Pacific Strategy IX: Inserting the UCAS Into Maritime Operations

10/23/2011
10/23/2011 - A key development for the evolution of U.S. Pacific operations will be the use of new remotely piloted vehicles as part of the C4ISR capabilities.  So called-unmanned systems are clearly not that; but are an important part of extending the reach and persistence of the strike and reconnaissance…

Turkey Positions for US Military Withdrawal from Iraq

10/23/2011
10/23/2011 by Richard Weitz Now that all U.S. combat troops are scheduled to withdraw from Iraq by the end of this year, Iraq’s neighbors are positioning themselves.  These neighbors are maneuvering to manage the resulting transformation in their regional security environment. [caption id="attachment_25373" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The latest Weitz Report on…

The Libyan Air Operation: A French Perspective

10/21/2011
10/22/2011 - Second Line of Defense sat down with recently retired Lt. General Desclaux.  Desclaux’s last command was as French Commander of Air Defense and Air Operations for the French Air Force.  The General has a distinguished and comprehensive background in air operations, with significant NATO experience as well. An…

Pacific Strategy VIII: Re-Thinking the CVN

10/21/2011
10/21/2011 - The presence and scalable force structure for the Pacific, which we are laying out here, is intended to be suggestive and not completely comprehensive.  Every weapon system and platform will not be discussed, but the key categories of platforms and weapon systems are discussed as a means of…