The Ancient Art of Modern Warfare
Exploring how the practice of war changes while the fundamental nature and principles of war are unchanging. Host is COL Chris Mayer, USA RET, former member of the Advance Warfighting Working Group and the U.S. Government's expert on Private Military Companies.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 3
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- Sep 6, 2026
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- Jul 16, 2026
Latest episodes
Is Just War Theory Obsolete? (E143) (opens the original)
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Is Just War Theory still relevant to war and war fighting in the world today? Are the criteria of Just Cause, Right Intent, Legitimate Authority, and Proportionality, and Last Resort tools to restrain nations from going to war, or have these principles been twisted into excuses for going to war. This is part of the argument Pope Leo XIV makes in his recent Encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, in which he is reported to say that Just War Theory is outdated. Is this true? If so, what does it mean? Tha
Just War and Atom Bombs (E142) (opens the original)
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Every August and September, the U.S. atomic bombing of Japan in 1945 seems to be a topic of discussion. This year, I decided to take that on and place it into the Just War framework, specifically jus in bello, or justice in the conduct of war. Just War Theory is a recurring topic in this podcast series. I believe that this framework is critical as a restraint on war and to establishing a just and lasting peace after war. (I still intend on addressing Pope Leo’s statement that Just War Theory is
Is Hizballah a Mercenary Organization (E141) (opens the original)
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The common definition of a mercenary is a soldier paid to fight in an armed conflict for a country that is not his or her own. The terrorist organization Hizballah operates in Lebanon, fighting against Israel, with financial, material and organizational support from Iran, and frequently under the direction of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Under the common definition, could Hizballah be considered mercenaries fighting for Iran? Royce de Melo, Doug Brooks, and I discuss this question in t
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