2014-01-31 Ukraine is currently in upheaval. The Russians are pressuring Ukraine to stay in their orbit. Yet many Ukrainian citizens wish to expand their relationship with the West and with the European Union. Is Ukrainian sovereignty the key driver for Western support? Or is it concerns for supporting Russia’s sphere of…
01/30/2014: Various Land Sea, and Air exercises as part of NATO multi-national training exercise in early 2014. For NRF 2014 rotation NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) gives his specific guidance to JFC Brunssum to train, prepare and certify the Immediate Response Force (IRF) and the elements designated in the Response…
2014-01-29 by Ed Timperlake and Robbin Laird The US Army was mobilized for the land wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This mobilization phase is now ending. The US Army now seeks to become more agile and effective in getting to crisis situations earlier rather than later. A piece in National…
01/29/2014:A Coast Guard helicopter rescue crew from Air Station San Francisco rescued three injured persons from a car that traveled off the side of a cliff near San Mateo, California on Thanksgiving November 28, 2013. Credit: USCG District 11:11/29/13 See our interview with the then District 11 Commander, Rear Admiral…
2014-01-28 By Ed Timperlake No one doubts that landpower remains a key element of the strategic calculus. The question is what type of landpower makes sense for the United States in dealing with 21st century challenges? Is it the USMC approach to a three-dimensional enabled ground warrior or is it a…
2014-01-27 by Robbin Laird Secretary Gates has done the nation a service by writing his memoirs. His work provides useful insights into his thinking and approach as well as providing a unique look at the working styles of two very different Presidents. The book is quite revealing about the man himself. …
01/28/2014: U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft maintenance unit performed an engine removal on an F-16 Fighting Falcon at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 22, 2014. Before the engine, that had a bad hydraulic line, could be removed Airmen had to remove the missiles from the aircraft. The F-16…
2014-01-28 by Oscar Nkala France says it plans to expand its military presence in Africa with the deployment of at least 3 000 troops to military bases in Niger, Mali and Chad as well as a logistics and supply base in Ivory Coast. France already has troops on stabilization missions…