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Gnsi Decision Brief: Creating Sun Tsu: Instituting A Master’S Degree In Irregular Warfare, Robert Burrell, John Collision

GNSI Decision Briefs

In the words of Sun Tsu, arguably the father of irregular warfare, war is like water, and water has no constant form, and there are no constant conditions in war.i Nowhere in the history of U.S. military doctrine has conflict been described in this theoretical and inclusive way. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the U.S.’s preference for technological solutions, increased firepower, and lethality on the battlefield neglects to account for leveraging irregular and asymmetric forms of conflict to advance its interests and counter its adversaries. The Consortium to Study Irregular Warfare Act of 2021 addressed the gap …

The Weekly Challenger, February 29, 2024, The Weekly Challenger, Et Al

Weekly Challenger Newspaper Collection

The February 29, 2024, issue of The Weekly Challenger.

Gnsi Decision Brief: Educate As You Operate: Developing National Security Practitioners For Strategic Competition, David Oakley, David H. Ucko

GNSI Decision Briefs

Amid a “rapidly changing world,” shaped by “strategic competition” and “shared challenges,” the 2022 National Security Strategy (NSS) set out a U.S. vision for a global environment “that is free, open, secure, and prosperous.” Achieving this vision, it acknowledged, will “demand increased global cooperation,” not only across the United States Government but with its partners and allies.i In similar terms, the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS) recognized the novel threats of near-peer competitors and emphasized the need to work “seamlessly across warfighting domains, theaters, the spectrum of conflict, all instruments of U.S. national power and our networks of alliances and …

“Genocide Of The Soviet People”: Putin’S Russia Waging Lawfare By Means Of History, 2018–2023, Anton Weiss-Wendt

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This article exposes the political underpinnings of the term “genocide of the Soviet people,” introduced and actively promoted in Russia since 2019. By reclassifying mass crimes committed by the Nazis and their accomplices against the civilian population—specifically Slavic—as genocide, Russian courts effectively engage in adjudication of the history of the Second World War. In the process, genocide trials, ongoing in twenty-five Russian provinces and five occupied Ukrainian territories, present no new evidence or issue new indictments, thus fulfilling none of the objectives of a standard criminal investigation. The wording of the verdicts, and a comprehensive political project put in place …

At-Sea Distribution Of Radio-Marked Ashy Storm-Petrels Oceanodroma Homochroa Captured On The California Channel Islands, J. Adams, J. Y. Takekawa

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Reviews, J. Hodder, S. A. Hatch, R. M. Wanless, J. Cooper, C. S. Harrison

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Focus Group Discussions With Rural Women In Yobe State On Information Services For Community Engagement On Development Issues In Nigeria, Aondover Eric Msughter, Mohammed Khalid Idris

Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies

In this information age, it is recognized that women's active participation is an essential component of community engagement, and sustainable development. Within this context, this study examined information services for community engagement on development issues in Nigeria with rural women in Yobe State. Qualitative method of data generation was adopted. Focus Group Discussion was carried out with women from the four (4) selected communities. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select 24 participants for the FGD. The tenets of Source Credibility Theory served the study goal. Based on the findings, it is apparent that most of the women in these …

The Role Of Maasai Women In Traditional Conflict Resolution And Peace-Making: A Case Study In Tanzania, Naisiligaki Japhet Loisimaye

Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies

This paper has addressed the problem of traditional conflict in Maasai societies and the role of Maasai women in traditional conflict resolution and peace-making in Tanzania. This qualitative research analyzed if Maasai women are involved in traditional conflict resolution and peace-making and their roles in traditional conflict resolution and peace-making. The findings revealed from the interview process shows that due to strict Maasai traditions and nature of Maasai being male dominant, Maasai women are either not allowed to participate or get involved in the traditional conflict resolution and peace-making. As their roles towards conflict resolution and peace-making is not seen. …

The Last Colony: Theoretical Explanations On The Protractedness Of The Western Sahara Conflict, Elisabeth H. Austrheim

Journal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies

“There has never been a protracted war from which a country has benefited” (Tzu 1963: 73).

