According to US military doctrine, legitimacy is one of the twelve principles of joint operations. But that concept—legitimacy—is a complex one. How is it defined? How should we understand the ways in which the laws of war, rules of engagement, national policies, and civilian harm mitigation measures overlap—and how they differ? How can rules of engagement and policies change in different missions, theaters, operating environments, and wars? This episode examines those questions and features an insightful discussion with an expert on the subject: Laurie Blank, a clinical professor of law at Emory University School of Law, director of the International Humanitarian Law Clinic, and author of the book International Conflict and Security Law.

In what has become a holiday tradition, the Urban Warfare Project Podcast turns its attention to an important question: What items should be on a military force's urban warfare holiday wish list? To do so, John Spencer is joined once again this year by two urban warfare scholars to discuss the unique capabilities, ideas, and initiatives they would like Santa to deliver. Major Jayson Geroux is a Canadian Army officer and urban warfare historian assigned to the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre. And Mr. Stuart Lyle is the urban operations research lead for the UK-based Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. From new scholarship to cheap tactical drones, they discuss the items that would help militaries be best prepared for urban warfare.

When thousands of Hamas militants invaded southern Israel on October 7, 2023, there were only 110 police officers on duty spread across hundreds of square kilometers, concentrated in four police stations and several other posts. Despite their relatively small numbers, these officers played a critical role that day. On this episode, John Spencer is joined by Israel Police Chief Superintendent Shlomi Chetrit, head of the Israel Police History and Heritage Branch, who discusses the role of the police on October 7, including their actions during the battle for the Sderot Police Station.