord Stream pipelines connecting Russia to Germany.
  2. There were denial from the White House and CIA about the covert operation, illustrating how they can legally lie to the public about such actions.
  3. US's planning to destroy Nord Stream began before Russia invaded Ukraine, with the operation executed by US Navy divers placing explosives on the pipelines during NATO exercises.

What You Should Know

Yasha Levine • 471 implied HN points • 24 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. Prigozhin criticizes Putin's military leadership and corruption, highlighting issues in Russia's military structure.
  2. Czech president suggests monitoring Russians abroad, drawing parallels to Japanese internment during WWII.
  3. Discussion on forgotten history, liberal bigotry, and a new book revealing Israel's secret service attacks in Baghdad to trigger Jewish migration.

Ukraine conflict ‘caused by Europeans' love of war, hegemony’, says Malaysia's ex leader

Geopolitical Economy Report • 498 implied HN points • 01 Mar 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. According to Malaysia's ex-leader Mahathir Mohamad, the conflict in Ukraine is a result of Europeans' love for war and dominance.
  2. Mahathir warns that the situation could escalate to become the beginning of a Third World War.
  3. He criticizes Western actions that have led to sanctions, shortages of supplies, and tensions in regions like East Asia.

Chartbook 251: In the beginning was Napoleon

Chartbook • 1945 implied HN points • 03 Dec 23
💾 History Warfare
  1. Napoleon's era of warfare was on a larger scale and more organized than previous conflicts in Europe.
  2. The Napoleonic wars had a significant impact on the economies of France, Britain, and the wider world, affecting trade and prices globally.
  3. Napoleon's ambitions and successes led to massive counter-acting forces, reshaping European power dynamics and economy, with Britain emerging as a financial and naval powerhouse.

Wallerstein Constant

kamilkazani • 334 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. The siege of Mariupol was a significant tragedy in 2022, shedding light on the city's complex history and industrial importance.
  2. Crimean Khanate had a unique political structure, different from the Ottoman Empire, with elements of a military democracy.
  3. Crimean Khanate was ethnically diverse, hosting various groups and languages, and eventually succumbed to Russian influence in the 18th century.

So They're Experimenting With Military Robots In Gaza Now

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1550 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. Military operations are used to test new war machinery, putting human lives at risk for the benefit of empire managers and the military-industrial complex.
  2. Gaza is being used as a testing ground for military robots and autonomous weapons systems, raising concerns about dehumanization and widespread killing.
  3. The practice of using conflict zones like Gaza, Ukraine, and Africa as testing grounds for new weapons and technology is common, allowing for improvements and profit in the global arms industry.

Biden Says The US "Does Not Seek Conflict In The Middle East" While Actively Dropping Bombs There

Caitlin’s Newsletter • 1522 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. The US administration is actively dropping bombs in the Middle East while claiming not to seek conflict there.
  2. The US military strikes have been described as 'retaliatory' despite lacking evidence linking Iran to the attacks.
  3. The US empire continuously engages in conflict in the Middle East, despite claiming to not seek conflict and painting itself as a victim.

Is there still life in the Military Revolution?

Economic History Research • 334 implied HN points • 06 Sep 23
💾 History Warfare
  1. Military competition in early modern Europe led to the development of expensive technologies and tactics for warfare.
  2. The 'military revolution' thesis argues that military innovations drove state formation and European imperial success.
  3. Critiques of the 'military revolution' thesis point out inaccuracies in details, but still acknowledge the significance of the evolution of military technology and political organization.

TL;DRussia Weekend Roundup

TL;DRussia • 314 implied HN points • 04 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. The term 'Potemkin' has started being used to describe all things Russian, especially related to economy and political situations.
  2. Russian officials may not be actively trying to mislead the public or foreign observers about the state of affairs, but there are concerns about the reliability of the Russian economy.
  3. Recent essays and articles discuss the role of ideas and ideology in contemporary Russia, exploring Putinism, ultra-conservative philosophies, and the influence of dark future narratives.

