2012-12-13 By Robbin Laird Leadership always looks easy in the rear view mirror. We often hear that it was easier in the Cold War because the landscape was so black and white. Now it is much harder, we are frequently told, because the enemy is diffuse, complex and asymmetric. When…
2012-12-13 by Robbin Laird President Obama has declared the Syrian preparation for possible use of chemical weapons a “red line” and the NATO alliance has responded also along these lines. A “red line” should mean something when it has been crossed and if you declare a “red line” to someone…
In an interesting notion of what US Pacific strategy should be, our good friends in the PRC are trying to persuade Inside the Beltway among others to be calm. Building trust is the proper response to being shot at. Thanks for that advice Beijing and remember that in the South…
2012-12-13 by Richard Weitz The protracted negotiations concerning China’s possible purchase of an enormous volume of Russian natural gas has been a prominent agenda item at Russian-Chinese leadership summits for years. Expectations had been high for years that an agreement might soon be imminent, but the parties have proved unable…
By Donna Miles American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2012 – The United States and Canada entered into two new agreements today that expanded their security relationship by promoting closer cooperation in peacefully opening the Arctic and in expanding their bilateral military training and exercise program. Army Gen. Charles…
2012-12-11 by Richard Weitz As we pointed out earlier, “defense against missile attacks [and chemical weapons] involves offensive operation as well as defense itself. Indeed, an attack and defense enterprise is required and not a pure defense system.” http://sldinfo.wpstage.net/war-in-gaza-the-40-year-anniversary-of-the-lebanese-war-in-practice/ http://sldinfo.wpstage.net/israels-iron-dome-an-initial-assessment/ In this regard, it is important to note how missile defenses,…
2012-12-10 By Richard Weitz One factor driving interest in regional missile defense systems is to counter WMD-armed rockets and missiles. Chemical munitions could even be launched on artillery shells. There are three main types of missile defenses in the works in this area—the short-range systems like Israel’s Iron Dome, the…
2012-12-10 By Richard Weitz Recently we celebrated the 25th anniversary of the signature of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The accord prohibits Russia and the United States from developing, manufacturing, or deploying ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges of 500-5,500 kilometers. It includes an unprecedented set of intrusive…
