The 2016 presidential race: There are Conservatives then there are right-wing Conservatives, those who brandish Christian religion, those who believe in an era where religion and politics is elevated with fervor and biblical text. This week’s presentation of the first candidate to declare for the Republican nomination is wrapped in religious appeal and ‘Dominionism‘
Final results in Israel’s election: The Likud party draws nearly 25% of the vote and will begin work to form a government. Opposition leader Herzog announces there will be no “unity” government
As the US Congress continues to act in unprecedented ways, a push back gathers force on multiple fronts. Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas, a Senator for two months, takes a lead position in a Republican “letter” to Iran. Reactions last week and this week continue to produce unprecedented headlines
After the address that ‘Bibi’ Netanyahu delivered this week to the U.S. Congress, the echoes play out… The impact of “the invitation” and “the speech” continues to deliver fallout, deteriorating communication between the Speaker of the House and Administration, and a widening rift in strategic relations between the U.S. President and Israeli Prime Minister
Looking back at a long week, we discuss DC experts, nuclear issues, and end with tracks across the Steppes This week witnessed a Republican candidate for President, Jeb Bush, announce he is his “own man”, not a legacy of his brother or father, then reveal Paul Wolfowitz as his foreign policy adviser. What a choice. […]
What is the president of the Brookings Institute’s thinking for an “endgame”? The recent escalation of the Ukrainian conflict has been accompanied by an escalation at Brookings with its positions urging greater US military involvement. In a series of strongly worded statements directed toward Vladimir Putin, Strobe Talbott takes hard lines and pushes for “lethal […]
On the release of the 2015 US National Security Strategy document, economic sanctions increase their role — and military “over-reach” is addressed with the limitations of use of force and risks and costs to the US and global security of escalating war and weapons proliferation
Today’s Munich Security Conference has Europe on edge – as it should be. The name of the Ukraine derives from Ukraina (оукраина) the “borderland”, from the Proto-Slavic krajь, meaning the “edge”, and the internal war in Ukraine threatens to become the edge of a wider war – a Cold War 2.0
How does one assess the risks and costs of escalating conflict moving toward events spiraling out of control? A civil war moving toward regional war and, as a result of weapon systems that have remained on “instant alert” as a carryover from the Cold War, a more than lethal “flashpoint”…
○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Like Michael Beschloss might post with his occasional pictures looking back at history — with perspective — here’s our first in a series of ‘Flashback’ glimpses and occasional snapshots of ephemeral times — with transient comments here and there ○ ○ ○ ○ […]
As we review recent events — and decisions — of Vladimir Putin, we must remind ourselves that Russia, for the Russians, is the Russian Federation, not the singular term Russia… the Russian Federation looms as we endeavor to grasp the motivation of the President in his third Presidential term
Blip on the Screen – Doomsday Scenario 3 Minutes to Midnight End of Times|Armageddon|The Apocalypse Is it Time to consider Environmental Security as Integral to National Security? Time to consider risks of next generation nuclear weapons? Deployment… Escalation… Proliferation
Provoke [/prəˈvəʊk/ ] verb (transitive) to provoke, anger or infuriate to incite Provocateur [pruh-vok-uh-tur, -too r; French praw-vaw-ka-tœr] noun, plural provocateurs 1. a person who provokes trouble, causes dissension; agitator (italics) French. agent provocateur 1915 Shortened form of agent provocateur “person hired to make trouble” (1845)
On the BZhRK rail missiles — and escalation The announcement of a re-introduction of nuclear missiles-on-rails brings another ratcheting up in a renewed Cold War even as the START Treaty is threatened and negotiations to downsize nuclear weapons slows — BZhRK pronounced berserk (From the Free Dictionary) : [ber-surk, -zurk]
Twelve dead in Paris terror — From around the world, support for values under attack — Freedom of the press, free speech, liberty, universal values and rights brave men and women for generations have fought to defend
Profound story of one general on mission to change the medical profession and treatment of the human costs of war… Experts told him it would be years, if ever, before more advanced tests could be developed for PTSD… Chiarelli assumed command of One Mind for Research, a nonprofit focused on advancing treatment of brain injury […]
