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Iran Strategy Brief No. 13: Reforming U.S. Persian Language Media - A preliminary Assessment

April 22, 2019 Ilan I. Berman

In the Spring of 2017, the management of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), the U.S. government’s official coordinating body for international media, approached the American Foreign Policy Council with a request. In response to persistent criticism from lawmakers on Capitol Hill, as well as mounting pressure from the newly-inaugurated Trump administration, the agency sought to commission an independent review of the content of its Persian-language media outreach. Such a process, BBG professionals explained, would help the agency to identify and rectify significant deficiencies at a time when the role of U.S. broadcasting toward the Islamic Republic was a topic of growing scrutiny (and skepticism) among those formulating the country’s strategy toward Iran...

China Reform Monitor No. 1367

April 22, 2019 Joshua Eisenman

Pentagon jitters over Google-China collaboration;
A sterner European line on China;
China, Italy draw closer;
Another billion for Sri Lanka

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2304

April 16, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

Back to arms control?;
The shadow rulers of captured states;
A growing Russian presence in Venezuela;
Russia's nervous press toes the official line;
Moscow's military mind control

China Reform Monitor No. 1366

April 16, 2019 Joshua Eisenman

The costly quest for the rule of law;
Chairman Xi cleans house;
Chinese officials chafe at new oversight;
New pressures on educators as Chinese universities increasingly toe the line

Ukraine’s race a sign of our time

April 13, 2019 Lawrence J. Haas The Hill

Ukraine’s presidential election, in which a popular comedian with no political experience is projected to beat a seasoned incumbent with considerable baggage, reflects global trends that continue to shake the global order.

What Israel’s elections signify

April 12, 2019 Ilan I. Berman The Hill

In Israel’s latest national elections on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu succeeded in securing a decisive electoral victory despite early returns that indicated he and his conservative Likud party were behind in the polls. In truth, however, Netanyahu’s victory was always more likely than not.

Russia Reform Monitor 2303

April 11, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

Ideological reeducation makes a comeback;
Some belated justice for Boris Nemtsov?;
Brussels calls out Moscow;
The price of dissent in Chechnya;
The nuts and bolts of Russian disinformation

Trump’s Signal To Tehran

April 9, 2019 Ilan I. Berman Radio Farda

The Trump administration is turning up the heat on the ayatollahs.

Awakening From the Green Dream

April 5, 2019 InsideSources.com

Without intending it, and quite apart from the U.S. Senate’s stance, trumpet calls for a Green New Deal (GND) perversely heralds a retreat from combating climate change.

Russia Reform Monitor 2302

April 5, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

Putin plans to spread the wealth around;
Prisoner abuse in Yaroslavl;
Via Rosneft, Moscow props up Caracas;
The Golan as a flashpoint

World Almanac of Islamism 2019

April 1, 2019 Ilan I. Berman Rowman & Littlefield

Now in its fourth edition, The World Almanac of Islamism is the first comprehensive reference work to detail Islamist movements worldwide...

Defense Technology Monitor No. 39

April 1, 2019 Richard M. Harrison, Sven Peterson

Russia's new dazzling disorienter;
Russian nuclear-powered missile could cruise for days;
U.S. Army casts net to capture drones;
Chinese drones trending toward autonomy and lethality;
A step closer to super soldiers

Global Islamism Monitor No. 63

March 29, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Jacob McCarty, Ritika Bhat

Toward a truce with the Taliban;
Malaysia cracks down on anti-Islam sentiment;
ISIS thrives in the Philippines;
What should be done with ISIS children?;
Kyrgyzstan gets serious about online radicalization;
Pakistan belatedly moves against banned groups

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2301

March 29, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

Crimea sanctions continue;
Some competition for the Kremlin in the Arctic;
Next up: Ruxit? ;
Lesin autopsy hints at foul play

U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission Testimony: The Russo-Chinese Alliance: What Are Its Limits?

March 28, 2019 Stephen Blank U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission

Submitted For Testimony before the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission Session on March 21, 2018, “An Emerging China-Russia Axis? Implications for the United States in an Era of Strategic Competition”

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2300

March 27, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

Moscow's message to the Middle East;
Russia's ultra-rich;
The Kremlin doubles down in Crimea;
The Lesin case, revisited

Playing for Their Lives: How a 2001 Video Game Is Feeding Venezuela

March 27, 2019 Doug Dubrowski, Sven Peterson, Hayden Gilmore The National Interest

Venezuelans are "farming gold" for income while their country is in turmoil.

