Section: The National Interest (USA)
The Black Death: How Rats, Fleas and Germs Almost Wiped Out Europe
Kyle Mizokami Society, Europe And changed world history. More than six centuries ago, disaster struck the people of Europe. A deadly plague, traveling west along trade routes from Central Asia, struck the continent with such force it wiped out entire villages and killed as many as twenty-five million people. The “Black Death,” as it was called,...
How America Would Try and Smash China in a War (More Like World War III)
Harry J. Kazianis Security, Asia All of the reasons why America would beat China in a war. The best way to get good at anything is too actually go out and do it— and do it a lot. The challenge for China is that you can wargame all you want but unless you have experienced actual combat there will always be a learning curve. And the curve for China...
During World War II, Hitler Plotted to Take One of Russia’s Most Vital Ports (It Ended Badly)
Sebastien Roblin Security, Europe This is the story of Operation Platinum Fox. The Soviet Navy during World War II is perhaps best remembered for its vigorous role in the doomed defense of the ports of Odessa and Sevastopol in the Crimean Sea. However, in the Arctic North, the Soviet warships would have a major impact on the course of the war in...
Let’s Settle the Russia Question Once and for All
Gary Hart Politics, Eurasia A nonpartisan commission can finally shed light on Trump’s problem that just won’t go away. Presidents in the past, most notably Bill Clinton with Boris Yeltsin and George W. Bush with Vladimir Putin, have committed what might be called the “buddy fallacy” where U.S.-Russian relations were concerned. That...
Why America’s Air Force Leads the Way on Countering Enemy Drone Technology
Dan Goure Security, The U.S. military should acquire Drone Guard and move on to address other capability gaps. Unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, in the hands of this country’s adversaries, both states and terrorist organizations, pose a severe and growing challenge to the U.S. military. Russian-backed separatist forces in Ukraine have...
Here’s What Would Happen If Russia and NATO Went War (or World War III)
Kris Osborn Security, Europe Would Russia’s new, more modern military, carry the day? How much of a threat do Russia’s emerging 5th-generation stealth fighter, nuclear arsenal, high-tech air defenses, anti-satellite weapons, conventional army and submarines pose to NATO and the U.S.? Current tensions between Russia and NATO are...
America, Crimea and the Dangers of Hypocrisy
Ted Galen Carpenter Politics, Eurasia Washington’s record on forcible territorial change is exceedingly weak. The Trump administration is continuing the policy of its predecessor regarding the Crimea issue. U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley is the latest official to confirm that point. In a speech on February 2, Haley emphasized that the United...
Kazakhstan May Determine Asia’s Future. So Why Isn’t America Paying Attention?
William Courtney Politics, Eurasia Where do the interests of Russia, China and the West converge? Central Asia. Change is in the offing for Kazakhstan, the powerhouse of Central Asia. President Nursultan Nazarbayev is now promising more scope for political life and economic opportunity. But if reforms lag or the West abandons Ukraine, Kazakhstan...
Kazakhstan May Determine Asia’s Future. So Why Isn’t America Paying Attention?
William Courtney Politics, Eurasia Where do the interests of Russia, China and the West converge? Central Asia. Change is in the offing for Kazakhstan, the powerhouse of Central Asia. President Nursultan Nazarbayev is now promising more scope for political life and economic opportunity. But if reforms lag or the West abandons Ukraine, Kazakhstan...
On Russia, America Should Pick Its Battles
Jeremiah Rozman Security, Eurasia Here’s a fact: we’re not in the Cold War anymore. Experts and policymakers in both Russia and the United States acknowledge a level of hostility and corrosive rhetoric between the two countries that has not existed since the darkest days of the Cold War. Is this due to conflicting geostrategic...
