Avatar photoProliferation Security Initiative: Less than Meets the Eye?

Michael Roston makes the case that the Bush Administration is exaggerating the impact of the Proliferation Security Initiative, an effort to encourage states to develop national capabilities to WMD-related shipments. Bush, John Bolton and David Kay have all, Michael argues, have promoted the idea that one PSI interdiction in the Mediterranean, in which a German …

Avatar photoChinese direct ascent ASAT

“China is believed to be conducting research and development on a direct-ascent ASAT system that could be fielded in the 2005-2010 timeframe.” Well that sounds very serious, but is it true? The statement, which comes from the 2003 edition of Chinese Military Power, is sometimes cited as a sign of impending Chinese ASAT capabilities. But …

Avatar photoLies, damn lies and statistics: Reagan and the Cold War

The American Forces Press Service published a Reagan retrospective, entitled “Reagan/’s National Security Policy Targeted Soviet Threat”, that closes with this comment: History shows that 1980s Soviet military expenditures made in an attempt to keep up with the Americans eventually broke their bank. In 1989, within a year after Reagan had left office, the Berlin …

Avatar photoCock blocked by the KGB

1973. The Soviet Ambassador calls the National Security Advisor. What major crisis dominates their conversation? Just read it. Read this one, too. Now, Dmitry.