France and Mali: What Role for Coalitions?

01/27/2013
2013-01-27 According to a recent interview with a senior French military officer, the role of coalitions in shaping an effective approach was discussed. In the interview, the officer argued that an efficient command structure with a clear approach to engagement termination was central. He argued that NATO or EU command…

Taiwan and Beijing: Part I

01/27/2013
2013-01-27 by Richard Weitz The Taiwan situation will remain an insuperable obstacle to better Sino-American ties if the past is prologue. What are those conflicting objectives? Beijing insists on exercising control over Taiwan. The Taiwanese people insist on their right to exercise their political autonomy. And Washington insists on providing…

Shaping the Way Ahead for Airpower: General Hostage Focuses on the Future

01/24/2013
2013-01-24 Second Line of Defense and AOL Defense Board of Contributor Members Dr. Robbin Laird and Lt. General Dave Deptula USAF (Retired) sat down in mid December 2012 with General Mike Hostage, the Commander, Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va. As the commander, he is…

Shaping Operational Flexibility: An Interview with Major General Owens

01/20/2013
2013-01-20 Second Line of Defense had a chance to talk with Major General Christopher Owens, Commanding General, 1st MAW in mid-December towards the end of a major USMC exercise in the Pacific. http://www.1stmaw.marines.mil/ https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/gosa/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=2072&PERSON_TYPE=General Second Line of Defense had a chance to talk with Major General Christopher Owens, Commanding General, 1st…

The National Computer Quality Supervising Center (NCTC): A Core Chinese Global Capability (Part 4)

01/19/2013
2013-01-19 by Dr. Xin Song, Leonard Zuga, and Professor Michael Pecht Specialized Test Services China Compulsory Product Certification All electrical equipment manufactured in China or imported to China must comply with the regulations for China Compulsory Product Certification, abbreviated as CCC or 3C, which were issued by AQSIQ in December 2001. The…

Allies and Partners in a 21st Century Pacific Strategy

01/17/2013
2013-01-17 by Robbin Laird The 21st century is not the 20th.  But this is too often forgotten when it comes to shaping an effective military and security strategy. [caption id="attachment_48733" align="alignnone" width="232"] Any US-China rivalry in the Pacific really revolves around who has the most effective allied strategy. Credit Image:…