3 Essays

"Intelligence"

The Enigma of Iranian-Is​raeli Relations

The Enigma of Iranian-Is​raeli Relations

The recent intensification of enmity between Iran and Israel has been the focus of political analysts, pundits, practitioners, and critics alike.

More of the Same? Russian Intelligence during the Post-Soviet Era

More of the Same? Russian Intelligence during the Post-Soviet Era

Despite the euphoria that accompanied the toppling of Felix Dzerzhinsky’s statue in Lubyanka Square in August 1991, the power of the KGB, now the FSB and the SVR, has not declined. True reform of Russia’s security services, despite some early intent, has not happened.

All That Works Is Obsolete: The Shortcomings of US COIN That Must Be Addressed

All That Works Is Obsolete: The Shortcomings of US COIN That Must Be Addressed

The western way of war, in which conflict is politics/policy by other means, need not be the only lens through which the military understands problems, even if it remains the only lens through which it operates. Insurgencies are not fought simply for political reasons but also for intractable social and cultural reasons, and this lesson must be further examined and understood.

Contractors in the “War on Terror”: Enabling Global Military Deployment

Contractors in the “War on Terror”: Enabling Global Military Deployment

What has begun as the “War on Terror” and is now a series of “overseas contingency operations” could in fact only go on in the global fashion that it did for almost ten years now because of the services provided by several hundred thousand contractors. In short, private contractors serve as enablers of this decade-old war, much like they have become enablers of most major Western militaries.

The Role of Intelligence in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq

The Role of Intelligence in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq

This essay examines the events leading up to the Iraq War in 2003, including the evidence from the intelligence community which was presented to the international community as justification to begin military action in Iraq, as well as numerous documents and publications during the Iraq War which highlight the importance of intelligence, particularly in shaping the decision to go to war.

The Iran/Contra Affair and the Nature of U.S. Democracy

The Iran/Contra Affair and the Nature of U.S. Democracy

The necessities of statecraft require some level of secrecy. Reagan abused this and the results were the Iran-Contra scandal. No President has used the office of the Executive in a more regal, imperial and ordained manner than Ronald Reagan. His use and abuse of the institution to pursue his own ideological doctrine raises the fundamental questionn of whether the concept of democracy is a viable one at all.

EU-US intelligence sharing post 9/11: predictions for the future

EU-US intelligence sharing post 9/11: predictions for the future

This research seeks to explore whether, and to what extent the intelligence sharing has increased between the US and the EU member states post 9/11, and to offer predictions on future trends. Different potential scenarios in future intelligence cooperation are presented, based on the threat of Islamic terrorism to the US and EU.

The challenges confronting western intelligence services after 9/11

The challenges confronting western intelligence services after 9/11

After the attacks there was an automatic shift in intelligence interest from state to non-state actors. Agencies changed from gatherers into hunters, searching for any information revealing possible threat of attack. Compared to standard state targets, Al- Qaeda and other global terrorist groups were more difficult to find, target and spy on due to their mobility.

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