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
Footage of a Ukrainian Patriot SAM system shooting down a Russian 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile near Kyiv last night.
This appears to be the first ever footage of a combat shootdown involving a HACM.
This appears to be the first ever footage of a combat shootdown involving a HACM.
February 16, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Footage of a Ukrainian Patriot SAM system shooting down a Russian 3M22 Zircon hypersonic cruise missile near Kyiv last night.
This appears to be the first ever footage of a combat shootdown involving a HACM.
This appears to be the first ever footage of a combat shootdown involving a HACM.
How Athens actually lost the Peloponnesian War (left a few more out, but you get the idea)
The plague, arrogance, infighting, Alcibiades' Decelea tip, several Persian fleets, the watchwords on the Epipolai, overreacting to a lunar eclipse, and chance.
February 16, 2026 at 3:15 PM
How Athens actually lost the Peloponnesian War (left a few more out, but you get the idea)
And then Spartan Oliganthropia enters the chat
February 16, 2026 at 2:18 PM
And then Spartan Oliganthropia enters the chat
Reposted by Paul Johstono
EXCLUSIVE: The Pentagon is considering severing its relationship with Anthropic over the AI firm's insistence on maintaining some limitations on how the military uses its models.
Exclusive: Pentagon threatens to cut off Anthropic in AI safeguards dispute
Anthropic has not agreed to the Pentagon's terms and defense officials are getting fed up after months of difficult negotiations.
www.axios.com
February 15, 2026 at 2:16 AM
EXCLUSIVE: The Pentagon is considering severing its relationship with Anthropic over the AI firm's insistence on maintaining some limitations on how the military uses its models.
When multiple deadlines are approaching and every piece is not quite complete but also 30-50% too long...
February 14, 2026 at 4:08 PM
When multiple deadlines are approaching and every piece is not quite complete but also 30-50% too long...
When you see a Pantsir...
February 14, 2026 at 4:05 PM
When you see a Pantsir...
It's not quite [shrug] "lick 'em tomorrow" but Domitius surveying the Seleucid army arrayed at Magnesia and saying "we'll kill 'em all in the morning; if we do it today we won't have time for dinner" is pretty memorable.
February 13, 2026 at 2:50 PM
It's not quite [shrug] "lick 'em tomorrow" but Domitius surveying the Seleucid army arrayed at Magnesia and saying "we'll kill 'em all in the morning; if we do it today we won't have time for dinner" is pretty memorable.
Reposted by Paul Johstono
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 5:44 AM
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
Reposted by Paul Johstono
💬 Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych on the disqualification over the memorial helmet: "I have no regrets... There are things more important than medals."
February 12, 2026 at 10:57 AM
💬 Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych on the disqualification over the memorial helmet: "I have no regrets... There are things more important than medals."
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.