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Sunday November 8, 2009

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SPOTLIGHT: Counternarcotics Policy


Reuters/Tomas Bravo - Packages of money seized during an operation are shown to the media at a military zone on the outskirts of Monterrey, Mexico.

Save to My Portfolio Transnational Drug Enterprises: Threats to Global Stability and U.S. National Security

Vanda Felbab-Brown, October 01, 2009

In testimony before the House Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Vanda-Felbab Brown discussed illicit economies, organized crime, and their impact on U.S. and global security. Felbab-Brown concluded by offering recommendations for counternarcotics strategies as well as other measures local and foreign governments can take to address the issues. Read More

Counternarcotics Policy, National Security, Colombia, Mexico, Transnational Security Threats

SPOTLIGHT: Defense Strategy


Reuters/Jason Reed - An array of solar panels point to the Nevada sky as they generate electricity for use on Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

Save to My Portfolio Fueling the "Balance": A Defense Energy Strategy Primer

Jerry Warner and Peter W. Singer, August 25, 2009

The U.S. Department of Defense is the world’s single largest consumer of energy, using more resources than 100 nations. Peter Singer and Jerry Warner analyze what can be done to better manage defense energy security by implementing steps to increase energy efficiency and substituting alternative forms of energy to meet the military’s fuel needs. Read More

Defense Strategy, Energy Security, Defense, Defense Budget, National Security

SPOTLIGHT: Military Technology


Reuters/Philippe Wojazer - France's President Nicolas Sarkozy (2ndR) looks at images made by a drone.

Save to My Portfolio Tactical Generals: Leaders, Technology, and the Perils

Peter W. Singer, July 07, 2009

General Charles Krulak coined the term “strategic corporal” (a junior member trained to make time-critical decisions in response to the dynamic ground fight). Peter Singer examines a similar phenomenon occurring among senior officers, observing that modern technology allows generals to personally engage on the tactical level from remote locations. Read More

Military Technology, U.S. Military, Defense Strategy, Defense, Technology

SPOTLIGHT: Defense


Reuters/Yuriko Nakao - A U.S. Air Force F-22 fighter jet flies over Kadena U.S. Air Force Base on Okinawa.

Save to My Portfolio Our Dangerous Defense Policy Addiction

Peter W. Singer, June 30, 2009

Peter Singer writes that the United States is a nation of thinking big, but he cautions against continuing to translate this interest to national security and defense policy. Singer believes the Pentagon should encourage more competition to create leaner, cheaper and less time-draining weapons systems and vehicles. Read More

Defense, U.S. Department of Defense, Military Technology, Defense Budget

past event


Paul Morigi - Admiral Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks at Brookings.

Save to My Portfolio The Future of Global Engagement: A Discussion with Adm. Michael G. Mullen

Monday, May 18, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Washington, DC

On May 18, the 21st Century Defense Initiative at Brookings hosted Admiral Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Mullen discussed the nature of global military engagements over the next decade and how our national security institutions should assess the future spectrum of threats in order to properly organize, resource and respond. Read More

U.S. Military, National Security, Defense Strategy, National Security Council, Defense

SPOTLIGHT: U.S. Military


Reuters/Goran Tomasevic - U.S. Marines search Afghans for weapons during a patrol in Golestan district of Farah province.

Save to My Portfolio Assessing Counterinsurgency and Stabilization Missions

Jason H. Campbell, Michael E. O'Hanlon and Jeremy Shapiro, May 04, 2009

In conventional warfare, identifying the momentum of battle is a fairly straightforward undertaking, but counterinsurgency and stabilization operations are different, and more complex. Jason Campbell, Michael O'Hanlon and Jeremy Shapiro examine a range of indicators in both Afghanistan and Iraq to reach policy conclusions for current and future counterinsurgency operations. Foreign Policy Paper Series

U.S. Military, Defense Strategy, Afghanistan, Iraq, Transnational Security Threats

About Us

The 21st Century Defense Initiative produces cutting-edge research, analysis, and outreach that address some of the most critical issues facing leaders shaping defense policy in the coming century. The initiative focuses on three core issues: the future of war, the future of U.S. defense needs and priorities, and the future of the U.S. defense system

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TopicEducation

The economic and political well-being of any society requires a well-educated citizenry. Brookings’s work extends beyond the K-12 bookends to include pre-school interventions, higher education and the challenges of education in developing countries.

ExpertTed Gayer

Ted Gayer is the co-director of the Economic Studies program and the Joseph A. Pechman Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He conducts research on a variety of economic issues, focusing particularly on public finance, environmental and energy economics, housing, and regulatory policy.

TopicHealth Care

Brookings is committed to producing innovative policy solutions to our nation’s most difficult challenges. The country may face no more important domestic policy challenge than the much-needed reform of our health care system. Through an institution-wide effort, Brookings delivers new ideas and offers policy solutions to improve health care both at home and globally.

Policy CenterCenter on Children and Families

The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America's children and their parents and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States.

ExpertVanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is an adjunct professor in the Security Studies Program at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

ExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers.

ExpertIsabel V. Sawhill

A nationally known budget expert, Isabel Sawhill focuses on domestic poverty and federal fiscal policy. She is also co-director of the Center on Children and Families at Brookings.

ExpertAmy Liu

Amy Liu is deputy director of the Brookings Metropolitan Policy Program. Her policy studies include economic competitiveness, metropolitan growth and development, governance reforms, urban reinvestment, and social equity.

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ExpertDomenico Lombardi

As president of the Oxford Institute for Economic Policy, Domenico Lombardi’s work at Brookings focuses on the international financial crisis and the reform of the IMF and the World Bank. He is an expert on G-20 and G8 Summits.

ExpertFederiga Bindi

Federiga Bindi is a leading expert on European political integration. She has a broad experience in government and held a number of posts in international organizations. Bindi currently serves as an advisor to the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Her research focuses on the EU, transatlantic relations; EU states foreign policies, global governance issues.

ExpertMark McClellan

Mark McClellan works on promoting high-quality, innovative and affordable health care. Once commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Dr. McClellan now directs the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform.

Research ProjectBrookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement

The Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement monitors displacement problems worldwide, works with governments, regional bodies, international organizations and civil society to create more effective policies and institutional arrangements for Internally Displaed Persons.

ExpertRichard Joseph

Richard Joseph is John Evans Professor of International History and Politics at Northwestern University. Former fellow of The Carter Center, Atlanta, he focuses on African governance, political economy, and democratization.