Blog Posts

"A relentless stream of tanks, ballistic missiles, and goose-stepping soldiers paraded into Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Thursday in a massive display of military strength."

What’s the Greatest Threat to U.S. National Security? New York Times Room for Debate, Five Op-Ed pieces.

"Reading political science can usefully complicate and enrich practitioners’ thinking about how the world works."

"Why, after 14 years of spilling blood and treasure, is Afghanistan still mired in turmoil? Because its success is nobody's top priority."

“To take down the so-called Islamic State in Syria, the influential former head of the CIA wants to co-opt jihadists from America’s arch foe.”

"Writing the definition of Army profession was easy; now we need the training program to support it."

"The military's U.S. Special Operations Command is bracing for a new book about its most secretive units, sending out warning letters to special-forces operators."

"The politicization of intelligence is not new, but despite the lessons learned, the mistakes keep getting repeated."

“Adversity, they say, makes strange bedfellows. This is especially true in the contemporary Middle East.”

"Is the United States at war? Even our top leaders do not know."

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The dissemination of the correct interpretation of Islam is one way Islamic scholars could help defeat al-Shabab, according to a VOA panel discussion held Saturday in Nairobi."

Continue on for a SWJ admin note.

"US military academy official William Bradford argues that attacks on scholars’ home offices and media outlets – along with Islamic holy sites – are legitimate."

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"The science of Target Audience Analysis is now so well advanced that it must become a key component of future strategic decisionmaking."

Summer 2015, Vol. 45 No. 2 - Continue on to download the full issue or individual articles.

"Fierce fighting is raging in southern Afghanistan, where national security forces with the help of the US-led foreign military coalition have undertaken a counteroffensive."

In order to succeed, battlefield innovation is required. The tactical leader needs the courage to move past old intellect and embrace innovation.

"Afghan security forces have had to battle the Taliban pretty much on their own. So far, they are standing their ground where it matters."

"One of the biggest battles between Congress and the Pentagon over the past year has been over a snub-nosed grunt of an airplane, so ugly and fierce it’s nicknamed the Warthog."

"This manuscript focuses on the present threat posed by terrorist and insurgent use of unmanned aerial vehicles as well as associated future threat potentials."

"The oil-rich kingdom is becoming increasingly confident acting without the USA, and will soon turn its attention to the Syrian civil war."

What is the track record of security assistance in preventing or ending terrorism?

"Afghanistan needs sustained U.S. partner support, ex-envoys say."

"The predominantly self-financed Islamic State is awash in cash – despite the group’s finances having been a target of the anti-IS coalition."