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Global Security

Peacekeeping and Stability Operations
commentary
Partner Capacity-Building's Next Phase—Embracing Civil Works?
James Schear
Oct 16, 2018
RealClearDefense
The way ahead for civil works capacity-building is not without its challenges. But in places that are plagued by extremist violence and irregular warfare, fostering civil society's trust and confidence isn't just an added benefit. It could instead be a targeted outcome.
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Iran
commentary
America's Indefinite Endgame in Syria
Colin P. Clarke @ColinPClarke, Ariane M. Tabatabai @ArianeTabatabai
Oct 16, 2018
The Atlantic
The Trump administration's position on the Syrian civil war has shifted from countering ISIS to containing Iran. America will remain in Syria as long as Iran does. But an unending timetable for the withdrawal of troops is far more problematic for Washington than it is for Tehran.
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Indonesia
commentary
Assessing Recent Developments in Indonesian Maritime Security
Lyle J. Morris @LyleJMorris
Oct 12, 2018
Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative
Despite a daunting set of maritime challenges, Indonesia has placed renewed emphasis on maritime security governance. While the programs in place may take decades to bear fruit, Indonesia is on the path to securing the waterways and infrastructure so key to its overall economic development.
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Nuclear Disarmament
commentary
North Korean Actions Speak Louder Than Its Words
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Oct 11, 2018
Newsweek
Kim Jong Un has regularly promised to denuclearize, but he's been all talk. And this year, North Korea has probably built five to nine more nuclear weapons. There are steps that could make a difference if taken before the North Korean nuclear weapon threat grows any further.
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Russia
commentary
Russia's Neighbors Want Alternatives
William Courtney @courtneywmh, Kenneth Yalowitz
Oct 4, 2018
The National Interest
The longer Russia delays in improving relations with its neighbors, the more likely they will pursue alternative options. It is also likely that tensions will persist between those neighbors and Russia—and in Russia's relationship with the West. Efforts to ease that tension should be high on the list of Western priorities with Russia.
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Afghanistan
commentary
The Risks of Permanent War
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Sep 28, 2018
Just Security
Why are we in Afghanistan? What interests justify our sacrifices? How will the war end? If the U.S. finds it challenging to answer such questions after nearly two decades, the coming years are unlikely to provide clarity. If a campaign has no end, it can have no objective; if it has no objective, it cannot be won.
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Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
Can U.S. Pressure Lead to a New Iran Nuclear Deal?
Ariane M. Tabatabai @ArianeTabatabai, Eric Brewer
Sep 18, 2018
Foreign Policy
It could be a mistake for the United States to assume that more pressure will bring Iran closer to ending or reducing its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. When it comes to measures aimed at Iran's nuclear program, more pressure could worsen nuclear risks and further drive a wedge between the United States and its European allies.
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Joint Operations
commentary
Huge Military Drills Show Both the Limits and the Durability of China-Russia Ties
Timothy R. Heath
Sep 11, 2018
World Politics Review
The appearance of military cooperation between China and Russia masks deep strategic distrust and suspicion. But despite these real limitations, strong incentives and a lack of alternatives provide a sturdy foundation for a continued strategic partnership going forward.
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Politics and Government
commentary
Reforming Security Assistance: Why the State Department Can't Lead from Behind
Michael J. McNerney, Jennifer D. P. Moroney @jdpmoroney
Sep 5, 2018
The Hill
The reforms in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act are driving the Department of Defense to improve security cooperation planning. Similar reforms for the State Department could help leaders there more effectively communicate the value of security assistance and maintain their traditional leadership role.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
A U.S.-Russia Partnership Against China Is Unlikely
Ali Wyne @Ali_Wyne
Aug 21, 2018
Lowy Institute
After Donald Trump's summit with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July, it might appear as if the U.S. and Russia are considering the formation of a partnership against China. But Russia seems more likely to try to expand the scope of its cooperation with China while also attempting to extract concessions from the United States.
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Iran
commentary
Bringing Back Sanctions Will Hurt U.S. Allies and Iran, but Will It Help the U.S.?
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Aug 7, 2018
The Hill
What happens if leaving the Iran nuclear deal and applying “maximum pressure” doesn't lead Iran to change its behavior or the regime to collapse? The Trump administration may find that it's much easier to break a deal than to replace it with something better.
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Combat Support Operations
commentary
Lives on the Line: The A2AD Challenge to Combat Casualty Care
Marta Kepe @martakepe
Jul 31, 2018
Modern War Institute (West Point)
Countries such as Russia and China continue to develop and expand the ability to integrate long-range strike, anti-ship, anti-air, space and cyber abilities. Provision of medical support could be a worthy priority for NATO planners when considering deterrence of and defense against near-peer or peer adversaries.
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Emerging Technologies
commentary
Downloadable Guns and Other 3-D Printing Security Threats
Troy D. Smith @troy_d_smith, Trevor Johnston, J. Luke Irwin
Jul 31, 2018
Fox News Channel
Americans may soon be able to legally access blueprints for 3D-printed guns. The growing opposition to these weapons shows that potential security threats do not have to be inevitable. The security challenges inherent in 3D printing could be addressed, while the development of industry norms can still be shaped.
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Adult Populations
commentary
What Keeps Millennials Awake at Night Could Change Over Time
Marek N. Posard @mnposard, Jennifer Kavanagh @jekavanagh, Kathryn Edwards
Jul 30, 2018
United Press International
Millennials are less worried than baby boomers about national security topics and more worried about kitchen table issues, such as making ends meet each month and paying off debts. But this may have less to do with the fact that they are millennials and more to do with the fact that millennials are young.
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Nuclear Terrorism
commentary
Is the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism Distracting Attention from More Realistic Threats?
Antonia Ward @antoniahward
Jul 27, 2018
Georgetown Security Studies Review
A nuclear terrorist attack is currently not a realistic threat. It would require an unprecedented level of sophistication from terrorists. The majority of terrorist attacks are conducted with conventional explosives.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Making Sense of South Korea's Cautious Optimism on North Korea
Derek Grossman @DerekJGrossman
Jul 24, 2018
Pacific Council on International Policy
South Korea is cautiously optimistic that North Korea will denuclearize, and it hopes that this will lead to the normalization of relations. The vast majority of U.S. observers believe that the North is bluffing. Seoul and Washington should continue to strive for transparency about the future of the peninsula.
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Global Security

Partner Capacity-Building's Next Phase—Embracing Civil Works?

America's Indefinite Endgame in Syria

Assessing Recent Developments in Indonesian Maritime Security

North Korean Actions Speak Louder Than Its Words

Russia's Neighbors Want Alternatives

The Risks of Permanent War

Can U.S. Pressure Lead to a New Iran Nuclear Deal?

Huge Military Drills Show Both the Limits and the Durability of China-Russia Ties

Reforming Security Assistance: Why the State Department Can't Lead from Behind

A U.S.-Russia Partnership Against China Is Unlikely

Bringing Back Sanctions Will Hurt U.S. Allies and Iran, but Will It Help the U.S.?

Lives on the Line: The A2AD Challenge to Combat Casualty Care

Downloadable Guns and Other 3-D Printing Security Threats

What Keeps Millennials Awake at Night Could Change Over Time

Is the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism Distracting Attention from More Realistic Threats?

Making Sense of South Korea's Cautious Optimism on North Korea

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