The forty-eight yearlong Western Sahara conflict over the former Spanish colony between Polisario and the Kingdom of Morocco continues its low prospects of resolution. The future of the territory, with both strategic geopolitical and financial relevance, remains uncertain in which the reasons for the continued prolongation appear to be many. Different conflict theories emphasise various factors causing protractedness, suggesting that many different causes, together, have engendered the current lack of settlement. Whilst the theory of protracted social conflicts emphasises developed high-tensioned, hostile relations between …

A 2024 Guide To Assessing: Resiliency And Resistance In Iran, Robert Burrell, David Diorio

GNSI Publications

This essay applies a data-driven and human-centric methodology to examine resiliency and resistance aspects in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It applies a four-phase process to analyze state resiliency, assess resistance to governance, identify various resistance movements, and provide possible options for an external actor to influence Iran's stability or to support resistance to the Islamic Republic. The methodologies utilized in this essay were previously published by Small Wars and Insurgencies and Expeditions with the Marine Corps University Press. In analyzing Iran, the data finds the Islamic Republic is a fragile regime governing a state with multiple and deep societal …

Iran-Israel Conflict: A New Stage Emerges, Arman Mahmoudian

GNSI Publications

After Iran's strike against Israel on April 13th, the intensifying rivalry between Iran and Israel has escalated into a new stage of direct confrontation, marked by significant military engagements with profound implications for regional stability and global security. This paper explores the shift from proxy conflicts to direct actions, including Iran's missile and drone assaults and Israel's retaliatory strikes. It examines the redefined engagement rules, the ensuing arms race, and the transformation of international relations, particularly involving major powers like Russia and China. Additionally, it highlights the potential impacts on the United States, including risks to troops and the likelihood …

China’S Assertive Escalation In The Indo-Pacific Region And Its Repercussions On India-Us Relations, Pooja Devi, Jyoti Singh Dr.

Journal of Strategic Security

In recent decades due to the shift in power balance in the Indo-Pacific region, the region has gained attention from all over the world. The tremendous rise of China, economically and militarily, has altered the status quo in South Asia and raised security concerns in different countries, including India. Moreover, China’s massive growth has also threatened US hegemony in the Western Pacific Region and globally. The paper analyzes China’s recent policies, i.e. String of Pearls and Belt and Road Initiative and their consequences on India’s strategic interests in the Southeast Asian Region and Indian Ocean Region. China’s assertive escalation on …

The Security Dilemma And Conflict In Space: Impossible Or Inevitable?, Mackenzie Enholm

Journal of Strategic Security

Space has been identified as the next warfighting domain. With tensions simmering between the great spacefaring nations amid a space arms race, or at the very least a race for superior space technology, this article will examine such tensions through the lens of the security dilemma. Do the technology escalations between the great space powers and dual-use space technologies make space conflict inevitable? The United States, China, and Russia continue to develop advanced counterspace capabilities with the ability to target other space systems and satellites. Given the nature of states to maximize their own security amid uncertainty in space, physical …

Asymmetry In The Digital Age: Cyber Deterrence Strategies For Small States, Tony Yuan Li

Journal of Strategic Security

In an era where cyberwarfare poses an invisible but potent threat to national security, traditional deterrence theories fall short in providing nations with a viable strategy to defend themselves. This is especially the case for small states, where limited national resources and cyber capabilities prevent them from effectively deterring larger powers. This paper investigates whether small states can achieve cyber deterrence, and the means to do so. This research challenges the preconception that small states are at a disadvantage in cyber contestation, and instead proposes that their small size offers unique defensive benefits. A smaller attack surface, faster incident response …

