“The best laid schemes of mice and men go often awry, and leave us nothing but grief and pain for promised joy!” ~ Robert Burns, 1785. Those words aptly describe the misplaced confidence the Obama administration placed in its touted “reset with Russia,” “strategic patience” and “leading from behind” strategies on a number of fronts, especially in the Middle East — and lay challenges for new “resets” to replace them. Read Full Story
While the international community seems singularly focused on unrealistic diplomatic initiatives to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons, other threats and associated dangers continue. Forgotten is the President’s promised retribution for Assad’s crossing a “red line” by using these weapons while an international gabfest proceeds and Russia’s influence grows. Promises of success in the Syrian enterprise are much overstated and related dangers are being understated. And more Middle East problems may be coming, especially concerning Iran. Read Full Story
In the wake of the President’s exchanges at the G20, an off-hand comment by Secretary of State John Kerry in London and a Russian initiative, we have kicked the can on whether to attack Syria in response to Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons (this time) and have embarked on a diplomatic course apparently led by Russia. The President’s speech offered little clarity and the administration’s muddled policies continue to unfold, now in a more dangerous world than before. Read Full Story
Remember the fable about the frog that gave a scorpion a ride across the river assuming he would be safe because if the scorpion stung him they would both die? But the scorpion stung him anyway, because that was “in his nature.” There’s a bit of an analogy to the dangers of dealing with most of the states of the Middle East. Read Full Story
For years, I misquoted Churchill as saying “Consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds” . . . He may have, but if he did he surely would have credited Ralph Waldo Emerson who wrote a century earlier, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen, philosophers and divines” apparently to argue against too much consistency and for new thinking and self-reliance. Whatever . . . recent U.S. policies will never be criticized for being too consistent—except in their inconsistency. Read Full Story
On the 24th anniversary of Tiananmen Square and the eve of President Obama’s meeting with China’s President Xi Jiaping, it is important that the “powers that be” realize that military-to-military exchanges with China are no substitute for underwriting a needed “Peace through Strength” policy in Northeast Asia with serious defense programs second to none. Read Full Story
Supporters have urged High Frontier to publish a summary report of its important messages during the past six months. This message is, in effect, a first draft framework—a collection several previous messages on the existential threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack and what we might do to counter it. We have provided a printed version to friends for whom we have no email address—hopefully they will also join our social media family to get our more frequent emails. This version, provided to those for whom we do have email addresses is preferable to the written version because it provides links to referenced reports and papers—to support additional study. All criticisms are welcome! Read Full Story
The U.S. should join Israel to demand that Iran not cross a critical “Red Line” in achieving nuclear weapons—especially those that can be launched on ballistic missiles to threaten America with an existential electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack. Both the U.S. and Iran must be prepared to back up such a declaratory policy. Read Full Story
We will be adding key policy briefs as we progress.