Jamestown: Moscow deliberately upped the ante in Donbas and filled the dog days of August with endless speculation that it might launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine (Interfax, August 15). The cycle of troop movements, placing units on alert, and…
Uncategorized
Generational Change in Central Asia about More Than Just Leaders
The death of Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov at 78 has focused attention on the issue of generational change both past and present across post-Soviet Central Asia. Given the central role played by these five republics’ presidents in the aftermath of…
China, Intelligence, Military
DEATH DRONES: China building cruise missiles powered by killer artificial intelligence
Terrifying new ‘fire and forget’ weapons will use robotic technology to steer themselves toward a target China is developing a new range of killer cruise missiles fitted with technology which will effectively turn them into killer robots. Dubbed “death drones”, the missiles…
Africa, Intelligence
DGSE operations in Libya
The death of three DGSE officers in Libya on July 17 sheds light on the French external intelligence service’s activities in the country. At the forefront of missions in Cyrenaica, the DGSE does not work alone in Libya. It benefits from both…
Economy
Central banks are reaching the limit
As the closing months of 2016 approach, it is clear that central banks are continuing to take the strain of keeping the global economy on the rails. Throughout the developed world interest rates are at (or close to) record lows,…
Middle East, Terrorism
Why Islamic State Is Clinging on to the Syrian City of Manbij
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) officially launched its operation to take the city of Manbij on May 31. It is one of the most strategic and difficult operations the SDF – an alliance that includes Kurdish People’s Protection Unit (YPG)…