Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Futures Study with an Assessment of Syrian Refugee Camp Radicalization Dynamics

March 2020 No Comments

Authors: Howard Lee (US Army TRADOC G-2 Modeling and Simulation Directorate); Dr. Jumanne Donahue (US Army TRADOC G-2 Modeling and Simulation Directorate); Nathan ‘Luke’ Roth (US Army TRADOC G-2 Modeling and Simulation Directorate); and Dr. David Hunter-Chester (US Army TRADOC G-2 Modeling and Simulation Directorate) This publication was released as part of the SMA project, “CENTCOM Regional […]

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Regime Collapse in Syria: Expectations and Implications

February 2020 No Comments

Authors: Ali Jafri (NSI, Inc.); and Alex Goncharova (NSI, Inc.) This publication was released as part of the SMA project, “CENTCOM Regional and Population Dynamics in the Central Region.”  For more information regarding this project, please click here. NSI Reachback Report Preview At present, collapse of the Assad regime in Syria is generally considered to be a remote […]

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FMSO Review of Selected Operational Environment Watch (OE Watch) Articles

August 2019 No Comments

“FMSO Review of Selected Operational Environment Watch (OE Watch) Articles” Speaker: Bartles, C. (Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO)); Finch, C. (FMSO); Kaya, K. (FMSO); Wilhelm, T. (FMSO) Date: 27 August 2019 Speaker Session Preview A summary of this speaker session will not be provided, as per the speakers’ request. Speaker Session Audio File This speaker session was not recorded, as per the speakers’ request. Download the Speakers’ […]

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Interrogating Tensions in the Persian Gulf: Iran, the US and the GCC

July 2019 No Comments

“Interrogating Tensions in the Persian Gulf: Iran, the US and the GCC“ Speaker: Mabon, S. (University of Leicester) Date: 9 July 2019 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Simon Mabon (Lancaster University) as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. During this presentation, Dr. Mabon discussed the complexity of the broader competition in the Persian Gulf, posed a […]

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Out of the Desert: ISIS’s Strategy for a Long War

October 2018 No Comments

“Out of the Desert: ISIS’s Strategy for a Long War” Speaker: Hassan, H. (The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy) Date: 2 October 2018 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Mr. Hassan Hassan (The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy) as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. During his […]

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Post-War Economic Development in Iraq & Syria

April 2018 No Comments

Question (R6.5): After a long period of war, both Iraq and Syria are devastated and considerable rebuilding efforts will be necessary to make these countries economically sound again. Is there an opportunity to entice regional countries to invest and thus improve stability and inter-state relations in the region and decrease their (economical) dependence on western […]

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Counter Extremism in Sunni Communities

March 2018 No Comments

Question (V2): What are the key factors that would impact the wave of violent extremism and ideological radicalism that affect the Sunni community? Author | Editor: Canna, S. (NSI, Inc). Executive Summary The Sunni community is not homogenous, and contributors expressed their discomfort making broad generalizations for a number of reasons. Most Sunni Arabs still […]

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Counter-Messaging to Prevent Radicalization

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Question (R6.4): Knowing that religion is only one (and not the most important) stimulus for disgruntled Islamic youth to join VEOs, what could/should be the domestic messaging to youth to prevent their “radicalization” and joining the VEOs? To what extent could a continued presence of Western military in the Middle East (even only as instructors/trainers) […]

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Denying the Seeds of Future Conflict

March 2018 No Comments

Question (R6.1): What conditions (demographic, political, etc.) should exist on the ground in the Middle Euphrates River Valley and the tri border (Syria/Jordan/Iraq) region to deny the seeds of future conflict from being planted – particularly taking into account the assumed intention of Iranian proxy forces to establish a Shia “land bridge?” Which of these […]

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Risks of Security Outpacing Diplomacy in Syria & Iraq

October 2017 No Comments

Question (R5.2): What are the risks associated with the security situation in Syria/Iraq outpacing diplomatic progress and policy in the region? What should be done about it? Author | Editor: S. Canna (NSI, Inc,). Executive Summary Our experts noted that we cannot say with certainty what the future security environment will look like in the […]

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