Having a leader who understands the difference between immediate gain and long-term success is existentially important. This distinction is true for all leaders, but especially at the national level. Irrespective of the form of government, having a leader who, to paraphrase the poet Robert Browning, has a reach that exceeds his grasp, can be the difference between peace and war; prosperity and impecunity; calm and … Continue reading Engagement is not Approval

I well recall early commercial diesel engines and how difficult they could be to start. Diesel fuel was cheap; repairs were expensive and so drivers left their rigs idling — sometimes for hours — while they sat at loading docks or they went into truck stops for a meal. Certainly, some trucks needed to idle because they had temperature-controlled cargo but generally, they were wasting … Continue reading When Memory Teaches Incorrect Lessons

Last year I wrote a post entitled The Wounding of the Great Republic (5 Oct 2025), where I discussed my opposition to a written constitution and how it can be abused, especially as we see happening in America. I’ve always believed in the strength of Common Law and that it was a better system than written “black letter law.” Likewise, I am a staunch believer … Continue reading Piercing the Bubble of Reality

Marty and I have dropped our newest short discussion. In this episode, we discuss the sudden surge of funding towards the Canadian military and what it means for the nation’s defence forces. While increased spending aims to bolster security, concerns arise about whether the funds are being used wisely and efficiently. The conversation touches on the potential consequences of rapid expansion, risks of lowering quality … Continue reading Newest Podcast

If you are like me this morning, and sick of hearing about the US President’s single-handed “victory” in Iran (aka the WORST foreign policy debacle in America’s 250-year history), you’ll be pleased to return to Ukraine and review a bit of military theory regarding that war. I have talked about this issue before, but there has been a change that prompts me to return. The … Continue reading Strategy/Operations/Tactics Part II

One year ago, almost exactly, in my post Unintended Consequences (3 June 2025), I commented on frequent discussions I have had over the years with senior foreign officers. Living so close to the US, and being constantly influenced by the American obsession with “national security” (even before the tragedy of 9/11), it is easy to forget that Canadians do not necessarily share this obsession. In … Continue reading Purpose of National Leader

My publisher and I are proud to announce that our latest co-production is available for the general reading audience. Available on Amazon Books in Kindle ($9.99) or commercial format paperback ($24.99). All profits donated to RUSI New Brunswick and RUSI Vancouver Island. A must read for any and all who are interested in Canada’s place in the world. Initiated by a 1904 speech by Prime … Continue reading Canada in a Time of Rupture

Marty, my partner in all things “podcastery” has just posted our latest conversation to our You Tube channel and we invite you to have a listen. This time we explore the complex meaning of Remembrance Day in Canada and how its significance has evolved over time. We discuss the decline in wearing poppies and the generational shifts in understanding the day, highlighting an anecdote from … Continue reading War and Remembrance

I spent my Canadian Army career as an armoured cavalry officer and was the last commander of Canada’s only tank regiment when we repatriated our troops out of Germany in 1994. Canada has recently woken up from its sleepwalk through history and decided to spend great gobs of money on rearming the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Along with new ships and new fighter aircraft, the … Continue reading Thinking About New Tanks

Pip: The Enlightened Soldier — where the reading list runs from Thucydides to Clausewitz and the editorial patience for strategic illiteracy runs considerably shorter. Mara: Chuck has been writing this week about how great powers misread the nature of war itself — the conceptual failures behind that misreading, and what happens when hubris fills the gap where strategic understanding used to be. Pip: Two threads, … Continue reading Podcast Episode: War, Hubris, And Power