A Review Of Frank Mckenzie's The Melting Point By Adib Farhadi, Adib Farhadi

Journal of Strategic Security

The Melting Point by General (Ret.) Frank McKenzie provides an authoritative, first-hand examination of the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), chronicling its historical evolution, key operational engagements, and future prospects within the broader context of the Great Power Competition (GPC). Drawing on his experience as a combatant commander, McKenzie provides insights into U.S. military strategy in the Central Region, focusing on civilian oversight, the combatant commander’s unique role, and leadership's impact on strategic decision-making. The Melting Point significantly contributes to scholarship on recent U.S. military interventions and the evolving global geopolitical landscape This review identifies five significant contributions of the …

About Books: “Climbing Up And Down On A Round Thing”, Mark Lynch

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

The Nesting Of Several Canadian-Zone Species In Essex County In 2004, Including The First Nest Record Of The Common Raven, Corvus Corax, Jim Berry

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

Book Review: A Naturalist In New Guinea By Bruce M. Beehler, William E. Davis Jr.

Bird Observer

No abstract provided.

Summit Report: The Future And Ethics Of Uncrewed And Autonomous Warfare, Arman Mahmoudian

GNSI Summit Reports

On September 27-28, 2023, the Global and National Security Institute (GNSI) held the 8th Great Power Competition Conference titled “The Future and Ethics of Uncrewed and Autonomous Warfare” at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus. As a featured event of the 2nd GNSI Tampa Summit, the conference included three major panels: “Foreign Defense Partnership in a Global Competitive Market,” “Ethical Use of Uncrewed Warfare,” and “Future of Uncrewed Systems: The Benefits and Dangers of Advancing Technology.” These panels brought together experts to discuss the evolving role of uncrewed and autonomous systems in warfare, their ethical implications, and the impact …

The Social Determinants Of Health And Genocide: Towards A Public Health Integrated Framework Of Genocide And Mass Violence, Sian Persad, Cheng Xu

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

This paper makes a normative argument about transformations of public health as a necessary condition required in any transitional justice process. We seek to bridge the gap between the fields of genocide and public health to understand the recursive relationship between genocide and the social determinants of health. We show that structures and institutions established during genocide create enduring impacts on the public health outcomes of victim and survivor groups even after the ousting of the original perpetrators. Our comparative analysis of the Rwandan Genocide and the colonial genocide of Indigenous communities in Canada surveys the available public health literature …

All Quiet On The Digital Front: The Unseen Psychological Impacts On Cybersecurity First Responders, Tammie R. Hollis

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Driven by the increasing frequency of cyberattacks and the existing talent gap between industry needs and skilled professionals, this research study focused on the crucial human element in the domain of cybersecurity incident response. The objective of this dissertation was to offer a meaningful exploration of the lived experiences encountered by cybersecurity incident responders and an assessment of the subsequent impacts on their well-being. Additionally, this study sought to draw comparisons between the experiences of cybersecurity incident responders and their counterparts in traditional emergency response roles. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a cohort of 22 individuals with first-hand experience working …

Great Power Cyberpolitics: Re-Interpreting Offensive Realism And Power Transition Theory For Cyber Deterrence, Yavuz Akdaǧ

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation assesses the empirical relevancy of realist International Relations (IR) theory in cyberspace and shows how a richer IR-based theory of cyber conflict can enhance the understanding of interstate cyber deterrence, especially in the context of US-Sino hegemonic cyber conflict or cyberwar. As states increasingly engage in cyber conflict by exploiting security vulnerabilities due to global interconnectivity (i.e., the Internet), cyber threat has become relevant for national security. Scholars constructed cyber deterrence to counter the threat using the fundamentals of the Cold War nuclear deterrence. Yet this approach is highly contested; cyberspace defies traditional deterrence concepts. Further theoretical analysis …

Investigating Mobility In The Northern Balkans During The Fifth Millenium Bc Through Strontium Analysis Of Human Tooth Enamel, Aurélien Tafani

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates how individual mobility among ancient populations in Romania during the Eneolithic, between 5000 and 4000 BC, may be related to the spread of the material culture known as Kodjadermen-Gumelniţa-Karonovo VI (KGK VI) that extended over most of southern Romania and Bulgaria. This work seeks to combine results on individual mobility with other lines of archaeological evidence to provide a better understanding of the social context and kinship relationships that were in place when these events took place.

