Paul Johstono
@profpaulj.bsky.social
Ancient Military Historian at Air Command & Staff College; teaching leadership, ethics, strategy;
@DukeU PhD; @FurmanU
My opinions only
@DukeU PhD; @FurmanU
My opinions only
Reposted by Paul Johstono
*General Westmorland has entered the chat*
*RUSSIAN WAR LOSSES NOW EXCEED RECRUITMENT: WESTERN OFFICIALS
Vlad is running out of bodies
Vlad is running out of bodies
February 11, 2026 at 7:42 PM
*General Westmorland has entered the chat*
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Damn that is a heck of a program! So many great panels.
Multiple ancient military history panels! Multiple medieval history panels!
The pre-modernist (re?)conquest of the SMH begins!
Multiple ancient military history panels! Multiple medieval history panels!
The pre-modernist (re?)conquest of the SMH begins!
The preliminary program for the SMH 2026 Annual Meeting in Arlington has been posted. There will undoubtedly be changes and updates between now and the end of March, but now you can start planning all of the sessions you want to attend.
www.smh-hq.org/annualmeetin...
www.smh-hq.org/annualmeetin...
Conference Program of Panels | The Society for Military History
www.smh-hq.org
February 11, 2026 at 3:30 AM
Damn that is a heck of a program! So many great panels.
Multiple ancient military history panels! Multiple medieval history panels!
The pre-modernist (re?)conquest of the SMH begins!
Multiple ancient military history panels! Multiple medieval history panels!
The pre-modernist (re?)conquest of the SMH begins!
If you live near the banks of the Yenisey, you've probably lost family and neighbors who went to become cannon fodder in Ukraine, *4,500 kilometers* away.
February 11, 2026 at 2:30 AM
If you live near the banks of the Yenisey, you've probably lost family and neighbors who went to become cannon fodder in Ukraine, *4,500 kilometers* away.
Aeschylus' line for all the wargamers out there:
"Ares decides the fate of battle on die roll"
ἔργον δ᾽ ἐν κύβοις Ἄρης κρινεῖ, from the Seven Against Thebes
"Ares decides the fate of battle on die roll"
ἔργον δ᾽ ἐν κύβοις Ἄρης κρινεῖ, from the Seven Against Thebes
February 10, 2026 at 11:11 PM
Aeschylus' line for all the wargamers out there:
"Ares decides the fate of battle on die roll"
ἔργον δ᾽ ἐν κύβοις Ἄρης κρινεῖ, from the Seven Against Thebes
"Ares decides the fate of battle on die roll"
ἔργον δ᾽ ἐν κύβοις Ἄρης κρινεῖ, from the Seven Against Thebes
And to think "Chuck Spears" was just sitting there the whole time and Charles went with Chase.
February 6, 2026 at 12:56 AM
And to think "Chuck Spears" was just sitting there the whole time and Charles went with Chase.
Sometimes you turn JADC2 discussions into Clausewitz "On Genius" discussions.
February 6, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Sometimes you turn JADC2 discussions into Clausewitz "On Genius" discussions.
Reposted by Paul Johstono
This needs a Spirit Halloween costume, asap.
Fucking surreal that people dressed like this and carrying assault rifles are permitted to kidnap people off our streets
February 4, 2026 at 2:06 AM
This needs a Spirit Halloween costume, asap.
Reposted by Paul Johstono
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has called on Trump to immediately provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, stating that the pressure the United States is currently exerting on Russia is "obviously not working".
February 3, 2026 at 5:18 PM
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has called on Trump to immediately provide Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, stating that the pressure the United States is currently exerting on Russia is "obviously not working".
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Russia carried out its largest attack since the start of the year, striking DTEK thermal power plants and at least four major energy sites, the company said. Equipment was seriously damaged, including in Kharkiv. Power, water and heating were cut as temperatures fell below minus 20 C. #Ukraine
February 3, 2026 at 7:02 AM
Russia carried out its largest attack since the start of the year, striking DTEK thermal power plants and at least four major energy sites, the company said. Equipment was seriously damaged, including in Kharkiv. Power, water and heating were cut as temperatures fell below minus 20 C. #Ukraine
AI slop getting published in SWJ? smallwarsjournal.com/2026/01/28/c...
Clausewitz and the American Center of Gravity: A Look at the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy Together
What is America’s true center of gravity? Using Clausewitz, this article analyzes the 2025 NSS and 2026 NDS for the answer.
smallwarsjournal.com
February 1, 2026 at 2:24 PM
AI slop getting published in SWJ? smallwarsjournal.com/2026/01/28/c...
