Disrupting Geostrategic Thought
Futura Consideranda: Consequential Leadership
A Leader Considers History There are many qualities required of a worthwhile leader. Having good advisers is an excellent start. Another key quality is the ability to think in terms of tomorrow.
Idle Meandering Thoughts (Part 2 of 2)
Russian intelligence has a long-running interest in identifying, collecting, correlating and ultimately exploiting information that users would rather remain obscure.
Politics as the Continuation of Conflict
John Sjoholm analyzes hybrid conflict and Russian strategic thinking.
Guarding the Guard: When the Cellist Held the Rifle
A profile of Mstislav Rostropovich: cellist, conductor, exile, and the refusal to become harmless. Personal authors note:I have returned to this one photograph for years. I first saw it in the 1990s,
The Reliability Problem
American systems and security availability become less predictable when the security situation accelerates and becomes acute for the recipient. Ukraine experienced this dynamic, and Taiwan now appears to be encountering the same
Lebanon: Inside the Shell
The 2008 Lebanon conflict continues to be misunderstood in much of Western discourse as a confrontation between a sovereign state and a non-state militia ...
Lebanon: Beirut and the Polycentric Reality
The balance of power in Lebanon may be shifting. In a few days, I will again be involved in discussions with a Middle Eastern client on regional developments. Without disclosing anything sensitive,
Stably Unstable: The Architecture of Russia’s Hybrid War in the Western Balkans (2026)
Russia’s hybrid war in the Western Balkans in 2026 reflects a mature strategy. Rather than seeking escalation, Moscow seeks position. It is a case study in a long‑term, managed, condition. And, for Moscow, a
Working Hypothesis: Europe Seeks Relative Advantage from US Overextension
U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure are unlikely to achieve compliance goals. The more probable response is indirect escalation through asymmetric means, calibrated to impose cost without inviting immediate, decisive retaliation. This is
Mission Profile: Soft Power as the New Dominion
Donald Trump and his administration’s haphazard approach to alliance discipline, strategic continuity, and the maintenance of American primacy supplied the final lesson: Europe can no longer rely on the American security order.
![Image Pro-Russia populist president wins second 5 year term in Czech Republic [Lima Charlie News]](https://limacharlienews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Pro-Russia-populist-president-wins-second-5-year-term-in-Czech-Republic.jpg)
Pro-Russia populist president Milos Zeman wins second 5 year term in Czech Republic
The Czech Republic’s pro-Russia, right wing populist President Milos Zeman won a second five-year term today, after beating opponent Jiri Drahos, former head
Middle East – North Africa News Brief
Extended Middle East and Northern Africa News Composition Briefing: Regional Low Intensity Conflicts, January 15th to January 22nd – Current as of January 23rd,
![Image Turkish Delight in Afrin - A guide to Turkey's far reaching offensive in Syria [Lima Charlie News]](https://limacharlienews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Turkish-Delight-in-Afrin-A-guide-to-Turkeys-far-reaching-offensive-in-Syria-1.png)
Turkish Delight in Afrin – A guide to Turkey’s far reaching offensive in Syria
Turkey’s new Syria offensive dubbed “Operation Olive Branch” has far reaching consequences in the region, which include pursuit of an Ankara-Tehran-Moscow-Damascus coalition
A New Front in Syria? Turkish forces launch ‘Operation Olive Branch’ against Kurd, ISIL forces
After two days of artillery fire Turkish air forces joined an assault, somewhat inappropriately called, “Operation Olive Branch,” on the Syrian province
Slovenia and Croatia standoff over naval boundaries
Despite the strong admonition that countries should resolve border disputes before joining the European Union, Slovenia and Croatia failed to reach an
Cyber espionage – New report divulges Lebanese Intelligence worldwide cyber offensive ‘Dark Caracal’
A recently released report indicates that the Lebanese General Directorate of General Security (GDGS) operated a special cyberwarfare unit that targeted individuals
Anti-Government rebels of Africa’s Ivory Coast military overwhelm loyalists
On Wednesday, a military confrontation erupted in Bouake, the second city of the Ivory Coast. Members of a mutinous faction within the
U.S. training Army for tunnel combat in North Korea
Despite recent moves ostensibly aimed towards peaceful diplomacy with North Korea, the U.S. military has begun training to fight in tunnels. There
Middle East – North Africa News Brief
Extended Middle East and Northern Africa News Composition Briefing: Regional Low Intensity Conflicts, January 8th to January 14th – Current as of January 15th,
A fight for natural resources in Colombia
Last week, a cease fire between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN), a communist guerrilla army, came to an
Merkel releases outline for the formation of a governing coalition
On Friday, Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany, was able to compose an agreeable 28-page policy outline for a potential parliamentary coalition.
Service members respond to Trump’s reported “Shitholes” comments
US President Donald Trump used an expletive to describe foreign countries in an Oval Office meeting. Trump has denied he said “anything
Syrian Regime Forces Strike at last Pockets of Resistance
At least 100,000 people have fled Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib, one of the last regions controlled by rebel forces, since Bashar
Middle East – North Africa News Brief – Extended
Regional Low Intensity Conflicts. Covers December 19th to January 7th, 2018 – Current as of January 7th, 2018. This week’s report covers Bahrain,