| The Proliferation Security Initiative |
The Bush administration's Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is a multilateral strategy to interdict shipments of weapons of mass destruction and related delivery systems. Still in its infancy, the PSI has already been subjected to two opposing lines of criticism. Some see it as a leaky sieve, unlikely to trap any sensitive items; others fear that it will be a pervasive dragnet, tantamount to a naval blockade that, in the case of North Korea, risks inciting war. |
| America and Iran |
Tensions between America and Iran are rising. US concerns about Iran's terrorism links, and what Washington regards as Tehran's accelerating efforts to develop nuclear weapons, are reciprocated by Iranian anxieties about Washington's tougher policy statements, the presence of US forces in Iran's vicinity, and the precedents of regime change established in Afghanistan and Iraq. These tensions are aggravated by divisions within each capital about policy towards the other: a problem reflected in inconsistent behaviour and inept communication by both sides. The episodic overtures and apparent opportunities for cooperation of the last two years have come to nothing. Full text & PDF (subscribers only) >>>Buy this article online >>> |
| The Iraq war and missile defence |
During the Iraq war, American missile units and warning systems failed to detect or intercept five Iraqi low-flying cruise missiles, one of which came perilously close to a US Marine encampment. At least two Iraqi ultralight aircraft - feared capable of carrying chemical or biological agents - were detected only after flying over thousands of US troops, and there were a series of friendly-fire incidents involving the Patriot system. Without a similar degree of the joint-service integration that has transformed its offensive capabilities, American missile and air defences could become increasingly vulnerable to adversaries who combine ballistic and cruise missile attacks with flights by unmanned aerial vehicles. Full text & PDF (subscribers only) >>>Buy this article online >>> |
| Southeast Asian fighter purchases |
Since April 2003, both Indonesia and Malaysia have announced orders for advanced, multi-role Sukhoi combat aircraft from Russia, while Singapore will soon reveal the shortlist for its own choice of a new fighter. Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam are also upgrading their airforce inventories. Diverse factors, including technology transfer considerations, continue to influence defence procurement patterns in the region. However, there is also considerable evidence of reactive procurement. Full text & PDF (subscribers only) >>>Buy this article online >>> |
| China's military modernisation |
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) can look on the past five-to-seven years as a defining period in its efforts to modernise. It has made important progress in doctrinal development, hardware acquisition and 'software' reforms. The recent appointment of a new generation of military leaders will bolster these trends. An examination of these developments highlights a number of key benchmarks against which to monitor progress in coming years. |
