Putin’s Mercs

Since 9/11, the United States has experienced an incredible inflation of Private Military Contractors.  Meanwhile, both allies and adversaries have noted this development, inspiring them to start their own Private Military Companies.  In the last week we have seen an interesting story about a small Jihadi group in Syria attempting to brand themselves as a […]

Tillerson and Mattis in guarded approach to Russia

Senior US officials have been setting out their position on Russia, in some of the new administration’s first diplomatic moves. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US would consider working with Russia in some areas but would stand up for its own interests. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary James Mattis said Washington was not ready […]

Al-Qaeda positioning to reclaim the mantle of global jihad from ISIS

The nature and threat of radical Islamic terrorism has been altered and expanded by ISIS, and Al-Qaeda has been quietly rebuilding its capabilities in preparation for ISIS’ defeat on the battlefield, according to terrorism officials. Three renowned experts on terrorism testified before the House Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, giving detailed briefs on their assessments of the […]

Could the Air Force’s secretive space plane be America’s best spy satellite?

Spy satellites have become an integral part of the American defense infrastructure.  While we still rely on spy planes, having downward facing observatories in orbit grants us the continued ability to keep tabs on international opponents, see troop and equipment movements, and gather intelligence that can supplement information gained through other sources.  Having an eye […]

Cease-fire frays in Syria’s south as rebels launch new offensive

BEIRUT — A cease-fire brokered by Turkey and Russia two months ago is fraying along Syria’s southern border as rebel forces launch their largest offensive in the area in more than a year. Monitors, activists and an aid group said fighting between opposition and pro-government forces raged for a fourth day Wednesday in the southern […]

SECDEF Mattis heads to Brussels to meet with NATO leaders, dismisses concerns about Flynn

While the White House is dealing with the media aftermath of President Trump’s National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, being forced to step down amid allegations of inappropriate contact with Russian officials, James Mattis is heading to Brussels to meet with NATO leaders and reassure them of the United States’ commitment to the organization, and to […]

Russian spy ship spotted off US coast

A Russian spy ship was spotted patrolling off the coast of Delaware on Tuesday — the same day it emerged that the Kremlin secretly deployed new cruise missiles and buzzed a US Navy destroyer, according to a report. The Russian ship SSV-175 Viktor Leonov was in international waters, 70 miles from Delaware, as it sailed […]

Microsoft President called for a digital ‘Geneva Convention’ for cyber warfare

Microsoft President Brad Smith gave a speech on Tuesday, in which he called on world leaders to form an international body that can establish the rules of digital warfare, akin to the rules put in place on traditional warfare by the Geneva Convention. In the speech, Smith said that recent hacking of elections in nation-states […]

In first under Trump, Russian jets buzzed a U.S. destroyer at close range

Multiple Russian aircraft buzzed a U.S. destroyer patrolling in the Black Sea last week, in an incident the captain of the American ship called “unsafe,” the Pentagon said Tuesday. The three flybys occurred on Feb. 10 and were first reported by the Washington Free Beacon. Lt. Col. David Faggard, a U.S. European Command spokesman, said the USS Porter, […]