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Category Archives: Allies
Global Shipping: Can New Technology Leapfrog China’s Dominance?
I recently participated in a Council on Foreign Relations Task Force on Space. It concluded, not surprisingly, that the US must prioritize all elements of US space development or risk ceding leadership to China. The world now depends on space assets for … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, Global Shipping, Industrial Policy, Maritime Dominance
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Houthis in Space, or: Ruining it for All Mankind
The acceleration of commercial, military and scientific space activities in recent years has been astonishing. Technology has evolved to point where space-based activities are demonstrably very lucrative. Satellites in low earth orbit are increasing exponentially (really, see chart below). Launch costs have plummeted and capabilities … Continue reading
Israel and Iran – Remember 1991 Iraq
In January 1991 I happened to be running the task force in the State Department Operations Center set up for Desert Storm. President George H. W. Bush had gone to enormous effort to assemble a coalition of over 30 countries to … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Chemical Weapons, Gaza, Gaza,Hamas, Israel, Iran, Iraq, Israel, nuclear weapons
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A Houthi State on Bab al-Mandab?
Can the UN Security Council accept a settlement of the Yemen conflict which does not mandate adherence to Freedom of Navigation? It appears the Houthi leadership in Sana’a aspires to be to the Bab al-Mandab, as Egypt is to the … Continue reading
US Leadership:
Informal conversations with foreign friends and allies usually turn to the question of the coming 2024 election. Our friends and allies have a stake in the direction and constancy of the United States. I deeply value allies and would like … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, NATO, nuclear weapons, Russia, WMD
Tagged Allies, Biden, NATO, Russia
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Things to Consider: Iraq War at 20
Everyone (and their dog) is writing/commenting about the Iraq war 20 years later. I doubt more accuracy is achieved in these tales after 20 years. Everyone seems to think they were central to events. Some of them were.[1] My perspective was also partial, … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Chemical Weapons, Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, Sunni, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
Tagged Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, Iraq Survey Group, Iraq War, Saddam Hussein, United Nations, WMD
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Nuclear Weapons and Alcohol Do Not Mix
Lot’s of analysts are creating analyses of Vladimir Putin. What drives him? What are his objectives? Is he psycho? The fact is, no one really knows. Analysis that was likewise wobbly surrounded Saddam in his day. It was off the … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Intelligence, Lavrov, nuclear weapons, Putin, Ukraine, WMD
Tagged DEFCON 3, Nuclear Alert, Nuclear Weapons, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, WMD
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Putin: Lessons from Saddam
Is Lavrov the New Baghdad Bob? Saddam’s Saddam’s last information minister and a former foreign minister was Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf–better known in Western Press as “Baghdad Bob”. He was ridiculed for his blatant incorrect statements about the American led invasion … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Intelligence, Iraq, Lavrov, NATO, nuclear weapons, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, WMD
Tagged PutinLavrov, Ukraine
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Unavoidable Elements of the Ukraine Crisis
Western policy to prevent further Russian aggression in Ukraine is hobbled by a few inescapable problems. The government in Ukraine is weak from the top down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is no Vladimir Putin. While they both stand about 5 … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, NATO, nuclear weapons, Russia, Ukraine, United Nations
Tagged Lavrov, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, Zelensky
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Taiwan is to Xi Jinping as Ukraine is to Vladimir Putin…
This analogy is too simple, but helps to think about the vise jaws that the Biden Administration now finds itself between. The similarities: Both Xie and Putin have maneuvered to be in power for the foreseeable future. The duration of … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, Cyber Threat, Elections, Intelligence, NATO, Russia, Ukraine
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