Defense and Security Studies Commons^™

Book Review: Nothing But Courage: The 82nd Airborne's Daring D-Day Mission—And Their Heroic Charge Across The La Fière Bridge, Wylie W. Johnson

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Author: James Donovan

Reviewed by: Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010

In this riveting account, James Donovan tells the dramatic story of the 82nd Airborne Division’s mission to seize and hold the La Fière bridge—an unassuming but vital link in the success of the D-Day invasion. Dropped behind enemy lines hours before the beach landings, these paratroopers faced overwhelming odds in a brutal three-day battle that culminated in a near-suicidal charge across a narrow causeway. Blending firsthand accounts, archival research, and battlefield visits, Donovan honors the courage and sacrifice that helped turn the tide …

Book Review: Proxy Wars From A Global Perspective: Non-State Actors And Armed Conflicts, Joshua O. Lehman

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Edited by Paweł Bernat, Cüneyt Gürer, and Cyprian Aleksander Kozera

Reviewed by: Lieutenant Colonel Joshua O. Lehman, academy professor, United States Military Academy

States are increasingly turning to non-state actors to fight their battles, reshaping the nature of modern warfare. Proxy Wars from a Global Perspective, edited by Paweł Bernat, Cüneyt Gürer, and Cyprian Aleksander Kozera, offers a sweeping analysis of this trend through case studies from Mali, Ukraine, Syria, and beyond. With insights from international relations and security experts, the book challenges outdated Cold War frameworks and introduces a new paradigm for understanding outsourced conflict in a multipolar …

Cracks In The Great Wall: Zero-Covid Protests And The Reassertion Of Political Security In China, Khannia Zhafira Ronaulli Pandjaitan, Arfin Sudirman

Jurnal Wacana Politik

The protests of the zero-COVID policy in 2022, which led to the issuance of Ten New Measures in China, are an interesting political phenomenon to study. This phenomenon raises questions about the dynamics of China’s political security during the zero-COVID policy period and how the government responded to the social pressures that arose. Applying political security theory that emphasizes national objectives, threat perceptions, and political freedom of action, this article analyzes China’s political dynamics during that period. This article concludes that political security for a country is often realized through various actions justified to protect national interests and maintain social …

Just War Theory And Coercive Non-Proliferation: Ethically Evaluating Nuclear Prevention Efforts, P. Walker Jacklin

Honors Theses

This thesis examines the ethics of coercively addressing non-nuclear states who are attempting to acquire nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons pose a serious danger on a global scale, so ethical analysis should balance these consequences with the coerciveness of state intervention. Just War Theory provides a useful framework that balances these considerations.  Using the criteria of Just War Theory, this thesis examines two 21st century non-proliferation operations: Operation Orchard and Operation Midnight Hammer. I find that Operation Orchard fails the criteria of Just War Theory, while Operation Midnight Hammer satisfies the criteria. Making this determination is ethically risky, however, because our …

Inconsistencies Emerge Between Regional And Local-Scale Water Security Metrics At Military Installations, Abigail Birnbaum, Michael L. Berg, Caitlin Grady, Daniel J. Weeks, Christopher M. Chini

Faculty Publications

Recent United States federal policy for military installations has emphasized the importance of developing a standardized approach for water security assessment to monitor changes in water resources and the ability for an installation to meet both its civilian and mission needs. For military installations in the United States, these assessments must consider demands both inside and outside the installation’s fence line, as regional resources are required to meet mission readiness. Focusing on physical water scarcity, this study compares four water security metrics with unique formulations and spatial resolutions, including an installation-scale metric and multiple regional metrics defined for either baseline …

The Weaponization Of Transnational Crime: A Triangular Analytical Model For Hybrid Threat Development In U.S.–China–Russia Relations, 2000–2025, Michael J. Haak

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis examines the evolving strategic relationship between the United States, China, and Russia from 2000 to 2025 through a triangular model based on reactions to systemic pressures to core strategic interests. The study employs a thematic qualitative data analysis on U.S., Chinese, and Russian national security strategies to analyze strategic posturing between poles over time. This new model serves as the study’s basis for contextualizing hybrid threat development, specifically transnational crime as a proxy force of asymmetric power projection. The study found that the evolution of state-supported transnational crime serves as a by-product of reactions to systemic pressure. State …

