Category: Blogs

US Official Defends Spending on NATO Missile Shield, Under GOP Attack

By Rachel Oswald, Global Security Newswire

From Rachel Oswald, Global Security Newswire:  A senior State Department official on Friday said that a ballistic missile shield being established in Europe would contribute to defending the U.S. homeland

Independent Scotland ‘Faces Dilemma Between Trident and NATO’

By Simon Johnson, Telegraph

From Simon Johnson, Telegraph: A detailed study of defence in a separate Scotland predicted the SNP would face an “unpalatable dilemma” between keeping Trident submarines on the Clyde and being refused entry to Nato.

Obama in Africa: Take Two

By Sam Fishman

Africa is occupying a larger space on the world stage. Security threats posed by new Islamic extremist groupings, the continent’s rapid GDP growth, and a bullish China blowing past the US in bilateral trade suggest that the continent will rise higher on the presidential agenda.  Presidents Bush and Clinton took a special interest in Africa, […]

Britain’s Losing the Global Race

By Julian Lindley-French

British Chancellor of the Exchequer (Finance Minister) George Osborne said that Britain must win “the global race,” which is probably a political metaphor for reducing deficit spending and increasing productivity. At the crux of his efforts to claw back a further £11.5bn of savings have been further cuts to the British armed forces. This coming […]

An ICC Intervention for Syria?

By J. Trevor Ulbrick and Kip Hale

 Syria’s relentless civil war has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. The White House recently declared that Syrian government forces had used chemical weapons multiple times against rebel forces, a war crime in and of itself. Militias loyal to Bashar al-Assad have stepped up massacres of civilians and prisoners of war perceived as allied […]

Russia as a Balancing Power

By Sergei Karaganov, Russia in Global Affairs

From Sergei Karaganov, Russia in Global Affairs:  The growing outright rivalry between the United States and China gives Russia more foreign policy weight, enabling it to assume the role of a balancer.

Germany Foils Miniature Drone Terrorist Attacks

By Spiegel

From Spiegel:  German officials on Tuesday targeted two men suspected of planning to carry out terrorist attacks using remote-controlled model airplanes.

The Age of Gloom? Implications for Key NATO Armies

By Ben Barry, RUSI

From Ben Barry, RUSI:  [W]hilst the other two services can attack enemy land forces, only armies can defeat them.

Top News: Egyptian Government Faces Blame in Mob Sectarian Killing

Egypt’s government promised "exemplary punishment" on Monday after the mob killing of five Shiite Muslims near Cairo raised fears of wider sectarian bloodshed at a time of grave national crisis. But Shiite minority leaders and the liberal opposition accused the government itself, dominated by the Sunni Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, of whipping up sectarian anger over […]

A “No Drama” Leadership Transition in Qatar

By Richard LeBaron

It’s rare good news in the Middle East when a 61-year old leader hands over power to a 33-year old successor. Regardless of the specific timing and motives behind the abdication by Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to his son Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, this peaceful and voluntary departure from the throne […]