US Action and Inaction in Lebanon: Charting the Best Course for US Interests in Great Power Competition

February 2020 No Comments

Authors: Dr. Sabrina Polansky (Pagano) (NSI, Inc.); and Weston Aviles, W. (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. Report Abstract Despite significant challenges to its stability, Lebanon has long survived politically and economically. Nonetheless, poor governance and a severe economic […]

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Central Region Instability Dynamics

February 2020 No Comments

Authors: Lt. Gen (Ret) Robert Elder (George Mason University); and Dr. Alexander Lewis (George Mason University) 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. Report Abstract With support from GTRI, GMU worked with Strategic Multilayer Assessment (SMA) Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to […]

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Hybrid War, the Gray Zone, and the Failure of American Strategic Thinking

January 2020 No Comments

“Hybrid War, the Gray Zone, and the Failure of American Strategic Thinking” Speakers: Stoker, D. (Atlas Organization); Whiteside, C. (Naval Postgraduate School) Date: 24 January 2020 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Donald Stoker (Atlas Organization) and Dr. Craig Whiteside (Naval Postgraduate School) as a part of its SMA General Speaker Series. During their brief, Dr. Stoker and Dr. Whiteside argued that US strategists and […]

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Maximum Pressure on Iran: Where Do We Go From Here

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“Maximum Pressure on Iran: Where Do We Go From Here” Speaker: Nephew, R. (Columbia University) Date: 31 January 2020 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Mr. Richard Nephew (Columbia University) as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. Mr. Nephew first suggested that the series of tit for tat events between the US and Iran that occurred after […]

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US-Iranian Strategic Competition Post-Soleimani: Buffers and Drivers of Escalation

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“US-Iranian Strategic Competition Post-Soleimani: Buffers and Drivers of Escalation” Speaker: Ben Taleblu, B. (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) Date: 28 January 2020 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Mr. Behnam Ben Taleblu (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. Mr. Ben Taleblu began his presentation by stating that those who saw a vector […]

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Hypersonic Weapons and Strategic Stability

January 2020 No Comments

“Hypersonic Weapons and Strategic Stability” Speaker: Wilkening, D. (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Date: 15 January 2020 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Dean Wilkening (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory) as a part of its SMA STRATCOM Academic Alliance Speaker Series. During his brief, Dr. Wilkening spoke about hypersonic weapons, crisis instability, and arms race instability. He began […]

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Iraqi Stability and the Impacts of Recent US-Iranian Tensions

January 2020 No Comments

“Iraqi Stability and the Impacts of Recent US-Iranian Tensions“ Speaker: van den Toorn (Iraq Fund for Higher Education (IFHE)) Date: 14 January 2020 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Ms. Christine van den Toorn (Iraq Fund for Higher Education (IFHE)) as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. Ms. van den Toorn’s presentation focused on Iraqi stability and […]

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SMA Invited Perspectives Series: SOF Paradigm in Great Power Competition

November 2019 No Comments

SOF Paradigm in Great Power Competition Authors | Editors: DeRosa, J. (Special Operations Command – Europe); Doherty, T. (USASOC); Elwell, J. (Special Forces, USASOC); Fiala, O. (Special Operations Command – Europe); Maloney, M. (USASOC); McBride, R. (USASOC); Meredith, S. (National Defense University); Spitaletta, J. (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory); Uherka, J. (USASOC); Walton, D. (National Defense University); Worrall, G. (Special Operations […]

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SMA Invited Perspectives Series: The American Psyche in a Newly Competitive Era- Some Initial Reflections

October 2019 No Comments

SMA Invited Perspectives Series: The American Psyche in a Newly Competitive Era- Some Initial Reflections Authors | Editors: Wyne, A. (RAND); Canna, S. (NSI, Inc.) Executive Summary In this invited perspectives paper, Mr. Wyne cautions that the construct of “great-power competition” should not substitute for a coherent national strategy oriented toward desired steady states, and that an […]

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Why America Loses Wars: Limited War and American Strategy From Korea to the Present

October 2019 No Comments

“Why America Loses Wars: Limited War and American Strategy From Korea to the Present” Speaker: Stoker, D. (Atlas Organization) Date: 22 October 2019 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Donald Stoker (Atlas Organization) as a part of its SMA General Speaker Series. Dr. Stoker’s presentation focused on his book, entitled Why America Loses […]

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