References: Islands of the Damned: A Marine at War in the Pacific by R.V. Burgin and Bill Marvel Countdown to Pearl Harbor by Steve Twomey Day of Infamy by Walter Lord At Dawn We Slept: The Untold Story of Pearl Harbor by Gordan Prange Pearl Harbor Betrayed by Michael Gannon Pearl Harbor: The Seeds and… Continue reading The Definitive Historical Atlas of the Battle of Pearl Harbor
Author: battlecastnet
The Horrible Spectacle: The Definitive Account of the Massacre of Otranto, 1480
By Vito Bianchi Excerpted from the book Otranto 1480: Il sultano, la strage, la conquista by Vito Bianchi. Editori Laterza. 2023. Sixth edition. Bari. pages 125-131. Translated by: Luke Wolf Translator’s note: In 1480, the large port of Otranto, a city inhabited by thousands, was destroyed by a Turkish naval expedition. Tens of thousands were… Continue reading The Horrible Spectacle: The Definitive Account of the Massacre of Otranto, 1480
What is Geopolitics?
Aymeric Chauprade (Professor of Geopolitics; Collège Interarmées de Défense) Translated by Luke Wolf How can we define Geopolitics? The study of political relations between states, intra-state movements such as rebellions and trans-state powers such as criminal networks and multinational corporations is based on geographic criteria, the study of geopolitics highlights the importance of geographical criteria… Continue reading What is Geopolitics?
A History of Torture: Interpersonal Torture /// 102
In this concluding episode of the definitive podcast history of torture, the focus is on interpersonal torture by non-state actors. This episode provides an overview of psychopathic torture, torture in the drug trade, torture for information, sexual torture, torture between ethnic groups and torture for entertainment. It should be pointed out, as Peter Edwards (1996)… Continue reading A History of Torture: Interpersonal Torture /// 102
An American Torture Story /// 101
American torture. For years, philosophers, jurists, and legal theorists struggled with American use of torture in the war on terror. Just a few days after the events of the September 11th attacks, President George Bush was authorizing the use of torture on suspected members of international terrorist organizations. After a few months, American leaders were… Continue reading An American Torture Story /// 101
A History of Torture in America /// 100
This is a history of torture on the North American continent, including Native American, Canadian and United States torture practices. It’s all here and it’s all free on Battlecast – the world’s foremost podcast on war and its sociopolitical impact. This is part six of an ongoing series on torture. You can find part five… Continue reading A History of Torture in America /// 100
A History of the Cambodian Genocide /// 99
The Cambodian Genocide was a second holocaust. Approximately 1.6 million human beings were killed in the terrible bloodletting. But the genocide was unique – it’s one of the only cases in human history where people from the same ethnic group murdered whole segments of its own population – guilty of being born in the wrong… Continue reading A History of the Cambodian Genocide /// 99
Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98
The Soviet punitive system was the heir of literally hundreds of years of secret police interrogation. For centuries, the Czar’s secret police had tortured, refined, and perfected the art of interrogation – all of it based on practice – not theory. That is why American researchers were so amazed at the Soviet interrogation success rate.… Continue reading Gulag: A History of Soviet Torture /// 98
The Inquisition: A History /// 97
The Inquisition: it’s a byword for tyranny in much of the Western world – especially among the English-speaking peoples of the world. In today’s episode the surprising origins, history, and impact of the Inquisition are detailed. In addition, this episode features a concise history of torture in India. It’s all here and it’s all free… Continue reading The Inquisition: A History /// 97
The Moment of Decision in Korea: A Case Study of Power
On Friday, January 3, police officers attempted to arrest suspended South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol. The police entered the grounds of the president’s residence where they were met by armed soldiers loyal to President Suk Yeol. The two groups clashed. The BBC reports (Mackenzie, 2025): As dawn broke, the first officers ran up to… Continue reading The Moment of Decision in Korea: A Case Study of Power
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