Field Notes: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The opulence amazes most Americans, Australians, and Europeans. Instead of tribal authoritarianism, ethnic enmity, or criminal anarchy, they discover...
A nation must think before it acts.
Categories for Geopoliticus
The Rise of the “BASF” Doctrine?
In a world of irregular—and regular—threats and in a nation confronting fiscal austerity and seemingly showing an increased aversion...
Field Notes: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
Like anyone who travels often, I’m frequently asked what country I found most intriguing. I have learned something valuable...
Winds of Change: Comparative Energy Security Policies
The meltdown of three reactors at Japan’s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant, following the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on...
al Qaeda doesn’t follow its own lessons learned!
Don’t feel bad U.S. military, you are not the only force struggling to make better decisions from your lessons...
Field Notes: Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
I last saw Nuevo Laredo in late 2010, around 9pm on a humid autumn evening. I had just walked...
Cybersecurity – Congress 0, White House 1
On February 12, 2013, just before delivering his fourth State of the Union address to Congress, President Obama signed...
Why al Qaeda Needs Donations More Than Ransoms
For several months up to the recent French intervention in Mali, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has...
Field Notes: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sarajevo surprised me. Its denizens projected rugged, comforting warmth, welcoming visitors across religions and nations to visit their modern...
Will Economics Still Prevail Over Politics in Asia?
Most people today closely associate Asia with robust economic growth, fueled by expansion in infrastructure, manufacturing, and services. Even...