EMERGING THREATS U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY - CounterStrikeMedia

U.S. MISSILE COMMAND READY FOR N. KOREA; WHY TRUMP & KIM REMAIN IRRECONCILABLE

5/27/2018

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44268964

U.S. Missile Defense Seen Gaining Against Threat of Kim's ICBMs
By Anthony Capaccio, Bloomberg: “The U.S. network of ground-based interceptors intended to defend against an intercontinental ballistic missile fired from North Korea “achieved a number of major accomplishments” in 2017, according to the General Accountability Office.”

TURKEY TURNS AUTHORITARIAN

5/26/2018

A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST & THE SYRIAN REGIME SLAUGHTERS ON

5/25/2018

Editorial: Anyone who still thinks that world peace and order can be enforced from something called the United Nations might want to consider that Syria this week assumed the rotating presidency of the U.N.-backed Conference on Disarmament. That’s Syria as in Bashar Assad, as in sarin gas, as in barrel bombs dropped on innocent civilians. - Wall Street Journal

Ishaan Tharoor writes: The writing is now indisputably on the wall: The Syrian regime is going nowhere. Despite seven years of civil war, the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Syrians, the flight of millions of refugees, the hollowing out of the nation's ancient cities and the horrific use of chemical weapons on civilians, President Bashar al-Assad remains in his post. - Washington Post

Hassan Mneimneh writes: Russia is victorious in Syria. It has succeeded in rescuing the Damascus regime, its difficult yet valuable client, from what seemed to be an unavoidable demise. More importantly, it has leveraged the crisis management of the Syrian conflict to create a regional balance between seemingly incompatible powers — Israel, Turkey, and Iran. [...]It is thus positioned to strengthen its influence whether the tensions escalate or ease. - Washington Institute

NORTH AFRICAN THREAT GAINS GROUND, RUSSIA GOES TO THE AFRICAN CONGO & BEIJING HOLDS ITS OWN AFRICOM

5/25/2018

More female suicide bombers target Niger mosque

Three suicide bombers, including two girls, targeted a mosque and a Quranic school in Diffa, Niger, on Monday. The three are believed to have been sent by Abubakr Shekau's Boko Haram faction.

The Evolving Threat to U.S. National Security
by Islamic Terrorist Organizations in North Africa
By Robert C. Hodges, Small Wars Journal: “The United States is capable of countering the growing transnational threats presented by the evolving Islamic terrorist organizations in North Africa, however, it will require a dedicated push within the U.S. and a combined diplomatic, military, informational, and financial approach, engaging with the ruling governments in key partner nations.”

DEFENSE ONE: RUSSIA GOES TO THE AFRICAN CONGO

American Special Operations forces are likely to be sharply cut in Africa as a result of a new Pentagon strategy that focuses on combating rising threats from Russia and China and, in turn, is driving a sweeping review of the nation’s elite commando missions. - New York Times

Revitalizing U.S. Strategy in Nigeria to Address Boko Haram
By Austin M. Duncan, Strategy Bridge: “If the recent surge in gray zone conflict literature underscores one thing, it is that the definition of victory is fleeting against a threat specializing in ambiguity.”

Beijing Announces Inaugural China-Africa Defense Forum
// Abdi Latif Dahir
Hosted by the Ministry of Defense, the June 26-July 10 event is just Beijing's latest effort to deepen ties with the continent.

WHY TRUMP QUIT KIM & HOW TEAM TRUMP IS WINNING AGAINST NORTH KOREA WHILE IRAN PROCEEDS WITH ENRICHMENT

5/22/2018

NY SUN

In a Washington Post op-ed, Marc A. Thiessen argues that North Korea’s recent temper tantrum over US–South Korean military exercises and its threat to pull out of its upcoming summit with President Trump are signs that Trump’s North Korea strategy is working. Trump and his national security team have put Kim in a corner, offering him peace, security, and prosperity, but only if he first denuclearizes completely, verifiably, and irreversibly. Little wonder that North Korea is lashing out. Read more.

