Preparing for 2018: The UN Sending States Agenda to Deal with North Korea

12/28/2017
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…

Poland, Article III and Missile Defense: Shaping a Way Ahead in Alliance Capabilities

12/18/2017
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…

Changing the Business Rules: Moving Beyond Slo Mo War Preparation

12/18/2017
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.…

Reflections on the Australian Foreign Policy White Paper: Facing the Challenge of Global Engagement, Conflict and Realignment

12/18/2017
2017-12-05 By Robbin Laird During my last visit to Australia, I spent time with colleagues in the Australian government discussing various aspects of the strategic environment in flux and what the impact of such an environment has on Australian interests. The newly released Foreign Policy White Paper provides a public…

Iraqi Christians, Facing Double Whammy Challenges: A Discussion with Joseph T. Kassab, President and Founder of the U.S. Based Iraqi Christians Advocacy and Empowerment Institute (ICAE)

12/05/2017
2017-11-20 By Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird The Middle East is certainly in turmoil and transition. The Turkish government under its current government is looking to expand Turkish influence in the region, certainly, in part, to bolster its own power position and to deal with Syrian instability. The Iranians are working…

Estonia and Defense: The Challenge of Dealing with the Russians

12/04/2017
2017-11-24 The Baltic republics are the flash point for European defense. If there is a wider war in Europe, it is very likely that the Baltic republics are the flash point. This perception has certainly driven changes in Nordic and North Atlantic defense. In a recent interview, Rear Admiral Nils…