Journal

Kip Whittington asks if Lebanese Hezbollah will attack Israel if hostilities break out with Iran.

Robert Sharp and Fahad Malaikah explore the critical partnership between the U.S. and Yemen amidst the recent election and continuing Al Qaeda attacks.

Jason Thomas explores the romance of COIN theory and where it has gotten us in Afghanistan, suggesting instead we follow the less romantic, more focused "hedgehog concept."

Grant Martin offers his thoughts on the rewrite of FM 3-24 and more realistic and sustainable COIN efforts.

In a timely offering, Butch Bracknell considers the implications of Quran burning and other slights in Afghanistan, real or perceived, to find that perception is what matters.

Guillermo Almada offers part three of his series on how to reduce violence in Mexico.

Caleb S. Cage takes on the memoirs of the four most powerful officials of the Bush Administration.

Guillermo Almada offers the second in his three-part series on reducing violence in Mexico.

Youssef Aboul-Enein and David Trandberg take a look back into Libyan history to examine Arab insurgency tactics.

In the first of a three part series, Guillermo Vázquez del Mercado Almada describes organized crime in Mexico and lays a basis for his "five Ps" proposal to reduce violence there.

Christopher Bassford offers a saucy counterpoint to the Cordesman suggestion that we continue to muddle through in Afghanistan.

Al Paddock explores the divorce between active and reserve component psychological operations units.

Youssef Aboul-Enein offers a timely review of John Calvert's book on Sayyid Qutb.

Cameron Graham provides us with a peek at what is in Pandora's Box in the Middle East.

The authors set forth a counterinsurgency model that focuses on socio-cultural structural relationships and dynamics of the local population, providing insights into how to target interactions with them.

Sergio Miller offers and important and interesting look at armed nation building in Vietnam and Afghanistan; a look that does not leave one with much optimism.

In the wake of the withdrawal of advisors from Afghan ministries, Rebecca Zimmerman argues that drawdown in Afghanistan is a chance to get the strategy right, but only if it is a drawdown in manpower, not in willpower

Peter Matulich argues for a more comprehensive approach to COIN in Pakistan.

M. Shands Pickett suggests that we aim for greater stability in Afghanistan by co-opting the Afghan Taleban and breaking down the walls between GIRoA and Afghan Taleban shadow governance.

Jonathan Smith considers the impact of night raids on counterinsurgency operations in Afghanistan.

Fourth Generation Warfare advocates propose a tactical shift in how operations are conducted to defeat an insurgency. This paper explains why, from a legitimacy standpoint, 4GW will lead to a strategic failure.

Jack Midgley considers how the Army should prepare itself to accomplish partner nation capability-building missions.

With the UN Security Council closed for business, the international community is clamoring for a way to increase the costs on President Bashar al-Assad.  Here are some of the options that western and Arab diplomats are looking at.

As Yemen faces presidential elections on February 21, for which only one candidate is standing, Robert Sharp and Fahad Malaikah ponder what is next for the country.

Michael V. Rienzi lays out possible Iranian responses to a U.S. attack.

Richard Dixon provides a much needed look at the issue of suicide and military leadership.

COL David Glaser lays out suggestions for selecting and properly training the right people to serve as advisors to senior foreign officials.

Joseph Collins reviews All In and finds that it lives up to the man that it is about.

Lionel Beehner explores the paradox behind terming a conflict a civil war, with an eye to events in Syria.

Stemming from the Occupy and Indignados movements, as well as the London riots, John P. Sullivan and Adam Elkus look at the complex disorder of riots, their types, and the challenges they present.

Dan McCauley urges us to consider strategic thinking and apply it in considering our complex problems.

Alex Verschoor-Kirss provides an interesting look at a case of cultural insurgency: the Estonian Forest Brothers movement.

Adam Ahmad evaluates the prospect of Bashir al-Assad's survival in Syria.

COL Greg Grimes considers the value of civil affairs in a constrained budget environment.

Matteo Scianna suggests a heightened role for European forces in "smart defense" in the near abroad.  Is this the wave of the future, or a concept doomed by European economic troubles?

Robert Sharp takes a look at the war rhetoric and the youth of Iran and America and urges us to give peace a chance with Iran.

Niels Vistisen argues that the command structure and focus in Afghanistan results in a missing operational level.

Octavian Manea offers an interview with John Nagl who opines that "the savage wars of peace are still going to have an interest in us."

As the Arab Spring moves east, Fahad Malaikah reminds us not to forget where it started.

Patrick Truffer explores the inclusion-moderation theory as it pertains to Hamas, an important subject given the transitions of the Arab Spring.

The world must focus on strengthening institutions as it sets about withdrawing from the Afghan conflict.

Brad Fultz offers a qualitative tool to help commanders understand actors in their area of operations through a lens of locally defined legitimacy.

F3EA and D3A are great for what they do – but a flexible plan across all echelons for all planners may be a way to go, especially in a military where manpower could be severely limited in the coming years.

The authors propose implementing F3EAD methodology, which has met with success in the SOF community, across the force.

Adam Elkus explores the role of drones in battle and warfare and concludes that the moral concerns are nothing new to military history.

David Walker argues that the successes of the Af-Pak Hands program could be better managed by Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development.

Steven Metz writes about the psychology of insurgents. It is not mirror-image political concerns that they are after, but psychological needs.

Mike Few interviews civil war historian Mark Grimsley, research affiliate at The Ohio State University and author of several books, about reconstruction and insurgency.

American defense planners must consider what an era of persistent conflict will require of them.  Will the dictates of the Powell Doctrine or the imperatives of "human security" win out?

Pierce and Zanol offer a concept for maneuver in n-dimensional terrain.  Does this provide the conceptual basis to combat "wicked" problems?