Strontium isotopic analyses were performed on 130 individuals from two sites located in the southern Romania: 49 from Sultana and …

Israel-Hamas Conflict: Operational Considerations And Strategy, Arman Mahmoudian

GNSI Publications

The recent attack by Hamas demonstrates an unprecedented level of capability and sophistication from the extremist militia, coupled with a significant intelligence failure on Israel’s part. The IDF’s vulnerability can be attributed to an expanding threat landscape and the evolving counter-intelligence tactics used by their adversaries. The rise of Iran-backed forces in the region, along with the increasingly covert operations by Hamas and similar groups, challenges Israel’s intelligence capabilities. However, the pressing question now is not about the occurrence of the attack but how Israel should respond. Potential strategies for Israel to reestablish deterrence include maintaining direct control, transferring authority …

#1 On The U.S. Most Wanted List: Why The Push Is On To Ban The World’S Most Successful Startup From Academic, Government And Military Devices In The United States, Tom Waters

GNSI Publications

TikTok is a social media application that has amassed over 100 million users in the United States. Yet the Biden White House, like the Trump Administration before it, seeks to ban TikTok, or at least force it’s divestment from the parent company, Bytedance. For many the question is how can an app for sharing silly dance videos among teenagers be a national security threat? Unfortunately, the problem is considerably more complex than this simple question. TikTok’s unprecedented success comes from its powerful artificial intelligence-based algorithm.

That activity produces a comprehensive psychological profile of each user and tailors the queue of …

Virtual Urban Siege: Modern Urban Siege And Swarming In Culiacán 2019 & 2023, Daniel Weisz Argomedo, Nathan P. Jones, Ph.D., John P. Sullivan, Ph.D.

Journal of Strategic Security

Modern urban siege is a metaphor for evolved urban campaigns. The template for such attacks draws from the tactics seen in the 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008, and continued with the 2013 Westgate Mall attack in Kenya, the January 2015 Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher attacks in Paris and the November 2015 attacks against the Stade de France and Bataclan. These virtual sieges employ swarming tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to provide a template for urban strife and insecurity. This article provides an overview of terrorist swarming tactics, expanding the aperture to review the use of similar TTPs by criminal …

Urban Warfare: The Recent Israeli Experience, Nadav Morag

Journal of Strategic Security

This article analyzes the evolution of urban warfare tactics, technologies, and approaches in Israel. The article briefly addresses the nature and constraints of modern urban warfare, examines Israel’s early experience with urban warfare during the 1982 Lebanon War, and then describes and assesses the development of Israeli urban warfare in a range of wars and operations starting with Defensive Shield in the West Bank, then moving to the Second Lebanon War and then addressing a number of conflicts between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip between 2007 and 2021. This article will also identify a few overarching trends in …

Come Hell Or High Fever: Readying The World’S Megacities For Disaster. By Russell, W. Glenn. Canberra, Australia: Australian University Press, 2023., Magdalena, A. Denham, Ph.D.

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Megacities And Urban Warfare In The 21st Century: The City As The Cemetery Of Revolutionaries And Resources, José De Arimatéia Da Cruz Ph.D./Mph

Journal of Strategic Security

No abstract provided.

Urban Disaster Wrought By Man: The Battle For Manila, 1945, Russell W. Glenn

Journal of Strategic Security

Urban warfare tends to be intimate. If soldiers do not see the faces of those they kill—and they frequently will—those men and women will hear the screams or muffled groans of the wounded. US forces waging the battle to recapture Manila in 1945 experienced these horrors. Yet it was the noncombatants who suffered far more; 100,000—approximately one of every ten Manileños at the time—died during the fighting. Thousands more suffered wounds, disease, or struggled with hunger and malnutrition. Recent fighting in Syria, Ukraine, Khartoum, and elsewhere tells us too little has changed three-quarters of a century later.

Though urban warfare …