Common Sense
NATO
Ozymandias: Part One
“I met a traveller from an antique land, Who said—“Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand, Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown, And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command, Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, […]
Spain’s Two Answers to Congressman Pitts
On the 16th of April, the USS Florida was steaming out of the Royal Navy’s facilities in Gibraltar after a short port call. In the brief period between the Florida’s departure from the dock and her entry into the international waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, the Navy ship was twice harassed by Spanish vessels: […]
To the Shores of Tripoli
Great Britain and Italy are preparing to send ground troops to Libya. With little media attention and even less public debate, up to 6,000 British and Italian soldiers would be deployed to bolster the fragile unity government in its efforts to end the lawlessness in the country and combat the growing presence of Islamic State […]
The Rights and Wrongs of Russia
“Can NATO deter Russia?”[1] “Can NATO face up to Russia task?”[2] “Stop Putin’s Next Invasion Before it Starts,”[3] and “Putin Wants to Destroy NATO.”[4] Those are the headlines that appear in the Western press and foreign policy literature. It seems a legitimate question: Russia went to war with Georgia in 2008, annexed Crimea and supported […]
Ceuta to Moscow: “Send More Russians” by Alex Calvo
Ceuta Port Authority reports 50 Russian ships docked in the city in 2010-2014 Alex Calvo is an expert on defense and security in the Indian-Pacific Ocean Region. He tweets at Alex__Calvo and his work can be found here. The article is reprinted with permission of the author. The views expressed are exclusively those of the author […]
The New Entente Cordiale: Russia’s Dangerous Idea
The Paris terrorist attack and the French “declaration of war”[1] against the Islamic State has been ably exploited by Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the immediate aftermath of the slaughter in the French capital, the Kremlin finally acknowledged what was long known to Western intelligence agencies: the Metrojet flight from Sharm el Sheik was destroyed […]
From Russia With Love…To Ceuta
Defense experts on both sides of the Atlantic have expressed concern about the increase in Russian submarine activity in the Atlantic Ocean[1]. Russian patrols have risen by 50% to what one unnamed European diplomat described as “Cold War levels”. Not only the frequency of excursions has increased: the submarines are approaching the United States and […]
Adéu a Europa? Benvinguts al Mercosur
Before anyone gets their panties in a bundle, permit me to say that this is a thought-exercise rather than a serious recommendation. But given the uncertainties surrounding the future of a hypothetical Catalan Republic in the event of a unilateral and non-negotiated secession from Spain, it is worth “thinking outside the box.” At the least, […]
Catalonia: An Essential Pillar of NATO, Peace and Security in Indi-Pac by Alex Calvo and Pol Molas
Alex Calvo is a guest professor at Nagoya University in Japan Pol Molas is a naval analyst and regular contributor to the Blau Naval blog The article is reprinted with permission of the author. The views expressed are exclusively those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by Common Sense. Security and defence, […]
Security and Defence Policy in an Independent Catalonia by Alex Calvo
Alex Calvo, a guest professor at Nagoya University (Japan), focuses on security and defence policy, international law, and military history, in the Indian-Pacific Ocean Region. He tweets @Alex__Calvo and his work, which includes “China’s Air Defense Identification Zone: Concept, Issues at Stake and Regional Impact”, Naval War College Press Working Papers, No 1, US Naval […]
Common Sense
- A Veteran’s Day Reflection: Bring Back National Service November 12, 2016
- Ozymandias: Part One November 10, 2016
- Reflecting on the Second Amendment on November 9th November 9, 2016
- America, Rise Up November 7, 2016
- The Road to Revolution November 4, 2016
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