By Eric Sterner
18 Jan 2012 |
Briefing
Conventional wisdom holds that it is in Iran’s near-term interest to calm tensions with the West, particularly the United States. But it’s worth considering the dynamics at work in Tehran’s relationship with the rest of the world. In fact, the Iranian leadership’s incentives may run counter to our expectations, making a continuation or escalation of tensions more, not less, likely.
By Eric Sterner
17 May 2011 |
Feature
Debates over space policy typically concern three themes: national security, civil space and commercial space. While a lot of creative thinking and policy analysis is involved in these existing debates, less attention has been paid to more basic functions, such as managing activity in the domain of space. The demands on basic management functions have been relatively modest, but that is changing.
By Eric Sterner
13 Oct 2010 |
Briefing
Given the speed and range of cyber attacks, an "active defense" as outlined recently by Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn depends on sophisticated rules of engagement,
which must be set in advance. Lynn focuses on an attacker's motivation
to determine which body
of law and regulation will govern a U.S. response. This may well prove a fatal flaw in the Pentagon's defensive posture.
By Eric Sterner
08 Jul 2010 |
World Politics Review
Since cyberspace's creation, the U.S. government has struggled with
protecting it. Part of the problem lies with the fact that policymakers are still
unsure how to treat cyber attacks. Are they acts of war? Crimes?
Intelligence operations? Once authorities categorize an attack, they
can use existing policymaking frameworks to deal with
it. But for now, policy development is stalled while the country tries to sort out the
answers.
By Eric Sterner
25 Jun 2010 |
World Politics Review
The commentary on Gen. Stanley McChrystal's removal has focused on civil-military
relations and the domestic political implications for President Barack Obama's national
security image. But those who focus on McChrystal's
impolitic comments as
justification for his departure risk missing the larger point -- namely,
the contradictions and fecklessness of a policy that created the
frustration on the ground to begin with.
By Eric Sterner
15 Jun 2010 |
World Politics Review
Increasingly, if one digs deeply enough into any economic activity in
the 21st century, a space element will be involved. And as the world's
most developed space power, the United States has led the way in
integrating space into its economic foundations and military capabilities. That ought to give policymakers pause, because the U.S. space industrial base
is not what it used to be. Indeed, its health is actually in question.