2014-05-26 PARIS, France U.S. Marines, French counterparts, and the American Battle Monuments Commission will host the Belleau Wood Memorial Day Ceremony at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France. The ceremony on May 25, 2014, commemorates its 96th anniversary as well as the long-term friendship between France and the United States…
2014-05-26 The election in Ukraine may provide Ukraine with a legitimate government to represent its interests in dealing with the Russians. But the clear absence of a mandate from the eastern regions of the Ukraine, and the Russian engagement in those regions, ensure that the question of the future of…
2014-05-25 By Robbin Laird Vladimir Putin has pursued an agenda to expand his role within Russia and Russia’s role within the world since at least 2005. The roll back of EU and NATO expansion is clearly part of the agenda, but rebuilding Russia’s ability to be a key player in the…
05/24/2014: Japan is a key ally for the U.S. in dealing with Pacific defense. In the meetings with Secretary of Defense Hagel in the Fall of 2013, the Japanese highlighted that new F-35s, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft and Global Hawk long-range reconnaissance UAVs were to be deployed to Japan. Indeed,…
2014-05-23 By Robbin Laird Dateline: Copenhagen, Denmark The Russian actions in Ukraine have reminded Europe of the direct defense of Europe challenge. And part of Europe is clearly the Arctic and securing their Arctic interests during the Arctic opening. And a key element of managing that opening is safety, security and…
2014-05-21 By Bill Jayne Two generations of pundits and opinion leaders who never met a military veteran have confidently dusted off clichés about the WWII G.I. Bill and used that legislation as an example of how well government can work to solve large-scale cultural dilemmas; such as “What on earth can…
2014-05-21 By Kenneth Maxwell Russian President Vladimir Putin is looking east. On a two day state visit to China, meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin has made the center piece of his strategy the signing of a long term 30 year natural gas supply deal with China. The talks between…
2014-05-20 by Robbin Laird Dateline: Paris, France With the return of direct defense considerations, the Western Alliance will need to focus on what needs have to be addressed and how. But has the Russian action in Crimea as well as earlier actions in Georgia raised the prospects that NATO territory…
