Can military superiority compensate for bad strategy?


In this special episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni speaks with Sir Lawrence Freedman—one of the world’s foremost authorities on strategy and war—about the strategic failures shaping today’s increasingly interconnected conflicts.


Using the Iran War as a starting point, Sir Lawrence explains why strategy remains an art rather than a science, why overwhelming military power cannot guarantee a satisfactory political outcome, and why states must consider how a war will end before they begin it.


The conversation examines whether Iran has proved more strategically effective than the United States, the internal struggle over Iranian policy, the independence of the Houthis, and the growing connections between the conflicts involving Iran, Russia and Ukraine.

John and Sir Lawrence also discuss:


• The difference between military action and political strategy • Bismarck and Moltke’s disagreement during the Franco-Prussian War

 • Pete Hegseth and the dangers of strategic boasting • The emerging Adversarial Entente 

• Why the current disorder may benefit China • Europe’s capacity to defend itself against Russia 

• America’s changing relationship with its allies • The “hurting stalemate” in Ukraine • SAGE International’s Threshold Conditioning model • The danger of escalation and war by miscalculation

 • China’s strategy towards Taiwan 

• How Australia can resist coercion below the threshold of war 

• The most important lesson for the next generation of strategists


This is a wide-ranging discussion about the enduring relationship between force, politics and strategic judgement—and what happens when governments possess enormous military power but lack a realistic political end state.

ABOUT SIR LAWRENCE FREEDMAN

Sir Lawrence Freedman is one of the world’s leading scholars of strategy and war. His influential books include Strategy: A History, Command and The Future of War. His work has shaped contemporary thinking about military power, political decision-making and the changing character of conflict.

Can military superiority compensate for bad strategy?
 In this special episode of The Focus, Dr John Bruni speaks with Sir Lawrence Freedman&mdash;one of the world&rsquo;s foremost authorities on strategy and war&mdash;about the strategic failures shaping today&rsquo;s increasingly interconnected conflicts.
 Using the Iran War as a starting point, Sir Lawrence explains why strategy remains an art rather than a science, why overwhelming military power cannot guarantee a satisfactory political outcome, and why states must consider how a war will end before they begin it.
 The conversation examines whether Iran has proved more strategically effective than the United States, the internal struggle over Iranian policy, the independence of the Houthis, and the growing connections between the conflicts involving Iran, Russia and Ukraine.
John and Sir Lawrence also discuss:
 &bull; The difference between military action and political strategy &bull; Bismarck and Moltke&rsquo;s disagreement during the Franco-Prussian War
 &bull; Pete Hegseth and the dangers of strategic boasting &bull; The emerging Adversarial Entente 
&bull; Why the current disorder may benefit China &bull; Europe&rsquo;s capacity to defend itself against Russia 
&bull; America&rsquo;s changing relationship with its allies &bull; The &ldquo;hurting stalemate&rdquo; in Ukraine &bull; SAGE International&rsquo;s Threshold Conditioning model &bull; The danger of escalation and war by miscalculation
 &bull; China&rsquo;s strategy towards Taiwan 
&bull; How Australia can resist coercion below the threshold of war 
&bull; The most important lesson for the next generation of strategists
 This is a wide-ranging discussion about the enduring relationship between force, politics and strategic judgement&mdash;and what happens when governments possess enormous military power but lack a realistic political end state.
ABOUT SIR LAWRENCE FREEDMAN
Sir Lawrence Freedman is one of the world&rsquo;s leading scholars of strategy and war. His influential books include Strategy: A History, Command and The Future of War. His work has shaped contemporary thinking about military power, political decision-making and the changing character of conflict.

The Focus is the flagship current affairs podcast of SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical  think tank.

Hosted by Dr. John Bruni—a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media—The Focus brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for Jane’s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.

Produced by Neil Smart, The Focus cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.

The Focus&nbsp;is the flagship current affairs podcast of&nbsp;SAGE International, an independent, Adelaide-based geopolitical &nbsp;think tank.
Hosted by&nbsp;Dr. John Bruni&mdash;a veteran geopolitical commentator with over 24 years in the Australian media&mdash;The Focus&nbsp;brings a critical edge to global affairs. John's expertise is built on decades of experience, including time with the&nbsp;Royal United Services Institute of Australia, work as a university lecturer, senatorial foreign affairs adviser, analyst for&nbsp;Jane&rsquo;s Intelligence Review, and Gulf-based military analyst.
Produced by&nbsp;Neil Smart,&nbsp;The Focus&nbsp;cuts through the noise of biased media to deliver sharp, informed insights into the major issues shaping Australia and the world. In an age of global disruption and complexity, knowing which questions to ask is more vital than ever.