Bold Alligator 2012: Charting the Future

12/12/2011
12/12/2011 In early 2012, the USN-USMC team will have the largest Amphibious exercise in many years.  This is the largest Amphibious exercise since before 9/11 had such a major impact on military operations. The exercise is being conducted as several USN and USMC assets prepare for deployments.  This means that…

Russia-US Relations: Hypotheses and Recommendations

12/12/2011
[caption id="attachment_12920" align="alignleft" width="90" caption=" "][/caption] By Dr. Richard Weitz 12/12/2011 - Editor’s Note: Starting next year on the Second Line of Defense Forum (http://www.sldforum.com) we will start a series of pieces debating key decisions to be made after 2012 in the United States about foreign and defense policy.  We…

The Evolution of Maritime Robotic Systems

12/09/2011
12/09/2011 - In a wide ranging discussion with General Heinz, former PEO of the F-35 program and now head of Maritime Systems in I Robot (and working for the former head of NAVAIR, now the COO of I Robot), the current state of Maritime Robotic systems was discussed as well…

Augmenting the Seabase: 21st Century Efficiencies

12/09/2011
12/09/2011 by Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird Enhanced Efficiencies in Use of Ship Deck Space: The USN-USMC Team Shows the Way As assets are diminished for U.S. defense forces, it is important to enhance the combat value of the assets which remain. Important  modernization and upgrades are the essential points. …

Russian Intelligence on the Rebound

12/05/2011
12/5/2011 by Richard Weitz Russian news media hinted darkly the foreign governments and their agent were seeking to influence yesterday’s parliamentary elections. The accusations of spies being involved in the election process were correct, but the spies were working for the Russian government. One of the duties of the Russian…

Presidential Visit to Australia: A Strategic Opportunity for Darwin and Australia?

12/02/2011
11/16/2011 By Robbin Laird and Ed Timperlake President Obama is focusing on the Pacific this week and he will go to Australia.  The President is scheduled to visit with the Australian Prime Minister, and Darwin, a port city, in the Northern Territories.  Darwin is the home of many things; among…

US Joins Russia in Suspending Adherence to Conventional Weapons Treaty

12/02/2011
[caption id="attachment_12920" align="alignleft" width="150" caption=" "][/caption] By Dr. Richard Weitz 12/02/2011 - The United States announced recently that it would stop sharing data with Russia under the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty. In announcing the decision, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland noted that Russia had suspended its participation in…