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Americas
Are Theresa and Donald the New Maggie and Ronald?
Commentary, 27 January 2017
Peter Roberts
Prime Minister Theresa May’s visit to Washington today is billed as a potential revival of the old US–UK ‘Special Relationship’. But is Britain still special in military terms to the US? And can the British deliver military capabilities the Americans really need?
Tags: United States, US Defence Policy, Americas, UK, UK Defence, Europe
Brazil’s Drugs Trafficking is Ignored at Europe’s Peril
Commentary, 11 January 2017
Inês Sofia de Oliveira
A bloody prison riot in Brazil has highlighted the country’s growing role as a staging point for illicit drugs heading for Europe. While the EU has done a great deal to disrupt drug routes across the Atlantic, more attention needs to be paid to comparable developments in Brazil.
Tags: Americas, Brazil, Organised Crime
Book Review: America and the Politics of Insecurity
RUSI Journal, 21 December 2016
Gorana Grgic
Gorana Grgic reviews America and the Politics of Insecurity, by Andrew Rojecki.
Tags: United States, US Defence Policy, North America, Americas, The decade after 9/11, The War on Terror, Security Policy, International Responses, Defence Policy, Terrorism
Why is Trump Favouring Military Leadership Skills for his Team?
Commentary, 8 December 2016
Peter Roberts
US President-elect Donald Trump’s preference for retired and serving generals for leading positions in his administration is controversial and has stimulated a renewed debate about the nature of the civil–military relationship.
Tags: Military Sciences, United States, US Defence Policy, Americas, Defence Policy
Trump, Mexico and Organised Crime: How to Make a Bad Situation Worse
RUSI Newsbrief, 2 December 2016
Charlie de Rivaz
If Trump enacts two of the main pledges from his presidential campaign – the wall along the US–Mexico border and mass deportations – he will be helping, not hindering, organised crime groups in the region.
Tags: United States, North America, Americas, Central and South America, Organised Crime
Book Review: Margin of Victory: Five Battles that Changed the Face of Modern War
RUSI Journal, 30 November 2016
Peter Roberts
Peter Roberts reviews Margin of Victory: Five Battles that Changed the Face of Modern War, by Douglas Macgregor.
Tags: Military Sciences, United States, US Defence Policy, Americas, Defence Management, Defence Policy, Land ForcesPages
Syria and Obama's 'Credibility Spiral'
Commentary, 10 September 2013With no clear strategy or set of political objectives, President Obama had set red lines for chemical weapons use in Syria. This has locked him into credibility spiral which was difficult for him to free from, even after a resolution to the chemical weapons question.
Americas, Middle East and North Africa
Obama's Counter-Terrorist Policy
Commentary, 30 May 2013President Obama's recent speech on counter-terrorism policy defended drone strikes while suggesting a new determination to close Guantanamo. To undermine the narrative of international terrorists, he must show that force is a less efficient tool than the observance of universal values and the rule of law.
Americas, Terrorism
Al-Qa'ida and Iran: How Do We Deal With the Allegations?
Commentary, 2 May 2013Recent allegations by the Canadian authorities about Al-Qa'ida in Iran has ignited a flurry of commentary. Experience suggests however that the release of limited intelligence of this nature is fraught with dangers for the public trust and risks being counter-productive.
Americas, Terrorism, Middle East and North Africa
Red Lines and Syrian Chemical Weapons
Commentary, 26 April 2013Evidence of chemical weapons use by the Syrian regime remains incomplete. But the Obama Administration’s confused signaling and ambiguous standards of evidence risk emboldening the Assad regime.
Americas, Middle East and North Africa
Boston Bombers Highlight Difficulties of Countering Isolated Terror Cells
Commentary, 24 April 2013As motives and operational set-up of the Boston bombers become known, urgent questions will be asked about how US intelligence agencies are prioritising threats in the United States. The case reveals the huge dilemma faced in collecting, evaluating and acting on credible intelligence leads.
Americas, Terrorism
International Women’s Day: The Tasks Ahead
Diversity in the UK's Intelligence Agencies
Financing Right-Wing Extremism and Terrorism