Lessons of Tunisia “Leaderless” Revolution

01/19/2011
By Dr. Harald Malmgren 01/19/2011 - The collapse of the 23+ year reign of Tunisia’s autocratic leadership was the result of a revolt in the streets without apparent political leadership. 21st Century technology enabled discontented citizens to interact and organize, in a kind of spontaneous combustion across the entire country.…

Balancing China Through Vietnam

01/13/2011
By Richard Weitz 01/13/2011 - The public display of China’s new J-20 stealth fighter, the expected appearance soon of China’s first aircraft carrier, and Secretary Gates’ troubled visit to the PRC reaffirm the importance for the United States of having good security relations with China’s neighbors. Defense ties with the…

Pakistan and the Afghan End Game

01/04/2011
[caption id="attachment_12920" align="alignleft" width="150" caption=" "][/caption] By Dr. Richard Weitz 12/22/2011 - Following the November 26 incident, the Pakistani government convened an emergency session of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet (DCC), Pakistan’s highest forum for defense policy consultation and coordination. The DCC decided to retaliate for the attack by…

USS Freedom in the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal

01/03/2011
01/02/2011 - Sailors assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Freedom watch from the flight deck as a set of gates closes within the Gatun Locks of the Panama Canal. Freedom was conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations and theater security cooperation in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility. [slidepress gallery='uss-freedom-in-the-gatun-locks-of-the-panama-canal']…

Marine Corps Operations in Afghanistan

01/03/2011
01/02/2011 - In this slide show, a USMC operation to ferret out adversaries and to protect the local population is pictured. [slidepress gallery='marine-corps-operations-in-afghanistan'] Credit: Regimental Combat Team-2, 1st Marine Division Public Affairs 8/10/10 In the first photo,  Lance Cpl. Addison Brinks, an infantryman with Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine…

Crafting Energy Security in the 21st Century: A German View of the Challenge

01/03/2011
By Caroline Mükusch 01/02/2011 - Securing the availability of energy resources – namely oil and gas – in accordance with environmental sustainability is a key challenge of the 21st century. (See treatment of the issue by the German Minister of Foreign Affairs) Also, history shows that conflicts over resources are…