Fool Me Twice

Séamus Malekafzali • 277 implied HN points • 20 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. The post-9/11 and Iraq War era tactics are being used in Israel's war in Gaza, with diminishing returns.
  2. Israel and the US are justifying the Gaza conflict using historical comparisons like the Third Reich and the War on Terror.
  3. The playbook of spreading false information and preparing for war has been seen before, causing distrust and cynicism.

Capitalism put an end to systematic warfare

Wood From Eden • 960 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. Capitalism led to the decline of systematic warfare as the main way for producers to compete.
  2. Human evolution has been a struggle between individual and group selection, where societies with best productivity survived wars.
  3. The shift to the market economy allowed producers to compete directly, promoting productivity without the need for destructive warfare.

[Spanish translation] El genocidio maorí de los moriori

Grey Goose Chronicles • 117 implied HN points • 16 Jan 24
💾 History Warfare
  1. The Maori-Moriori genocide was a result of the Maori access to muskets causing violence between the tribes.
  2. The Moriori were a peaceful culture on the Chatham Islands, while the Maori were known for their warrior lifestyle.
  3. The Maori invasion led to the near extinction of the Moriori people, including atrocities like enslavement and massacres.

SHARKTOPUS VS PTERACUDA

ANDREA CECCHI Newsletter • 176 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
💰 Finance Warfare
  1. The world's economic system is based on creating continuous debt to repay previous debt.
  2. War serves multiple purposes, including economic gain and destruction.
  3. Wars are often viewed as a 'racket,' benefiting certain entities at the expense of others.

"Shooting an Elephant"

History's Parrot • 98 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
💾 History Warfare
  1. George Orwell's quote about the destructive nature of white tyranny is still relevant today
  2. Orwell's experience in Burma influenced his decision to become a writer
  3. Orwell's story shows the internal conflict of upholding imperialist roles

The Words of War

Humanities in Revolt • 179 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Warfare
  1. Mainstream war reporting often uses vague euphemisms and jargon, which can obscure the true impact of conflict on human lives.
  2. The language we use around war matters, as it can shape perceptions and beliefs. It's recommended to use direct language that accurately reflects the reality of warfare.
  3. It's important to be conscious of how we attribute responsibility in discussions of war, avoiding language that masks the true agents of violence and destruction.

Links for 2024-01-27

Axis of Ordinary • 78 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
🔬 Science Warfare
  1. AI advancements are improving without human intervention.
  2. New scientific discoveries challenge current understanding of the universe and human history.
  3. Discussions about progressive politics, Biden administration decisions, and international military relations are ongoing.

Israel and Genocide, Revisited: A Response to Critics

American Dreaming • 431 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. Genocide is being redefined to include a wide range of actions such as civilian deaths, dropping bombs, and even destroying cultural sites, creating confusion and making the term lose its significance.
  2. Linguistic hyperinflation is blurring the meaning of words like 'genocide' and 'war crimes', causing a dangerous trend where serious distinctions are being erased for political convenience.
  3. The lack of reliable information and the bias in reporting on conflicts, like the Israel-Palestine situation, highlights the importance of verifying sources and considering agendas in understanding complex geopolitical issues.

Raqmu: Striking the Stone

Outlandish Claims • 19 implied HN points • 05 May 24
💾 History Warfare
  1. The biblical character Aaron is portrayed as making mistakes in various stories, leading to consequences for others.
  2. The Nabateans in history turned a dry area into an oasis by carving water sources from rock, eventually building a castle to protect it.
  3. The ancient Nabateans had a petroleum industry, using bitumen for adhesives and potentially influencing the legend of Hanukkah with their oil trade.

How Ukraine, a country without a navy, destroyed 25+ Russian warships

Back To Sifar • 19 HN points • 21 Apr 24
🌍 World Politics Warfare
  1. Despite lacking a navy, Ukraine employed innovative tactics and modern technology to destroy over 25 Russian warships.
  2. Cost-effective weapons like anti-tank guided missiles, tactical ballistic missiles, and anti-ship/cruise missiles were crucial in Ukraine's naval victories.
  3. The use of drones also played a significant role in Ukraine's successful attacks on the Russian Black Sea fleet, changing the dynamics of modern warfare.