Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS)

CSIS | July 31, 2020

Of Russian Influence in Germany - Russian Roulette Podcast Episode 104

Jeffrey Mankoff

In this episode of Russian Roulette, Heather Conley sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff and Tabea

Defense Priorities | July 20, 2020

An End to Exquisite Weapons

T.X. Hammes

The convergence of new technologies is creating smaller, cheaper, autonomous weapons that challenge America’s arsenal of few, costly, but exquisite weapons. This convergence also presents the nation with an opportunity to field forces that are not only more effective, but also cheaper. By focusing on weapons systems that can be made platform-agnostic—launching from air, sea, or land—the U.S. can forgo the huge expense of many of today’s weapons systems.

After patrolling through a wadi and searching its caves for evidence of smuggling, scouts from Company C, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion move back toward their vehicles to conduct further Reconnaissance in the area west of Mosul. Task Force Ninewa, the ground-combat element for Operation Defeat Al Qaeda in the North II, is built around 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (Task Force Highlander). It is comprised of Marines from 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Battalion 2nd Marine Regiment, as well as augments from ANGLICO, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, and other combat assets of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, and now controls the open areas of northern Iraq near Mosul.

Studies in Conflict & Terrorism | July 20, 2020

Al-Qaeda’s Iran Dilemma: Evidence from the Abbottabad Records

Bryce Loidolt

Through a comprehensive review of documents recovered from Usama bin Ladin’s Abbottabad compound, this study provides a new periodization of al-Qaeda’s relationship with Iran. The analysis reveals that al-Qaeda often had to reconcile conflicting operational and ideational pressures in its interactions with the Islamic Republic over time. Beyond offering insight into the trajectory of this important relationship and direction for future scholarship, the analysis suggests some ways through which the United States might expand the strategic wedge that exists between these unlikely allies and highlights the need for a more flexible understanding of state sponsored terrorism.

EastWest Institute | July 14, 2020

Terrorism in Afghanistan: A Joint Threat Assessment (Chapter III)

Andrey Kazantsev and Thomas F. Lynch

Chapter III: Afghanistan in the Regional Security Interplay ContextAs it has for centuries,

Research & Analysis

Beyond Borders: PLA Command and Control of Overseas Operations

Phillip C. Saunders

Just Another Paper Tiger? Chinese Perspectives on the U.S. Indo-Pacific Strategy

Joel Wuthnow

The PLA Beyond Asia: China’s Growing Military Presence in the Red Sea Region

Joel Wuthnow

The European Union’s Permanent Structured Cooperation: Implications for Transatlantic Security

Jonathan Dunn

Baltics Left of Bang: Nordic Total Defense and Implications for the Baltic Sea Region

Håkon Lunde Saxi, Bengt Sundelius, and Brett Swaney

Baltics Left of Bang: The Role of NATO with Partners in Denial-Based Deterrence

Robert M. Klein, Stefan Lundqvist, Ed Sumangil, and Ulrica Pettersson

System Overload: Can China’s Military Be Distracted in a War over Taiwan?

Joel Wuthnow

Finding Ender: Exploring the Intersections of Creativity, Innovation, and Talent Management in the U.S. Armed Forces

Susan F. Bryant and Andrew Harrison

China's Other Army: The People's Armed Police in an Era of Reform

Joel Wuthnow

PRISM Vol. 8, No. 4 (June 2020)

Army women’s team and Marines men’s team each came in first during joint quarterly running competition known as Commander’s Cup, held at Presidio’s Soldier Field, on July 21, 2017, with the Marine Corps Detachment Presidio of Monterey claiming Commander’s Cup for best combined time, Presidio of
Monterey, California (U.S. Army/Steven Shepard)

Joint Force Quarterly 97 (2nd Quarter, April 2020)

Chairman Xi Remakes the PLA: Assessing Chinese Military Reforms

Phillip C. Saunders, Arthur S. Ding, Andrew Scobell, Andrew N.D. Yang, and Joel Wuthnow