Category Archives: Defense

Middle Eastern Instability and the Youth Bulge

The Economist published an interesting map this week that hints at one of the potential sources of Middle Eastern instability — the demographic imbalances in most Middle Eastern countries. As is evident on the map, over half the population in … Continue reading

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Of Smart Grids and Cyber Warfare

Richard Clarke posted an interesting article today on the potential of cyber warfare to be the next major domain of war, much as sea power was in the 19th century, and air power, in the 20th. The evolution of this … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, Clean Energy, Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Policy, Predictions, Smart grid | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part V)

Parts I through IV of this series show that the Egyptian crisis will have both regional and global consequences for the future of the Arab world and the global energy crisis. Given these stakes, what is America to do? America’s Vital … Continue reading

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Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part IV)

While the last three parts of this series focused on issues ranging from the immediate impact on Egypt to the far reaching potential for unrest to spread to key American energy suppliers, it has ignored the crisis’ implications for Israel. … Continue reading

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part III)

Blame Bush In its recent edition, The Economist credits former President George W. Bush for encouraging Arab democracy. I think he deserves blame. Given the volatility inherent in radical Sunni Islam, it is not in America’s interest to encourage a … Continue reading

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Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part II)

Shortly after the ignominious French 1954 defeat at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam, President Eisenhower introduced the concept of Domino Theory to describe the significance of Vietnam falling under Communist influence. He warned that one Communist victory could initiate a … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part I)

Arab Discontent Abounds… Since unrest began in Tunisia in early 2011, news outlets have reported unrest or threats of unrest in eight Arab nations including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen, comprising a combined population of over … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Call to Service Solution to Partisan Divide

On Monday, Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff lamented that “America doesn’t know its military and the United States military doesn’t know America.” I could not agree with him more. Less than one percent of … Continue reading

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Prudent Protectionism for American Exceptionalism

Greentechmedia published an interesting article yesterday (see “DOD Must Buy American-Made, Not Chinese, Solar Panels”) bemoaning the Buy American provision of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 for solar panels used on U.S. military installations. While I … Continue reading

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Posted in China, Clean Energy, Defense, International Security, Solar | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Four Pillars of Spending Cuts for Deficit Reduction

Before the Congress gets mired in the fight to cut the deficit, it is critical that Americans know where the government spends taxpayer dollars and from which sources the government generates most of its tax revenue. Let’s face it. Any … Continue reading

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Posted in Defense, Finance and Economics, Politics, Social Security | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments