Recent Publications

A “New” Dynamic in the Western Hemisphere Security Environment: The Mexican Zetas and Other Private Armies
September 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Max G Manwaring This monograph is intended to help political, military, policy, opinion, and academic leaders think strategically about explanations, consequences, and responses that might apply to the volatile and dangerous new dynamic that has inserted itself into the already crowded Mexican and hemispheric security arena, that is, the... MORE

Alien: How Operational Art Devoured Strategy
September 1, 2009 — Authors: Dr Michael James Brennan, Brigadier Justin Kelly The publication of the 1982 version of Army Field Manual (FM) 100-5, Operations, introduced to the English-speaking world the idea of an operational level of war encompassing the planning and conduct of campaigns and major operations. It was followed 3 years later by the introduction of the... MORE

Russian Elite Image of Iran: From the Late Soviet Era to the Present
September 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Dmitry Shlapentokh Since the late Soviet era, the presence of Iran has loomed large in the minds of the Russian elite. Soon after the end of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)—and even before—increasing numbers of Russian intellectuals became disenchanted with the West, especially the United States, and looked for alternative... MORE

Dealing with Political Ferment in Latin America: The Populist Revival, the Emergence of the Center, and Implications for U.S. Policy
September 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Hal Brands The current political dynamics in Latin America is analyzed, and their meaning for the United States is evaluated. The author argues that references to a uniform “left turn” in the region are misleading, and that Latin America is actually witnessing a dynamic competition between two very different forms of governance... MORE

A Comprehensive Approach to Improving U.S. Security Force Assistance Efforts
September 1, 2009 — Authors: LTC Theresa Baginski, COL Brian J Clark, LTC Francis Donovan, Ms Karma Job, LTC John S Kolasheski, COL Richard A Lacquement Jr, COL Michael J McMahon, Brigadier Simon "Don" Roach, COL Sean P Swindell, COL Curt A Van De Walle Security Force Assistance is analyzed, and some specific recommendations designed to improve U.S. performance are... MORE

National Security Strategy Reform: Rebalancing the President’s Agenda
September 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Robert H Dorff Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the September 2009 newsletter.Read Now MORE

Mind-Sets and Missiles: a First Hand Account of the Cuban Missile Crisis
September 1, 2009 — Author: Mr Kenneth Michael Absher This chronology provides details and analysis of the intelligence failures and successes of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and suggests the applicability of lessons learned to the collection, analysis, and use of intelligence in strategic decisionmaking. The author describes how the crisis unfolded using the author’s... MORE

Iraq: Strategic Reconciliation, Targeting, and Key Leader Engagement
September 1, 2009 — Author: Capt Jeanne F Hull Discussion of Key Leader Engagements (KLE) as a nonlethal option for countering insurgent organizations. Outreach to insurgent organizations through KLE can be both an economy of force measure and, in some circumstances, could be more effective than engaging insurgent organizations with lethal force. The challenge with... MORE

The Role of Cuban Paramilitary Organizations (People’s Militias) in the Post-Castro Era
August 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Max G Manwaring Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the August 2009 newsletter.Read Now MORE

2009 Key Strategic Issues List
July 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Antulio J Echevarria II Unlike other lists that generally reflect issues which are operational or tactical in nature, the focus of the Key Strategic Issues List is strategic. The spotlight is, in other words, on those items that senior Army and Department of Defense leaders should consider in providing military advice and formulating... MORE

Criminals, Militias, and Insurgents: Organized Crime in Iraq
July 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Phil Williams Dr. Williams looks in detail at major criminal activities, including the theft, diversion, and smuggling of oil, the kidnapping of both Iraqis and foreigners, extortion, car theft, and the theft and smuggling of antiquities. He also considers the critical role played by corruption in facilitating and strengthening organized... MORE

Pakistan – The Most Dangerous Place in the World
July 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Larry P Goodson Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the July 2009 newsletter.Read Now MORE