Khamenei threatens to resume nuclear enrichment unless Europe resists US
Iran's supreme leader has threatened to resume the country's uranium enrichment program unless Europe stands up to the Donald Trump administration's campaign to nix the 2015 nuclear deal. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei laid out his conditions for staying in the deal at a gathering of top officials Wednesday evening. These include protecting Iranian oil sales, banking and trade from US sanctions, along with a pledge not to pressure Iran to curb its missile program or its role in regional affairs. Khamenei also demanded that Europe condemn the United States at the United Nations Security Council. Read More
bbc.co.uk

ELLIOT ABRAMS: COUNCIL FOREIGN RELATIONS, WHY TRUMP QUIT KIM

CHINA'S PREDATORY TRADE PRACTICES REVEALED

5/22/2018

The US is long overdue in confronting China on predatory trade policies, and the decision over the weekend, led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, to back off on implementing penalties for China’s mercantilism was a step in the wrong direction, argues Derek Scissors in an AEIdeas blog. With a deal claimed to be in progress between the US and China, Treasury can now avoid decisive steps to prevent the People’s Republic of China from using investment to take trade secrets, erase our technology advantage, or harm national security. Read more here.

AEI ON THE HILL: China’s boom in wealth over the past four decades has provided the Chinese Communist Party with means to implement a large-scale military modernization initiative that will allow China to project power far beyond China’s borders. What can the US do to address this looming threat? In testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence this past Thursday, Dan Blumenthal identified some of China’s manifold military and political weaknesses. Access his prepared remarks here.

CHINA'S POLITICAL & MILITARY WEAKNESSES

5/22/2018

AEI ON THE HILL: China’s boom in wealth over the past four decades has provided the Chinese Communist Party with means to implement a large-scale military modernization initiative that will allow China to project power far beyond China’s borders. What can the US do to address this looming threat? In testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence this past Thursday, Dan Blumenthal identified some of China’s manifold military and political weaknesses. Access his prepared remarks here.

CHINA LANDS BOMBERS ON WOODY ISLANDS: NOW WHAT

5/22/2018

What China's First Strategic Bomber Landing on Woody Island Means
By Ankit Panda, The Diplomat: “In addition to permanently stationing military personnel on Woody Island, China has deployed J-11 fighters, HQ-9 surface-to-air missiles, YJ-62 anti-ship cruise missiles, and other materiels there.”

Can America Meet the China Challenge in Southeast Asia?
By David Shambaugh, East Asia Forum: “The strategic sands are shifting in Southeast Asia, as China makes multiple moves while the United States seems on its back foot.”

The World According to Trump and Xi
By Brahma Chellaney, The Strategist (ASPI): “The world’s leading democracy, the United States, is looking increasingly like the world’s biggest and oldest surviving autocracy, China.”

ERDOGAN GORDIAN KNOT

5/22/2018

TURKEY: Turkey’s Triangular Quagmire
By Allyson Christy, Small Wars Journal: “Early in 2015 the United States-led coalition explicit to attacking Daesh elements in Syria continued, and yet Turkey only eventually contributed efforts for assisting targeting objectives. Counterinsurgency initiatives had not met with clear-cut and consistent support from Ankara.”

TEAM TRUMP APPLIES MAXIMUM PRESSURE TO IRAN

5/22/2018

US PLAN AGAINST IRAN: FDD

FDD: POMPEO RAISES THE BAR AGAINST IRAN

CIA DIRECTOR LAYS OUT US POLICY ON IRAN

Pompeo lays out ‘maximum pressure’ strategy on Iran
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday laid out the Donald Trump administration’s new Iran strategy following the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal earlier this month. Pompeo called for US allies and partners to work with Washington to exert “maximum pressure” on Iran and outlined 12 objectives Tehran would have to meet to free itself of stringent US sanctions. Pompeo’s demands include an end to all uranium enrichment, ballistic missile testing and support to Iranian proxy forces throughout the region.
The maximalist campaign, however, risks running into resistance from European efforts to shield their banks and firms from US sanctions and divisions within the Gulf Cooperation Council on how far to confront Tehran. Meanwhile, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said today, “The world today does not accept that the United States decides for the world. Countries have their independence.” Read More

AFRICA, ASIA DON'T GET U.S. POLICY GAINS AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE & HOW U.S. POLICY IN SYRIA EFFECTS TURKEY

5/19/2018

WSJ’s Yaroslav Trofimov: Gains over Islamic State in the Middle East are not felt in Africa and Asia

Yaroslav Trofimov writes: In its former heartland of Syria and Iraq, the once mighty Islamic State has turned, at least for now, into little more than a nuisance. But that’s not the case for the self-declared caliphate’s far-flung “provinces,” from West Africa to Afghanistan to Southeast Asia. - Wall Street Journal

