by Travis Sharp and John Isaacs SUMMARY Facing both a full workload before leaving town for the campaign trail and ongoing member objections to earmarks, Congress decided to skip the normal conference procedure for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Defense Authorization bill (S.3001). Working together, the House and Senate produced a joint bill that now must […]
Not Another (Cold) War: The Importance of Maintaining Positive Engagement with Russia
by John Isaacs The conflict between Russia and Georgia has brought the diplomatic and political relationship between the United States and Russia to a standstill. The Bush Administration has chosen a foreign policy stance that unconditionally supports Georgia while simultaneously condemning Russia. This policy approach has been described as adhering to a long-standing U.S. policy […]
Amidst Major Buildup, Iraq Now Seeks 36 F-16 Fighter Jets
by Travis Sharp In early September, several news outlets reported that Iraq is interested in buying 36 F-16 fighter jets from the United States. This proposed sale is the latest development in an intense push by the United States and Iraq to transform the Iraqi military into a legitimate fighting force. Recent weapons acquisition proposals […]
United States and Russia: Georgia on My Mind
by Robert G. Gard and John Isaacs Executive Summary The first rule of physicians is “Do No Harm.” The first rule of a nation’s reprisals should be “Do No Harm to Yourself.” Yet in the wake of the conflict between Russia and Georgia, both the United States and Russia are considering reckless steps aimed at the […]
Russia Looms over U.S.-Poland Missile Defense Agreement
by Kingston Reif After more than 18 months of hesitation, the United States and Poland on August 20 suddenly signed an agreement to place American missile defense interceptors on Polish territory. According to the Associated Press, parliamentary and presidential approval also appears likely, though no date has been given for when this might occur. AFTER […]
