By: Stephanie Pillion, Columnist Photo Credit: MEMO On November 22, 2017, more than 235 were killed and 107 injured when four truck bombs exploded and militants opened fire on a Sufi mosque in Sinai, Egypt.[i] This attack is the latest example of the Egyptian government’s failed efforts to counter the threat of the Islamic State … Continue reading Rethinking American Military Aid to Egypt
Category: Military & Defense
Undermining the UN, Putin’s Russia Drives Regional Diplomatic Talks on Syria
By: Patrick Hoover, Columnist Photo Credit: Middle East Monitor Russia is increasingly in the diplomatic driver’s seat of the seven-year Syria conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted his Iranian and Turkish counterparts, Hassan Rouhani and Tayyip Erdogan, in Sochi between November 20 and 25 to issue a joint statement affirming their commitment to a “post-conflict” … Continue reading Undermining the UN, Putin’s Russia Drives Regional Diplomatic Talks on Syria
The Utility of Offensive Nuclear Weapons in the Modern Era
By: Mark Bhaskar, Columnist Photo Credit: MinutemanMissile.com Discussing the potential, or even necessary, use of nuclear weapons by the United States in any reputable forum usually invites near-universal condemnation. Such a strong reaction proves that the “nuclear taboo,” best described in Nina Tannenwald’s 1999 essay, is alive and well. As per this taboo, using nuclear … Continue reading The Utility of Offensive Nuclear Weapons in the Modern Era
Standing Up to the Russian Bear: Time for A Comprehensive Strategy for Countering the Threat of the Russian Federation
By: Doug Livermore, Columnist Photo Credit: Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty The United States National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18), which the US Congress resolved and sent to the White House in mid-November 2017, includes in it a requirement for the interagency to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to counter … Continue reading Standing Up to the Russian Bear: Time for A Comprehensive Strategy for Countering the Threat of the Russian Federation
Peace and Security in India: A Conversation with AVM Arjun Subramaniam
By: Gregory Niguidula, Reporter Photo Credit: GoodReads On October 27, 2017, the Mortara Center welcomed Air Vice Marshal Arjun Subramaniam (ret). AVM Subramaniam gave a talk, hosted by the Georgetown India Initiative and moderated by Dr. C. Christine Fair of the Georgetown Security Studies Program. Dr. Fair introduced AVM Subramaniam as a rare individual who … Continue reading Peace and Security in India: A Conversation with AVM Arjun Subramaniam
Faculty Interview Series: An Interview with Dr. Gary Shiffman, SSP Adjunct Professor
By: Donnie Hill, Reporter Photo Credit: Giant Oak Dr. Gary Shiffman is the founder and CEO of Giant Oak, a technology firm that specializes in blending social science with big data environments to identify illicit actions, actors, and networks. His past positions include managing director at the Chertoff Group, senior vice president and general manager … Continue reading Faculty Interview Series: An Interview with Dr. Gary Shiffman, SSP Adjunct Professor
Chinese Global Governance Leadership is Only a Win-Win for China
By: Theresa Lou, Columnist Photo Credit: Asia News Held from October 14-24, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 19th Party Congress solidified President Xi Jinping’s leadership and set the party’s priorities and goals for the next five years. During his three-hour speech,[i] Xi waxed poetic about China’s great national rejuvenation, which he mentioned 27 times,[ii] and … Continue reading Chinese Global Governance Leadership is Only a Win-Win for China
Stay in Your Lane: The US Military and the Interagency Community
By: Brian Hayes, Columnist Photo Credit: Department of Defense Admiral Kurt Tidd wants to be South America’s top cop. Tidd, the commander of US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), is not content to focus on military activities. Instead, Tidd wants SOUTHCOM to target criminal networks throughout the theater in order to “detect, illuminate, [and] disrupt” criminal activities. … Continue reading Stay in Your Lane: The US Military and the Interagency Community
American Amnesia: Counterterror Strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa
By: Evan Cooper, Columnist Photo Credit: The Nation Prior to the disclosure that four United States special forces members had been killed in Niger, there was almost no discussion of the United States’ military presence in sub-Saharan Africa. Since the news broke, it has become clear that American policymakers continue to see the use of … Continue reading American Amnesia: Counterterror Strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa
Faculty Interview Series: An Interview with Dr. Keir Lieber, Incoming CSS/SSP Director
Dr. Bruce Hoffman, who has served as the Director of CSS/SSP for seven years, announced in September that he would be stepping down. He will be succeeded Dr. Keir Lieber, whose appointment takes effect January 1, 2018. Dr. Lieber is an Associate Professor in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and the Department … Continue reading Faculty Interview Series: An Interview with Dr. Keir Lieber, Incoming CSS/SSP Director