Estimating the cost of a weapon system or a force is difficult. Estimates are made before the system exists, rely on assumptions about technology and production, and can change as …
How Defense Costs Are Estimated Read More
Haiti has faced long-standing political instability, weak institutions, and poverty. A UN stabilization mission operated in the country from 2004 to 2017. Armed gangs have at times controlled areas of …
Haiti’s Security Challenges: Background Read More
On March 26, 2010, the South Korean naval ship Cheonan sank in the Yellow Sea near the Northern Limit Line, and 46 sailors died. An international investigation concluded that a …
The Cheonan Sinking and the Northern Limit Line: Background Read More
Submarines can be powered by nuclear reactors or by diesel engines paired with batteries. Nuclear boats can stay submerged for long periods, travel fast, and operate far from home without …
Diesel-Electric and Nuclear Submarines: Basic Trade-Offs Read More
The 2006 Lebanon war began in July after Hezbollah’s cross-border attack and the capture of Israeli soldiers. It lasted about a month and ended with a ceasefire under UN Security …
The 2006 Lebanon War: Background and Lessons Studied Read More
The International Security Assistance Force was established in December 2001 under a UN Security Council resolution to help provide security in Kabul. NATO assumed command in August 2003, and the …
Allied Contributions in Afghanistan: ISAF Basics Read More
Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress has the power to declare war and fund the military, and the President is commander in chief. The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires the …
War Powers and Congress: Authorizations for the Use of Military Force Read More
Not all security threats come from states. Armed groups and criminal networks can challenge governments, and sometimes they overlap, cooperate, or compete. Analysts use terms such as hybrid threats, proxies, …
Non-State Armed Groups and Criminal Networks: Key Concepts Read More
The defense industrial base faces challenges such as limited suppliers, workforce shortages, and long lead times for complex systems. Many of these are structural. Policies that might help include stable …
Industrial Base Challenges: Why There Are No Quick Fixes Read More
The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty was signed by the United States and Russia in April 2010 and entered into force in February 2011. It limited each side’s deployed strategic …
New START: Basic Facts Read More