Seth G. Jones writes: As the war in Syria moves into its seventh year, U.S. policymakers have struggled to agree on a clear Syria strategy. [...] These debates raise several questions. What are U.S. interests in Syria? And what should a U.S. strategy consist of moving forward? - Center for Strategic and International Studies

What’s the Matter in Manbij? How an Obscure Syrian Town Could Determine the Future of the U.S.-Turkish Alliance and What to Do About It by Aaron Stein

U.S. POLICY TO KEEP VENEZUELA FROM BECOMING A FAILED STATE

5/19/2018

FDD

Yesterday’s “elections” in Venezuela can only be described as a fraud that did not offer any real chance for a transition from President Nicolas Maduro’s misrule. Late last week, Roger F. Noriega took to the AEIdeas blog to write about a new revelation about the corrupt Maduro regime. The Maduro regime has been purchasing foreign oil to ship directly to Cuba, and Venezuela has traded oil for Cuban “security advisers,” who manage Venezuela’s repressive police state. Rather than importing desperately needed food and medicine for its starving citizens, the Maduro regime is once again showing its utter disregard for the well-being of the Venezuelan people. Read more here.

HOOVER INSTITUTION'S CHINA MONITOR NEW EDITION

5/17/2018

China Leadership Monitor Issue 56
via Hoover Daily Report
The spring issue of the China Leadership Monitor is now available online. The China Leadership Monitor seeks to inform the American foreign policy community about current trends in China's leadership politics and in its foreign and domestic policies.

Only Socialism Can Save China; Only Xi Jinping Can Save Socialism
by Alice L. Miller via China Leadership Monitor
The abolition of constitutional term limits on the post of PRC president has attracted more attention than usually attends Chinese leadership politics, and sparked a flood of speculation about the purposes of Xi Jinping in engineering it.

TRUMP'S ART OF THE NUCLEAR DEAL VS. A DITHERING OBAMA

5/16/2018

FDD

FDD: VIDEO & MULTIMEDIA ON TRUMP'S IRAN DEAL

THE SOMALIAN INSURGENCY HOT

5/14/2018

SOMALIA: Shabaab Advertises Its al Qaeda Allegiance
By Thomas Joscelyn, FDD's Long War Journal: “Shabaab, the terrorist and insurgency organization based in Somalia, continues to market its allegiance to al Qaeda. Shabaab’s propaganda arm, Al-Kata’ib Media, has released several videos since late April that underscore the group’s fealty to al Qaeda’s senior leadership and its adherence to al Qaeda’s ideological platform”

GREAT POWERS BATTLE OVER NORTH KOREA

5/12/2018

"...In summary, everything about the “bilateral” US-DPRK talks ripples through a broader, global agenda, for all players, not just Washington and Pyongyang. Pres. Trump’s seemingly unambitious approach to the talks — “if we don’t get an agreement, we simp-ly walk away” — has added impetus to the DPRK’s need to gain something from the process.

But, in fact, Pyongyang has already gained considerably in its negotiating posi-tion, and ability to be able to open relations internationally, even if the Trump-Kim talks fail to give an immediate iconic result (which is likely, apart from the “normalization” the-atrics). What the process has begun to give is the cosmetic that now it is the DPRK which drives for a denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. It calls the bluff of the US, but, in fact, extends into the distant future before North Korea would, in fact, be obliged to abandon its comprehensive strategic capability.

Similarly, there would be no likelihood that the US would not have to meaningfully reduce its regional posture. But what this process does is that it enables (a) an end to the Korean War in a formal sense, and (b) increasing normalization in DPRK-ROK relations, enabling a phased process by which logistical lines through the DPRK could enhance trade from the ROK through to Western Europe via Russia. The new process will have some tangible outcomes in that the DPRK will achieve a greater degree of separation from Beijing, but this will also reduce Beijing’s responsibil-ity for the DPRK economy, without seeing the DPRK move out of substantial influence from Beijing. It seems that Pres. Xi Jinping can accept that, because it is, in fact, a very comfortable trade-off for the PRC.

And the PRC would benefit, as well, from a more stable and economically growing neighborhood, which would include a more prosperous Russian Far East. Certainly, in the long run, if the process leads (as it almost certainly will) to a Russia-Japan normalization, then the PRC would have to consider the revived Pacific strength of Russia as a possible/probable long-term strategic constraint. It would also have to figure that Japan itself would have an improved strategic capability, but that Japan itself might be constrained by the growth of Russian Asian strength.

