Category: Intel

After the messy withdrawal from Afghanistan, President Biden may be ready to turn his attention to a more uplifting event on his calendar: a “summit for democracy.” But drawing up any guest lists can be fraught, especially when it’s the leader of the free world deciding who makes the cut. Among post-Soviet states, Biden is… Continue reading Summit Gives Biden Chance to Nudge Post-Soviet States Toward Democracy

As the dust settles on the Taliban’s reconquest of Afghanistan, regional neighbors are adjusting their policies to take the new geostrategic reality into account. Among these countries are the self-proclaimed “iron brothers”—China and Pakistan. The good news for Beijing and Islamabad is that their respective policies on Taliban-run Afghanistan broadly align. But one particularly touchy… Continue reading China and Pakistan See Eye to Eye on the Taliban—Almost

Regardless of what you think about his policy achievements, for eight years, Shinzo Abe provided Japan with predictable leadership and a confident regional presence at a time of rising security challenges. But with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party set to elect a new leader to replace Abe’s successor, Yoshihide Suga, who barely lasted 12 months… Continue reading What Instability at the Top Means for Japan’s Alliance with the United States

The Department of Homeland Security owes a Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) report to Congress by the end of calendar year 2021 and a department Strategic Plan by February 2022. The QHSR Report is the department’s “capstone strategy document which is updated every four years as required by law.” It is intended to provide direction… Continue reading Charting a Strategic Path Forward for DHS in an Evolved Threat Landscape

  I’m sure you all saw or heard about the Washington Post article of December 9, 2019, “At War With The Truth” which you can find at https://wapo.st/2Plvhyl and is a photo source. The article claimed that “senior U.S. officials failed to tell the truth about the war in Afghanistan throughout the 18-year campaign, making… Continue reading What Does Congress Really Know?

Deterrence is the ancient ability to scare somebody off from hurting you, your friends or your interests — without a major war. Desire peace? Then be prepared for war. Or so the Romans believed. It’s an easily understood concept in the abstract. But deterrence still remains a mystical quality in the concrete since it is… Continue reading Civilization Requires Deterrence | RealClearPolitics

Over one million U.S. military service members are members of the National Guard or reserves. These troops are being tested like never before, yet they do not receive the same physical and mental health care coverage provided to their active-duty counterparts, a gap that a recently introduced bipartisan bill seeks to address. The year 2020… Continue reading Supporting the Mental Health Needs of National Guard and Reserve Members

This week, we discuss the China-Pakistan partnership in light of the Taliban’s rise to power, media literacy education, COVID-19 on U.S. Navy ships, parenting from prison, preventing veteran suicides, and a reimagined workforce development system. Photo by West Asia News Agency via Reuters Both China and Pakistan have welcomed the Taliban back to power. The… Continue reading China-Pakistan Partnership, Media Literacy, Incarcerated Parents: RAND Weekly Recap

While I was on a consulting assignment, playing the J39 of a mythical Joint Task Force (JTF) being deployed to a notional country, our largest tactical unit was to be the 1st Bde Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne.

The pandemic has battered Los Angeles renters, and a new wave of pain is coming: The state’s moratorium on evictions is ending September 30. But this housing crisis doesn’t have to turn into a new homelessness crisis. Californians with incomes below 80% of their area’s median are eligible to receive funds from the COVID-19 Rent… Continue reading Renters’ Last Chance for Pandemic Aid Before Evictions Resume