2017-12-28 By Stephen Blank The Trump Administration’s new National Security Strategy (NSS) received a flood of public scrutiny even before it was announced. Not surprisingly this flood morphed into a tidal wave once it appeared. But virtually all of this commentary focused on the tone and major themes observers claimed…
On December 19, 2017, the United States and Canada said that nations from around the world would convene January 16 to show solidarity against North Korea's nuclear program. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, meeting in Ottawa, said the meeting would take place in…
2017-12-18 Last year, the Chief of Naval Operations had enough with the growing emphasis on what our adversary’s might be able to do as opposed to focusing on U.S. and allied modernizations to support the freedom of action of the liberal democracies. Adm. John Richardson in October 2016 argued: "We're going…
2017-12-05 By Steven Blank Western governments and commentators have both neglected to analyze Russia’s overall strategic campaign in the Middle East, rather than primarily focusing on its actions in Syria. Focusing almost exclusively on Syria and/or on the issue of oil prices that Moscow is negotiating with OPEC and especially…
2017-12-15 By Richard Weitz One problem with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 (H.R. 2810) signed by President Trump on Tuesday is that the costs of defending foreign countries from missile threats is disproportionately paid for by American tax payers. To sustain funding for the U.S.…
2017-12-16 By Robbin Laird In an interview earlier this year, the Chief of Staff of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Lt. General Hood highlighted what he saw as a key area of competence for the Canadian Air Force and Navy, namely anti-submarine capabilities. He underscored that their new helicopter and…
2017-12-18 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake We have a fundamental respect for the Poles and their history. No people have learned more about the threats to national survival generated by European insecurities and the Russians than the Poles. We each have a reach into Poland and its heritage but by…
2017-12-18 By Brian Morra The Department of Defense’s acquisition system is a major cause of the erosion of the defense capabilities of the United States. This erosion is visible in high profile, fatal accidents like those the US Navy has experienced in the Western Pacific over the past two years.…
