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Heidi Urben

@heidiurben.bsky.social
1.3K followers 314 following 53 posts

Prof of the Practice @GeorgetownCSS | Non-Res Senior Associate @csis_isp | civ-mil, natsec | Views mine alone | Go Irish, Hoya Saxa www.cambriapress.com/PoliticsArmy

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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
Great piece, Greg.
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Reposted by Heidi Urben
Foreign Policy @foreignpolicy.com · 29/09/2025
While every administration has fired some military leaders, none has relieved so many, so early in their tenure, and in this dramatic fashion.
foreignpolicy.com
How Military Leaders Should Respond to Trump’s Norm-Busting
There’s no shame in getting fired when it is not for cause.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 20/09/2025
Holy cow! Look at that. I had so much fun yesterday talking to Domers. It’s been so good to be back…even if half of campus is entirely unrecognizable to me.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
Congrats again! So glad it’s here and can’t wait to host your book talk at @georgetownssp.bsky.social
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Way to go! I know the feeling. One of my top 10 most tiring events ever.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 12/07/2025
I’m so sorry, Russ
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
To me, it really just confirms how you can’t separate the Army and parade from the context of it all.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
This all shows the perils of politicizing the military - Americans are desperate to see it as their co-partisan - and how all sorts of narratives can easily take root about the military when you don’t really know it at all. Fin/
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
I can be critical of the Army, but it did the best it could do under the circumstances. Perhaps there’s a silver lining in that it did give the public some insights into its Army at a time when it’s hard for the public to really know its military. 7/
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
People who are surprised by how the Army went about fulfilling this task it was handed, haven’t been to an installation-wide 4th of July fest or division week. I’d much rather the parade have that vibe than something more ominous. 6/
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
In any case, many who feared the optic of goose stepping soldiers down Constitution but are now calling it low energy should be glad our Army doesn’t put a high premium on marching and parades. 5/
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
And if you can’t hear the drum beat over music being played, it’s easy to get out of step. To members from the other services who are sniping about this or other aspects of the parade, be glad your service wasn’t put in this position. 4/
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Some are suggesting the troops marched in formation poorly on purpose. I hate to break it to folks, outside of the various bands and the Fife and Drum Corps whose jobs are to march in formation for a living, it’s not something troops spend a lot of time doing, nor do they really want to. 3/
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
In short, I think the criticism demonstrates two things: the impossibility of separating the Army/parade from the context in which it occurred and how little the American public knows its Army. 2/
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
I’ve found the parade criticism™ fascinating and maybe even a little disappointing, and this comes from someone who would have preferred the Army not to be put in this position in the first place. 1/
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Wise words from GEN (Ret) Dempsey on the Army’s 250th birthday - on the importance of the military being nonpartisan and having leaders of character who carry themselves, and therefore the institution, with humility. warontherocks.com/2025/06/a-so...
warontherocks.com
A Soldier For Life – War on the Rocks
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Thanks, Elizabeth!
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Fair. I purposefully chose to make a very narrow argument here and focus on the breakdown of the military’s norm of nonpartisanship, but yes, that’s occurring amidst a much larger breakdown of norms, etc.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
I use this clip in my civil-military relations class all the time.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Thanks so much, Risa.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 12/06/2025
Thanks to @defenseone.bsky.social for publishing my latest on the military’s norm of nonpartisanship and why Army leaders must uphold and teach this, now more than ever. www.defenseone.com/ideas/2025/0...
defenseone.com
The military must remain nonpartisan. America depends on it
The soldiers who cheered partisan applause lines at Fort Bragg, and their leaders, erred in a spectacular way.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
I’m so sorry to hear this, Brad.
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Reposted by Heidi Urben
Josh Chafetz @joshchafetz.bsky.social · 06/03/2025
With his permission, I'm sharing Dean Treanor's response to Ed Martin's letter:
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Reposted by Heidi Urben
Lawfare @lawfaremedia.org · 27/02/2025
@lindsaypcohn.bsky.social writes that President Trump's removal of top military leaders and uniformed lawyers increases the likelihood that the military will obey orders to suppress domestic protest or civil resistance and reduces the military's effectiveness in other missions.
lawfaremedia.org
Trump’s Military Purge Spells Trouble for Democracy and Defense
Firing military leaders for perceived disloyalty is often part of a strategy to consolidate regime power—even as it weakens the military.
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Reposted by Heidi Urben
Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 23/02/2025
A useful thing that academics and others can do is provide explainers to local media. This is a nice example from my former @mccourtschool.bsky.social colleague Bill Gormley. www.post-gazette.com/opinion/insi...
post-gazette.com
Bill Gormley: A word in favor of the bureaucrats
Almost every American has suffered an annoying or even angering encounter with a bureaucrat. An obstructive response after a long wait at a DMV line. A...
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 09/01/2025
