Why an Israeli Military Option against Iran Is Back on the Table
The message from Israel’s top leadership could not be any clearer: It is prepared to act to prevent a nuclear Iran.
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Publications
Defense Technology Monitor No. 68
Revolutionized radar;
Russia's new, more versatile rifle;
How the world should approach gene editing;
A replacement for today's tanks;
Force fields forthcoming?
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 220
Iran's regime continues to struggle with Covid...;
...and backtracks on Western vaccine ban;
Iranian-Saudi reconciliation inches forward...or does it?;
A warning over Iran's nuclear progress
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2489
Russia refocuses on demography;
U.S. travel rules don't recognize Russian vaccines;
In Russia, a raging pandemic;
Now, expanded Russian gas headed to Hungary;
At Sochi, a Russo-Turkish thaw
Iran’s SCO Entry Could Complicate U.S.-Israeli Strategic Options
Iran's impending entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the Eurasian bloc that China and Russia lead, has great potential to limit U.S., Israeli and Western leeway in confronting Tehran's nuclear and hegemonic aspirations, sponsorship of international terrorism and efforts at regional de-stabilization.
AFPC fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies Michael Sobolik testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee: Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation
AFPC fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies Michael Sobolik testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee: Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation regarding the 'Strengthening of U.S. Ties with Southeast Asia.'
Global Islamism Monitor No. 94
In Morocco's elections, an Islamist rout;
Egypt cracks down on Islamist literature;
Foreign fighters go to ground in Austria;
ISIS grows in Africa;
The al-Hol nightmare, continued
What Morocco’s Elections Mean
When Moroccans went to the polls earlier this month to elect a new parliament, the result was a massive repudiation of Islamism – and a resounding affirmation of the North African nation's current geopolitical trajectory.
Afghanistan is the Graveyard of Great Power Competition
As the Taliban resurrects its Islamic Emirate, the United States is once again facing the likelihood of terrorist groups operating at will within Afghanistan.
Biden is losing Latin America
[T]here’s another, less-recognized setback happening for the United States far south of the Rio Grande or the Sonora Desert: crumbling relationships with Latin American countries.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2488
Russian detained in Prague on Crimea-related charges;
New Dzerzhinsky monuments cause a stir;
Dissident investigation claims Lavrov mistress;
Communist party will not recognize e-votes;
Belarus included in the SCO's "Peace Mission 2021";
Russia found responsible for Litvinenko assassination
Stay Engaged in Afghanistan or Face a Terrorist Resurgence
Despite the Biden administration’s desire to be rid of Afghanistan, now is not the time to disengage.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2487
Ahead of elections, Russian authorities stack the digital deck;
Crimean Tatars arrested on sabotage suspicion;
Russia, Belarus inch toward integration;
Nord Stream II comes of age;
NATO wary of Zapad-2021 military exercise
How to Deter China From Invading Taiwan
To change Beijing’s calculus, arm Taipei with missiles and turn the island into a ‘porcupine.’
China Reform Monitor No. 1478
China's crackdown on culture continues;
Local governments accused of "fabricating economic data";
Prenatal test under international scrutiny for military links;
Tiananmen vigil organizers in Hong Kong charged;
China using Honduras election to "create controversy"; Taipei
Joe Biden’s Afghan Failure Will Echo For Ages
...if America is not loyal to our friends, chances are that we will soon find ourselves without any.
Riyadh Turns East
It's official: Saudi Arabia has begun to seek other suitors.
Germans Are Demanding a New China Policy. Will the Next Chancellor Deliver?
No matter who wins, public opinion and the possibility of having to partner in a coalition government make it likely that the victor will take a more hawkish line.
China Reform Monitor No. 1477
Pope defends deal with China;
China shuts American Chamber of Commerce in Chengdu;
Beijing to establish a stock exchange for small business: XI;
Micronesia rejects Chinese funding for Pacific undersea cable;
Crackdown on showbiz for 'polluting' society
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2486
Russia's new climate strategy: Less than meets the eye;
Navalny ally politically intimidated, removed from ballot;
Journalist: Putin's regime has entered survival mode;
Homophobia on stage;
Is Russia walking away from the ISS?
China’s Climate Promises Aren’t Worth the Paper They’re Written On
Could the Communist Party be more clear that it does not keep its word?
Is ISIS Making a Comeback in Libya?
In July, a U.N. panel of experts released a new report on global terrorism, with some alarming conclusions. In it, they noted that East and West Africa have been the world regions hardest hit by terrorism over the past year, and that terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria are fast becoming "an entrenched insurgency."
