Recent Publications

Autonomous Weapon Systems: A Brief Survey of Developmental, Operational, Legal, and Ethical Issues
December 16, 2015 — Author: Mr Jeffrey L CatonView the Executive Summary What does the Department of Defense hope to gain from the use of autonomous weapon systems (AWS)? This Letort Paper explores a diverse set of complex issues related to the developmental, operational, legal, and ethical aspects of AWS. It explores the recent history of the development and... MORE

Lethal and Legal? The Ethics of Drone Strikes
December 15, 2015 — Author: Dr Shima D KeeneView the Executive Summary While supporters claim that drone warfare is not only legal but ethical and wise, others have suggested that drones are prohibited weapons under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) because they cause, or have the effect of causing, indiscriminate killings of civilians, such as those in the... MORE

Strategic Insights: Guyana-Venezuela: The Essequibo Region Dispute
December 14, 2015 — Dr. José de Arimatéia da CruzWhile the rest of the world is concerned about the refugee crisis in Europe, the conflict in Syria, and the potential contenders in the U.S. presidential elections of 2016, there is a brewing dispute between Guyana and Venezuela in Latin America. As a result of this diverted attention, there are few reports regarding... MORE

Strategic Insights: Thinking About Catastrophe: The Army in a Nuclear Armed World
December 14, 2015 — Dr. Steven MetzNothing is more important to American security than nuclear weapons. Despite all the fretting over terrorism, hybrid threats, and conventional aggression, only nuclear weapons can threaten the existence of the United States and destroy the global economy. This is certainly not news to American policymakers and military strategists:... MORE

The Human Terrain System: Operationally Relevant Social Science Research in Iraq and Afghanistan
December 11, 2015 — Author: Dr Christopher SimsView the Executive Summary The Human Terrain System embedded civilians primarily in brigade combat teams (BCTs) in Iraq and Afghanistan between 2007 and 2014 to act as a collection and dispersal mechanism for sociocultural comprehension. Set against the backdrop of the program’s evolution, the experiences of these social... MORE

Mastering the Gray Zone: Understanding a Changing Era of Conflict
December 2, 2015 — Author: Dr Michael J MazarrView the Executive Summary Discussions of an emerging practice of “gray zone” conflict have become increasingly common throughout the U.S. Army and the wider national security community, but the concept remains ill-defined and poorly understood. This monograph aims to contribute to the emerging dialogue about competition... MORE

What’s Old is New — Kennan, Putin, and the Russian Competitive Viewpoint
November 30, 2015 — Lieutenant Colonel Michael A. AdelbergU.S. foreign policy experts in 1948 would be familiar with modern Russia. George F. Kennan or President Harry Truman would immediately recognize modern Russian behavior. Nationalist rhetoric, economic brinksmanship, the cult of personality, and aggressive shows of force? All old. Therefore, it is worth... MORE

The New Arab Regional Order: Opportunities and Challenges for U.S. Policy
November 30, 2015 — Author: Mr Gregory AftandilianView the Executive SummaryThis monograph examines the new Arab regional order that has emerged over the past few years and analyzes opportunities and challenges for U.S. strategic interests. The regional order encompasses: 1) an anti-Islamist grouping of countries that came about largely in reaction to Muslim... MORE

The Hour of Truth: The Conflict in Ukraine–Implications for Europe’s Energy Security and the Lessons for the U.S. Army
November 25, 2015 — Authors: Mr Ivan Benovic, Dr Ariel CohenView the Executive Summary Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, a number of gas disputes between Russia and Central and Eastern European countries have unveiled the strategic dependence of Europe on Russian piped gas. The recent Ukrainian crisis demonstrated that Europe has a desperate need to improve the... MORE

From Assistance to Partnership: Morocco and its Foreign Policy in West Africa
November 17, 2015 — Author: Dr Mohammed El-Katiri View the Executive Summary This monograph focuses on the geopolitical and economic drivers for the renewed Moroccan interest in West Africa and examines how Morocco is conducting its foreign and security policy in a variety of Western African countries. It highlights Morocco’s contribution to counterextremism in West... MORE

Strategic Insights: Will the Russians Escalate in Syria?
November 6, 2015 — Dr. W. Andrew TerrillIn an unexpected effort to protect a key Middle Eastern ally, the Kremlin intervened in Syria with military forces in late September 2015. This effort was undertaken to protect the Bashar Assad regime from Islamist and secular rebels now threatening his regime. Moscow initiated this action with a limited force that may be... MORE

Training Humans for the Human Domain
November 2, 2015 — Authors: Mr Keir Giles, Dr Steve TathamView the Executive Summary Experience from Afghanistan and Iraq has demonstrated the vital nature of understanding human terrain, with conclusions relevant far beyond counterinsurgency operations in the Islamic world. Any situation where adversary actions are described as “irrational” demonstrates a... MORE