Dive into the archives.
- Germany ‘NSA” Update
A few days ago, I alerted readers to another proposed security reform in Germany which would centralize Germany’s signals intelligence gathering. While I still have found little in the press in English or German, this longer Spiegel article outlines the concerns it has raised and the mood in Germany a bit more.
Germany Plans to Centralize [...]
- A German NSA
Not long after proposing a comprehensive reform of Germany’s security policy, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Germany is pushing for yet another security reform, combining Germany’s intelligence agencies under one roof. At the moment, German runs the following intelligence agencies:
- Federal Intelligence Service (BND or Bundesnachrichtendienst)
Military Security Service (MAD or Militärischer Abschirmdienst)
Federal Office for [...]
- Use Connectivity to Win Abkhazia
The WSJ has an op-ed on the recent Abkhaz-Georgian-Russian tensions which for anyone following it, offers mainly a summary of the situation up until now recounting especially Georgian mistakes while spending little time on Russia. In fact, it fails to clearly define Russia’s role. While most articles continue to refer to Russian “peacekeepers” it seems [...]
- Canada stirring it up in Japan
Remember that confusing security debate happening in Japan?
Well, things are looking to get a little more complicated as more international voices join in. Next week eleven envoys will be speaking up to Japanese lawmakers in support of the refueling mission. So far only three countries — United States, Britain, Pakistan — have been named, but [...]
- Naxalite rage
Our pal Schloky has fired up his new site naxaliterage.com and I just wanted to give him a shoutout.
Shlok Vaidya was in India this summer investigating the vulnerability of the Indian railway system. His interest lies in the Naxalite insurgency, systempunkts and the effects on the global economy. Naxalite Rage is his new blog to [...]
- Maturing Japanese foriegn policy analysis
It is interesting how soon nuance enters the analysis of IR theorists. After the cold war many analysts had dire outlooks on Asia. Predictions of Japanese rearmament and war were abound with such book and article titles as The Coming War with Japan and The Coming Confrontation between China and Japan. Yet nearly two [...]
- Confused yet?
The current state of the national security debate in Japan:
Government: Japan must be a part of the War on Terror! We must extend our refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. Remember ‘911?
Opposition: No! We are American lapdogs! The mission is a violation of the pacifist constitution. Troops home now (erm… after Nov 1)!
Gov: No! Let’s [...]
- SLOC defense ideas
In the era of globalization more products and resources are being transported by ships than ever — much depends on open sea lanes. Securing SLOCs has been a centuries old problem, but new technology can help tame the outlaw sea.
Admiral Harry Ulrich, commander of US/NATO Naval Forces Europe, wants to bring the pervasiveness of air [...]
- Decentralized Security in Phili
Those of you familiar with John Robb and his book Brave New War will find this an interesting development.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The city’s embattled police chief, acknowledging that police alone cannot quell a run of deadly violence, has called on 10,000 black men to patrol the streets to reduce crime. Sylvester Johnson, who is black, [...]
- Malacca Strait pwn3d
An editorial in the Jakarta Post lambasts the Indonesian government over its obstinate policies for protecting the Malacca Strait.
While we fully support the sovereignty of the three countries [Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore], we also want to remind them that all stakeholders in the strait have the right to play a role in ensuring the safety [...]
