Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, regional powers such as Israel and Turkey have done what they can to avoid being pulled into an impossible situation. However, much has changed recently after Turkey invaded northern Syria to prevent Kurdish forces there from gaining strength. Israel, meanwhile, has done very little beyond targeting the […]
Perspective411
Congressional Underachievers Should Lose their Jobs
If you do not meet company goals in your annual job evaluation, you will not get that expected pay raise. Similarly, if you are a service member, you also have to meet certain standards in either a Non-Commissioned Officer Evaluation Report (NCOER) or an Officer Evaluation Report (OER). In both cases, exceeding standard performance is […]
Government Shutdown Threat Looms Over DOD Budget
In Congress, one member can keep any piece of legislation from being voted on or even force a federal government shutdown. In October 2013, for example, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) led the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party to force a partial government shutdown for more than two weeks over ending funding for the […]
Turkey Taking Unilateral Action in Syria
After years of threats to use military force in Syria, Turkey has finally followed through. In Homeland Security recently reported on the Turkish invasion of Syria’s Afrin enclave in the northwest part of the country. While the fighting itself is important to follow, it’s also important to understand why Turkey is there and why Ankara […]
Hobbesian Philosophy Shapes National Security Strategy
The new National Security Strategy (NSS), unveiled by the White House in December 2017, is based on the acceptance of a global dynamic defined by competition. This NSS reflects the approach of English political philosopher Thomas Hobbes—intentional or not—who viewed the sacrifice of individual liberty as an acceptable trade off for increased security and the […]