Chasing Ghosts: An Irregular Warfare Podcast

by Bill Buppert

An unauthorized podcast series peeking behind the curtain at the vast machinery and briar patch politics of fighting terrorism and insurgency and everything in between. I'm a "COINtra" and not a "COINdinista", the latter are the vast army of apparatchiks and apologists who fire the engines of Irregular Warfare (IW) planet-wide. We're the skeptics and doubters of all things IW and special operations. And we are a tiny sliver  ... 

  ...  Read more
History
Documentary
Website
Listen on ...

Podcast episodes

  • Season 1

  • Ep 047 "Nagorno-Karabakh: A Dark and Robotic Future"

    Ep 047 "Nagorno-Karabakh: A Dark and Robotic Future"

    S01 E47
    47:17

    I discuss the Fall 2020 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the tiny sliver of Nagorno-Karabakh and why I would suggest that it was a glimpse into the future of warfare for the remainder of this century. the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) for the following reasons: Robotics and drones are the new "low tech" answer to the First World's exquisite military platform that are over priced and have the same provenance of battleships planet-wide in January 1942. The electronic emissions environment in future conflicts will be a two-way street that will put any active acquisition sensors and attached effectors in the hazards if they emit and remain in one place. Autonomous targeting will become more and more relevant as the speed of munitions increases and the salvo competition costs are driven down. The life of the light infantryman will change significantly since for the first time in human history, the cost of hunting individual soldiers and small groups of soldiers in an effective fashion has reached a cost in concert with technology [I will treat this with more detail in a future episode on the end of the legacy infantryman]. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has seen a remarkable increase in martial effectiveness since the Russians looked carefully at what happened in N-K, took notes and made changes to Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTP) in concert with the wholesale revamping of the Russian armed forces since 2008. My Substack. Email me at cgpodcast@pm.me.

  • Ep 046 "Review and Discussion: My Lai: Vietnam, 1968, and the Descent into Darkness by Howard Jones"

    Ep 046 "Review and Discussion: My Lai: Vietnam, 1968, and the Descent into Darkness by Howard Jones"

    S01 E46
    53:55

    I discuss the slaughter of over 500 unarmed men, women and children in My Lai in March 1968 by American soldiers. In concert with the Tet Offensive in 1968, this was the end of American arms in Vietnam. The collision of barbarism, toxic leadership and moral injury make everyone of these pages bleed. One of the most searing indictments of American arms you will read. This book is an acquired taste because it may crush your soul. I caution you before you listen to this that the telling of this tale is will haunt any decent human being forever. References: Howard Jones My Lai: Vietnam, 1968, and the Descent into Darkness Karl Marlantes What It Is Like to Go to War Bill Russel Edmonds God is Not Here: A Soldier's Struggle with Torture, Trauma, and the Moral Injuries of War Clark Savage King of All Things: A Guide to Man's Martial Purpose Dick Couch A Tactical Ethic: Moral Conduct in the Insurgent Battlespace Andrew Bacevich Paths of Dissent: Soldiers Speak Out Against America's Misguided Wars Shauna Springer WARRIOR: How to Support Those Who Protect Us Jonathan Shay Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character Jonathan Shay Odysseus in America: Combat Trauma and the Trials of Homecoming Another podcast: Martyrmade: Anything That Moves - The My Lai Massacre (w/History on Fire) My Substack Email at cgpodcast@pm.me.

  • Ep 045 "CG Excursion Praxis: Rational Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) (Part Two)"

    Ep 045 "CG Excursion Praxis: Rational Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) (Part Two)"

    S01 E45
    56:22

    I continue a rather technical treatment of developing and using Concepts of Operations (CONOPS). This episode examines the finer points of getting baselines and expectations right for small and large projects alike. If you take these simple concepts for building a CONOPS to include how to do decomposition in Product Breakdown Structures (PBS) and Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) as described in MILSTD 881F and apply it wherever you happen to work at a small or large company, everybody will be in awe of the black magic you perform and it a. guaranteed Return on Investment (ROI) in how much money you will save downstream. References: Special Forces Detachment Mission Planning Guide GTA 31-01-003 January 2020 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STANDARD PRACTICE WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURES FOR DEFENSE MATERIEL ITEMS MILSTD 881F 13 May 2022 NASA Systems Engineering Handbook Rev 2 Cost of 13 NASA projects skyrocket due to improper reviews The US Submarine Force is Sunk James Hornfischer "The Fleet at Flood Tide" My Substack Email at cgpodcast@pm.me

  • Ep 044 "CG Excursion Praxis: Rational Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) (Part One)"

    Ep 044 "CG Excursion Praxis: Rational Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) (Part One)"

    S01 E44
    59:43

    I discuss a rather technical treatment of developing and using Concepts of Operations (CONOPS). This episode examines the timeless and tedious process of getting baselines and expectations right for small and large projects alike. References: Special Forces Detachment Mission Planning Guide GTA 31-01-003 January 2020 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STANDARD PRACTICE WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURES FOR DEFENSE MATERIEL ITEMS MILSTD 881F 13 May 2022 NASA Systems Engineering Handbook Rev 2 Cost of 13 NASA projects skyrocket due to improper reviews My Substack Email at cgpodcast@pm.me

  • Ep 043 "Storming America: The Aftermath"

    Ep 043 "Storming America: The Aftermath"

    S01 E43
    57:15

    I discuss the outcome of the probable jihadist invasion of America. America is in a unique position in history in which it has facilitated the unfettered invasion of its borders and a large swath of military age males have been granted asylum or gone undetected to link up with legacy underground Islamist and terrorist groups across the country. This episodes examines the smoking ruins and speculate what the next stage of American civilization will look like. References: Howard Jones My Lai: Vietnam, 1968, and the Descent into Darkness William Forstchen Day of Wrath Kurt Schlichter The Attack Karl Dahl Faction Faction: With the Crusaders Matt Bracken: Enemies Foreign and Domestic. Foreign Enemies And Traitors. Domestic Enemies: The Reconquista. The Red Cliffs of Zerhoun. Castigo Cay. Eric Frank Russell The Wasp Michael Z. Williamson The Weapon (and the entire Freehold series) Ernest R. May Strange Victory: Hitler’s Conquest of France Robert Heinlein The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Robert Asprey War In The Shadows: The Guerrilla In History My Substack Email at cgpodcast@pm.me