Episode 144 of theIrregular Warfare Podcast continues our four-part Future of War series with a focused examination of strategic sabotage, indirect action, and deterrence below the threshold of armed conflict.
This episode centers on “Special Delivery,” a near-future short story by author and futurist August Cole, set in 2037 amid intensifying U.S.–China competition. The story follows a small U.S. Special Operations team operating near the Port of Chancay in Peru, tasked with sabotaging Chinese-owned critical infrastructure in South America as part of a globally coordinated effort to deter a looming Chinese blockade of Taiwan.
Joining the discussion are August Cole and Rear Admiral Mark Schafer, Commander of Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH). Together, they explore how fiction can illuminate real strategic challenges—and why sabotage, access, and indirect action are increasingly central to modern deterrence.
The conversation opens by unpacking why Chinese Belt and Road infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere represents a strategic vulnerability. Cole explains how logistics nodes, port access, and commercial investments built over decades can become leverage points during crisis. Rear Admiral Schafer builds on this insight, highlighting how Special Operations Forces—through persistent presence and regional partnerships—are uniquely positioned to think globally while operating locally.
From there, the episode examines how sabotage has evolved. Rather than dramatic kinetic strikes, Special Delivery portrays sabotage as a blend of cyber access, physical infiltration, logistics expertise, and information effects. Both guests emphasize that the true value of sabotage lies less in physical destruction than in its deterrent and cognitive impact—introducing uncertainty, complicating adversary planning, and shaping decision-making.
Advanced technology features prominently, including autonomous systems, augmented reality, and cyber tools employed at the tactical edge. Yet both Cole and Schafer stress that these capabilities amplify—not replace—enduring human skills: adaptability, cultural fluency, and teamwork in austere environments. As Schafer notes, future operators may need to dig tunnels by hand one moment and integrate AI-enabled intelligence the next.
The episode closes by grappling with escalation and risk. Strategic sabotage offers policymakers options short of war, but only if applied with a deep understanding of adversary perceptions and regional dynamics. Done well, indirect action can deter conflict; done poorly, it can provoke it.
Ben Jebb and Kyle Atwell are the hosts for this episode. Please reach out to Ben and Kyle with any questions about this episode or the Irregular Warfare Podcast.
The Irregular Warfare Podcast is a production of the Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI). We are a team of volunteers dedicated to bridging the gap between scholars and practitioners in the field of irregular warfare. IWI generates written and audio content, coordinates events for the IW community, and hosts critical thinkers in the field of irregular warfare as IWI fellows. You can follow and engage with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.
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Tony Messenger says
Can I get a read out of this podcast?