And Beijing is still warily attempting to determine whether the new closeness of the DPRK and ROK might mean a reduction in US influence on the Peninsula, or whether the US has, in fact, been able to strengthen its overall posture in the region, particularly with the ROC and the First Island Chain. The net effect of the Trump initiative to engage with Kim Jong-Un — and it was, indeed, entirely a Trump- generated phenomenon, supported strongly by Japan and Russia — will be portrayed as a win-win by all players. Certainly, there is likely to be a reduction in Korean Peninsula tensions, even as a result of the “normalization” of relations between the DPRK and the ROK. "

THE IRANIAN PEOPLE WILL RESCUE IRAN: MICHAEL LEDEEN

5/11/2018

https://pjmedia.com/michaelledeen/the-issue-is-iran-not-the-deal/

OBAMA SOLD THE U.S. PUBLIC A BAD DEAL WITH IRAN

EXAMING NORTH KOREA'S STRENGTH DIPLOMATICALLY

5/11/2018

Tim Willasey-Wilsey, a former senior British diplomat, says South Korea's aggressive diplomacy with North Korea is indicative of a strategic shift in the country's foreign policy - and its relationship with the United States.

"Earlier in the present crisis, before the Winter Olympics, it seemed likely to South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s government that the United States was on the brink of launching a pre-emptive military strike against the North. It was Seoul’s conviction that this would be disastrous, combined with a sense of powerlessness at their evident lack of a veto against US action, which led Moon to reactivate the dormant back-channel with Pyongyang."
"The world has fundamentally changed since the days of the Sunshine Policy. China is now a superpower and is the primary power in North East Asia. Whatever solution to the Korean imbroglio is found it must be, in Seoul’s calculation, acceptable to Beijing. Good relations with China are now seen as an essential plank of South Korean foreign policy.
"Whilst South Korea would prefer for the North to denuclearize, it can nonetheless live with a nuclear North Korea. It has already done so for 12 years and has no serious concern that Pyongyang would use a nuclear weapon against fellow Koreans in the South. For Seoul, the much bigger fear is of an American strike against North Korea which ends up with Seoul being targeted by North Korean artillery and covert attacks mounted against southern infrastructure."

Read Willasey-Wilsey's column

CHINA & THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY

5/11/2018

China and the Future of Democracy
Barry Eichengreen, Project Syndicate

PUTIN'S REGIME FRACTURING INTERNALLY, CHAOS REIGNS

5/11/2018

Kudrin Factor, Putin’s Counter-Sanctions, Ruble vs. Oil
While the Russian state media relished Vladimir Putin’s photo-ops at the opening of the Crimea bridge, other developments were less hyped but more consequential to the country this week. First, Dmitry Medvedev’s Cabinet was approved, with most positions filled with the same people. Second, the Duma steamrolled the passage of the counter-sanctions bill to target not just the U.S. but also Russian citizens. Third, the recent oil prices fluctuations revealed a weaker correlation with the ruble exchange rate. >>>

Ruble vs. Oil: The gist: Oil prices are reaching a new high. On May 17, for the first time since November 2014, Brent crude was selling for $80 per barrel [RBC], with Bank of America predicting prices could spike to $100 per barrel in 2019. The increase has had a relatively small positive impact on the U.S. dollar/ruble exchange rate.
What’s the deal?

Oil prices are rising against the backdrop of two major developments: the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the imposing of new sanctions (although not expected earlier than November 5), and the rising oil demand as recently reported by OPEC.
Despite the dependence of the Russian currency on the global oil prices, the current spike had a limited effect due to interventions from the Finance Ministry, which has recently increased its purchases of foreign currencies. [Kommersant]

So what does it mean?

Sergei Khestanov, macroeconomic advisor to Otkritie Broker: the share of oil and gas sector revenue in the Russian federal budget is traditionally high—officially about 30 percent, but in reality, accounting for other factors, about 60 percent. This explains the high correlation between oil prices and the ruble exchange rate.
However, this correlation has recently become much weaker for two key reasons—sanctions (primarily the 2018 round) and fiscal policy by the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry. The latter is the result of the Russian government’s goal to decrease the budget deficit and keep fulfilling state obligations for the sake of “social stability” in the face of stagnation and inflation. Additionally, the government sees the increase in foreign reserves as a financial cushion in case of a sudden destabilization. [Republic]
Alexander Losev, CEO at Sputnik Asset Management: The changing world order observed today marks the beginning of a new round in the fight among all leading powers for control over energy resources, which will cause an array of “cold” and “hot” conflicts. A war in the Middle East is likely to be the first such conflict.
For Russia, the main goal should be not just a military and political presence in a certain region, but prompt development of its own economy. Otherwise, its attempts to counter the Western powers are doomed to fail. [Russian Forbes]

