War on the Rocks
Friday, August 30, 2019 - 09:53
SAM's data is cited in this piece that argues that the Department of Defense needs to confront shortcomings in its efforts to train foreign security forces, subjecting current methods to rigorous experimentation.
Monday, May 20, 2019 - 00:00
SAM's report on Corruption in the Defense Sector is cited in this piece that examines failures in dozens of efforts to build an effective Somali National Army while maintaining an emphasis on the importance of an army in Somalia.
Wednesday, June 20, 2018 - 06:18
SAM’s arms sales data is cited in a post about changes the U.S. government should implement in its approval process for arms sales.
Friday, February 24, 2017 - 12:53
America should be wary of sending more troops to Afghanistan. Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee this month, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John W. Nicholson, called for thousands of more advisors to assist the Afghan security forces in their fight against the Taliban.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016 - 07:48
The United States and its closest partner in Syria, the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), have worked closely together to take territory from the Islamic State. The PYD’s militia—the People’s Protection Units (YPG)—is the most dominant group in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). This partnership relies on a small number of American special operations forces (SOF) to embed with the SDF to leverage the benefits of airpower to take territory. This approach is based on the United States’ recent experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, where a small number of ground forces allowed for local militias to rapidly take territory.
Friday, December 18, 2015 - 07:06
In August 2015, El Salvador registered its bloodiest month since its 1980-1992 civil war. There were 907 murders, including 52 in a single day on August 27. The country is on track to end the year with over 6,000 murders in a population of just 6.4 million, making it the most violent country not at war in the world.
Monday, August 10, 2015 - 06:47
The United States is not always getting such a great return on its investment when it comes to security assistance and cooperation. There are strategic and structural reasons for this. The bottom line is that more is not necessarily better.
Friday, March 27, 2015 - 07:21
The Obama administration would be wise to use Afghan President's visit not to simply reaffirm its current guidance regarding U.S. involvement in Afghanistan but to make a bold statement that it is committed to the longer-term, continued development of a key ally.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015 - 07:20
The international expansion of the jihadist organization known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has become a much-discussed topic. One of the most prominent additions to ISIL’s franchise has been the Sinai-based group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM).
Thursday, February 19, 2015 - 06:43
Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, challenged the American people to put up or shut up last week when he told the Wall Street Journal that he has repeatedly and fruitlessly requested the United States deploy troops to combat Boko Haram. “If Nigeria has a problem, then I expect the U.S. to come and assist us,” he said.