Teaching the Enemy: Lessons from The Dragons and the Snakes

Jim and Mike dig into David Kilcullen’s The Dragons and the Snakes to explore how modern adversaries—from rogue states to criminal networks—are adapting faster than ever to Western tactics, tech, and psychology. Drawing from Kilcullen’s insights and a CIA review of the book, they unpack the idea that our enemies are evolving because of us—we’re shaping their strategy, and sometimes not in the way we want.

From guerrilla warfare and liminal conflict to use-of-force doctrine and law enforcement tactics, this episode connects military theory to street-level realities. Are we in a new kind of war without even knowing it? And what are we teaching our opponents every time we act?

The Dragons and the Snakes by David Kilcullen - https://amzn.to/3Td5CrM CIA review of the book - https://bit.ly/TheDragonsAndTheSnakes

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Intro music credit Bensound.com