Geopolitics / Iran – The Iranian Nuclear Issue and Informal Networks

Naval War College Review – Iranís nuclear ambitions are worrisome, potentially dangerous, and obscure to the West. It may be possible, however, to influence the small circle of decision makers from the outside through the networks in which they act, and the links between these networks. In these informal contexts, agencies and individuals involved in nuclear issues are susceptible to public comment.

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Geopolitics – Send In the State Department

New York Times – Robert Kaplan writes that whatever the future holds for Iraq, within a year or two there will be far fewer American troops there, and the debate over whether our military is overstretched may subside. Yet because of a bloody counterinsurgency that no one in the military wants to repeat, Iraq has profoundly affected the Pentagon’s deployment strategies as it shifts toward a greater emphasis on the Pacific Rim while still facing a profusion of terrorist-related threats not just in the Middle East but also in Africa and elsewhere.
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Geopolitics / Conflict – A Natural History of Peace

Foreign Policy – Humans like to think that they are unique, but the study of other primates has called into question the exceptionalism of our species. So what does primatology have to say about war and peace? Contrary to what was believed just a few decades ago, humans are not “killer apes” destined for violent conflict, but can make their own history.

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Geopolitics / Europe – Transatlantic Tension and Threat Perception

Naval War College Review – Because of profoundly different understandings about both the nature and responsibility of federal authority, Washington and European capitals are talking past each other. The answer to the question, ìWhat are the threats to domestic security for which the federal authority is responsible?î sounds very different on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

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Geopolitics / Iraq – How to Win in Iraq

Foreign Affairs – An insightful essay by Andrew Krepinevich. Because they lack a coherent strategy, U.S. forces in Iraq have failed to defeat the insurgency or improve security. Winning will require a new approach to counterinsurgency, one that focuses on providing security to Iraqis rather than hunting down insurgents. And it will take at least a decade.

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Geopolitics / China – China's Search for Stability With America

Foreign Affairs – No country can affect China’s fortunes more directly than the United States. Many potential flashpoints — such as Taiwan, Japan, and North Korea — remain, and true friendship between Washington and Beijing is unlikely. But their interests have grown so intertwined that cooperation is the best way to serve both countries.

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