Category: Blogs

Alert System in Place Warning Syrian Civilians of Air Strikes

By Mohamad Khair Alhamwi

At 11: 56 a.m. on a Friday, the Syrian Civil Defense (SCD) issued an alert on its various social media accounts that a fighter jet left the Hama military airbase and was headed north. The statement listed at least eight potential target zones, including the town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province. Expected time of arrival in […]

The North Korea nuclear threat and homeland missile defense

By Matthew Kroenig

In order to effectively address the growing tensions posed by North Korean nuclear capabilities, Washington needs a comprehensive strategy that will include a range of efforts, including, importantly, strengthened homeland missile defenses. Last week, US President Donald J. Trump, referring to the North Korean missile threat, claimed that “we have missiles that can knock out […]

Another Independence Referendum in Catalonia?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on October 21 announced his government’s intention to remove the leaders of Catalonia’s regional government and called for elections to be held as soon as possible. “By deciding to hold elections in Catalonia, the Spanish government is essentially calling a repeat referendum on independence in an extremely polarized situation,” said […]

Financial Pressure Needed to Prevent Financial Crimes in the DRC

By Rachel Ansley

The United States should apply sanctions on illicit financial networks and crack down on money laundering in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where a “violent kleptocracy” has fueled an ongoing and deadly conflict, John Prendergast, co-founder of The Sentry and founding director of the Enough Project, said at the Atlantic Council. Increased consequences […]

A Blueprint for a US Strategy in Asia

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States should update, revitalize, and defend the rules-based international order while considering “hard-headed” engagement with China, according to the latest in a series of Atlantic Council strategy papers. This “is not a strategy designed in Washington to be imposed on the region,” said Matthew Kroenig, a nonresident senior fellow in the Atlantic Council’s […]

US and NATO Allies Grapple with Countering Russia’s Cyber Offensive

By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes

NATO’s long-standing tactical advantage on the battlefield could be at risk as cyber adversaries probe for weak points in the U.S.-led security pact’s networks, a top alliance official said.

Ukrainians Are Protesting Again. Will It Amount to Anything?

By Melinda Haring

On October 19, several thousand protesters in Kyiv cheered as parliament passed a bill that will lift parliamentary immunity. It was not the only victory of the day; parliament approved major health care reform as well. This was the third day that thousands of Ukrainians have taken to the streets to demand that President Petro […]

Xi Seeks to Solidify Grip on China

The National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which opened in Beijing on October 18, will solidify Chinese President Xi Jinping’s grip on Chinese politics and society, part of a plan to guide the Asian nation toward dominance on the world stage, potentially at the expense of the United States, according to Atlantic Council […]

How US Army Europe’s Outgoing General Got the Pentagon’s Attention

By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes

The resources didn’t match the mission, and it gnawed at Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges during the early days of his tenure commanding U.S. Army Europe.