skinny.

Latest / Defense Disrupted

Ret. General Mike Minihan on Why Pacific Theater Removes Permissive Environment Assumptions

Mike Minihan, General, USAF (ret.) breaks down the "permissive environment trap" plaguing current military thinking. While recent operations in Iran, Ukraine, and Israel demonstrate exceptional execution, he tells Ian they mask fatal capability gaps that will emerge in Pacific conflicts where forces face contestation in all domains. Mobility aircraft currently have less connectivity than consumer smartphones, making tanker crews unaware they're under attack "until they wake up in heaven."

But this isn't just about technology gaps. Minihan outlines why institutional change requires what he…

The skinny

The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.