John Sjoholm

August 1, 2019March 4, 2020

Blossoming Russo-Turkish alliance leaves U.S., NATO behind

Amid the failed politics of Patriot missiles and F-35s, Moscow and Ankara’s blossoming relationship has left NATO and U.S. interests exposed. Keep Reading

July 2, 2019July 2, 2019

Cyber Warfare Now – Tales from the Digital Battlefield

Democracies worldwide are facing critical challenges from ever expanding cyberwarfare operations with the ability to not just threaten infrastructure, but to control information. Until recently, it was generally accepted that there were just five countries that had the capability of carrying out offensive and defensive… Keep Reading

May 14, 2019May 22, 2019

STRATEGIC OPTION | Syrian Endgame – The Hard Truth

A harsh reality is that the Syrian revolution is an abject failure. Nothing will rescue the dream of Syrian democracy. It’s time for radical policy initiatives, even distasteful ones, to stop the needless slaughter of countless innocents. It’s time for realpolitik. It’s time for an… Keep Reading

May 11, 2019May 22, 2019

Israel-Hamas Cyberwar, when old warfare meets new

While strategies shift, Israel and Hamas continue to battle in both cyberspace and conventional space. Israel struck 320 ground targets in the Gaza Strip last weekend targeting Hamas, the Islamist militia and governing political party of Palestine. The attack included a strike against the headquarters… Keep Reading

March 22, 2019March 22, 2019

Strike a deal with which devil? The many faces of the Taliban

18 years later, the U.S. is engaged in negotiations with the Taliban over the future of Afghanistan. But what exactly is “the Taliban”? Contrary to popular belief, there is no single “Taliban” and America is now negotiating with a hydra-like creature to an uncertain end.… Keep Reading

March 1, 2019March 18, 2019

Russia’s energy divides Europe

OPINION: Fueled by Russian gas imports and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, an energy Cold War threatens to divide Europe. The European Union’s Energy Union initiative is a beautiful idea. An idea which is being crushed by harsh realpolitik. The controversy surrounding Nord Stream 2 reflects… Keep Reading

Image The struggle for Poland's soul [Lima Charlie News]

February 22, 2019February 26, 2019

The struggle for Poland’s soul – religion, ultra nationalism and a populist priest

OPINION | Through the veils of religion, ultra nationalism and increasing tribal societal divides, Poland faces critical choices. It was not long ago that the world described Poland as an economic and political success story. Poland proved to the West that nations could emerge from… Keep Reading

February 10, 2019November 13, 2019

Killing al Baghdadi – SOF operation sparks attempted coup against ISIS leader

As the sun sets on the Islamic State, its notorious leader faces a radical decision – a decision by his own men to remove him. After a Special Forces operation led by U.S. and British troops closed in on Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, an unlikely coup ensued.… Keep Reading

February 9, 2019February 10, 2019

Europa – Si vis pacem, para bellum (If you want peace, prepare for war)

OPINION | With the awakening belligerence of Putin’s Russia and China’s growing diplomatic and economic bluster, is Europe really prepared? Si vis pacem, parabellum. If you want peace, prepare for war. This age-old adage formulated some 1,600 years ago by the famed Roman General Flavius… Keep Reading

January 29, 2019February 25, 2019

Huawei – China’s telecom giant hits a giant wall

This Monday, in a 13-count indictment unsealed in a federal court in New York, four defendants affiliated with Chinese telecom juggernaut, Huawei Technologies were named, including Huawei’s CFO, Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of Huawei’s president and founder. The charges relate to an alleged scheme by… Keep Reading

January 21, 2019

Sweden provides ‘quiet diplomacy’ for U.S. – North Korea talks

A sequestered, off the record meeting in Sweden drives U.S., North Korea, South Korea diplomacy. At a sequestered conference facility outside of Stockholm top diplomats from North Korea, the U.S. and South Korea are now meeting under the protection of Swedish military and paramilitary forces… Keep Reading

January 14, 2019

Iran vs. the European Union – A Murderously Difficult Balancing Act

Europe faces a balancing act between security and Iran’s hard-liners. Iranian intelligence services have long been suspected of actively carrying out operations to target Iranian dissidents in Europe. According to European intelligence agencies, in the past 5 years, Iranian intelligence operatives have successfully carried out… Keep Reading

January 10, 2019January 11, 2019

Leaving Syria – a misstep continues to haunt America’s allies

Trump’s proclamation that the U.S. would leave Syria caught America’s allies off balance. On December 19th, 2018, President Donald Trump tweeted that “we have defeated ISIS in Syria,” thus eliminating the need for U.S. troops to remain in the Syrian area of operations. Shortly thereafter, the… Keep Reading

Image Ambitions Never Laid to Rest - An Open Society vs. The Terrorist [Lima Charlie News] (Image: Patrick Hertzog)

December 28, 2018January 5, 2019