research

Commentary

Afghanistan Civil MilitaryThe Taliban ‘Advance’: No Time To Wobble The ambush and the loss of French soldiers in Afghanistan may well be described as a tactical setback if not defeat, but at a strategic level, the insurgents are nowhere near victorious.
22 Aug 2008
Afghanistan: Through an Unfashionable Lens Devoid of full context and without appropriate perspective, it is all too easy to view the problems in Afghanistan as insurmountable, the adversary as invincible and the mission as doomed. A credible assessment can be achieved if viewed in the long-term.
6 Aug 2008
Afghanistan PRT MapInteractive Afghanistan Map An interactive map introducing ISAF deployment in Afghanistan and relevant websites for the various elements is now available in Powerpoint format (ppt).
30 Jun 2008
Goodbye, Cluster Munitions: Will we Regret it? The recent international agreement achieved in Dublin to ban the use of cluster-munitions is a victory for those who wish to rid the world of weapons and minimise the effects of war. But will militaries miss the capability?
6 Jun 2008
Cluster BombThe unpredictability factor With money and new technology, cluster bombs could become more ethical than large single-explosive warheads
21 May 2008
‘What’s Happening In Basra?’ US troops are joining British forces in Basra to help an Iraqi led crackdown on armed groups. The current situation provides those who wish to criticise the British an opportunity to do so, but any attempt at passing judgment at this stage is premature.
23 Apr 2008
NATO transferNATO In Afghanistan The NATO presence in Afghanistan is a huge strategic endeavour of such scale and scope that any present judgments on its outcome are wholly premature.
12 Feb 2008
Truth is Stranger than Fiction - update The US Air Force has reacted decisively to the serious failures that allowed the unscheduled flight of six nuclear weapons. Its response has been swift, thorough and multi-faceted. Yet, for all its openness, it still has questions to answer as to the deeper causes of the episode.
14 Nov 2007
Trouble in ‘Kurdistan’ – Options for Petraeus? Just as Petraeus's strategy for combating the instability and insecurity in Iraq is beginning to have positive effect, two problems are emerging which could make his task in Iraq more difficult.
23 Oct 2007
Iraqi MilitiaInsurgent Casualties in Iraq The validity of the US forces' figures for insurgent caualties is difficult to judge beyond the certainty that they will not be accurate.
11 Oct 2007
Gordon Brown with troops (REUTERS)UK Troop Withdrawals The Prime Minister’s announcement to Parliament that the UK presence in Iraq could reduce to 2500 personnel by May 2008 is in keeping with Coalition strategy and an indicator that this plan is progressing.
11 Oct 2007
B-52 DoDTruth Is Stranger Than Fiction The 'disappearance' of nuclear weapons, however brief, sat in the realm of fiction, until August 30 that is....
14 Sep 2007
Fratricide - Beware of Lay Judgments Public judgments on fratricide are often based on emotion rather than informed opinion, but it is important that subjective views are not assimilated at the expence of objective analysis. The following briefly responds to recent criticism of the RAF's support to troops in Afghanistan.
31 Aug 2007
F15 Bagram USAF photoFratricide in Afghanistan Another case of fratricide, this time in Afghanistan, has again raised the issue in the media.
30 Aug 2007
No Fly Zone for Darfur? Some commentators look at the seeming success of No Fly Zones in Iraq and elsewhere and suggest one should be imposed over Darfur. But would a NFZ provide a realistic and effective solution to the troubles in Sudan?
29 Aug 2007
Welcome Ministerial Support to Current Operations 28 Aug 2007
Airbus A400MEight Reflections on the Select Defence Committee's Report on Strategic Lift 10 Jul 2007
CH-46 night USMCHelicopter Losses in Iraq What should be made of the recent spate of helicopter losses in Iraq? Are they a series of unfortunate coincidences, an indication of poor practice in coalition activities or the result of enhanced insurgent operations?
23 Apr 2007
Fratricide – an Emotive Issue The death of servicemen or women during combat operations is a sad reality but when those casualties are due to friendly – not enemy – actions, public reaction understandably includes a desire for recrimination and this need to place blame is amplified when an ally is responsible for the casualties.
20 Apr 2007