By: Kailey Pickitt, Guest Contributor Photo by: Hudson Institute At a Pentagon press conference last month, reporters questioned Defense Secretary Jim Mattis about the status of Iran’s so-called “land bridge.” The bridge, a territorial corridor that connects Iran to Lebanon via Iraq and Syria, is one of Tehran’s more important strategic priorities. “I don't think … Continue reading A Bridge Too Far?: US Strategy Towards Iran’s “Land Bridge”
Category: Nuclear & Unconventional Weapons
Reliance on China to Solve North Korea is Reasonable, but Unrealistic
By: Theresa Lou, Columnist Photo Credit: Reuters North Korea conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test on November 28, the third such test in 2017. Amidst the predictable flurry of discussions surrounding how the United States should respond to Pyongyang’s growing threat, the Trump administration remains fixated on its current approach of pushing China to … Continue reading Reliance on China to Solve North Korea is Reasonable, but Unrealistic
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
Assessing US Credibility in the Trump Era
By: Stephanie Pillion, Columnist Photo Credit: BBC Within the first seven months of his term in office, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from three critical international agreements: the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Paris Climate Accord, and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The TPP, Paris Climate Accord, and JCPOA are all multilateral … Continue reading Assessing US Credibility in the Trump Era
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
Rethinking US Missile Defense in Times of Diplomatic Madness
By: Benedikt Meng, Guest Contributor Photo Credit: US Army Gone are the days of the post-Cold War ‘American Hyperpower’ which dominated global economic and strategic security in a world of relatively stable nuclear security. While the Cold War world presented an uneasy nuclear balance resting on the actions of two superpowers, today’s nuclear environment is … Continue reading Rethinking US Missile Defense in Times of Diplomatic Madness
Japan’s “Remilitarization”: More Baby Steps
By: Mei Lim, Columnist Photo Credit: Christian Science Monitor Under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan has pushed to increase its defense capabilities. However, progress will remain piecemeal until Japanese society moves away from their extreme pacifist position. Abe, a well-known conservative, faced a mixed response when he became prime minister in end-2012. China and South … Continue reading Japan’s “Remilitarization”: More Baby Steps
NATO Becomes Complacent at Its Own Peril
By: Brian Hayes, Columnist Photo Credit: Defence Procurement International Zapad, a joint Russian-Belarusian military exercise, concluded without incident on September 20th.[i] The worst fears of NATO national security professionals—that Russia would deploy as many as 100,000 troops or leave behind a permanent garrison in Belarus—did not materialize.[ii] However, in light of past Russian behavior and … Continue reading NATO Becomes Complacent at Its Own Peril
There’s a Perfectly Good Alternative to War with North Korea
By: Evan Cooper, Columnist Photo Credit: Voice of America News With North Korea armed with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that can strike major US cities, concern of nuclear conflict permeates the American populace as the standoff threatens to boil over into war.[i] The situation is being compared with the Cuban Missile Crisis, and for good … Continue reading There’s a Perfectly Good Alternative to War with North Korea
Matching Means and Ends in North Korea
By: Theresa Lou, Columnist Photo Credit: Reuters The United States has insisted for decades that it will not accept a nuclear North Korea. But this position is becoming increasingly untenable given increasing evidence that Pyongyang has developed a nuclear capability. Between July and September 2017, the Hermit Kingdom conducted multiple successful missile launches and its … Continue reading Matching Means and Ends in North Korea