Gates warns that terrorists ‘using off-the-shelf equipment can develop toxic tools and deploy them with great effect’

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

Gates warns that terrorists ‘using off-the-shelf equipment can develop toxic tools and deploy them with great effect’

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

Gates warns that terrorists ‘using off-the-shelf equipment can develop toxic tools and deploy them with great effect’

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.

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Content

NATOSource

Sep 12, 2012

Gates warns that terrorists ‘using off-the-shelf equipment can develop toxic tools and deploy them with great effect’

By Brian Prince, Security Week

From Brian Prince, Security Week:  In a keynote today at the ISC2 Security Congress in Philadelphia, [Robert] Gates – who served as defense secretary from 2006 and 2011 and is also a former director of the CIA – said the threat of cyber-war waged by nation-states in some ways is less problematic than the prospect […]

Cybersecurity
Security & Defense

Event Recap

Sep 12, 2012

Strategy Session with Montenegrin Minister of Defense Pejanovic-Durisic

By Jason Harmala

On September 12, the International Security Program hosted the Montenegrin Minister of Defense Professor Milica Pejanović-Đurišić, PhD, together with prominent representatives from the US Government, allied foreign services and think tank community for a private strategy session over lunch.

NATO
Security & Defense

NATOSource

Sep 11, 2012

ls Europe becoming more reliant on the US for its defense?

By Julian Lindley-French, the New Atlanticist

From Julian Lindley-French, the New Atlanticist:  [G]iven Europe’s strategic retreat/pretense the only outstanding issue is the relevance of Europeans to America’s grand strategy. If none then both NATO and indeed Europe’s future defense will fail.

European Union
International Organizations

NATOSource

Sep 11, 2012

US increasing cyber cooperation with key allies

By John Reed, Killer Apps

From John Reed, Killer Apps:  The Defense Department has reached what Pentagon officials describe a key agreement with some of the United States’ closest international allies to share information in the cyber realm.

Cybersecurity
Security & Defense

NATOSource

Sep 11, 2012

Army and Marines developing offensive cyber support ‘for the most forward, tactical commanders’

By John Reed, Killer Apps

From John Reed, Killer Apps:  The Army and Marine Corps are developing procedures that allow front-line troops to request offensive cyber support the same way they currently request artillery and air support.

Cybersecurity
Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2012

NATO: Raising the Titanic or Lowering the Atlantic?

By Julian Lindley-French

Each time I enter NATO’s sprawling complex I cannot help but think of doomed British film producer Lord Grade. Having staked his future on one of Hollywood’s great flops, “Raise the Titanic”, he lamented afterwards that it would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic than raise the Titanic. The eclipsing of the 2010 NATO […]

NATO
Security & Defense

NATOSource

Sep 10, 2012

Cyber Weapons: A New Kind of Warfare

By the Editors of the New York Times

From the Editors of the New York Times:  [F]aced with rising intrusions against computers that run America’s military systems and its essential infrastructure — its power grid, for instance, and its telecommunications networks — the military here (and elsewhere) sees disruptive software as an essential new tool of war.

Cybersecurity
Security & Defense

NATOSource

Sep 7, 2012

‘Patriotic hackers’ in Armenia and Azerbaijan escalate crisis with cyber attacks

By Gohar Abrahamyan, ArmeniaNow

From Gohar Abrahamyan, ArmeniaNow:  The August 31 extradition and further pardon of Azeri murderer Ramil Safarov serving a life sentence in Hungary for killing an Armenia officer has been met with many acts of protest, including cyber attacks.

Cybersecurity
Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Sep 7, 2012

Internal Conflicts and Defense Planning

By Derek Reveron

There are 27 active conflicts in the world today; only one of them is a traditional interstate war. 

Afghanistan
National Security

New Atlanticist

Sep 7, 2012

A New Low for the Hungarian Government?

By David Koranyi

There has not been much positive to read about Hungary in the news lately, but the country’s embattled government really hit rock bottom last week.

NATO
Security & Defense
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Experts

Staff

John T. O’Brien

Associate Director of Research

Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense​ Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Security & Defense Space Security

Fellow

Stanislava Mladenova

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Afghanistan Conflict

Fellow

Brett McGurk

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English Middle East

Fellow

Erin K. McFee

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Latin America National Security

Fellow

Ibrahim Al-Assil

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Dan Minnocci

Senior US Air Force Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Europe & Eurasia Middle East
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Events

Public Event Tue, February 10, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET

Global Foresight 2036: What will the next decade bring?
China Economy & Business Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
Public Event Thu, February 12, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

Congressman John Moolenaar on deterring aggression against Taiwan

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, discusses how the United States and Taiwan can strengthen deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.
China Defense Industry Defense Policy Indo-Pacific
Public Event Thu, February 12, 2026 • 2:00 pm ET

Mapping Putin’s next moves—and how Europe must prepare for them
Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia National Security NATO
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