Mar 31, 2016

By Dr. R. Evan Ellis

Dr. R. Evan EllisFrom February 15-23, 2016, I1 had the opportunity to travel to Mexico to conduct interviews with Mexican security experts about the evolution of transnational organized crime in the country and the work of Mexico's current government to combat it.My trip to Mexico coincided with the February 12-17 visit to Mexico by Pope Francis.

Mar 31, 2016

By Dr Jean-Loup Samaan

Author: Dr Jean-Loup SamaanView the Executive SummaryThe collapse of Israel-Turkey relations over the last decade has led to a reshuffling of the power plays in the East Mediterranean region. Following the dismantlement of the Ankara-Jerusalem axis, Greece has entered the game by becoming the new ally of Israel in the area. As a result, the new

Mar 15, 2016

By Dr Robert J Bunker

Author: Dr Robert J BunkerView the Executive Summary This monograph creates a proposed insurgency typology divided into legacy, contemporary, and emergent and potential insurgency forms, and provides strategic implications for U.S. defense policy as they relate to each of these forms. The typology clusters, insurgency forms identified, and their

Feb 1, 2016

By Dr Larry D Miller

Author: Dr Larry D MillerThe Army War College Review, a refereed publication of student work, is produced under the purview of the Strategic Studies Institute and the United States Army War College. An electronic quarterly, The AWC Review connects student intellectual work with professionals invested in U.S. national security, Landpower, strategic

Jan 24, 2016

By Dr John R Deni

Author: Dr John R DeniView the Executive SummaryMilitary engagement and forward-based U.S. military forces offer decisionmakers effective and efficient mechanisms for maintaining American influence, deterring aggression, assuring allies, building tomorrow’s coalitions, managing the challenge of disorder in the security environment, mitigating the

Jan 21, 2016

By Dr. W. Andrew Terrill

Dr. W. Andrew Terrill In one of the opening scenes of the 1973 movie, The Exorcist, an older Catholic priest stands among the ruins of the ancient Mesopotamian city of Hatra.1  In the movie, he views an ancient statue of an Assyrian wind demon and stares directly into the stone representation of his enemy’s face.  In the background, two extremely

Dec 31, 2015

By Dr Tami Davis Biddle

Author: Dr Tami Davis BiddleView the Executive Summary In this monograph, Dr. Tami Davis Biddle examines why it is so difficult to devise, implement, and sustain sound strategies and grand strategies. Her analysis begins with an examination of the meaning of the term “strategy” and a history of the ways that political actors have sought to employ

Dec 23, 2015

By Dr Richard Weitz

Author: Dr Richard WeitzView the Executive Summary The U.S. defense export system needs further major reforms to reduce inefficiencies and weaknesses. Although the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) do help prevent potential foreign adversaries from using U.S. arms against the United States and its allies, the Regulations, as

Dec 22, 2015

By Mr Henry D Sokolski

Author: Mr Henry D SokolskiView the Executive Summary With the world focused on the nuclear crisis in Iran, it is tempting to think that addressing this case, North Korea, and the problem of nuclear terrorism is all that matters and is what matters most. Perhaps, but if states become more willing to use their nuclear weapons to achieve military

Dec 18, 2015

By CPT (P) Liam P Walsh

Author: CPT (P) Liam P WalshView the Executive Summary Beginning in 2013, the U.S. Army began an effort to “engage regionally and respond globally.” A central tenant of this strategy, building upon National strategic guidance, is the necessity to build partner capacity. Army units, through the regionally aligned forces concept, may find themselves

Dec 16, 2015

By Mr Jeffrey L Caton

Author: Mr Jeffrey L CatonView the Executive Summary What does the Department of Defense hope to gain from the use of autonomous weapon systems (AWS)? This Letort Paper explores a diverse set of complex issues related to the developmental, operational, legal, and ethical aspects of AWS. It explores the recent history of the development and

Dec 15, 2015

By Dr Shima D Keene

Author: Dr Shima D KeeneView the Executive Summary While supporters claim that drone warfare is not only legal but ethical and wise, others have suggested that drones are prohibited weapons under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) because they cause, or have the effect of causing, indiscriminate killings of civilians, such as those in the