Mikhail Khodorkovsky: The Coming Years Will Be The Toughest In Vladimir Putin’s Life

May 5 Protest, New Cabinet, Monopoly on History

Bloomberg View, Some Sanctioned Russian Firms Thrive on Adversity, by Leonid Bershidsky
Der Spiegel, Is Germany's Special Relationship with Russia at an End? by Der Spiegel staff
National Interest, Who Will Lead Russia after Putin? by Nikolas Gvosdev

Putin comes out with a ‘Russia First’ strategy
BY M.K. BHADRAKUMAR
Amid a host of domestic development programs, a renewed effort to repair Russia’s relations with the West may be on the cards

RUSSIA'S MARRIAGE TO IRAN & THE CONSEQUENCES
As the United States prepares to exit the Iran nuclear deal, or JCPOA, and restore sanctions on the nation, The Cipher Brief revisits the relationship between Iran and Russia, which continue to develop deep ties that run counter to U.S. interests. How will Washington’s actions impact how Tehran and Moscow view their overlapping interests?

Russia and Iran have forged a strategic symbiotic relationship anchored in economic, defense and energy cooperation. And as the Trump administration ramps up both rhetoric and sanctions on key figures and entities linked to the Iranian regime, and threatens to impose more – Washington could end up pushing Moscow and Tehran even closer together.

A common mission unites Moscow and Tehran, whose worldviews are shaped by the same lens. Both countries aim to thwart the expansion of western democratic systems and raise their levels of influence at the regional and global levels at the expense of the U.S.
The U.S. could aim to drive a wedge between the two nations, thereby limiting their joint adventurism in the Middle East. However, such tactics would require Washington to engage directly with Tehran, while excluding Moscow, something the current administration has not demonstrated a willingness to do.

Read the full brief.

WHAT THREATENS PUTIN

"I believe that Putin has reached an unspoken deal with the Russian people, and also to a certain extent with the oligarchs, who could be much more of a threat to him than a march on the streets. Basically, Putin has told the Russian people: you sacrifice some of what is considered “personal liberty” in the west—freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, etc—and in return, I will basically make Russia great again. I will make Russia a great power."
"The relationship between the oligarchs and Putin is one of the most difficult veils to try to penetrate in terms of what is actually going on. And I believe that to be true not just for the United States and the Western intelligence services, who may be trying to figure out what is going on, but it’s also very opaque behind the veil even amongst the oligarchs. That’s the way Putin has set it up."
"If you were a betting person faced with the question, Is Vladimir Putin going to be able to serve out this final six-year term—if it is his last term? Is he going to make it through? I think most betting people would say yes. He’s done it before, he understands the levers of power, the Russian people understand what he’s all about. Putin continues to be very popular."

Read more of Hall's analysis.

PUTIN'S NEW GOVERNMENT
The Kudrin FactorThe breakdown: this week Vladimir Putin confirmed the composition of the new government proposed by the new/old prime minister Dmitry Medvedev. The Cabinet will now have 22 ministers and ten deputy prime ministers.

The overall government structure will remain the same, with a noticeable change to take place in the Ministry of Education and Science (which will be split into two—the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education) and the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media (which will be reformed as the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media).
Other key shifts: Konstantin Chuychenko, former presidential aide and head of the Control Directorate will replace Sergei Prikhodko as the chief of the Government Staff.
Tatyana Golikova, head of the Audit Chamber, is to become the Minister of Health, Education and Social Policy.
Dmitry Kozak is to remain Deputy Prime Minister, but now responsible for industry and energy. Vitaly Mutko, former Minister of Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy, is to become Vice Premier for Construction. [RBC]
Despite speculations of a new appointment within the government, Alexei Kudrin, whom Putin asked to create a six-year economic plan, is to head the Audit Chamber.

