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Melanie, Chris, and Zack debate the findings of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy. They agree that there is a mismatch between U.S. defense strategy and the resources required to execute it, but they disagree on whether and how to adjust the strategy or resources to align the two. Chris laments the saga of the failed Gaza pier, Melanie gives an attaboy to Tyler Cowen, and Zack commends the Ukrainian military for striking a blow against Russia.

Episode Reading

• “Commission on the National Defense Strategy,” RAND Corporation, 2024.
• “Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Ms. Amanda Dory Announces Space Policy Leadership Transition,” Department of Defense, August 9, 2024.
• Brandi Vincent, “Pentagon’s autonomous weapons policymakers departs for academia,” Defense Scoop, August 9, 2024.
• Max Bergmann, “NATO Missed a Chance to Transform Itself,” War on the Rocks, August 7, 2024.
• Anna Myroniuk and Valeria Yehoshyna, “EU Shell Production Capacity, Supplies to Ukraine Fall Far Short of Promises,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, July 8, 2024. 
• Stephen Grey, John Shiffman, and Allison Martell, “Years of Miscalculations by US, NATO, Led to Dire Shell Shortage in Ukraine,” Reuters, July 19, 2024.
• Tyler Cowen, “Eight Things Republicans Get Wrong about Free Trade,” Bloomberg, July 26, 2024.
• William Hartung, “New Strategy Commission Reflects Conflicts-Of-Interest And Outmoded Thinking,” Forbes, July 31, 2024.