EP:62 - Special Guest: Bill Buppert, on Iran

In this episode we speak with Bill Bupert of the Libertarian Institute about Saudi Arabia’s military limits and why wealthy states can still struggle to build effective conventional forces. We discuss oil wealth, imported labor, hierarchical structures, maintenance problems, and the difficulty of reporting bad news in military systems.

We also talk about how modern war challenges large institutions, especially with drones, precision weapons, and missile warfare. A major part of the conversation focuses on the limits of U.S. missile defense, the vulnerability of expensive systems, and the risks faced by carrier strike groups and other large surface fleets in contested waters.

We further examine Afghanistan, Yemen, Iran, and broader U.S. intervention patterns. We close with a discussion of logistics, corruption, readiness, and Bill’s work on irregular warfare and military reform.

Chapters:

0:00:00 Intro

0:03:50 Why Arab Armies Struggle

0:20:25 The Future of Big Militaries

0:34:13 Missile Defense Reality Check

0:51:15 Can We Stop a Nuclear Strike?

1:01:24 Are Carriers Obsolete?

1:16:00 Logistics, Waste, and War

1:22:40 Bill’s Final Plug