‘Boom time’ for private security contractors

MENASource
Aug 25, 2024

After a failed attack, Hezbollah’s propaganda seeks to prevent a wider war with Israel

By
David Daoud

Committed as Hezbollah is to saving its Gaza-based allies, the group does not currently want a full war with Israel.

Conflict
Israel

‘Boom time’ for private security contractors

New Atlanticist
Aug 21, 2024

How quickly can Taiwan integrate US weapon systems? Speed is essential to help deter China.

By
Adam Kozloski

To better prepare Taiwan to defend itself, the United States needs more transparency into Taipei’s weapons integration challenges.

Conflict
Defense Policy

‘Boom time’ for private security contractors

UkraineAlert
Aug 21, 2024

Invasion? What invasion? Putin is downplaying Ukraine’s Kursk offensive

By
Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin’s efforts to downplay Ukraine’s invasion of Russia have severely dented his strongman image and make a mockery of the West’s escalation fears, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict
Defense Policy

Programs

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world.

Learn more

Content

Books

Feb 17, 2015

‘Boom time’ for private security contractors

By Ashish Kumar Sen

‘The Modern Mercenary’ author McFate says contractors fill security vacuum left by departing troops One of the biggest fallacies in Washington is that once the United States is done with private security contractors in Afghanistan and elsewhere they will simply pack their bags and head home, says Sean McFate. In fact, these private armies go […]

Defense Industry
National Security
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and British Prime Minister David Cameron, Sept. 4, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 17, 2015

David Cameron Will Encourage Britain’s Enemies If He Cuts Defense Spending, Warn Former NATO Chiefs

By Ben Riley-Smith, Telegraph

David Cameron will embolden Vladimir Putin and Islamic terrorists if he reneges on a commitment to spend two per cent of GDP on defence, two former Nato heads have warned.

NATO
Russia

In the News

Feb 15, 2015

Benitez on the Future of NATO

By Jorge Benitez

Defense News quotes NATOSource Director and Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Jorge Benitez on new programs between Washington and its NATO partners:

NATO
Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 14, 2015

Declaring War on Islamic Terrorism is Not the Answer, Says LeBaron

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analyst says White House summit must catalogue what we know about countering violent extremism A White House conference on countering violent extremism will “reinforce international will to take on the difficult issues posed by radicalization,” according to the Atlantic Council’s Richard LeBaron. The White House will host a Summit on Countering Violent Extremism […]

National Security
Security & Defense
The leaders of Belarus, Russia, Germany, France, and Ukraine, Feb. 11, 2015

NATOSource

Feb 14, 2015

Stephen Walt Makes the Case for Appeasing Russia

By Stephen Walt, Foreign Policy

Those who favor arming Ukraine are also applying “deterrence model” remedies to what is almost certainly a “spiral model” situation.

NATO
Russia
US Ambassador to NATO Douglas E. Lute

NATOSource

Feb 13, 2015

US Ambassador Applauds Changes in NATO Force Structure

By Douglas Lute, US Mission to NATO

[T]he force posture that NATO has had for the last 20 years or so when it went on operations, extended operations in the Balkans and in Afghanistan, was not best suited for these demands that we now face on our periphery.

NATO
Security & Defense

AfricaSource

Feb 13, 2015

What Boko Haram’s widening war means for refugees

By Joshua Meservey

Two weeks ago, I wrote about the near- and long-term consequences of the Nigerian refugee crisis as tens of thousands of Nigerians flee across borders from the violence the terrorist group Boko Haram is meting out in the northeastern part of the country. I wrote that the world needs to surge resources into the area […]

Conflict
Nigeria
Ukrainian armored unit, Jan, 3, 2015

NATOSource

Feb 12, 2015

Mearsheimer: Don’t Arm Ukraine

By John J. Mearsheimer, New York Times

Sending weapons to Ukraine will not rescue its army and will instead lead to an escalation in the fighting. Such a step is especially dangerous because Russia has thousands of nuclear weapons and is seeking to defend a vital strategic interest.

Germany
NATO
Ash Carter testifying to Senate Armed Services Committee, Feb. 4, 2015

NATOSource

Feb 12, 2015

Ash Carter’s Priorities for NATO

By John T. Bennett and Paul McLeary, Defense News

The United States and NATO should reject Russian assertions that Moscow is entitled to a “sphere of influence” in Eastern Europe — and build militaries capable of handling “any opponent,” said the nominee to be the next US defense secretary.

NATO
Russia

New Atlanticist

Feb 12, 2015

Airstrikes will Strengthen ISIS, says Fayyad

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister says root causes must be addressed The ongoing coalition airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham will do very little to destroy the militant group and may, in fact, enhance its ability to recruit more fighters, according to Salam Fayyad, a former Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority. […]

Iraq
National Security
Load More

Experts

Staff

Tatevik Khachatryan

Assistant Director, Events

Armenian Digital Policy

Staff

Uliana Certan

Assistant Director, European Engagement

Global Energy Center

Democratic Transitions Energy & Environment

Millennium fellow

Dragos Manea

Political Affairs Officer, NATO

Millennium Leadership Program

Eastern Europe Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Phillip M. Ramirez

Military SkillBridge Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

East Asia Indo-Pacific

Fellow

Alvin Camba

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Chinese

Fellow

Rob Macaire

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Iran Middle East
Load More

Events

Online Event Tue, January 27, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

The SDF-Damascus agreement and its implications in Syria and the region
Conflict Middle East Syria
Public Event Wed, January 28, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Taiwan’s critical role in global supply chains and the future of US-Taiwan ties
Economy & Business Energy & Environment Indo-Pacific Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Wed, January 28, 2026 • 3:00 pm ET

Rep. Rob Wittman on the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act
National Security Security & Defense United States and Canada