Episode Details

American military power is in serious trouble - not because we don't spend enough, but because we've been living in a dangerous fantasy since the end of the Cold War. Military historian and strategist Michael Vlahos delivers a wake-up call about the true state of our armed forces and defense industrial base.

The spectacular victory in Desert Storm created what Vlahos calls a "celestial authority of American arms," convincing leadership and the public that American military power was godlike and invincible. This perception, combined with a fetishistic obsession with technology and the belief that money spent directly correlates to military effectiveness, created a mythology that persists despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

What's the reality? Our weapons stockpiles have been severely depleted supporting Ukraine and Israel. Production lines for critical munitions can't keep pace with demand - even after promising to increase artillery shell production to 40,000 per month, supply chain issues and labor shortages made these targets unattainable. The United States simply lacks the industrial capacity to sustain high-intensity combat operations without national mobilization.

Ukraine provides a stark example of these dynamics. While Russia carefully manages its resources and minimizes casualties, Ukraine loses approximately 26,500 soldiers monthly - a rate that has produced casualties higher, as a percentage of population, than France suffered in World War I. The forcible conscription of older and disabled men reflects a desperate manpower shortage that can't be sustained.

The silver lining? These limitations may actually constrain aggressive foreign policy, preventing escalation into direct conflicts we can't sustain. As Vlahos notes, "In terms of restraining the unbridled exercise of American power, it is good news."

Listen now for an unvarnished look at military reality that challenges everything you thought you knew about American power projection in the 21st century.