If you're an HBCU student interested in Georgetown University's summer security studies institute, join us tonight at 6pm EST for an info session on Zoom. @georgetownssp.bsky.social
A flyer with a QR code about an information session on Georgetown's summer security studies institute for HBCU students
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 27/12/2024
Great piece, as always, Greg.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Timely analysis by some of the best civ-mil scholars out there. A must read.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
Agree. This excerpt from the IDA report remains mind boggling to me.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 27/11/2024
AP has done some really good reporting on the issue of extremism in the military. The extent of extremism in the military is likely very low, but an unwillingness to examine the extent of the problem is troubling. apnews.com/article/pent...
apnews.com
AP finds that a Pentagon-funded study on extremism in the military relied on old data
Early this year, Pete Hegseth told a Fox News audience a new, Pentagon-funded study proved that the number of military service members and veterans involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection did not indicate...
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
#CivMilSky will continue to be a good resource in the coming days
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
foreignaffairs.com
Don’t Ask the U.S. Military to Save American Democracy
Why the armed forces would struggle to rein in Trump.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
warroom.armywarcollege.edu/podcasts/pol...
warroom.armywarcollege.edu
NORMS, POLITICIZATION, AND THE MILITARY PROFESSION
Attempts across the globe to #politicize the military for political gain threaten #democracy. Risa Brooks discusses the importance of norms in upholding democratic values
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
www.justsecurity.org/87053/the-al...
justsecurity.org
The All-Volunteer Force at 50: Civil-Military Solutions in a Time of Partisan Polarization
The U.S. military's recruiting crisis may be exacerbated by politicization. Practical steps from civilian and military leaders can help.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 24/11/2024
Agree, although lots of great civil-military relations scholars here have been warning about politicization of the military for years. Some recent, relevant work here: www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
foreignaffairs.com
The Creeping Politicization of the U.S. Military
How Republicans’ loyalty tests erode national security.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Thrilled to announce our call for applications for the fourth annual security studies summer institute for HBCU students hosted by @georgetownssp.bsky.social. Applications are due 1/31/2025. Help us spread the word! Learn more here: css.georgetown.edu/summer-hbcu/
css.georgetown.edu
Security Studies Summer Institute for HBCU Students - CSS
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/can-...
lawfaremedia.org
Can the Military Disobey Orders in the SEAL Team 6 Hypothetical?
Two reasons for cautious optimism—or at least cautious suspension of outright horror
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
www.justsecurity.org/72934/wrestl...
justsecurity.org
Wrestling with Legal and Illegal Orders in the Military in the Months Ahead
Given what we’ve witnessed over the last few months, armed forces should critically review their training for both judge advocates and commanders.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 12/11/2024
A few resources on the topic of legal/illegal orders and lawful but awful orders: www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
foreignaffairs.com
Don’t Ask the U.S. Military to Save American Democracy
Why the armed forces would struggle to rein in Trump.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 07/11/2024
Doesn’t give me any joy to do so, but reupping this… www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state... #civmilsky
foreignaffairs.com
Don’t Ask the U.S. Military to Save American Democracy
Why the armed forces would struggle to rein in Trump.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 22/10/2024
Michael, that’s fantastic! Well-deserved.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 19/10/2024
Thanks, Jason! Really enjoyed recording this with you, @risabrooks12.bsky.social and @eclipticevader.bsky.social
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 21/09/2024
🖐️
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 17/09/2024
Thrilled to share this educational video on civil-military relations, "The Soldier and the Constitution" released today, fittingly, on Constitution Day. A great resource that emphasizes the importance of the military's norm of nonpartisanship. #MilSky, #CivMilSky www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXzt...
youtube.com
The Soldier and the Constitution
YouTube video by Army University Press
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 13/09/2024
Includes a shout-out to the great new research by @profjessblankshain.bsky.social, @lindsaypcohn.bsky.social, and @proflupton.bsky.social. #civmilsky
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 13/09/2024
The latest from me and Peter Feaver on how the SCOTUS immunity decision and potential for lawful but awful orders harms civil-military relations and makes the military's job that much harder. www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
foreignaffairs.com
Don’t Ask the U.S. Military to Save American Democracy
Why the armed forces would struggle to rein in Trump.
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Reposted by Heidi Urben
Elizabeth N. Saunders @profsaunders.bsky.social · 26/03/2024
Thrilled for The Insiders' Game publication day. After so many years of work, looking forward to hearing reactions from the many scholars, students, and friends who helped along the way. Intro available on the @princetonupress.bsky.social page (hubs.ly/Q02p8-zc0). Use code P325 for 30% off. Polisky
Cover of the Insiders' Game...what's behind the door?
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 08/03/2024
Thanks to @lawfare.bsky.social for for publishing the latest by @risabrooks12.bsky.social, @eclipticevader.bsky.social and me on how retired general and flag officers weigh normative considerations regarding political speech.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 22/02/2024
Congrats, Elizabeth! Can't wait to read it.
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Heidi Urben @heidiurben.bsky.social · 31/01/2024
Thanks for the shout-out, Steve.
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