This monograph examines the Arab Spring in light of the past half century of efforts in transnational Arab identity formation and thus considers its links to Arab Nationalism and Pan-Islamism. Then, with a focus on Syria and the sectarian nature of...
In 742, a predominantly Turko-Mongolian steppe nomadic tribe known today as the Uyghurs migrated eastward from eastern Turkey towards the oases of modern-day Xinjiang province of China; they have remained there for the last 1,268 years. Throughout...
Pilot retention is decreasing to historically low levels, due in part to the inability of the current USAF personnel system to satisfy demands for job security, assignment selection, and self-esteem. The 'dual-track' system by which several Air...
The United States Marine Corps developed Operational Maneuver from the Sea in the 1980s and codified it as a Marine Corps concept in 1996. In brief, Operational Maneuver from the Sea seeks to exploit the sea as maneuver space to defeat access...
The National Security Strategy of the United States of America of September 2002 (NSS) aims “to help make the world not just safer but better.” In order to achieve this ambitious challenge, The NSS defines the following goals on the path to...
This paper argues that the rise of India will have a positive effect on nearby Nepal, allowing Kathmandu to foster a more prosperous and democratic state. India, the second most populous country in the world, is rapidly advancing as a regional and...
In the past three decades, one country has stood out more than any other in opposing the United States' efforts in the Middle East: Iran. To counter Iranian influences in the Middle East, the United States has adopted a stance of containment...
The topic of civil-military relations during the Mexican War resurfaces as an interesting historical study in the aftermath of President Obama's recent decision to relieve General McChrystal of command in Afghanistan. This review of U.S....
The Maoist Insurgency in Nepal broke out when the international situation was unfavorable for the Communists, and it grew faster than anticipated. The Government of Nepal’s (GoN's) effort was not well planned; however, many of the...
China is in the middle of a comprehensive economic, political and military transformation process, and the economic interdependencies between China and the United States are significant. The purpose of this thesis is to evaluate the US contemporary...
With Russia’s inability to improve conditions in Chechnya and the international community’s failed attempts to negotiate a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, Islamic extremism in Chechnya is growing precipitously and risks spilling over...
Careerism is a poison which chronically impairs accomplishment of the United States Air Force mission by impairing full actualization of the potential within our human resources. Specifically, careerism is defined in the Encarta Dictionary as, "the...
The United States has significantly increased the deployment of missile defense systems, specifically Patriot and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (Aegis-BMD), to the Persian Gulf over the past six years. The increase from no missile defense assets...
The Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire was a classic example of a successful insurgency. Though it occurred 2,000 years ago, it contains many elements of modern leftist insurgencies. The conflict demonstrates that the nature of...
This monograph examines the tension between the science of increased technological control and the art of the demands of command and leadership on the modern battlefield. Specifically, it analyzes the potential for battalion commanders to exercise...
From 1990 to 2010, China's military experienced a massive modernization effort. U.S. efforts to determine the scale and scope of this effort were incorrect. In the case of the People's Liberation Army Air Forces (PLAAF), advanced technology and a...
A historical case study concerning the Israeli Army's response to the Palestinian "Intifada" or uprising in the late 1980's and early 1990's provides instructive planning considerations for likely future application of U.S. military force in an...
Many soldiers feel that their fringe benefits are being gradually but steadily worn away. The benefits themselves exert a significant influence on an individual's decision to make the Army a career. This study, aimed at Regular Army officer...
The Indian Army's decisive victory in East Pakistan in 1971 is a widely acknowledged as a sterling example of operational excellence. The Bangladesh campaign, as it is commonly known, is often compared with the German blitzkrieg campaign in World...
Turkish Culture had a profound influence on the conduct of its counter-insurgency campaign against the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK). The independent variables shaping Turkey’s response to the insurgency were a unique brand of nationalism,...