Nonlethal Weapons Can Play a Growing Role in U.S. Defense

The U.S. Department of Defense is increasingly focused on “gray zone” competition with other great powers, striving to deter aggression while also avoiding escalation to full-scale war. When U.S. warships find themselves in a confrontation with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, or U.S. ground vehicles in Syria are rammed by Russian armored cars,… Continue reading Nonlethal Weapons Can Play a Growing Role in U.S. Defense

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Japan’s Upcoming Defense Efforts

On December 16th, the Japanese government looks set to release three important documents: a new National Security Strategy and two defense documents that lay out spending priorities over the next ten years and five years. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio recently ordered his finance and defense ministers to increase Japan’s defense budget to 2 percent… Continue reading Japan’s Upcoming Defense Efforts

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President of POVA Duties Means the Blog is Going on HIatus

As of 1 January 1, 2023 I became the President of the PSYOP Veterans Association (POVA). POVA is the oldest continuous serving veterans’ Association providing membership support, reconnection, reunion and philanthropic support to America’s military PSYOP soldiers and veterans.  Founded in 1988, POVA continually seeks to support and assist our fellow PSYOP veterans. I joined… Continue reading President of POVA Duties Means the Blog is Going on HIatus

Whether Democracy Is Eroding or on the Upswing Depends on What State You Live In

President Joe Biden said the midterms were a “good day” for democracy. And in many ways, they were: There were high levels of voter turnout in many states, a projected 47 percent of Americans cast ballots—some 7 percentage points higher than a typical midterm election—and, in Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Oregon, and… Continue reading Whether Democracy Is Eroding or on the Upswing Depends on What State You Live In

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Mastering Irregular Warfare

The U.S. military has failed to master irregular warfare above the tactical level. This is not a new problem, and it is one that has been recognized by leaders at the most senior echelons of government. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated this perhaps most clearly when he admonished the Department of Defense (DoD) in… Continue reading Mastering Irregular Warfare

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Can the War in Ukraine Help the United States Address Security Concerns in the Indo-Pacific?

Even as the Russian military continues to struggle in Ukraine, Air Force leaders and top national security experts at the 2022 West Coast Aerospace Forum warned not to expect similar outcomes in a potential conflict with China. The 7th annual event focused on applying lessons learned from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the security challenges… Continue reading Can the War in Ukraine Help the United States Address Security Concerns in the Indo-Pacific?

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California’s Ambitious Decarbonization Plan Hasn’t Been Future-Proofed

This week the California Air Resources Board is expected to approve what’s known as its 2022 Scoping Plan, the blueprint to make the state, the world’s fourth-largest economy, carbon-neutral by 2045. The plan is beyond ambitious. “It’ll spur an economic transformation akin to the Industrial Revolution,” Gov. Gavin Newsom declared when it was released last… Continue reading California’s Ambitious Decarbonization Plan Hasn’t Been Future-Proofed

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