Regions

Carter’s Dilemma – New Secretary Must Balance Force Size, Cost
Carter’s Dilemma – New Secretary Must Balance Force Size, Cost

America, Blogs, Defense / Homeland Security, Harlan Ullman., Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis

Carter’s Dilemma – New Secretary Must Balance Force Size, Cost

When Ashton Carter takes the oath of office as the US secretary of defense, he will be caught on the horns of an excruciating dilemma. If unresolved, the long-term consequence will be a 21st century replay of the “hollow force” that arose after the Vietnam War ended. That force was unready and largely incapable of carrying out all its duties to defend the nation. The first and very visible horn of this dilemma is White House guidance. One of many reasons why Carter was chosen for the post is that he is highly experienced, hence a “safe pair of hands” who is unlikely to do “stupid stuff.” One [...]

By Harlan Ullman|2017-11-14T21:27:57+02:00January 31st, 2015|America, Blogs, Defense / Homeland Security, Harlan Ullman., Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis|0 Comments

Countering domestic terrorism
Countering domestic terrorism

America, Blogs, Economics, Harlan Ullman., Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis

Countering domestic terrorism

Normally, when Washington-based policy institutions issue major reports, unless the study reflects strongly held ideological preferences of its constituents or is a stunning condemnation of whichever administration is in power, the half-life is at best a day or two. Last week, Business Executives for National Security (BENS---and I am on the advisory board but did not participate in this study) issued its findings on countering domestic terrorism. This report is a must read for the White House, state houses, mayors’ offices and the public. This report is a critical follow-on to the Commission on September 11th co-chaired by former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean and Representative Lee Hamilton who [...]

By Harlan Ullman|2017-11-14T21:27:57+02:00January 31st, 2015|America, Blogs, Economics, Harlan Ullman., Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis|0 Comments

Kim Jung Un – movie critic extraodinaire?
Kim Jung Un – movie critic extraodinaire?

Asia, Blogs, Harlan Ullman., International Peace, & Security, Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis

Kim Jung Un – movie critic extraodinaire?

Few sane people would normally find themselves in agreement with North Korea’s boy dictator Kim Jung Un. The hacking of Sony Pictures over its movie “The Interview,” presumably by North Korea in retaliation for the loony plot to assassinate its supreme leader, was the latest outrage. Howls of protest immediately reverberated from Hollywood’s elite sullied by the unveiling of Sony’s disparaging corporate emails to President Barack Obama’s questioning of “why didn’t they ask me first” before initially deciding not to run the film. Some called for immediate retaliation against North Korea as if this were a de facto act of war. Others bellowed that it was a patriotic duty of [...]

By Harlan Ullman|2017-11-14T21:27:58+02:00January 18th, 2015|Asia, Blogs, Harlan Ullman., International Peace, & Security, Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis|0 Comments

Cine răspunde provocării militarizării Rusiei?
Cine răspunde provocării militarizării Rusiei?

Alexandru Grumaz, Blogs, Defense / Homeland Security, Europa/Rusia, International Peace, & Security, Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis

Cine răspunde provocării militarizării Rusiei?

Ocuparea Crimeei și includerea ei în Federația Rusă au schimbat harta Europei după 25 de ani de la încheierea Războiul Rece. După 23 de ani de la colapsul URSS, Rusia își reconstruiește structura militară. Federația Rusă se pregătește să-și proiecteze puterea de-a lungul Europei de Est, a Caucazului, a Asiei Centrale, a Pacificului de Nord și a zonei artice. Strângerea relațiilor cu Iranul și Siria, dar și cu Egiptul, fac din Federația Rusă un jucător încă prezent în Orientul Mijlociu. Prezența Rusiei provocă SUA și pe aliații săi occidentali și est-europeni. De notat că Moscova își extinde prezența prin dezvoltarea blocului militar regional, definit de Organizaţia Tratatului de Securitate Colectivă. [...]

By Alexandru Grumaz|2017-11-14T21:27:58+02:00January 18th, 2015|Alexandru Grumaz, Blogs, Defense / Homeland Security, Europa/Rusia, International Peace, & Security, Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis|0 Comments

Needed: Realistic foreign policy priorities for Barack
Needed: Realistic foreign policy priorities for Barack

America, Blogs, Democracy & Human Rights, Harlan Ullman., International Peace, & Security, Issues, Regions

Needed: Realistic foreign policy priorities for Barack

In foreign policy as well in virtually every human endeavor, how do you know how well or badly you are doing. Most smart people have annual physicals to check on their health. Scorecards for hedge fund managers and CEO’s are measured in return on investment or share value. And in sports, overtime is the ultimate measure of winning or losing. Unfortunately, foreign policy has no universal or even partial scorecard except to the extent that White Houses, Congresses, critics and the media pass judgments on what appears to be working and what does not. The starting point for making these assessments regarding foreign policy rests in analyzing the priorities [...]