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…
2014-05-18 by Robbin Laird Dateline: Paris, France Declaring the “Cold War” over, then President Sarkozy announced that France was going to build two amphibious ships for the Russian navy. Built on a commercial hull, the Mistral has become an important ship for the French navy, and provided significant support for…
2014-05-14 By Robbin Laird The coming of the USMC for a 6-month rotation in the training areas of Northern Australia is a concrete manifestation of the US-Australian deepening their working relationship in shaping 21st century Pacific Defense capabilities. The Aussies are engaged in significant defense modernization projects, such as the KC-30A…
2014-05-14 By Robbin Laird Since the reunification of Germany and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the defense of Europe has been largely a politically managed affair. The business at hand was shoring up the European Union and NATO arrangements to deal with the new situation, and to expand East as…
