I’ve now gotten several emails asking who was the inspiration for the Cold War Troglodyte. One writer wondered if it was an amalgam of Keir Lieber and Daryl Press. Another thought maybe Ward Wilson. This is ridiculous. Given that Press and Lieber are about as far from Ward Wilson as I can imagine, I realize …
What is the future of NATO’s TNWs?
by | 2008-11-14 | 10 Comments
I have just returned from Berlin where I attended a meeting at the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung. The meeting discussed a forthcoming report on the future of nuclear weapons in Europe. Specifically, it discussed whether now is the time to have a phased and incremental debate on what to do with NATO’s short-range nuclear forces. NATO’s tactical …
Who Speaks for Russia?
by | 2008-11-13 | 7 Comments
There is much talk these days about the need for the United States to reengage Russia’s leadership in a strategic dialogue. But would Russia speak with one voice? We’re already familiar with this basic problem because it has dogged the Bush administration. Throughout the Bush presidency, foreign policy has been personality-driven and intensely factionalized: ideologues …
Deterrence: Past, Present, & Future
by | 2008-11-13 | 3 Comments
During a recent conference, where I was subjected to what I considered some knuckle-dragging commentary on deterrence, I created a fictional character that I called The Cold War Troglodyte, pictured above. Well, turn-about is fair play. I will be giving my own talk at which you can draw silly pictures of me and my ideas …
