SSI Live Podcast

Saudi Arabia is leading a coalition of other states in conducting air strikes against Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen as President Hadi flees Aden. Meanwhile, Egypt says it’s ready to become involved as well. The crisis in Yemen has all the hallmarks of a growing proxy war among major regional powers, and the United States certainly has an interest in the outcome. Dr. John R. Deni sat down with his SSI colleague Dr. Andy Terrill to discuss the latest developments in Yemen. Released 31 March 2015.

The United States will slow down the drawdown of its forces from Afghanistan, and roughly American 10,000 troops will remain there through 2015. What are the operational and strategic implications of this decision? How will this decision affect the pursuit of U.S. interests in the region? How has Afghanistan's President Ghani changed the dynamic between Kabul and Washington? Dr. Chris Mason of the Strategic Studies Institute addressed these and other questions with Dr. John R. Deni. Released 26 March 2015.

Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of the U.S. Congress on the issue of nuclear negotiations with Iran. Does the PM's critique of a prospective agreement with Iran have merit? What is the strategic security context in which both Israel and Iran find themselves in today? Dr. John R. Deni and Dr. Andy Terrill discuss the Prime Minister's speech and the issue of nuclear security in the Middle East. Released 4 March 2015.

Much of the available evidence points to a U.S. Army that is not preparing to fight the last war...but maybe it should. Is the Army and the broader U.S. military ready to manage the likely conflicts -- which are likely to be messy, involve non-state actors, and potentially include stability operations -- of the next several years? Dr. John R. Deni invited his colleague Prof. Trey Braun to discuss an op-ed written by Prof. Braun on managing the space between war and peace, and whether the Army is ready, trained, and manned for that mission set. Released 26 February 2015.

Did the 2015 National Security Strategy (NSS) hit the mark? Does it map ends to ways and means? What are the key threats, challenges, and opportunities facing the United States today, and how does this strategy address them? Dr. John R. Deni and Prof. Nate Freier discuss these and other aspects of the recently released NSS. Released 11 February 2015.

The brutal murder of a Jordanian pilot by the Islamic State this week seemed to have been intended to shock the world and Jordan specifically. Certainly that has been the case, but the murder has simultaneously galvanized Jordan's commitment to the fight against the Islamic State. Dr. John R. Deni invited his colleague Dr. Andy Terrill to discuss that reaction as well as the broader implications for the anti-IS coalition. Released 6 February 2015.

The ongoing political and security crisis in Yemen took a turn for the worse in the last 24 hours, as elected President Hadi and his entire government resigned. The country appears in chaos at the moment, as the Iranian-backed Houthi militia confronts forces of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). What are the implications for regional security, for U.S. interests in the Middle East, and for American military operations against AQAP and ISIS? Dr. John R. Deni invited his colleague Dr. Andy Terrill to discuss all of this plus the very recent death of Saudi King Abdullah. Released 26 January 2015.

Professor Nate Freier, director of the 26th annual USAWC Strategy Conference, sat down with Dr. John R. Deni to discuss this year's premier national security event. Scheduled for 7-9 April 2015, held in Carlisle, and open to the public, this year's conference will address key principles for 21st century defense. In conjunction with the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, this year's conference will include panels featuring experts from CSIS, the National Defense University, the Atlantic Council, the National Intelligence Council, CNA, and other organizations. Released 14 January 2015.

Last week, the United States and Cuba agreed to normalized relations. What are the strategic implications of this decision in Latin American and beyond? Does this decision strengthen the U.S. hand in Latin America relative to extra-regional actors such as Russia and China? Does the administration have a strategy for moving forward, and what policy recommendations should be considered? The SSI's Dr. Evan Ellis talked with Dr. John R. Deni on this momentous policy change. Released 22 December 2014.

As the September 2014 ceasefire signed in Minsk appears increasingly meaningless and as Russian manpower and materiel reportedly continue to flow across the porous border with Ukraine's Donbas region, NATO's role in bolstering the security of its Eastern European member states seems vital. What steps did the alliance take at its September Wales summit to strengthen its position? Did the summit indicate that the alliance has set a new trajectory for itself? Dr. John R. Deni offers his assessment, based in part on his article, "NATO's New Trajectories After the Wales Summit," in the latest issue of Parameters. Released 1 December 2014.