Japanese Defense Policy Is Changing

Japan’s defense policy is changing incrementally. Evidence of this was recently provided by Japanese DM Taro Kono, who stated publicly that a preemptive strike by Tokyo on North Korean missile bases would be legitimate if Pyongyang had decided to launch missiles at Japan.

The New Silk Road and the Maghreb Region

Ever since the launch of the BRI in 2013, Beijing has shown great interest in the Maghreb region as an entry point to European and African markets. Beijing has prioritized commercial relations over political influence in the Maghreb. While the current BRI map does not officially include the Maghreb region (by design, as the BRI is more a loose brand than a strict program), Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between China and every country in the Maghreb, demonstrating that China is expanding its foothold in the region.

The American Left’s Media Purge

Lev Stesin
August 4, 2020
Paper No. 1675

The American Left is intensely frustrated by President Donald Trump’s ability to penetrate their monopoly on the news cycle. When the Left is frustrated, it acts out, up to and past the point of violence. A powerful weapon at its disposal is its ability to silence its perceived enemies. Much of the mainstream US media, cowed by the Left, reflexively capitulates to its demands to “cancel” individuals who express opinions that go against Leftist orthodoxy.

Failure to Resolve the GERD Issue Portends a Global Crisis and Mass Migration

Despite Qatar’s use of information warfare to spread conspiracy theories about Israel’s alleged role in the Egypt-Sudan-Ethiopia crisis over the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, Israel and the US can be of great assistance in devising mutually beneficial solutions for all parties and averting a global crisis and mass migration from Egypt and Sudan.

When Managing Chaos, a Little Humility Wouldn’t Hurt

During chaotic crises, the systems in place to handle such events must stay cognizant of their limitations. As the Talmudic sages taught in their aggadot about the Destruction of the Temple, situations can get out of control, and not every solution is in the people’s hands.

Amnesty International and Qatari Information Warfare

A recent unsubstantiated Amnesty International report attacking Morocco for its alleged use of Israeli software to surveil a journalist is part of Amnesty’s pattern of defending turncoat intelligence officers, rogue political operatives, and foreign agents against their governments. While Amnesty failed in its bid to have the Israeli government revoke NSO’s license to export this software, it continues to add to the chorus of media and human rights organizations that amplify claims made by anti-Israel, pro-Islamist activists of surveillance, character assassination, and technology manipulation. These charges may be evidence of the depth and breadth of Qatari information warfare.

The Fading Memory of Soleimani Exposes Iran’s Sclerotic Regime

The way a regime icon is remembered reveals much about the state of the regime itself. General Qassem Soleimani’s fast-fading memory in Iran, especially in Tehran province, exposes a sclerotic elite that resembles the Soviet elite before its demise.

Post-COVID India Must Foil China’s Designs

The Modi government in India is working hard to fight COVID-19 and save precious lives, both at home and abroad. However, it cannot afford to focus solely on the containment of the pandemic and the development of the national economy. The communist leadership in Beijing is taking advantage of India’s current predicament to advance its imperial aggression against the country, and this threat must be addressed.

Confused Turkey: Westward Ho All Over Again?

Burak Bekdil
July 30, 2020
Paper No. 1668

Turkey, which has labeled onion traders terrorists, blames the Kurds for the turmoil in America, and encourages its own intelligence agency to kill Turkish journalists abroad who are critical of the regime, never ceases to amaze. The latest survey reveals that Turks consider America both the greatest threat to Turkey and the second-best choice as a foreign policy partner.

Turkey Hedges Its Bets by Positioning as a Supply Chain Alternative to China

A Turkish-US business council is promoting Turkey as a trading alternative to China with the help of influential US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close associate of President Donald Trump.

Perspectives Papers