Tag: Solomon Islands

Stevenson’s army, April 27

– UK says Ukraine controls most of its airspace.

– Russia halts gas shipments to Bulgaria & Poland.

– WaPo has background on Moldova .

US warns Solomon Islands about China pact.

– UN modified rules on Security Council vetoes.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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Stevenson’s army, April 21

Putin claims victory in Mariupol.

Taiwan TV apologizes for false attack report.

– NYT analyzes Solomon Islands pact with China.

– Analysts warn of long Ukraine war.

– Foreign Affairs article describes new warfare in Africa.

– House will vote next week on Senate-passed bill labeled “Lend-Lease.” In fact, it merely waives some sections of existing arms sales laws.

Dan Drezner joins crowd drawing on Thucydides, but adds this less-often-quoted section on what happens during war: Words had to change their ordinary meaning and to take that which was now given them. Reckless audacity came to be considered the courage of a loyal ally; prudent hesitation, specious cowardice; moderation was held to be a cloak for unmanliness; ability to see all sides of a question, inaptness to act on any. Frantic violence became the attribute of manliness; cautious plotting, a justifiable means of self-defense….. The fair proposals of an adversary were met with jealous precautions by the stronger of the two, and not with a generous confidence. Revenge also was held of more account than self-preservation.

Charlie added this later in the day:

Prof. Cohen has a new article in Foreign Affairs urging less concern about grand strategy and more about statecraft, how we do what we want. I couldn’t help thinking about our course when he writes:

More than one might think, sound foreign-policy making rests on the basics of bureaucratic behavior: clear and concise memorandums, crisply run meetings, well-disseminated conclusions, succinct and unambiguous guidance from above. Good process does not guarantee good policy, but it increases the odds of it. With that in mind, the U.S. government should pay renewed attention to the training and career management of security professionals.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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Stevenson’s army, April 20

– WaPo has updated list of weapons headed for Ukraine.

– NYT story on same topic notes US isn’t giving longer range weapons that can hit inside Russia.

– US says no more ASAT tests. Politico has more.

– DIA releases report on “Challenges to Security in Space”

– CRS issues new report on Russian nukes.

– Just before US officials arrive, Solomon Islands sign pact with China.

– WSJ tells how US-Saudi relations have fractured.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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Stevenson’s army, April 1

The big news of the day:

– NYT notes that Russia lacks a field commander for Ukraine; story has interesting tidbits about Ukraine military culture.

Macron has fired his chief of military intelligence.

– NYT has background on Wagner mercenaries.

– Here’s text of British intelligence chief’s speech on Ukraine.

– DOD says aid to Ukraine is massive and speedy.

– Solomons PM says China won’t get military base.

Think about this: WOTR piece says maybe Putin didn’t plan war, just coercive diplomacy, until last minute. Another WOTR piece notes differences between defense experts and general public on security needs.

My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).

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