What it means:

Sergey Aleksashenko, Brookings Institution: There will be no breakthrough with this government, but a new stabilization. It will use limited resources to minimize risks. The two strongest figures in the new Cabinet are Anton Siluanov (who is competent but relies dogmatically on fiscal discipline) and Tatiana Golikova (who proved her efficiency as head of the Audit Chamber and was brought in to lead crucial healthcare and pension reforms). [Republic]
Andrei Perstev, journalist: Putin prefers appointing close friends to high positions, experimenting with technocrats only on the regional level. [Carnegie.ru]
Alexander Baunov, Carnegie Moscow Center: Putin’s “May executive orders” are largely based on Kudrin’s six-year economic plan, while ignoring political reform. Why did Kudrin agree to a post outside the government? Because he likely believes that Russia’s experiment of building its own market, independent of the capitalist West, will either succeed or transform in the course of its implementation. [Carnegie.ru]
Philip Sterkin: There’s no room in Putin’s political system for Kudrin, despite being the former’s faithful ally.Though Kudrin has vied for political reform (without criticizing Putin, of course), Putin’s overwhelming electoral victory shows that the president has no reason to change his political system. [Vedomosti]
Kirill Rogov, political scientist: the “2024 problem” for Putin is still wide open. In essence, he has three scenarios: 1) “Central Asian” (waiving the constitutional restriction), 2) “Yeltsinist” (appointing a successor) and 3) “Chinese” (changing the Constitution to expand the Duma’s powers, which is to be controlled by one party). Given Medvedev’s reappointment, there might also be a “palliative” scenario”—a combination of the last two. [Carnegie.ru]

RECOMMENDED READING

Bloomberg View, ‘Who Lost Russia?’ Isn’t Just an Academic Debate, by Leonid Bershidsky
Washington Post, Putin isn’t as all-powerful as he looks, by Jackson Deihl
National Interest, What to Expect from Putin’s Fourth Term, by Angela Stent
New York Times, Sergei Skripal Was Retired, but Still in the Spy Game. Is That Why He Was Poisoned? by Michael Schwirtz and Ellen Barry

THE HERO'S OF PUTIN'S ERA
The ‘Heroes’ Of The Putin Era
MBK.Media has put together a compilation of the most disapproved-of recipients of state honours throughout the Putin era. The list includes figures such as Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, head of the Central Electoral Commission of the Russian Federation Vladimir Churov, Rosneft head Igor Sechin and others. >>>

IRAN & NORTH KOREA: A SECOND NUCLEAR AGE, DISASTER, STRATEGY AND GEOPOLITICS UNFOLD

5/8/2018

The Iran deal: what it means for Asia’s economies

https://www.amazon.com/Second-Nuclear-Age-Strategy-Politics/dp/1250037352/ref=sr11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525738843&sr=1-1

EAST ASIAN TYRANTS HIT AFRICA, WHAT IS U.S. RESPONSE

5/8/2018

MOSCOW & THE INF TREATY: WHY ITS OBSOLETE; HOW TO FIX THE IRANIAN MISSILE PROGRAM

5/7/2018

Moscow Has Little Reason to Return to the INF Treaty
// Alexander Velez-Green
The incentives that led Gorbachev to sign the pact are gone. The U.S. needs to prepare for a post-INF world.

Putin’s Nuclear Superweapons
By Mark B. Schneider, RealClearDefense: “Putin’s recent claim of 79% modernization of Russia’s nuclear Triad seems exaggerated. However, Russia has modernized over two-thirds of its Triad since the process began in 1997.”

RUSSIA WANTS AUTARKY: Read Amb. Courtney's article.

FDD: FIXING IRAN'S MISSILE PROGRAM

FDD: WHY TIME IS UP FOR IRAN

FDD: OBAMA SOLD THE NATION A BAD DEAL

U.S. INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HAS LOST ITS WAY

5/5/2018

WHY THE IRAN DEAL REMAINS ABSURD

An Agenda for US-Iran Negotiations
Christopher Hill calls for talks between America and the world's dominant Shia power on a broad range of non-nuclear issues.

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/270045/former-cia-chief-blames-trump-creating-post-truth-michael-ledeen

THE IRANIANS SEEK TO HIT ISRAEL; HOW THE ISRAELI'S COUNTER THEM & IRAN IN U.S. BACKYARD

5/5/2018

Iran in the US Backyard

http://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/385700-israels-intelligence-coup-accentuates-irans-nuclear-threat

· http://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/385591-the-details-reveal-the-true-danger-of-irans-secret-nuclear-program

· http://www.israelhayom.com/opinions/an-extraordinary-intelligence-feat/