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2485
Riyadh turns to Russia;
Russia's military equiptment gets a facelift;
The legal fight over water in Crimea;
Russia evacuates 500 from Afghanistan;
Navalny being surveilled, force fed state propoganda;
Stalin-era grave site discovered in Ukraine
Indo-Pacific Monitor No. 20
Abraham Accords offer New Delhi a new opening...;
...while the Taliban's ascent complicates India's calculus;
Changing South Korean attitudes about China, Japan;
Taipei warns Beijing can "paralyze" its defenses;
Thailand's unrest continues
Africa Political Monitor No. 15
Algeria cuts diplomatic ties to Morocco;
The Sudans: An agenda for growth;
Congo rethinks China deals;
Ethiopian rebels accused of war crimes...;
...As U.S. sanctions eritrean military chief
Information Warfare Watch No. 7
How social media helped the Taliban win;
Afghanistan: A problem for platforms;
Kyiv works to limit Moscow's messaging;
Due to disinfo, Latvia lags on health;
Cracking down on anti-vaccine disinformation
China Reform Monitor No. 1476
China's Sinovac to invest $60 million in vaccine facility in Chile;
Xi wants wealth redistribution;
Amid demographic crisis, China allows couples to have third child;
China schools introduce 'Xi Jinping Thought' into curriculum;
Congo reviews "infrastructure-for-minerals" deal with China
U.S. Institutions Must Get Smarter About Chinese Communist Party Money
Beijing is trying to shape the academic and political conversation.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2484
UK sanctions seven for Navalny poisoning;
A new Russia-China bridge;
Belatedly, U.S. sanctions Nord Stream II;
Dozhd branded foreign agent;
Putin confident ahead of parliamentary vote;
Turkey to purchase more Russian systems
Mao’s Revolution Threatens Xi’s ‘China Dream’
Beijing has been quick to throw its weight around on the world stage in recent years.
Why America’s Environmental Record Creates a Challenge for China
It is crucial that Washington seize every opportunity to trumpet U.S. leadership on the global stage and remind the world of China’s failure to behave as a “responsible stakeholder.”
The Costs Of The Afghan Catastrophe
By now, it's beyond question that the Biden administration's hasty, uncoordinated withdrawal from Afghanistan is nothing short of a debacle.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2283
Russian Ambassador: Kabul safer under Taliban;
Russian wildfire world's biggest;
Police search houses of Navalny, FBK supporters;
Jail time for former DNR minister;
No asylum for Afghans...;
...as Moscow encourages cooperation on Afghanistan
China Reform Monitor No. 1475
Beijing's clampdown sparks Hong Kong exodus;
New, pro-China curriculum for Hong Kong schools;
China banning Karaoke songs that endanger national unity;
Shanghai cancels English final exam in elementary schools;
Shanghai mandates the Xi Jinping thought reader for students
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2482
ROSNEFT makes record gains;
A tit-for-tat on journalist visas;
Prigozhin at the movies;
Russia "satisfied" with transfer of power in Kabul;
Whelan's lawyers make legal appeal
China is Coming for American Farms
At the expense of American landowners, farmers and companies, Chinese corporations have been buying up valuable land for years.
Global Islamism Monitor No. 93
Boko Haram on the back foot;
Hamas turns to digital fundraising;
The shape of today's terror;
German fears over an ISIS resurgence
Resource Security Watch No. 39
A tussle over access to the Nile;
The nexus of climate change and immigration;
Lebanon's water woes;
In Iran, a building hydrological crisis
Biden still has a chance to save Afghanistan by learning the lesson of Operation Linebacker
Seeing Taliban convoys rolling down a highway might intimidate Afghans, but US defense planners should see them as targets begging to be destroyed.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2281
Pundits irate over Olympic losses;
Military drills and Sino-Russian alignment;
Dispute over scale back of Black Sea oil spill;
Russian spy arrested in Germany;
Russia's budding drone commanders;
CEO of hypersonic firm arrested for treason
America Is Missing Out On Middle East Progress
A year ago this week, Israel and the United Arab Emirates made history when they agreed to formally normalize their diplomatic relations.
China Reform Monitor No. 1474
Another Xi Jinping thought center opens;
China eases child-rearing costs to boost births;
For-profit tutoring barred in core school subjects;
Power outages spread as temps rise;
Local businessman sentenced to 18 years
China Reform Monitor No. 1473
Xi attacks technology blockades;
UK, EU, NATO: China responsible for Microsoft hack and ransomware;
U.S. charges four Chinese in global hacking campaign;
China fines tech giants for content exploiting children;
Beijing counter-sanctions seven Americans
Information Warfare Watch No. 6
China's novel coronavirus theory;
The Taliban's revolution won't be televised;
The latest disinformation target: American veterans;
Mideast think tanks unite to fight Iran in the "War of Ideas"
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2480
Return of the clone candidates;
Russia's continuing coronavirus crisis;
The Kremlin crackdown on Navalny allies continues;
Belarus wants integration with Russia...on its own terms;
Villages evacuated as wildfires engulf Siberia;
No legal remedy for Grudin
Iran’s Water Crisis Could Be A Political Earthquake
The Iranians are thirsty. In the past few weeks, thousands have taken to the streets in cities and towns throughout the Islamic Republic to protest the country's deepening hydrological crisis — and the Iranian regime's chronic mishandling of it.
Defense Technology Monitor No. 67
U.S. military eyes travel-size nuclear reactors;
Tanker drone fuels Navy plane;
Invisibility approaches reality;
Pentagon planners eye directed energy to maintain space superiority;
Protecting against bullets with nanomaterial
China Reform Monitor No. 1472
More than 200 nuclear silos being built in Xinjiang and Gansu;
China sends team to help Pakistan investigate terror attack;
China pushes conspiracy theory, rejects calls for Wuhan lab audit;
China, Pakistan to collaborate on Afghanistan;
Taliban will play an "important role": FM Wang Yi
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2279
Russia, U.S. revive arms control talks;
Russia leans on Google;
Russia hacked federal prosecutors;
Kremlin wants to unmask Bitcoin transactions, users;
OSCE refuses to observe upcoming elections;
Moscow eyes Central Asia as it hedges against Afghanistan
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 219
Iranian hackers hard at work;
Water protests...and the regime response;
Tehran turns up the heat in Iraq