To counter increasingly recognized threats, we should return to President Ronald Reagan’s vision in his March 23, 1983 speech that launched the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI). The “powers that be” should revive technology programs aimed at developing space-based defenses, the most cost-effective way to defend against a full gamut of ballistic missile threats, including those that pose an existential electromagnetic pulse (EMP) threat. Read Full Story
“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.” … Thomas Jefferson Read Full Story
The March 14th South Carolina National Security Summit will focus on what local and state authorities, first responders and citizens can do to help defeat four existential threats the Federal authorities are failing to counter effectively: Immigration, Global jihad, Natural and manmade threats to our electric grid and The hollowing out of our national defense. Y’all come! Read Full Story
In seeking to protect Israel from an existential Iranian threat, Prime Minister Netanyahu confronts problematic facts and key uncertainties. It will be interesting to hear how he deals with them in today’s address to Congress and all Americans—who also face an existential threat from Iran, whether they know it or not. Read Full Story
If the electric power grid fails for an extended period because of a natural or manmade electromagnetic pulse (EMP)—or from other threats such as physical or cyber attacks, the nation’s nuclear power plants are both: 1) A serious additional hazard to all Americans if not protected—and alternatively, 2) If they are protected, an important aid for recovering the electric grid. Read Full Story
“Regardless of intelligence uncertainties and unknowns about Iran’s nuclear weapons and missile programs, we know enough now to make a prudent judgment that Iran should be regarded by national security decision makers as a nuclear missile state capable of posing an existential threat to the United States and its allies.” ~ “Experts: Iran Now a Nuclear-Ready State, Missiles Capable of Hitting US,” William R. Graham et al, Newsmax, February 1, 2015 Read Full Story
“[W]hat’s missing here in Washington is a sense of perspective. Yes, there’s a lot going on. Still, while the dangers we face may be more numerous and varied, they are not of the existential nature we confronted during World War II or the Cold War.” ~ Ambassador Susan Rice, National Security Advisor Read Full Story
“If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” ~ Albert Einstein Read Full Story
“The [new] missile and the launch pad indicate that Iran’s ballistic missile program, which is an integral part of its nuclear weapons program, is moving forward at full throttle. The expanded range of Iran’s ballistic missile program as indicated by the satellite imagery makes clear that its nuclear weapons program is not merely a threat to Israel, or to Israel and Europe. It is a direct threat to the United States as well.“ ~ Caroline Glick, The Jerusalem Post, January 22, 2015 Read Full Story
“America, for all that we’ve endured; for all the grit and hard work required to come back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this: The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong. ~ President Barak Obama, January 20, 2015 Read Full Story
We will be adding key policy briefs as we progress.