The Coast Guard’S Budget & Its Impact On Operational Efficiency, Jory R. Cardoza

Honors Projects

The United States Coast Guard is constitutionally charged to carry out eleven core missions. This project examines the impact that the Coast Guard’s budget has on its ability to perform those different missions. This is done by using the statistical software program SPSS to analyze the statistical significance of budget related independent variables on multiple mission performance related dependent variables. Mission performance is based on the metrics that the Coast Guard uses to measure each of their missions. These metrics, along with the budgetary variables are published annually in documents such as Posture Statements, Performance Reports, and Budgetary Requests by …

Research On Smart Intelligence Service System Of National Defense Science And Technology In Complex Information Environment, Yang Yang, Keping Wang, Huawei Sun

Journal of Scientific Information Research

[Purpose/significance] National defense science and technology intelligence serves as a powerful guarantee for promoting national defense science and techndogy innovation and development. Exploring optimization paths for defense science and technology intelligence service systems holds practical significance in developing new quality combat capabilities and safeguarding national security and stability. [Method/process] Through literature review and summarization, this study clarifies the impact of complex information environments on intelligent defense science and technology intelligence services, as well as the core tasks of intelligent intelligence services. Based on activity theory, the study deconstructs system elements and employs systems engineering principles to construct an intelligent defense …

The Cobalt Curse: Cobalt’S Role And Risks, Marley Jackowitz

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper examines the hidden environmental, geopolitical, economic, and social costs of the cobalt supply chain. Fueled by the demand for battery technology and electric vehicles, cobalt has become an essential element to the green energy transition. With the largest share of global cobalt deposits, the Democratic Republic of the Congo bears a disproportionate share of the industry’s harms. Cobalt mining in the DRC is marked by environmentally degrading practices and inhumane working conditions, compromising Congolese health, safety, and well-being. Chapter 1 discusses the environmental impacts of DRC cobalt mining and its adverse effects on public health. Environmentally degrading mining …

An Alternative To Armageddon: O.P. Weyland And The Development Of Tactical Air Power, Paul Wells

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Theorists and advocates of air power argued that aircraft, not ground forces, would become the dominant platform for victory in war. They promoted the concept of strategic bombing, using aircraft to bypass ground forces and directly attack a nation's industrial capacity to wage war, hoping to ensure quick victory and avoid a repeat of the prolonged slaughter in the trenches of WWI. In 1947, led by advocates of strategic bombing, the United States Air Force (USAF) became an independent and equal branch of the U.S. military. The USAF developed the Strategic Air Command (SAC) to meet the requirements of the …

China-Canada Resource Diplomacy: New Era Of Land Grabbing, Valdrin Dragusha

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

This paper examines the evolving economic relationship between China and Canada, particularly in the context of China's transition from a strictly social economy to an authoritarian socialist market economy. It highlights the implications of China's Going Out Policy initiated in 2000, aimed at securing vital natural resources amidst growing domestic demands driven by rapid economic expansion. The paper analyzes China's significant demand for resources, its sustainable development policies, and the changing dynamics of land acquisitions, particularly in relation to Canada, which is perceived as a strategic investment destination due to its abundant natural resources and technological advancements in clean energy. …

The Use Of Cognitive Biases In Russian Cyber Operations, Emma Manning

Honors Theses

This thesis examines how Russia has employed reflexive control through cyber operations to influence decision-making in foreign states, focusing on disinformation campaigns during the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Reflexive control, a concept rooted in Russian military doctrine, seeks to shape an adversary's perceptions and decision-making by providing carefully crafted information that leads targets to make choices favorable to the initiator. This research argues that while the fundamental objectives of reflexive control have remained consistent, technological advances have significantly expanded Russia's ability to conduct operations in developing cyber domains.

Using qualitative analysis of open-source intelligence, …

When Metal Theft Becomes A Life Safety Crisis, Alan Saquella

Publications

By any traditional measure, scrap and metal theft has long been categorized as a property crime, costly, disruptive, and frustrating, but rarely viewed as an immediate threat to human life. That framing, however, no longer reflects reality. What was once considered a nuisance crime has evolved into something far more consequential, particularly when it intersects with critical infrastructure.

