Death of a Soviet Aviation Legend

03/22/2011
By Dr. Richard Weitz 03/22/2011 - The famed Russian aircraft designer Mikhail Simonov died earlier this month, at the age of 81, after a long illness. His Sukhoi fighter jets represented the best of the Soviet defense industry and continue to dominate Russia’s arms sales to foreign countries. [caption id="attachment_16879"…

The Bahrain Red Line

03/16/2011
By Dr. Harald Malmgren 03/16/2011 - Underlying political instability in Bahrain is a fundamental conflict between the Sunni Arabs and the Shi'a Arabs. Bahrain is a Red Line for all Sunni royals and Sunni business and banking leaders in the Persian Gulf. Keep in mind that Bahrain is the banking…

Getting Ever Closer

03/10/2011
Iran’s Nuclear Program Keeps on Coming By Dr. Richard Weitz Photo Credit: Natanz Uranium Enrichment Site,  http://publicintelligence.net 03/10/2011 - According to the latest information of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other studies, Iran’s nuclear program continues to make progress despite international sanctions, cyber attacks, and other impediments. Iran…

An Update on Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense

03/10/2011
Photo Credit: SM3 Missile Launch,  http://news.cnet.com 03/10/2011 - The Obama Administration has placed significant emphasis on continuing the upgrade path for the Aegis BMD program.  By cancelling the Bush missile defense program in Europe, de facto, the Administration highlighted its commitment to Aegis as a key element for global missile…

The ARG At The Vortex of Change

03/06/2011
How Amphibious Forces Create Strategic Options By Vince Martinez 03/06/2011 - The world is changing.  For many who have studied the subject over the last decade, the Arc of Instability is coming to fruition.  Old powers are beginning to falter under the pressures of collapsing economies, the lack of resources,…

The Libyan Crisis: Beyond “Bosnia ’96”

03/05/2011
How the New Amphibious Ready Group Expands the President’s Options By Robbin Laird 03/05/2011 - The Libyan crisis is occurring in a period of challenges to the USAF and USN’s ability to deliver capabilities useful to the President. Part of the problem is the significant commitment of dwindling assets for…