The Delicate Balance of Survivability: New Insights from Game Theory on How Missile Defense and Counterforce Impact Strategic Stability and Deterrence
Speakers: Benjamin Bahney (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) and Dr. Braden Soper (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) Date: 2 September 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session with Mr. Benjamin Bahney (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) and Dr. Braden Soper (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)as part of its SMA STRATCOM Risk of Strategic Deterrence Failure Speaker Series. By maintaining […]
Continue ReadingKey Elements of the 2021 Nuclear Posture Review
Speaker: Dr. Anna Péczeli (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) Date: 21 July 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session with Dr. Anna Péczeli (Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) as part of its SMA STRATCOM Risk of Strategic Deterrence Failure Speaker Series. The purpose of a Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) is to assess the […]
Continue ReadingDelaying Doomsday: The Politics of Nuclear Reversal
Speaker(s): Mehta, R. (University of Nebraska, Lincoln) Date: 12 May 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session with Prof. Rupal Mehta (University of Nebraska–Lincoln) as a part of its SMA STRATCOM Academic Alliance Speaker Series. Prof. Mehta focused on her book project during her brief. The book’s overall thesis is that external pressure can […]
Continue ReadingWhat Deters and Why in Taiwan, Korea, and the Gray Zone
Speaker(s): Mazarr, M. (RAND); Heath, T. (RAND) Date: 28 April 2021 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a panel discussion with Dr. Michael Mazarr (Senior Political Scientist, RAND) and Mr. Timothy Heath (Senior International Defense Researcher, RAND) as a part of its SMA General Speaker Series. RAND’s study on deterrence focused on two phases: interstate and gray zone aggression. […]
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A New US-Iran Nuclear Agreement: What are the Chances?
Author | Editor: Popp, G. (NSI, Inc.) Question of Focus [Q1] In the next five years, how likely is it that Iran will be willing to negotiate a new nuclear treaty with the United States? Bottom Line Up Front Microsoft Word – NSI ViTTa_A New US-Iran Nuclear Agreement_CENTCOM Q1_final for posting.docx Most of the expert contributors agree […]
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The Abraham Accords and Iran’s Unconventional Warfare Activities
Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc.) Question of Focus [Q4] How have the Abraham Accords shaped Iranian activity abroad in terms of unconventional warfare (UW)? Report Preview The Abraham Accords normalizing diplomatic and economic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Israel and Bahrain, as well as a less robust agreement with Sudan, […]
Continue ReadingProtection’s Price: Reassurance and Burden-Sharing in U.S. Alliances
Speaker: Blankenship, B. (University of Miami) Date: 9 December 2020 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session as a part of its SMA STRATCOM Academic Alliance Speaker Series, entitled “Protection’s Price: Reassurance and Burden-Sharing in US Alliances.” The speaker was Dr. Brian Blankenship (University of Miami). Dr. Blankenship began his presentation by discussing the conditions under […]
Continue ReadingExtended Deterrence in Doubt? Possible German Futures: 2021
Speaker: Dorondo, D. (Western Carolina University) Date: 27 October 2020 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session as a part of its SMA STRATCOM Academic Alliance Speaker Series, featuring Dr. David Dorondo (Western Carolina University). Dr. Dorondo began his presentation by discussing the tumultuous time that nations on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean are […]
Continue ReadingThe Lapsing Arms Embargo on Iran: Challenges, Change, Iranian Military Modernization, and US Responses
Speaker: Ben Taleblu, B. (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) Date: 30 September 2020 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series, featuring Mr. Behnam Ben Taleblu (Foundation for Defense of Democracies). Mr. Taleblu’s presentation focused on the lapsing UN arms embargo on Iran. He stated that four […]
Continue ReadingU.S. Nuclear Policy from the Cold War to 2020—A Comparative Analysis of the Nuclear Posture Reviews
Speaker: Péczeli, A. (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory [LLNL]) Date: 18 August 2020 Speaker Session Summary SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Anna Péczeli (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory [LLNL]) as a part of its SMA STRATCOM Academic Alliance Speaker Series. Dr. Péczeli first stated that the main role of the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) is for […]
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