Building on the risks outlined in “Scrap Disposal: When the End of the Supply Chain Becomes a Brand and Public Safety Risk,” by Marcos Fontes, a more serious dimension comes into focus when essential systems are targeted. In these cases, the impact …

Challenges In Strategic Exploitation Of Deep-Sea Minerals And China’S Countermeasures, Chang Wang, Xiaojie Shu, Siyuan Zhou, Huiling Song, Shaojun Liu, Xiangxin Xu, Tao Dai, Tao Zhang, Peng Wang, Zheng Li, Jinhua Cheng

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

Facing the new stage of strategic mining of deep-sea minerals and the long-term pressure of supply of critical minerals, China urgently needs to seize the window of opportunity for the strategic exploitation of deep-sea critical minerals and open up new sources of supply of critical minerals. Having analyzed the new global situation and challenges of the strategic exploitation of deep-sea critical mineral resources, the study attempted to clarify the supporting role of deep-sea mining in securing critical mineral supply, as well as the actual conditions and main obstacles for the strategic exploitation of deep-sea critical mineral resources in China. Based …

Book Review: Gsg 9: From Munich To Mogadishu: The Birth Of Germany's Counterterrorism Force, Lester W. Grau

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Author: Martin Herzog

Reviewed by: Lester W. Grau, Russian analyst, Foreign Military Studies Office

In the wake of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, Germany forged GSG 9—an elite counterterrorism unit that would stun the world with its daring 1977 rescue mission in Mogadishu. Martin Herzog’s gripping account traces the unit’s evolution from humble beginnings to global renown, drawing on exclusive interviews and archival research. This book tells the untold story of how one covert force reshaped modern counterterrorism—and inspired the creation of America’s Delta Force.

Book Review: Training For Victory: U.S. Special Forces Advisory Operations From El Salvador To Afghanistan, Joshua O. Lehman

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Author: Frank K. Sobchak

Reviewed by: Lieutenant Colonel Joshua O. Lehman, academy professor, United States Military Academy

What makes some US Special Forces advisory missions succeed while others fail? In Training for Victory, Frank K. Sobchak examines five decades of elite Green Beret operations—from El Salvador to Afghanistan—to uncover the critical factors behind building effective partner forces. Challenging conventional wisdom, this book reveals surprising truths about language, culture, and combat advising in America’s most complex wars.

Book Review: Ransom War: How Cyber Crime Became A Threat To National Security, James P. Farwell

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Author: Max Smeets

Reviewed by: James P. Farwell, CEO, The Farwell Group

In Ransom War, Max Smeets breaks down how criminal organizations use cyber technologies for ransoms. He explains the way ransomware organizations operate and how they have evolved with the rise of technology. The reviewer sees this book as well written, with relevant examples and concrete arguments.

Book Review: Victory ’45: The End Of The War In Eight Surrenders, James Allen Knechtmann

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Authors: James Holland and Al Murray

Reviewed by: James Allen Knechtmann, supervisory archivist/chief, Ridgway Library Branch, US Army Heritage and Education Center, US Army War College

In Victory ’45: The End of the War in Eight Surrenders, James Holland and Al Murray trace the dramatic final days of World War II through eight pivotal surrender moments that reshaped the postwar world. With gripping detail and fresh perspectives, they reveal how victory was secured not just through battles, but through diplomacy, resilience, and human decisions. This compelling narrative offers a powerful lens on the war’s conclusion and the fragile peace …

Book Review: The Raider: The Untold Story Of A Renegade Marine And The Birth Of U.S. Special Forces In World War Ii, Wylie W. Johnson

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Author: Stephen R. Platt

Reviewed by: Dr. Wylie W. Johnson, chaplain, US Army War College class of 2010

In this gripping narrative, Stephen R. Platt uncovers the forgotten legacy of a rebellious Marine whose daring vision helped shape the future of US Special Forces. Blending biography with battlefield drama, the book reveals how unconventional tactics and bold leadership redefined America’s approach to warfare. A must-read for anyone interested in the origins of elite military units and the individuals who defied tradition to forge them.

©2026 Wylie W. Johnson

The Military Officer's Oath To Disobey Lawful But Unethical Orders, Joshua Braver

Northwestern University Law Review

How should a military officer respond to a lawful yet unethical order, unethical in the sense that it conflicts with their professional responsibilities? Army culture, scholarship, and doctrine regard officers as professionals, akin to doctors and lawyers, with expertise in the management of violence and a shared commitment to an ethical code. This code demands obedience to lawful orders to uphold civilian control of the military. But to protect against civilian misuse of the military, the code requires disobedience to unethical orders. Faced with a lawful but unethical order, the military officer is mired in a contradiction in which their …