Commentary

The International Security Prospects for 2008 The fragile state of order that currently exists in the international system is one of the key themes that policy institutes and governments will need to urgently address in 2008.
3 Jan 2008

Iraq troop cuts The Prime Minister announced further troops cuts for UK forces in Iraq, announcing that they will be 'home by Christmas'. But the more important decision will come with the May 2008 troop rotation.
3 Oct 2007

Why Britain will not be enthusiastic about doing more in Iraq For British leaders Iran may seem like a basket case at present, but it has to be handled politically not militarily.
17 Sep 2007

Conditions are not right for wholesale withdrawal An examination of existing Coalition responsibilities and committments in Iraq, where there is now a move towards 'overwatch'; Coalition troops are being taken off the streets but ready to back up Iraqi forces if necessary.
11 Sep 2007

Recruitment and Retention The publication of the Public Accounts Committee Report on Recruitment and Retention in the Armed Forces has attracted the usual media interest.
9 Jul 2007

US-UK Friendly Fire Incident To suggest that this tragic incident from 2003 would adversely affect the relationship and trust between US and UK forces today ignores the many crucial interventions made by American A-10 aircraft on behalf of British (and coalition) troops in Afghanistan.
22 Feb 2007

General Dannatt Confirms Military Reality The Army has real and substantial problems in prosecuting simultaneously their campaigns in both Iraq and Afghanistan and in continuing indefinitely.
6 Nov 2006

Power Growth in Naval Surface Combatants Installed power on naval surface combatants has steadily grown over the past few decades. The principal reasons for this are two fold: ships have got larger and faster, and ships have more power demanding mission-systems.
11 Apr 2005