UPCOMING EVENT
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
The winner of this year’s presidential election will be faced with crafting a foreign policy strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, two countries beset by development, governance, and security challenges as well as a tense relationship with each other. The increasing political influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the continued existence of al-Qaeda sanctuaries in volatile border areas, and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities pose an international security threat that extends beyond south Asia. On February 15, the Campaign 2012 project at Brookings will hold a public discussion on Afghanistan and Pakistan, the second in a series of forums that will identify and address the 12 most critical issues facing the next president. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, January 26, 2012
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Washington, DC
On January 26 the Brookings Institution and the Defense Education Forum of the Reserve Officers Association (ROA), hosted a discussion on the future of the U.S. national security industrial base in the context of changing American defense strategy, declining budgets and a transforming international security environment. The event featured a keynote address by Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Tex.), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, January 05, 2012, The Washington Post
Michael O’Hanlon assesses Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s new strategic guidance, unveiled January 5, 2012, which will scale back the Department of Defense’s previous two-war capabilities. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, December 19, 2011, Defense News
In the current period of austerity, Michael O'Hanlon argues for a new framework in war planning that can save money and also better prepare the military for the conflicts of today. Although the United States military has assumed the need to man for a "two simultaneous major war" scenario since the Cold War, O'Hanlon believes that a "1+2" strategy – where the U.S. may be involved in one major war and two smaller contingencies at the same time – has more benefit. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
William Y. Brown, December 12, 2011, The Brookings Institution
William Y. Brown examines the role of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in multilateral peace-keeping initiatives, arguing that UNESCO encourages discussions on unifying issues of science, education and culture, an important aspect of long-term security. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Peter W. Singer, December 08, 2011, Around the World
In an interview on Around the World with Christiane Amanpour, Peter Singer discusses the increase of unmanned military systems and the future of drone warfare for the United States. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, November 14, 2011, The New York Times
With the Pentagon directed to save at least $450 billion over the next 10 years, much attention is focused on reducing U.S. commitments overseas. Michael O'Hanlon, author of the new book, The Wounded Giant: America’s Armed Forces in an Age of Austerity, offers ideas for the Navy to be more efficient by changing how ships are rotated, manned and used abroad. Read More
VIDEO
Michael E. O'Hanlon, November 11, 2011
President Obama is withdrawing American troops from Iraq--though, as Michael O'Hanlon explains, a continued U.S. presence as advisors to Iraq on building a democracy would have been preferable.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, November 07, 2011, CNN.com
In considering defense strategy and budget cuts, Michael O'Hanlon writes that the Department of Defense should revisit basing arrangements of nearly 20,000 U.S. Marines in Okinawa, Japan. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, October 26, 2011, POLITICO
Michael O'Hanlon assesses President Barack Obama's successes and failures to date on hard power issues, including military operations, the war on terror and national security activities. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, October 17, 2011, The Daily Beast
Michael O’Hanlon explains why Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's two-war paradigm, which aims to reduce defense spending by $400 billion over 10 years, should be reconsidered. O'Hanlon argues for selective cutbacks in capabilities no longer needed and a more realistic and flexible kind of force planning for the future. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Richard C. Bush III, October 11, 2011, China Times
Richard Bush examines the Department of Defense’s annual report on China’s military power, focusing on the analysis of Taiwan's security. Bush argues that the report makes clear that China's military modernization is continuing, Taiwan is becoming more vulnerable to PRC coercion, and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan remain justified. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert M. Chesney, October 04, 2011, Lawfare
Robert Chesney discusses the legality of the recent drone strike that killed Anwar al-Awlaki, a jihadist with U.S. citizenship, examining under which circumstances the Fifth Amendment may allow the U.S. government to target a citizen. Read More
VIDEO
Peter W. Singer, September 30, 2011
Peter Singer urges lawmakers to balance cuts in domestic discretionary and defense spending carefully. According to Singer, too often focuse falls on specific weapons programs, not the support needed to maintain weapons.
PAST EVENT
Thursday, September 15, 2011
3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Washington, DC
Create in 2004 to improve the EU’s defense capabilities, the European Defence Agency (EDA) faces a number of challenges, including reluctance on the part of member states to pool their resources. On September 15, the Center on the United States and Europe and the Heinrich Böll Foundation of North America hosted Ms. Claude-France Arnould, chief executive of the EDA, for a discussion of the agency’s achievements, challenges and plans for the future. Read More