Research Analyst Shawn Rostker wrote an op-ed in RealClear Defense on the lacking utility of hypersonic missiles. The United States has been exploring research and development of hypersonic weapons technologies for decades. Historically, such funding has been relatively modest, but in recent years the Department of Defense (DoD) has grown more vocal in its desire to accelerate development and […]
The Fall of Assad: A Cautionary Tale for Kim Jong Un
By Shawn Rostker The recent fall of Syria’s Assad regime offers a stark lesson for North Korea: relying on Russia is a gamble that Pyongyang cannot afford to take lightly. Bashar al-Assad’s downfall was, in large part, the result of Moscow’s inability to provide the decisive support needed to save its partner. While the fall […]
Op-ed: China’s military mishaps don’t add up to strategic weakness
Research Analyst Shawn Rostker wrote an op-ed in Asia Times about how U.S. policymakers can use Chinese military setbacks as an opportunity for dialogue. From waterlogged missiles to a sinking submarine, recent reports about China’s military setbacks have fueled speculation about the readiness and strength of its military forces. While these developments highlight real challenges within China’s […]
Op-ed: Californians must step up pressure to ensure a full cleanup of toxic Santa Susana lab
Research Analyst Shawn Rostker wrote an op-ed in Cal Matters about toxic nuclear waste at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory. Nuclear cleanup efforts across the U.S. have revealed a grim reality: the nation’s toxic nuclear waste legacy continues to endanger communities while those responsible evade accountability. At Los Alamos in New Mexico, newly exposed plutonium contamination poses […]
Heatwaves and H-Bombs: The Nuclear Triad’s Vulnerabilities to Climate Change
By Shawn Rostker Sunday, July 21, broke the record for the hottest day recorded on Earth in modern times. The following day, that record was broken again. Extreme weather events like this are occurring more frequently and with greater intensity than during any other period of recorded human existence, and the cumulative effects of climate […]