China Reform Monitor No. 1365

March 26, 2019 Joshua Eisenman

Chinese hackers target U.S. universities for military tech;
Huawei's presence hurts U.S.-Hungary ties;
Massive database leaks ofer a glimpse into Xinjiang;
China and Russia expand cooperation in civilian monitoring;
China bans 23 million from traveling

Iran Democracy Monitor 194

March 25, 2019 Ilan I. Berman

The Ayatollah prefers guns over butter;
Tehran leads in executions, again;
Gulf worries over Iranian intentions;
Israel redoubles its Syria commitment;
The true cost of U.S. sanctions

2020 presidential race: Top Democrats support Iran’s hopes instead of promising sanctions

March 24, 2019 Ilan I. Berman USA Today

Iran’s leaders are more convinced than ever that relief from the Trump administration’s policies could be right around the corner with 2020 Democrats.

China Reform Monitor No. 1364

March 22, 2019 Joshua Eisenman

Delays in Russian missile deliveries to China;
China's ex-military chief of staff sentenced to life in prison;
China tightens its grips on Djibouti;
Nepal poised to sign on to BRI;
China recruits Americans to sell its "democracy"

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2299

March 21, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

A new spotlight on Putin's wealth;
Sanctions failing, says Kremlin's main critic;
An assault on Jehovahs witnesses;
Official fears of a fifth column;
Criminalizing criticism of the Kremlin

China Reform Monitor No. 1363

March 20, 2019 Joshua Eisenman

Regulating combat readiness;
U.S. "must use all military and diplomatic means" to defend Taiwan;
U.S. Senators ask House Speaker to invite Tsai to speak to Congress;
China's global image surpasses that of the U.S.;
Beijing denies reports of secret meeting with Venezuela's Guaido

Strategic Primer - Nuclear Weapons Modernization

March 20, 2019 Richard M. Harrison, Mark A. Bucknam

This work seeks to provide insights into the role U.S. nuclear weapons play in advancing America’s security, and the rationale for modernizing U.S. nuclear weapons and their delivery platforms.

For Energy Security Think EVs

March 18, 2019 James Clad InsideSources

Notwithstanding newly won status as the world’s largest global oil producer, America’s sway over the global oil market remains incomplete and weak. Worse, it’s reactive, driven above all by politically touchy pump prices. In energy security, the focus continues to be on oil, yet a switch to electric propulsion offers a way out.

Is Russia Going to War Against the Internet?

March 15, 2019 The National Interest

The Sovereign Internet Bill, which recently passed its first reading in Russia’s parliament, calls for the creation of a Russian Domain Name System (DNS) and would require all web traffic to be routed through state-controlled servers. If passed, the bill would make it much, much easier for the Kremlin to control the dissemination of information entering and leaving the country.

Russia Racing to Complete National AI Strategy by June 15

March 14, 2019 Samuel Bendett Defense One

That’s just one of several high-tech deadlines Putin set recently.

How Rabat Is Coping With ISIS Returnees

March 13, 2019 Ilan I. Berman Al-Hurra Digital

Over the past decade, Morocco's extensive efforts to promote its brand of tolerant Islam as an antidote to the extremism of ISIS and other Islamic radicals has put the kingdom on the intellectual front lines of the "war of ideas" in the Muslim world. Less well known, however, are the country's domestic efforts to mitigate its own internal Islamist problem.

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2298

March 13, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

Kyiv courts Europe;
Parking Putin's "State of the nation";
A cyber campaign against EU think tanks;
Another Putin critic meets his end

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2297

March 12, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

Kyiv courts Europe;
Parsing Putin's "State of the Nation";
A cyber campaign against EU think tanks;
Another Putin critic meets his end

China Reform Monitor No. 1362

March 12, 2019 Joshua Eisenman

U.S. challenges China at the World Bank;
U.S.-China relations; #METOO tops China's most censored topics;
More trouble signs for China's economy;
New app to "study Xi" a hit

Global Islamism Monitor No. 62

March 11, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Jacob McCarty, Ritika Bhat

Israel's anti-terrorist fence;
Britain's plan for ISIS "cubs";
Hezbollah feels the heat;
Israel's response to "pay to slay"
A second act for ISIS in Afghanistan?;
Still fertile soil for ISIS in Iraq

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2296

March 11, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

The high cost of fighting Russian corruption;
Patching the militarys social media problem;
The Kremlin fears a Venezuelan "color revolution";
Church rift continues
A defiant Lavrov at Munich

Iran Strategy Brief No. 12: Russia and Iran’s Complicated Partnership in Syria

March 8, 2019 Yaakov Lappin

In 2015, Russia formally entered the Syrian conflict, becoming the Assad regime’s second sponsor, alongside Iran. The grounds for that intervention, we now know, were laid at a 2015 meeting between Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

‘Putin’s brain’ an echo of absolute tyrants

March 8, 2019 Herman Pirchner, Jr. The Hill

These days, the progressive Left’s ubiquitous use of the words “fascist” and “imperialist” to describe a multitude of political enemies threatens to render those words meaningless. Yet, for those who retain a fondness for the traditional interpretations of the words, a new exemplar has appeared...

Defense Technology Monitor No. 38

March 6, 2019 Richard M. Harrison, Sven Peterson

U.S. Navy swaps shells for hypersonics...;
...and shifts strategy to add unmanned warships;
Missile Defense Review unveiled;
Pentagon develops hypersonic proving ground;
The other parts of Pyongyang's arsenal

Humanitarian intervention and information warfare

March 4, 2019 Stephen Blank Global Risk Insights

Russia and its allies are not just targeting government, society, and military targets. They are also attacking key economic targets like electric grids and international logistics firms. They aim to undermine the US, UN, and other governments and effectuate what amounts to a criminal takeover of corporations for profit and political gain.

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2295

March 4, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

The codification of the Russian criminal state;
Rising prices augur poorly for Russia's economy;
Europe takes a sterner line on Nord Stream II;
Moscow backs Maduro

China Reform Monitor No. 1361

February 28, 2019 Joshua Eisenman

Huawei fracas prompts Chinese economic threats;
Czech cybersecurity agency issues warning against Huawei;
U.S. universities unplug from Chinese telecoms;
China is winning the AI race;
Rolling out facial recognition

Netanyahu ignores global opinion at Israel’s peril

February 27, 2019 Lawrence J. Haas The Hill

Few things are more infuriating than to hear Western leaders lecture Israel about how it should behave — whether the issue is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or other matters — while they say little if anything about far more serious matters of regional stability or human rights around the world.

China Reform Monitor No. 1360

February 27, 2019 Joshua Eisenman

China's economy shows signs of stress;
Chinese missiles can sink American carriers;
New Ministry of Emergency Management;
The PRC's Argentine space station stokes fears of secret ops;
U.S. arrests Chinese "birth tourism" operators

Refocusing On The Foreign Fighter Threat

February 26, 2019 Ilan I. Berman Al-Hurra Digital

What is to be done with ISIS returnees? America's allies and partners have grappled with this question for more than a year now, ever since the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate in Iraq and Syria began to crumble. But the issue has become more acute in recent days as a result of American policy.

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2294

February 26, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

Russia still has an alcoholism problem;
Putin's plans for urban renewal...;
...and their real cost;
Russia's homelessness crisis

Technology Is Making Terrorists More Effective — And Harder To Thwart

February 22, 2019 Ilan I. Berman The National Interest

As the contemporary terrorist threat changes, it is being amplified by new technologies that give those actors greater reach and impact than ever before.

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2293

February 22, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

A golden sanctions shield;
The limits of Russi-Israeli cooperation;
Rosneft chafes at Kremlin constraints;
Google capitulates in Kremlin demands
Russia's prosperity gap

The Limits Of Russo-Israeli Cooperation

February 21, 2019 Ilan I. Berman The Hill

Why Russia covets hypersonic weapons

February 20, 2019 Stephen Blank The Hill

Russia’s ongoing development of hypersonic weapons proves nuclear weapons are in fact warfighting weapons — contrary to conventional wisdom in the West.

Russia Plans More Arctic UAVs

February 20, 2019 Samuel Bendett Defense One

Moscow’s equivalent of DARPA wants a cold-weather drone that can stay aloft for four days.

Russia Reform Monitor No. 2292

February 20, 2019 Ilan I. Berman, Margot van Loon

A complex outlook for emigration;
After the INF, a new arms race?;
Up next: Patriotic enemies;

Iran Democracy Monitor No. 193

February 14, 2019 Gabriella Bettino, Ilan I. Berman

Iran's underage brides;
Tehran plays political power broker...;
...amid mass exodus of Afghans;
Regime officials spin Iranian success;
Iran digs in in Syria