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Sinn Fein: the international community should support the legitimate armed struggles of small nations to defend their right of self-determination against large aggressive imperialist neighbors.
Also Sinn Fein:
Also Sinn Fein:
January 31, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Sinn Fein: the international community should support the legitimate armed struggles of small nations to defend their right of self-determination against large aggressive imperialist neighbors.
Also Sinn Fein:
Also Sinn Fein:
My elementary age kids have an influencer principal but barely get recess. Civilizational decline sign.
January 31, 2026 at 8:30 PM
My elementary age kids have an influencer principal but barely get recess. Civilizational decline sign.
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Kyiv is in total blackout,
as are many parts of Ukraine.
No water, no heating, no electricity.
Severe frost outside.
This is the result of constant russian attacks.
Thank you to those few who still care.
as are many parts of Ukraine.
No water, no heating, no electricity.
Severe frost outside.
This is the result of constant russian attacks.
Thank you to those few who still care.
January 31, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Kyiv is in total blackout,
as are many parts of Ukraine.
No water, no heating, no electricity.
Severe frost outside.
This is the result of constant russian attacks.
Thank you to those few who still care.
as are many parts of Ukraine.
No water, no heating, no electricity.
Severe frost outside.
This is the result of constant russian attacks.
Thank you to those few who still care.
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Did the Royal Navy sink a Spanish galleon or something?
Largest drop in gold since 1983, largest drop in silver...ever? Maybe? Silver down 25%, gold down 10%, absolute chaos.
January 30, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Did the Royal Navy sink a Spanish galleon or something?
Reposted by Paul Johstono
SEND IT.
❗️🇩🇪German defense company Rheinmetall plans to soon produce 1.5 million 155mm shells per year — more than the entire 🇺🇸American industry combined.
January 28, 2026 at 1:21 AM
SEND IT.
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Saw this and it’s just wild
January 26, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Saw this and it’s just wild
Can someone explain the penguin thing?
January 25, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Can someone explain the penguin thing?
Reposted by Paul Johstono
⚡️ Flamingo Strike — On 23 September 2025, a precision missile strike targeted a key Russian defense-industry contractor in Belgorod, linked to the production chain of Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57 combat aircraft.
January 25, 2026 at 2:44 PM
⚡️ Flamingo Strike — On 23 September 2025, a precision missile strike targeted a key Russian defense-industry contractor in Belgorod, linked to the production chain of Su-34, Su-35, and Su-57 combat aircraft.
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
January 24, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
Reposted by Paul Johstono
As always, I recommend revisiting the Letter from a Birmingham Jail. He’s an audio recording of MLK reading the text
m.youtube.com/watch?v=7qF0...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=7qF0...
Martin Luther King, Jr reads his Letter from a Birmingham Jail
YouTube video by Beverly F. Horton
m.youtube.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:27 PM
As always, I recommend revisiting the Letter from a Birmingham Jail. He’s an audio recording of MLK reading the text
m.youtube.com/watch?v=7qF0...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=7qF0...
The same people who want to start "Great Books" courses are also usually first in line to want to cancel ancient languages majors and faculty lines. Make that make sense.
January 18, 2026 at 8:09 PM
The same people who want to start "Great Books" courses are also usually first in line to want to cancel ancient languages majors and faculty lines. Make that make sense.
Reposted by Paul Johstono
Incredible shot of the Hellenic Navy's new frigate Kimon being welcomed yesterday by the trireme Olympias and the armoured cruiser Averof (photo by Nick Dendris)
January 16, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Incredible shot of the Hellenic Navy's new frigate Kimon being welcomed yesterday by the trireme Olympias and the armoured cruiser Averof (photo by Nick Dendris)
Rest in peace, Claudette.
January 13, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Rest in peace, Claudette.
Surprisingly high-ranking list of names, two colonels, a lt colonel, multiple majors and captains.
I have near zero knowledge of the composition on Cuban Interior Ministry or Rev Forces, but this surprised me.
I have near zero knowledge of the composition on Cuban Interior Ministry or Rev Forces, but this surprised me.
Cuba has released the names of 32 military personnel killed during the U.S. operation to capture Nicolás Maduro and declared two days of national mourning. The fallen, aged 26 to 60, belonged to Cuba’s armed forces and interior ministry. They did not detail roles, only noting they died in combat.
January 7, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Surprisingly high-ranking list of names, two colonels, a lt colonel, multiple majors and captains.
I have near zero knowledge of the composition on Cuban Interior Ministry or Rev Forces, but this surprised me.
I have near zero knowledge of the composition on Cuban Interior Ministry or Rev Forces, but this surprised me.