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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Part 4 Actor Interests and Motivations

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SMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 4: Regional Actor Interests and Motivations. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. This is Part 4 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 […]

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Part 6 ISIL Support and Recruitment

January 2017 No Comments

SMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 6: ISIL Support and Recruitment. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. This is Part 6 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), […]

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Part 2 Learning From the Fight Against ISIS

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SMA CENTCOM Reach-back Reports – Part 2: The Fight Against ISIS. Author | Editor: SMA Program Office. This is Part 2 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), […]

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Discourse Indicators of Gray Zone: Estonia

January 2017 No Comments

Discourse Indicators of Gray Zone Activity: Russian-Estonian Relations Case Study. Author | Editor: Dr. Lawrence Kuznar, George Popp, & Nicole (Peterson) Omundson (NSI, Inc.) The increasing use of emotive themes and rhetorical devices (that amplify a message’s emotional effect) provide indicators of gray zone activities in speeches made by Eurasian regional leaders and has the […]

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Discourse Indicators of Gray Zone: Crimea

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Discourse Indicators of Gray Zone Activity: Crimean Annexation Analysis Case Study. Author | Editor: Dr. Lawrence Kuznar, George Popp, & Nicole (Peterson) Omundson (NSI, Inc.) The increasing use of emotive themes and rhetorical devices (that amplify a message’s emotional effect) provide indicators of gray zone activities in speeches made by Eurasian regional leaders prior to […]

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Regional Interests Analysis

January 2017 No Comments

Question (S2): In light of their divergent goals and interests, what are the necessary factors that would permit the U.S.-led Coalition, regional stakeholders (including Israel, Russia, and Iran), or jihadist groups to achieve their aims in Iraq? Where do disparate groups’ interests align and where do they diverge? What can the U.S. coalition do to […]

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Demystifying the Gray Zone: Colombia, Libya, Ukraine

January 2017 No Comments

Demystifying Gray Zone Conflict: A Typology of Conflict Dyads and Instruments of Power in Colombia, Libya and Ukraine. Author | Editor: Koven, B. (START). The author of this report is Barnett S. Koven, Senior Researcher at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). Questions about this report should be […]

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ViTTa Assessment and Analysis of the Gray Zone

January 2017 No Comments

The Characterization and Conditions of the Gray Zone: A Virtual Think Tank Analysis (ViTTa) Author | Editor: Popp, G. (NSI, Inc). Within United States government (USG) and Department of Defense (DoD) spheres, the gray zone is a relatively new terminology and phenomena of focus for characterizing the changing nature of competition, conflict, and warfare between […]

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Russian Interests in Syria

December 2016 No Comments

Question (R2 Special): What are indicators of change in Russian strategic interests in Syria? Author | Editor: Astorino-Coutois, A. (NSI, Inc). This paper found that Russia¹s strategic interests in the Middle East are fairly stable. What could change is how Russia prioritizes its interests in the wake of the US election and change in administration. […]

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