Publications: Center for a New American Security

The Emerging Asia Power Web: The Rise of Bilateral Intra-Asian Security Ties

kking — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 21:52:30 +0000

In its latest report, the Asia team at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) explores the “Asia Power Web," a term the team developed to describe the growing trend of intra-Asian defense and security cooperation among six key countries – Australia, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam.

The Seven Deadly Sins of Defense Spending

lfontaine — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 04:00:00 +0000

In The Seven Deadly Sins of Defense Spending, CNAS Senior Fellows David Barno and Nora Bensahel and Research Associate Jacob Stokes, Research Assistant Joel Smith and Researcher Katherine Kidder identify seven areas of defense spending excess that, if reformed, could save between $340 billion and $490 billion over 10 years.

Defense Reform Consensus

kking — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 20:50:26 +0000

In a joint letter to Congress and the Pentagon, individuals from ten diverse think tanks, including CNAS, express a consensus on "the need to address the growing imbalances within the defense budget that threaten the health and long-term viability of America’s volunteer military."

Toward a Successful Outcome in Afghanistan

thiletework — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:54:15 +0000

Former ISAF commander, General John Allen, USMC (Ret.), former Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Michèle Flournoy and Brookings Senior Fellow Michael O'Hanlon challenge the perception that Afghanistan is a lost cause and urge Washington to "adequately resource" its current policy toward the country in Toward a Successful Outcome in Afghanistan.

If All Else Fails: The Challenges of Containing a Nuclear-Armed Iran

thiletework — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:05:04 +0000

Dr. Colin H. Kahl, Raj Pattani and Jacob Stokes argue in If All Else Fails: The Challenges of Containing a Nuclear-Armed Iran that the Obama administration could eventually be forced to shift to a policy of containing a nuclearized Iran despite its commitment to pursue a prevention strategy. The authors outline a comprehensive framework to manage and mitigate the consequences should Iran acquire a nuclear weapons capability, noting that such planning and preparation is needed “not because the United States wants to take this path, but because it may eventually become the only path left.”

CNAS Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr. Janine Davidson testifies before the SFRC on the Asia "Rebalance"

thiletework — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 21:19:28 +0000

CNAS Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr. Janine Davidson testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the future of the "U.S. Military and the Asia 'Rebalance'."

Placebo: The 2014 Defense Budget and DOD’s Credibility Challenges

thiletework — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 19:25:38 +0000

Travis Sharp writes in Placebo: The 2014 Defense Budget and DOD’s Credibility Challenges that the Obama Administration’s FY 2014 defense budget is a placeholder and that the overall level of defense spending will decline significantly in the coming year and beyond. This, he argues, presents strategic, as well as operational, challenges for the United States, undermining the nation’s credibility by “over-promising and under-delivering on its global security ambitions.”

Listening to the Generals: How Military Advice Affects Public Support for the Use of Force

kking — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:22:54 +0000

In Listening to the Generals: How Military Advice Affects Public Support for the Use of Force, James Golby, Kyle Dropp and Peter Feaver report that public expression by senior military officials of opposition or support for use of force abroad has a measurable impact on U.S. public opinion.

Flashpoints: The Way Forward in the East and South China Seas

kking — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:39:26 +0000

In the capstone essay of Flashpoints, a 15-month CNAS project, Dr. Patrick M. Cronin assesses the security environment in the maritime domain surrounding China, while offering several policy recommendations and some reasons for optimism in the regional disputes. Dr. Cronin, Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program at CNAS, notes in Flashpoints: The Way Forward in the East and South China Seas that there are several policy options available to leaders both in the United States and in the region that can mitigate the tensions and help reduce the chances of conflict in these critical seas.

Slipping Away? A South China Sea Code of Conduct Eludes Diplomatic Efforts

thiletework — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:17:01 +0000

In Slipping Away? A South China Sea Code of Conduct Eludes Diplomatic Efforts, Ian Storey analyzes the tensions in the South China Sea that have continued unabated despite sustained attention from regional leaders and diplomats. In his Flashpoints Bulletin, Dr. Storey, who is a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, provides insights into recent diplomatic developments, including a call for a binding Code of Conduct (CoC) by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that, although increasingly unlikely, could have a positive impact on regional stability.