October 2012

Lessons of 2012 | by Nikolas Gvosdev

The reelection of Barack Obama to the presidency of the United States provides no resolution to the pressing political deadlock in the nation's capital. Obama returns to the White House for another term, while the House of Representatives remains in Republican hands and the Senate is retained by the Democrats.

Anti-Access on the Korean Peninsula | by James Holmes

You have to sympathize - almost - with North Korea. Like leaders in China, Iran, and other coastal states, the Kim Jong-un regime hopes to erect a buffer against stronger sea powers operating off North Korean shores.

Air-Sea Battle Debate | mentions Naval War College

"The Naval Postgraduate School and the Naval War College, for example, envision a Mutually Denied Battlespace Strategy (MDBS), a type of mutual anti-access/area-denial strategy."

No One at the Controls: Legal Implications of Fully Autonomous Targeting | by Maj. Jeff Thurnher

Robots and unmanned systems have proven incredibly valuable on the battlefield during the war on terror and are likely to play a larger and more sophisticated role for militaries in the future.

Intel’s Rough Start to the 21st Century | by Joshua Rovner

Some of the West’s most high-profile intelligence agencies began the 21st century inauspiciously. Not only were they accused of failing to anticipate an upsurge in transnational terrorism, there were also fears that their relationships with their political task masters had been seriously damaged in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Open Seas: The Arctic is the Mediterranean of the 21st century | by James Holmes

If climate scientists' prophesies of an ice-free Arctic Ocean pan out, the world will witness the most sweeping transformation of geopolitics since the Panama Canal opened. Seafaring nations and industries will react assertively -- as they did when merchantmen and ships of war sailing from Atlantic seaports no longer had to circumnavigate South America to reach the Pacific Ocean.

The Real Iran Threat | by James Holmes

As the Naval Diplomat and his trusty editor Harry Kazianis batten down the hatches for Hurricane Sandy, our minds turn to...the Middle East.

Flashy Name, Old Idea: Anti-Access Strategy | by James Holmes

As the Bard noted, a rose by any other name smells as sweet. So it is with “anti-access.” While the catchy title is new, the methods are as old as naval warfare itself. Nor is anti-access peculiarly Chinese, even though the People’s Liberation Army is today’s foremost practitioner.

Politics, Strategy and U.S. Defense Budgets | by Nikolas Gvosdev

On Monday, during the final presidential debate, President Barack Obama proclaimed that his defense budgets were "driven by strategy. [They’re] not driven by politics."

China Eyes New Rockets for Space Station, Moon Missions | quotes Joan Johnson-Freese

"Although the Long March-5 has had some technical difficulties and is behind schedule, the successful testing of the LOX engines last July makes the 2014 target date for beginning its operational use feasible," said Joan Johnson-Freese, a national security affairs professor at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

Can China ‘Win’ Without Fighting? | by James Holmes

A few weeks back I likened China’s anti-access strategy vis-à-vis the United States to the “rope-a-dope” strategy Muhammad Ali pursued during his famous Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman.

Asia in Space: Cooperation or Competition? | panel discussion with Joan Johnson-Freese

The Secure World Foundation (SWF) and the Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (ACDIS) co-hosted a panel discussion on Thursday, October 25, 2012: the discussion brought experts in the field together to assess the current state of play in space, especially amongst Asian powers.

Upcoming Events: Nov. 7-8, 2012 | mentions Professor Toshi Yoshihara

The Naval War College Foundation travels to Mobile, Alabama for a dinner with Naval War College Professor and John A. van Beuren Asia-Pacific Studies Chair Toshi Yoshihara. The event, entitled The Future of Chinese Sea Power will be held at the Bienville Club in Mobile.

Whom Should the Chinese Army Serve—the Party or the State? | quotes Michael Chase

According to Dr. Michael S. Chase, such commentary and emphasis on the importance of a Party-led army "suggests [that] ensuring the PLA's loyalty to the Party is a preoccupation for Hu Jintao and other top leaders as the succession process unfolds."

On Horses and Bayonets | by MacKubin Owens

If the president was trying to confirm his bona fides Monday night as a defense expert while calling those of Mitt Romney into question, I believe he failed. Not only was his snarky condescension off-putting, but also the point he was trying to make was lost in his show-boating about aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines.