The Ukraine War Has Become A Waiting Game
The trajectory of the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth month, can be characterized by one word: patience.
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Establish Space National Guard now
Establishing the Space National Guard is the smart thing to do. To secure the nation’s advantage, it is essential that both the House and Senate include the Space National Guard language in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.
With referendum, Kazakh President pushes for reforms
The proposed constitutional changes, following five months after the greatest unrest in the country’s modern history, accelerate the efforts by the country’s president to push for controlled political reforms. The EU, while focusing on Ukraine, should continue to engage with strategically important Central Asia.
US needs a strategy for a realigned Middle East
Washington lacks a comprehensive strategy to constrain Iran’s regime while strengthening U.S. ties to its people. An increasingly realigned Middle East requires more than ever that it develop one.
America’s Sins of Omission in the Indo-Pacific
If we don’t pay attention to the Solomon Islands and the Marshall Islands, China will be too happy to step in.
Boris’s Big Blunder on Energy
A cautionary tale for the U.S. as the U.K.’s ‘Conservatives’ choose pointless windfall taxes over investment incentives to deal with energy issues.
Defense Technology Monitor No. 76
Guarding the grid;
Israel's new sky sensor;
Quantum superchargers;?;
A Chinese microwave machine;
Automated triage coming soon
A Paradigm Shift For The Russian-Iranian Alliance
The longstanding strategic partnership between Moscow and Tehran is changing.
China Reform Monitor No. 1507
John Lee wins Hong King's top job with 99% of votes;
Hong Kong police arrest 90-year-old Catholic cleric;
Biden accuses China of trying to meddle with semiconductor bill;
China to boost ties with Russia in military tech, energy and space;
China's hackers obtain trade secrets in the US, Europe and Asia
China Reform Monitor No. 1506
Xi moves to silence "zero Covid" critics...;
... as China censors who chief's criticism;
China cracks down on "illegal entry and exit";
A social media campaign against "historic nihilism";
China orders government, state firms to dump foreign PCs
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2524
The Ukraine war is a fight over food;
Thinking beyond Putin;
Domestic backlash deepens;
What Ukrainians want
Indo-Pacific Monitor No. 25
Singapore defies neighbors, sanctions Moscow....;
... while Japanese PM swings through SE Asia to bolster unity;
Beijing eyes the South Pacific;
AUKUS expands;
How Delhi is planning to decouple from Moscow
News Flash: The Islamic Republic Is Far From Popular
Just how durable is Iran's clerical regime, really? For years, Iran's ayatollahs have worked diligently to convince the world that their Islamic revolution is a popular—and permanent—enterprise.
US, Ukraine need to agree on goals
Are the United States and its allies willing to pay the price, assume the risks, and support Ukrainian efforts not only to restore the borders of Feb. 23 but also retake Crimea? They may be. But let’s make sure there’s no misunderstanding on that score in Kyiv, Washington, or the capitals of our NATO allies.
China Reform Monitor No. 1505
Expats exiting China;
China's leading financial firms shun Russian banks;
Xi introduces a new "Global Security Initiative";
Web users told to report anti-CPC "Historical Nihilism";
China, Iran agree advance military ties
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2523
Putin's real war plans;
The FSB on the outs...;
... as Russia's military becomes restless;
Russia's spy push
Is Russia preparing for a future without Putin? Should we?
As the Ukraine war drags on, the case for a new Russian leader becomes increasingly compelling.
Congress shouldn’t rubber stamp Biden’s $33 billion supplemental for Ukraine
Given the extraordinary size of President Biden’s most recent request, it is well past time for Congress to stop being a rubber stamp and start exercising proper oversight by demanding answers to some fundamental questions—first and foremost being “what is the overarching purpose of this assistance?”
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2522
Blacking out HRW;
Taking advantage of ... Israel;
Lavrov's messaging misfire;
Ottawa takes a stand
Defense Technology Monitor No. 75
Performance of China's J-20 fighter jet stalls...;
... while Chinese railgun tech advances;
The benefits of stronger enamel;
Making body armor safer to bystanders;
Dusty defenses?
Russia’s Southern Neighbors Take a Stand
The states of Central Asia and the Caucasus are clearly rattled by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, and looking for ways to protect themselves against the same in the future.
How Not To Counter Disinformation
At some point, Washington will indeed need to stand up a serious, transparent and bipartisan effort to counter the phenomenon of "fake news," but it is already clear that the Biden administration's new board isn't it.
Will Russia’s Ukraine War Prompt An American Awakening On Iran?
We need to see Iran as the implacable adversary it is and then craft a broad strategic approach to it that makes sense.
China Reform Monitor No. 1504
Guangxi distributes Xi's "Little Red Books";
Muslim countries help China hunt down Uighurs around the world;
China allows some Asian students to return;
India suspends tourist visas for PRC nationals;
Baloch rebels claim murders of Confucius Institute leaders, teachers
Defense Technology Monitor No. 74
Air Force considers cool gear...;
... while the Pentagon requests new shades;
Deep fake voices?;
Fedex planes with laser protection?;
6G technology talks to hypersonics
Africa Political Monitor No. 18
France rethinks its African footprint;
Mediation in Sudan is key to Egypt's security...;
...as Khartoum leans towards Moscow;
Congo moves to regain control over Chinese-run mine;
China's digital silk road comes to Kenya
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2521
The real story surrounding Russia's economy;
Brutal tactics dominate Russia's war effort...;
...creating a new lexicon;
A widening technological gap
China Reform Monitor No. 1503
U.S. must make clear it will defend Taiwan: Abe;
Eyeing China, Japan and Philippines hold security talks;
Twitter users exposing China's pro-Russian propaganda;
Diversifying supply chains away from China "good for everyone";
China's new mega-coal mine can produce 15 million tons annually
China Reform Monitor No. 1502
Researchers find "smoking gun" on China's organ harvesting;
Chinese Army makes incursion bids in Ladakh;
China refuses to guarantee Ukraine's security;
China's state-owned companies avoid new oil deals with Russia;
Indonesians see the U.S. more favorably than China
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2520
Kadyrov backs Ukraine campaign;
Russia's shifting war aims;
Kremlin critic regains her voice;
Moscow frets over a reinvigorated NATO;
The Kremlin searches for scapegoats;
Domestic opposition mounts
Holding Russia Accountable For Its Crimes
It is possible that none of the perpetrators of the war crimes in Ukraine will ever face justice. But doing nothing would be surrendering to injustice.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2519
Holodomor 2.0;
Investigating (its own) war crimes in Ukraine;
Orthodox Church boosts Ukraine campaign;
Where are Russia's oligarchs headed?
West’s response to Russia could augur a more nuclear world
The United States and its allies must force a Russian retreat through the economic and arms-related steps at their disposal. Their failure to do so risks a more nuclearized world.
China Reform Monitor No. 1501
Chinese, Russian militaries are not "interoperable";
China and Russia deploy hypersonic missiles, while U.S. lags behind;
China has created a satellite-killing weapon;
China establishes deep space exploration laboratory;
China doubles down on biolab disinformation
A Game Changer in the Fight Against Climate Change
Starship will make the concept of Space Solar Power both technically and economically feasible.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2518
The high cost of negotiating with Russia;
Financial institutions take stock of Russian clients;
Reinforcing the Ukrainian front…;
...and replenishing the military ranks;
How Russia is terraforming Ukraine
Russia’s New Iron Curtain
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, Western media outlets are closing up shop in the country, independent Russian outlets are being shuttered, and the last embers of press freedom are being extinguished.
China Reform Monitor No. 1500
China accuses U.S. of building a NATO in the Pacific;
Pentagon Attack on Taiwan would produce "robust" response;
Taliban and Chinese mining firm restart copper mining talks;
Taiwan wants to join the CPTPP and Quad;
China, Solomon Islands sign security cooperation memo
Resource Security Watch No. 42
Americas lithium production problem;
The Pentagon plans a green footprint;
Russian tactics could spark an environmental disaster
Israel Considers Its Iran Options
For more than a year, reversing the "maximum pressure" policy of its predecessor and hammering out some sort of nuclear compromise with Iran has been the centerpiece of the Biden administration's Mideast policy.
On Putin, the president simply said what everyone was thinking
Let’s not be too hard on President Biden simply for saying what most people believe.
China Reform Monitor No. 1499
PRC hackers infiltrate a half-dozen U.S. state networks;
China expands censorship to thwart "foreign forces";
China video game freeze threatens the industry;
Tencent joins Alibaba in declaring support for tech crackdown;
Marriages hit 36-year low
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2517
Russia's grim economic outlook;
Closing a ruble loophole;
Putin looks for internal scapegoats;
Why Russians back Putin's war
If we de-list the IRGC, what will the dictators think?
Washington has long considered Tehran the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, recognizing that Iran conducts its terrorist activities largely through the IRGC.
We put Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on the terrorist list. Biden must keep it there
Taking them off the list as a concession to tempt Tehran back into a nuclear proliferation deal would be dangerous — and would undermine the deal itself.
The case for humanitarian intervention in Ukraine
A humanitarian mission in Ukraine? What a great idea.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2516
More multinationals eye the exits…;
...as Russia's tech isolation deepens;
In Ukraine, echoes of the Syrian War;
Putin's Syrian legion
A Weekend Shot across the Bow in the Red Sea
Yesterday, Iranian terrorist proxies, the Houthi, attacked a Saudi Aramco petroleum-distribution plant at Jeddah, setting a storage facility on fire.
Fueling an Iranian comeback
Iran’s economic fortunes — and its strategic ambitions — are already expanding, even ahead of any new deal with the West, thanks to the soaring world price of oil.
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 223
Assessing the Iranian threat…;
...and Tehran's strategic ambitions…;
...as the White House mulls bringing the IRGC in from the cold;
the Islamic Republic versus the internet, continued;
Iranian-Saudi talks fizzle