History Prof at UT Austin. I write about the War on Terror, U.S. foreign policy & military culture. Sometimes I make pesto. This is my personal account.
Austin, TX
Joined November 2012
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I did PEPFAR work in South Sudan years ago. It definitely saves lives, including those of the most vulnerable: children and victims of sexual violence. This is heartbreaking. Is this what America is about? Pulling life saving meds from children? Why?
nytimes.com/interactive/2025…
Think USAID isn't important for US National Security?
Think again
Here's our letter from UT historians & national security scholars on why gutting USAID is a very bad idea.
statesman.com/story/opinion/… @UT_HistDept @ClementsCenter @StraussCenter @TrumanCenter @USAIDSouthSudan
Calling historians of the Global War on Terror!
I'm putting together a panel "Evaluating the GWOT" and we're still looking for one more panelist. Format is a roundtable (Discussion - not presenting papers.) DM if interested!
Conference details here: shafr.org/shafr2025
Proposals for #SHAFR2025 are due 12/1! We welcome creativity, so propose those round tables, fishbowls, lightning rounds, anniversary sessions, methods panels, etc! Don’t forget to check out our panelists seeking panelists Google form which is full of activity!
Austin Friends! On Thursday, Nov 14th, at 12:15 PM, Dr. Julia Irwin will discuss her new book "Catastrophic Diplomacy: Foreign Disaster Assistance in the American Century."
Details below!
clementscenter.org/event/cat… @UTIntel @LiberalArtsUT @StraussCenter @utaustinihs @UTAustin
Aaron O'Connell retweeted
Wait... @PeteButtigieg debated 25 undecided Michigan voters?!
WHAT
Is there anything he won't do? this man is fearless
A great, fully-funded opportunity for grad students working on diplomatic history, strategy, military affairs, & international relations.
Applications now open!
@SHAFRhistorians, @SHAFRDH, @ISSYale, @JacksonYale, @BelferCenter, @PrincetonSPIA, @georgetownsfs, @SMH_Historians
📢PhD students: Applications are open for the Clements Center Summer Seminar in History and Statecraft. Apply by February 23, 2025!
Learn more and apply here: clementscenter.org/press/app…
This is a very smart take on what motivates people in American politics. Worth your time...
nytimes.com/2024/10/27/opini…
Aaron O'Connell retweeted
The deadline for #SHAFR2025 proposals is a mere 6 weeks away!! If you need help finding like minds be sure to visit the conference website and sneak a peek at the Panelists Seeking Panelists sheet tinyurl.com/yed2tv2p
Friends of mine who plan to vote for Trump in the election:
What do you make of this exchange?
Aaron O'Connell retweeted
The first issue of JDS is now live and free to read in open-access!
Thrilled to announce that the first issue of Journal Disaster Studies has now been published! You can read more about our journal on the @PennPress blog. A direct link to our first issue (in open-access) is available here: muse.jhu.edu/issue/53160/pri…
Without out a doubt, this is one of the funniest moments in the history of television.
This quoted post is unavailable.
Aaron O'Connell retweeted
Ep 126: Michel Paradis on D-Day and Eisenhower @Nebulouspods @AaronBMacLean
Michel Paradis—litigator, national security law scholar, and author of The Light of Battle: Eisenhower, D-Day, and the Birth of the Am... hpbl.uk/yourls/2v1
Aaron O'Connell retweeted
D-Day continues to resonate as much as it does because it is an almost-too-perfect allegory for a decisive turning point in America’s national story: the moment when it came into its own as a new kind of superpower, @MDParadis writes: theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv…
A fascinating study of how almost everyone think the world was best when they were 11, and how everyone's favorite music is what they loved in high school.
washingtonpost.com/business/…
Aaron O'Connell retweeted
Had a great time reading Jessica Chapman's superb Remaking the World: Decolonization and the Cold War--highly recommend it!--and an even better time writing the review for @HDiplo. Check out the roundtable at:
networks.h-net.org/group/dis…
I don't think people I disagree with should be killed (obvi), & I sure wouldn't hire this person.
But I do think his remarks are protected under the 1st Amendment. References to violence are not the same as specific threats.
A complex issue for university administrators.
Aaron O'Connell retweeted
It is worth watching this CNN video from the moment Emory Econ Professor @CarolineFohlin came across the violent arrest of a protester on campus and asked the police, with shock, "What are you doing?" That's all that prompted an officer to hurl her to the ground and handcuff her.
A CNN crew witnessed at least two professors detained by Atlanta police, including @EmoryUniversity economics professor Caroline Fohlin and Noëlle McAfee, chair of the philosophy department. #FreePalestine cnn.com/business/live-news/c…