“I didn’t take this job so that we could regain parity with our adversaries. As I’ve taken to saying: ‘I want to see their hand and raise them one. I want to make them worry about catching up with us again. . . Any American, any ally or partner that we have who doesn’t see it that way, I don’t have time for you.’” Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering Mike Griffin Read Full Story
“[S]pace capabilities are critical for effective deterrence, defense, and force projection capabilities. . . Due to the critical importance of these assets, the national security strategy states, ‘any harmful interference with or attack upon critical components of our space architecture that directly affects this vital U.S. interest will be met with a deliberate response at a time, place, manner, and domain of our choosing.'” Under Secretary of Defense for Policy John Rood Read Full Story
On March 1, 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin favored us with some of his true views, consistent with his reported declaration over a decade ago, “The breakup of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical tragedy of the 20th century.” His bellicose claims of how Russia was now rectifying the failures of his predecessors remind me of Nikita Khrushchev’s 1956 claim that “Whether you like it or not, history is on our side. We will bury (or outlast) you. Hopefully, “Forewarned is forearmed!” Read Full Story
“I appreciate the urging that we not let our guard down … recognizing that this [threat] is complicated and multifaceted … truly daunting … and that we need to start out locally … It is important that we in congress be reminded of the urgency and imperative of our task and I think we were given that message this morning. ” Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK),Chairlady of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at the conclusion of the May 4, 2017 Hearing on EMP and policy options to protect the grid. Read Full Story
“We’ve been led astray by viewing space as some kind of a fuzzy panda bear thing; I think the Chinese … the Russians and others, they view space as the ultimate high ground. They are preparing for battle in space.” ~ Admiral Harry Harris, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, in February 14, 2018 testimony before the House Armed Services Committee Read Full Story
Protecting our critical civil infrastructure against EMP threats would play an important role in deterring such an attack, and the Pentagon’s failure even to mention that role in its Nuclear Posture Review illustrates a serious gap in our overall strategy and plans to protect the American People. And the problem is bigger than in the Pentagon. The President should take this issue on by an appropriate White House initiative. Read Full Story
“I firmly believe that it was the determination to embark upon that SDI program and to continue with it that eventually convinced the Soviet Union that they could never, never, never achieve their aim by military might because they would never succeed.” ~ Margaret Thatcher, August 2, 1991 at SDI’s National Test Facility in Colorado Springs, Colorado Read Full Story
Certain national infrastructures are so vital that their incapacity or destruction would have a debilitating impact on the defense or economic security of the United States. These critical infrastructures include telecommunications, electrical power systems, gas and oil storage and transportation, banking and finance, transportation, water supply systems, emergency services (including medical, police, fire, and rescue), and continuity of government. Threats to these critical infrastructures fall into two categories: physical threats to tangible property (‘‘physical threats’’), and threats of electronic, radio-frequency, or computer-based attacks on the information or communications components that control critical infrastructures (‘‘cyber threats’’). ~ Introduction to 1995 Executive Order Establishing the Critical Infrastructure Commission Read Full Story
Monday morning, High Frontier Chairman Henry Cooper provided an update to a group of South Carolina citizen’s about the work High Frontier and it’s coalition partner Foundation for Resilient Societies have been working on to acquire cost estimates for securing the electric grid in the Carolina’s. We wanted to provide you the opportunity to listen to that presentation! Read Full Story
While considering the political theater of our leaders in the Washington “swamp” deciding by week’s end on whether for the 18th time since 1976 the congress “shuts down the government,” consider implications of two more events last week: 1) President Trump again kicked the can for another 120 days on deciding to end the terrible Iran Deal; and 2) The False Alarm in Hawaii that all should contemplate. Read Full Story
We will be adding key policy briefs as we progress.