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Policy Blog
- As Foreign Demand For U.S. Weapons Surges, Biden Adm. Moves To Expedite Sales (From Forbes)
The U.S. dominates global arms sales with a 40% share of weapons exports. Now the Biden administration sees an opportunity to permanently relegate Russia to second-tier status in that market–a market where Moscow traditionally has been a big player. Russia has been gradually losing ground over the last decade, and its Ukraine invasion has accelerated the erosion in sales. Compared [ Read More…]
- Daniel Gouré, Ph.D.
- Digital Engineering Could Transform The U.S. Defense Industrial Base (From RealClearDefense)
Digital engineering has been around for some time. But only now is it coming into widespread use, both for the design and development of new platforms, weapons systems, components, and software, and for sustainment and upgrading activities. Digital engineering has the potential to radically change the way the Department of Defense interacts with the defense industrial base. It can transform [ Read More…]
- Loren B. Thompson, Ph.D
- Which Companies Will Benefit Most From Modernization Of The U.S. Nuclear Arsenal? (From Forbes)
The U.S. government is modernizing every facet of its strategic nuclear force, the first comprehensive update to its strategic nuclear arsenal since the Cold War ended three decades ago. The fundamental goal of all such activity is to minimize the likelihood of nuclear war. Lacking effective defenses against large-scale nuclear attack, the U.S. has sought to deter adversaries from aggression [ Read More…]
- Poland Must Buy More Abrams Tanks To Ensure Interoperability With U.S. Forces
Poland is building what looks to be the most powerful military in Europe. It is acquiring major hardware from the United States, including M1 Abrams tanks, F-16 and F-35 fighters, Apache attack helicopters, HIMARS rocket launchers, and Patriot air defense systems. The U.S. is simultaneously contributing to the defense of Poland, deploying significant military forces in that country, including an Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), and prepositioning stocks to equip a second ABCT. By acquiring top-of-the-line U.S. hardware, Poland is [ Read More…]
- Pentagon Discloses Plan For Defending Space Systems (From Forbes)
After many years of assuming that U.S. space systems were safe from attack, the Pentagon has now changed its tune. Russia and China are both acquiring tools for disabling U.S. satellites and ground stations, at a time when America’s joint force has become dependent on those assets to function effectively. The Department of Defense recently released a strategy for protecting space systems, as space transitions from being an enabler to a true warfighting domain. I have written a commentary for [ Read More…]
- Why China Would Be Hard-Pressed To Target U.S. Aircraft Carriers In A Pacific War (From Forbes)
Large-deck, nuclear-powered aircraft are the signature expression of American military power. However, some observers fear the carriers are so big that they could be easily targeted by China in a Pacific war. The concern about survivability seems warranted. With roughly 5,000 sailors onboard operating the ship and supporting the air wing, the loss of even one carrier would be a big blow to the joint force. However, the Navy has been thinking through the survival challenge for decades, and believes [ Read More…]
- The Biden Administration Should Listen To Business, Not Lecture (From RealClearMarkets)
When federal bureaucracies veer outside their policy lane, claiming a mandate from the American people for audacious new actions, things get weird and broken. A case in point is Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Jonathan Kanter’s speech on September 19 at the Georgetown Antitrust Law Symposium where he claims strong public support for new, highly restrictive merger guidelines. Are entrepreneurs and other hard-working Americans really upset about business combinations? And if so, is this a bigger worry than inflation, rising interest rates, [ Read More…]
- Looming Budget Cuts Could Devastate Air Force, Undermine Deterrence (From Forbes)
Air Force officials say that the ongoing budget impasse in Congress could result in their service delaying modernization plans and canceling training exercises critical to readiness. The problem extends beyond the possibility of operating for part of fiscal 2024 under a continuing resolution rather than a real budget. If a continuing resolution remains in force beyond December 31, funding would dip to 1% less than the enacted level for 2023. If that situation persists through March 31, then the lower [ Read More…]
- Growing Cyber Threats Require U.S. Allies To Implement A Zero Trust Strategy (From RealClearDefense)
The U.S. military cannot fight a high-end conflict without a coalition of friends and allies. In order to conduct effective joint operations, all parties must be able to share information rapidly across secure networks. Unfortunately, adversaries such as China and Russia are conducting continuous cyberattacks on critical allied networks, often with significant success. For the U.S. to have confidence in sharing data with allies, those countries must begin now to implement a program of Zero Trust cybersecurity. I have written [ Read More…]
- The President’s Power To Launch Nuclear Weapons Highlights A Troubling Paradox In U.S. Strategy (From Forbes)
The U.S. president possesses sole authority to launch the nation’s nuclear weapons. That power is absolute; there is no test of competency, and no one beneath the president in the chain of command has the authority to countermand a launch order. Conversely, even in an extreme emergency, not one has the authority to countermand an order not to launch. The president’s unique power in such matters results from the requirements of strategic deterrence, which demand both an ability to retaliate [ Read More…]
- U.S. Department Of State And The Upcoming Universal Postal Union Extraordinary Congress
At today’s meeting of the U.S. Department of State’s Advisory Committee on International Postal Delivery Services, Lexington Institute’s Paul Steidler applauded the State Department for its work in advocating for reform at the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and urged it to continue to do so. His remarks are below and in the PDF here. Let me begin by giving strong thanks to Stuart Smith for all he has done to prepare the United States for the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU’s) [ Read More…]
- Comments On Draft Merger Guidelines To FTC And U.S. Department Of Justice
Below are comments filed by the Lexington Institute’s Paul Steidler to the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice’s docket on proposed new merger guidelines. The comments are also in the PDF document here and online as part of the docket here. The proposed merger guidelines from the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice are disconcerting and indeed dangerous because they are so broad and hostile to business combinations that lead to economic growth, substantial innovation, job [ Read More…]
- The FDA’s Troubling Plans To Dispose Opioids Via The U.S. Mail
Read the full study as a PDF here. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to launch a program in 2024 that will put hundreds of millions of opioid pills in the U.S. mail as consumers mail unused narcotics back to drug companies for destruction. At best, this will be an expensive, inefficient way to dispose of these highly addictive substances. It is quite likely a significant amount of opioids will be stolen and sold illegally, resulting in many [ Read More…]