History Commons^™

Iran And The Myth Of Deterrence, William Wunderle, Gabriel Lajeunesse

William Wunderle

Thos who argue deterrence is the answer to a nuclear Iran miss the point -- the real issue is not whether Iran can be deterred from use or transfer of a nuclear weapon, but rather how a weapon would enable Iran to transition from its current status as a malignant spoiler to that of a true global power and threat. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-wunderle/iran-and-the-myth-of-dete_b_478576.html

Winning The Next War: Institutionalizing Lessons Learned From Today’S Regional Conflicts, William D. Wunderle

William Wunderle

In the future, the United States military is more likely to undertake missions requiring irregular warfare capabilities, as opposed to traditional large-scale ground combat operations. These conflicts do not occur in a vacuum. Complex sectarian, ethnic, and tribal affiliations cross boundaries and require consideration of regional realities that impact the conflict. A key component of military readiness will be the ability to understand the cultures of, and communicate with, people from many regions of the world. Increased language and culture training will ultimately prove to be a powerful weapon in the American military’s arsenal.

The U.S. military now understands that …

Countering Iranian Malign Influence: The Need For A Regional Response, William D. Wunderle, Gabriel C. Lajeunesse

William Wunderle

The behavior and the policies pursued by Iran’s current leadership pose profound and wide-ranging challenges to U.S. interests, the interests of its friends and allies, and the international community as a whole. Particularly concerning is Iran’s ability to foment instability through the use of terrorism. Recognizing this, the authors participated in a series of roundtables, discussions, and forums on Iranian Malign Influence. Participants included military and civilian experts from a number of Middle Eastern, European, and Central Asian countries, U.S. think tanks, and U.S. intelligence and interagency subject matter experts. This paper is a reflection of the insightful dialogue that …

Iran's Other Ticking Time Bomb, William Wunderle, Gabriel Lajeunesse

William Wunderle

With all the focus on Iran's nuclear-development program, one can forget that the Islamic Republic is also involved in a variety of subversive activities that could also plunge the states of the region into war. Iran's support of terror is not limited to Hezbollah or Hamas, but also extends to Iraq and Afghanistan, Turkey and Sudan, among other states, write these two visiting associates from Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy.

Through The Lens Of Cultural Awareness: A Primer For Us Armed Forces Deploying To Arab And Middle Eastern Countries, William Wunderle

William Wunderle

This Combat Studies Institute (CSI) Special Study is unique in that it focuses more on culture than on history. The CSI objective, however, remains unchanged—to provide manuscript length historical studies rel¬evant to the leaders of an Army at War. We are, therefore, pleased to offer Through the Lens of Cultural Awareness: A Primer for US Armed Forces Deploying to Arab and Middle Eastern Countries by Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) William D. Wunderle.

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Long War, as the Global War on Terrorism is now known, is the cultural environment in which it is being fought. In …