Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

Explore the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security’s latest insights, commentary, articles, media hits, and in-depth reports

All commentary & analysis

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2012

Demilitarization of the Siachen Conflict Zone: Challenges and Prospects

By Gurmeet Kanwal

The death of 124 Pakistani soldiers and 14 civilians in an avalanche in the Siachen conflict zone has once again brought to the fore the dangers of the continued deployment by India and Pakistan to safeguard the Actual Ground Position Line, despite the fact that an informal cease-fire has been holding up quite well since […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2012

Our Pre-industrial Cyber Future: Is the Smart Grid Setting Us Up For a 200-Year Crash?

By Jason Healey

Is it possible, as we rush to implement energy-saving Smart Grid technologies, that we are building a system so vulnerable that a cyber disruption would reduce us to pre-industrial days? This was the topic of a recent panel at the RSA computer security conference and seems, at first look, to be eye-rolling hyperbole. As no one has […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 12, 2012

Enrichment Freeze at Fordow Key to Progress in Iran Nuclear Talks

By Barbara Slavin

As diplomats from Iran and the world’s big powers assemble in Istanbul on the inauspicious day of Friday 13, the key to managing the Iranian nuclear crisis lies deep in a mountain near the Shiite theological center of Qom.

Event Recap

Apr 12, 2012

GLOBSEC 2012 Bratislava Security Forum

By Jason Harmala

As part of the Atlantic Council’s mission to foster the next generation of transatlantic leadership, the Council hosted its Young Atlanticist delegates from Europe and partner countries at the 2012 GLOBSEC conference. Organized by the Slovak Atlantic Commission, GLOBSEC is the largest NATO-related event in Central Europe, which brought together more than 500 key stakeholders […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 11, 2012

Will We Need NATO After Afghanistan?

By Stanley Sloan

Despite the Obama administration’s re-focusing US security commitments on Asia, we will need NATO after Afghanistan. Some historical perspective might help.  When the Clinton Administration took office, it, too, sought to reorient American foreign policy toward Asia.  It was the economy, stupid, and the future of American economic interests was to be found on the […]

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Apr 10, 2012

Disarmament by Timetable

By Andrew Wilson

Britain’s nuclear weapons—and its international relationships—are under challenge.

Nuclear Nonproliferation Security & Defense

Event Recap

Apr 10, 2012

The United States and Nordic-Baltic Cooperation: An Enhanced Partnership in a Global World

On April 10, the Atlantic Council held a discussion on recent developments and future prospects of the Enhanced Partnership in Northern Europe (e-PINE), which seeks to strengthen US cooperation with the eight Nordic and Baltic countries.

Event Recap

Apr 10, 2012

International Engagement in Cyberspace 2012

By Adrienne Chuck

On April 10, 2012, Georgetown University’s Institute for Law, Science, and Global Security and the Atlantic Council co-hosted “International Engagement in Cyberspace 2012: Establishing International Norms & Improved Cyber Security,” the second annual day-long conference to promote a dialogue between policymakers, key industry stakeholders, and academics regarding the issues, problems, and opportunities in the global […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

Event Recap

Apr 9, 2012

The Future of the United States Air Force: Prospects for Partnerships and International Cooperation

By Adrienne Chuck

On April 9, the Atlantic Council held a public address and conversation with Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Norton Schwartz.

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Apr 4, 2012

Scowcroft: NATO Future as UN Security Force

By James Joyner

General Brent Scowcroft argues that NATO’s Libya intervention may point to the future of the military alliance as the go-to enforcer of UN Security Council resolutions.

International Organizations Libya
Counter-Piracy Task Force: Lessons Learned From Naval Counter-Piracy Operations

Event Recap

Apr 4, 2012

Counter-Piracy Task Force: Lessons Learned From Naval Counter-Piracy Operations

By Adrienne Chuck

On April 4, the International Security Program and the Michael S. Ansari Africa Center hosted a meeting of the Atlantic Council Maritime Piracy Task Force, chaired by Atlantic Council Board Director Franklin D. Miller. This is the fourth meeting in a series of discussions looking into the challenge of piracy and possible strategic approaches.

Maritime Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 29, 2012

The F-35’s Cyber Death Spiral?

By Jason Healey

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter may have a far worse problem than overpromises, cost overruns, and technology overreach: we may be spending hundreds of billions of dollars on an aircraft for which our adversaries have apparently stolen the plans.

Event Recap

Mar 28, 2012

Smart Defense: Can a Lean NATO Meet the Challenges of the 21st Century?

By Jason Harmala

The Atlantic Council participated in the only major pre-NATO summit conference held in the United States, co-hosted with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and several international partners March 28-30.

Event Recap

Mar 27, 2012

Strategy Session with Danish Minister of Defence Nick Hækkerup

By Jason Harmala

On March 27, the Atlantic Council hosted Danish Minister of Defense Nick Hækkerup for a strategy session to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing NATO in the lead-up to the Chicago Summit in May. The session included many senior representatives from the Washington policy and industry communities, and was moderated by executive vice president of […]

Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Mar 27, 2012

Israelis Fear Blame For US-Iran War

By Barbara Slavin

A thread of anxiety ran through a conference of liberal American Jews and Israelis Sunday [March 25]. The worry: that Israel would bear the blame for any military confrontation between the United States and Iran.

Issue Brief

Mar 27, 2012

The Strategic Rationale for Promoting Transatlantic Values in a Globalized World

By Jeffrey Lightfoot and Simona Kordosova

In the issue brief “The Strategic Rationale for Promoting Transatlantic Values in a Globalized World,” authors Jeff Lightfoot, deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s International Security Program, and Simona Kordosova, assistant director, argue that the current and upcoming generation of leaders in the Atlantic community should leverage the historic achievements of the transatlantic partnership by […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 26, 2012

Rethinking the US-Pakistan “Friendship”

By Shuja Nawaz

After a long wait following a request from a joint session of the Pakistani parliament in May 2011, the Pakistani parliamentary committee looking to reset relations with the United States has come out with its recommendations.

Pakistan

Event Recap

Mar 23, 2012

Setting Boundaries on Transboundary Water Conflicts

By Jason Harmala

On Friday, March 23, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and International Security Program hosted a session on preventing and resolving conflicts over freshwater resources shared across national boundaries.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2012

Time Frame Shifts On Iran War Threat

By Barbara Slavin

Chances for a US or Israeli strike on Iran are minimal before US presidential elections but increase early next year, according to an adviser to the US government.

Issue Brief

Mar 22, 2012

The transatlantic bargain after “the Pivot”

By Barry Pavel and Jeffrey Lightfoot

In the issue brief “The Transatlantic Bargain After ‘the Pivot’,” authors Barry Pavel, director of the Council’s International Security Program, and Jeff Lightfoot, program deputy director, argue that as the United States reassesses its defense priorities towards the Indo-Pacific region amid cutbacks on defense spending, European partners in NATO must take on a larger responsibility […]

Defense Policy National Security
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