Analysis & Commentary

To Deter Houthi Strikes in Red Sea, US Must Turn From Defense to Offense

Breaking Defense - Thursday, December 28, 2023 by VADM Mark Fox, USN (ret.) and VADM John W. Miller, USN (ret.) and Ari Cicurel and

As Israel continues its counter-attack against Hamas in Gaza, Houthi rebels in Yemen have stepped up their aerial assaults on international shipping in the Red Sea. In this op-ed, former vice admirals Mark I. Fox and John W. Miller, who…

The US Must Help Israel Deal with Hezbollah Before It’s Too Late

The Hill - Saturday, December 23, 2023 by Ari Cicurel and Lt Gen Thomas Bergeson, USAF (ret.) and

Israel has a festering problem on its northern border it cannot ignore, even as it continues operations in Gaza. Simultaneous with its operations to eliminate Hamas, the Iran-backed terrorists responsible for murdering 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping roughly 240 hostages on…

Deterrence Is More Than Deployments: The Effects, and Limitations, of the Administration’s Naval Movements in the Middle East

RealClearDefense - Thursday, December 14, 2023 by VADM John M. Bird, USN (ret.) and Jacob Olidort and Ari Cicurel and

The United States appears to be confusing deployments for deterrence. The use of U.S. military force has been too infrequent, too inconsistent, and too limited to deter Iranian attacks. On December 3, the USS Carney assisted three commercial shipping vessels…

Communication of intent and the importance of language to deterrence

Military Times - Thursday, December 7, 2023 by Jacob Olidort and Retired Army Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum and

On Nov. 14, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that “deterrence in the Middle East is working.” But how does one know? It is a fair question, when less than a month after Singh’s statement the Iran-backed Houthis attacked several commercial vessels in…