2017-08-21 By Robbin Laird During recent conversations with Ross Babbage in the United States and then Australia, we discussed the dynamics of change in the global environment and the challenges posed to the liberal democracies by the illiberal powers. Ross is a well-known and well regarded Australian strategist with significant…
2017-08-10 As the Pentagon reforms its acquisition approach, the ability to mobilize assets and to support them as was well as to accelerate modernization are clear priorities. But missing from the discussion is the allied dimension in terms of accelerating US combat modernization. The shift from slo mo to preparing…
2017-07-30 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake The new Dunkirk movie is one of the best war movies in years. It does what film does best; put one into the shoes of the persons involved rather than providing a platform for lecturing the audience on the moral values of the…
2017-07-31 In a piece published on July 31, 2017 by Ron Maxwell, the writer and director of the Civil War trilogy of movies: Gettysburg, Gods and Generals, Copperhead looks at why the legacy dominates, and why new approaches remain in the wings. How Romney Loyalists Hijacked Trump’s Foreign Policy Those who…
2017-07-17 The Tailsman Sabre exercise is a biennial military training exercise between the US and Australia held in Australia. According to an article published on the Commander, US Pacific Fleet website and dated June 28, 2017: FORT Shafter, Hawaii - More than 33,000 U.S. and Australian personnel will participate in the…
2017-07-18 By Richard Weitz The Western media has recently highlighted the Russian military buildup in Asia, which generally receives less attention than Russian defense activities in Europe and the Middle East. Russia’s Far Eastern armed forces have benefited from the country’s overall military modernization program. During the past decade, the…
2017-07-09 Richard Weitz Does President Trump’s budget execute the president’s nonproliferation through firmness and strength approach?. The Trump administration’s proposed FY2018 Presidential Budget Request (PBR) would allocate approximately $19 billion for the Defense Department’s nuclear enterprise, of which some $5 billion would support recapitalization, rising to $43 billion during the…
2017-07-03 By Richard Weitz According to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, the Syrian government aborted a planned chemical strike following the administration’s threats at the beginning of the week to preempt or punish another attack. The White House warning to the Syrian government that it would “pay a heavy price”…
