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Tag Archives: Russia
Global Tensions Seen from Oslo
During a recent week in Oslo, I had the opportunity to talk with a variety of actors in government, defense industry, finance, military, and old friends. Perspectives seem to have evolved since my last visit about a year earlier. More worry … Continue reading
Posted in China, NATO, Putin, Russia, Space
Tagged China, NATO, Norway, Norwegian Defense, Russia, Stoltenberg, Ukraine
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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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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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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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Bill Burns – A Glimmer of Hope
Finally there is some ground for imagining a glimmer of hope in Afghanistan. CIA Director Bill Burns is reported to have met with Taliban leadership in Kabul Monday. Burns is exactly the right person with, hopefully, the right amount of … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, Intelligence, Russia, Terrorism
Tagged Afghanistan, Bill Burns, China, Russia, Taliban
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BYOB? — US and UK F-35s operate from UK Carrier against ISIS
UK and US F-35s have conducted strike missions against ISIS targets from the new carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. (https://theaviationist.com/2021/06/21/f-35b-hmsqe-shader/ ) This is good news. It points to the potency of close allies working together. We draw strength in many ways … Continue reading
The New CIA Director
Ambassador William J. Burns is a great and timely choice to head the CIA. He will assure that the Administration has the intelligence collection and analysis for the critical security issues facing the United States. He is a long time … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, Cyber Threat, Elections, Intelligence, Iran, Russia, Uncategorized, WMD
Tagged Bill Burns, China, Russia
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9/11 is Over
For almost two decades policymakers, intelligence analysts, defense planners and warfighters have focused on strategies and priorities birthed on September 11, 2001. “Today is September 12, 2001” was a sign posted in many offices and field operations. It’s not September … Continue reading
The New Russian Threat: May be Good News for some
Putin may discover to his surprise that it is in many American parties interests to have Russia as an enemy. It is not overly cynical to point out that, for many interests in Washington, there is a great need to … Continue reading
Posted in China, Financial Wars, Russia, Space, Terrorism, Ukraine
Tagged defense budget, Duelfer, Lavrov, Russia, Sergey Lavrov, Ukraine
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Ukraine – Dollar vs. Ruble
Looking ahead at the conflict between the US and Russia over Ukraine, it may turn out that this could become a financial war rather than a kinetic war. The US has an enormous strength irrespective of our military–the US dollar. … Continue reading
Posted in Financial Wars, Intelligence, Russia, Ukraine
Tagged Putin, Ruble, Russia, Ukraine
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