- The Strategist - https://www.aspistrategist.org.au -
ASPI suggests
Posted By The Editors on September 6, 2013 @ 14:30
The big story this week is still Syria, and expectation has reached a fevered pitch. The Economist writes that
…The congressional votes and the action to follow [will be] one of those episodes that will define America’s—and the West’s—place in the world. It will signal what is left after the hubris of Iraq and unfathomable complexities of Afghanistan. Amid challenges from Russia and Iran and the growing weight of China, both as an economic power and a champion of authoritarian purpose (as opposed to democratic indecision), it is also a measure of the West’s self-belief. The world is watching.
For better or worse, Mr Obama drew such a red line over Syria… The governments of Japan, Israel and Poland – to name just a few – will all feel less secure if Congress votes against military action in Syria.
Al-Qaeda’s leadership has assigned cells of engineers to find ways to shoot down, jam or remotely hijack U.S. drones, hoping to exploit the technological vulnerabilities of a weapons system that has inflicted huge losses upon the terrorist network, according to top-secret U.S. intelligence documents.
If this was to cost twice the number we have before us, be delivered in twice the time estimated and with only 75% of the capability, would we still think it’s a good idea?
The current nuclear security system is a patchwork of mostly voluntary requirements that allows states to opaquely pick and choose among them. It includes no requirement that the international community be informed of the adequacy or comprehensiveness of a nation’s nuclear security system. A framework agreement on nuclear security can provide a durable forum for regular high-level meetings on this vital subject after the NSS process has ended.
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[1] Image: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/p081513al-0010.jpg
[2] writes that: http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21584976-when-congress-votes-syria-it-will-be-defining-americas-place-world-fight-war-not
[3] this piece on Obama’s dilemmas in Syria: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/09/04/obama_can_t_win_syria
[4] writes: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/fdbfa06c-13ba-11e3-9289-00144feabdc0.html?siteedition=intl&siteedition=intl#axzz2deYm1eH3
[5] analysis: http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/will-syria-kill-the-asia-rebalance-8995?page=1
[6] who makes up the Syrian Opposition: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324463604579044642794711158.html?mod=hp_opinion
[7] here’s a map: https://www.iiss.org/en/militarybalanceblog/blogsections/2013-1ec0/august-8942/military-assets-in-region-a4d3
[8] a potential target list: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/reviewing-potential-syria-targets/2013/09/04/4fb0d694-1568-11e3-be6e-dc6ae8a5b3a8_story.html
[9] Speaking of targets: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-documents-detail-al-qaedas-efforts-to-fight-back-against-drones/2013/09/03/b83e7654-11c0-11e3-b630-36617ca6640f_story.html?hpid=z1
[10] a scathing report: http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/public-accounts-committee/news/carrier-strike-report/
[11] looks at the issue here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23932826
[12] question posed by ASPI’s Andrew Davies: http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/pick-a-number-now-add-five-and-double-it/
[13] Bob Carr: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=wx4
[14] Mike Kelly: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=HRI
[15] Julie Bishop: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=83P
[16] David Johnston: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=00AON
[17] guest editorial for Australian Aviation magazine: http://australianaviation.com.au/2013/09/election-2013-fms-not-without-cost/
[18] culture edition: http://www.army.gov.au/Our-future/LWSC/Our-publications/~/media/Files/Our%20future/LWSC%20Publications/AAJ/2013Winter/AustralianArmyJournal_V10N3Winter.pdf
[19] photoessay of the women of the Afghanistan War: http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2013/09/the-women-of-the-afghanistan-war/100585/
[20] have been found guilty: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-05/indonesian-special-forces-soldiers-sentenced-over-prison-raid/4937926
[21] Supporters of the soldiers were angered: http://www.theage.com.au/world/fury-on-streets-as-kopassus-officers-dismissed-handed-jail-sentences-20130905-2t7yd.html
[22] useful overview of the Nuclear Security Summits: http://www.europeanleadershipnetwork.org/improving-nuclear-security-governance-through-the-nuclear-security-summits-_733.html
[23] foreign policy record of President Bartlet: http://atwatersedge.org/2013/09/03/emperor-bartlet-the-bartlet-administrations-record-on-war-and-congress/
[24] Why Israel/Palestine peace talks now?: http://billboard.anu.edu.au/event_view.asp?id=103823
[25] here: http://www.kokodafoundation.org/YSLF-Events?eventId=752230&EventViewMode=EventDetails
[26] annual Indonesia Update: https://www.aspistrategist.org.aufile://aspi-2008r2-dc/company/Groups/The%20Strategist/linkage/from%20leading%20international%20authorities%20with%20diverse%20perspectives,%20will%20examine%20Indonesia%E2%80%99s%20regional%20diversity%20and%20dynamics%20in%20the%20wake%20of%20these%20reforms.
[27] What has Australia achieved at the UN: http://www.aiia.asn.au/events/all-events/event/800-high-noon-at-the-united-nations
[28] here: http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/europecentre/the-us-the-eu-and-asian-pivots-necessary-and-useful/
[29] The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/photogallery/august-2013-photo-day