Discourse Insights into Future US-China Relations

March 2017 No Comments

How Discourse Analysis Could Help Provide Insight into the Future of US-China Relations. Author | Editor: Kuznar, L., Peterson, N. & Popp, G. (NSI, Inc). Click here for timeline animation.   The future of the US-China relationship seems increasingly uncertain, to say the least. Increased tensions between the two international powers were seemingly ignited when […]

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Meaning of ISIS Defeat & Shaping Stability

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The Meaning of ISIS Defeat and Shaping Stability — Highlights from CENTCOM Round 1, 2 and 3 Reach-back Reports. Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc). Conclusion ISIS will be defeated militarily. However, whether it is ultimately overcome by containment or by deploying ground forces to apply overwhelming force, the path to mitigating violent extremism […]

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Impact of the Presence of ISIS in Africa

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Question (AR1.Q1): How will the future of ISIS in Syria and Iraq impact the presence of ISIS in Africa? Author | Editor: Pagano, S. (NSI, Inc). While the consideration of ISIS’s fate in Syria and Iraq of course adds significant value to the question of ISIS in Africa, ISIS’s next steps there appear to call […]

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International Transgressions Magnify Gray Zone Challenges

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Violating normal: How international norms transgressions magnify gray zone challenges. Author | Editor: Stevenson, J., Bragg, B. & Pagano, S. (NSI, Inc). The current international system presents multiple potential challenges to US interests. In recent years, state actors, especially but not limited to Russia and China, have taken actions that disrupt regional stability and potentially […]

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Specifying and Systematizing the Gray Zone

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Specifying and systematizing how we think about the Gray Zone. Author | Editor: Bragg, B., Pagano, S. and Stevenson, J. (NSI, Inc). In their continued work on the changing nature of the threat environment General Votel et al (2016) forecast that the majority of threats to US security interests in coming years will be found […]

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SMA Reachback Feedback | SMA Publication Statistics

March 2017 No Comments

SMA CENTCOM Reach Back Cell Feedback and SMA Publication Website Statistics. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. Feedback from CENTCOM CENTCOM after receiving the Reach Back Cell Reports distributes them to the staff for their review and the reports ultimately are disseminated throughout the Command and placed on the “Strategic Studies” portal on the CENTCOM […]

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Part 10 Supplemental Transcripts From NPS Event

February 2017 No Comments

SMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 10: Supplemental Transcripts. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. The enclosed reports discuss wide-ranging issues related to the defeat if ISIL and stabilization of Syria and Iraq supplementary to the 9-part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM grouped by theme. Series reports may be […]

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Strategic Multi-layer Assessment Report Card

February 2017 No Comments

Strategic Multi-layer Assessment (SMA) Report Card. Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc). Strategic Multi-Layer Assessment (SMA) provides planning support to Commands. SMA projects focus on complex operational imperatives requiring multi-agency, multi- disciplinary solutions that are NOT within core Service/Agency competency. SMA solutions and participants are sought across USG and beyond. SMA is accepted and […]

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Part 9 Coalition Views of SMA Reachback Responses

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SMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 9: Coalition Views. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. This is Part 9 of a 9 part series of SMA Reach back responses to questions posed by USCENTCOM. Each report contains responses to multiple questions grouped by theme. At the request of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), the Joint […]

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Turkish Interests in Syria and Iraq

February 2017 No Comments

Question (R2 QL6): What are near and long term Turkish interests and intentions in Syria and Iraq? What are Turkish interests and intentions with respect to al-Bab? Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc). Despite policy shifts Turkey’s key interests remain the same The SME contributors to this SMA Reach-back write-up argue that the recent […]

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