Program Related Publication Feeds

Iran and the Gulf Military Balance

ian — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

This report has been extensively updated in the wake of the IAEA’s November 8, 2011 report which provides the most detailed indicators that Iran is taking steps toward producing nuclear weapons.

The Military Balance in Asia, 1990-2011

ian — Mon, 16 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The Burke Chair has updated its analysis of the military balance in Asia released late last year. This report traces developments in the balance since 1990, and provides a detailed comparison of military forces as of 2011.

Libya: “No Fly” to “Unstable Stalemate” or “Regime Kill?”

mentman — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0400

It is hard to get at the reality of US and allied operations in Libya, in part because there have to be serious limits to public disclosures of both the full nature of those operations and the real mission.

Stability in the Middle East and North Africa: the other Side of Security

mentman — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0400

National security is normally seen in terms of military strength and internal security operations against extremists and insurgents. The upheavals that began in Tunis have highlighted the fact that national security is measured in terms of the politics, economics, and social tensions that shape national stability as well.

GCC Security, Risk Assessment, and U.S. Extended Deterrence

sherry — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0500

The Burke chair has just published a new report entitled “GCC Security, Risk Assessment, and US Extended Deterrence” which is available on the CSIS web site at http://csis.org/files/publication/110202_GCC_Secur_US_Extended_Deter.pdf.

The North African Military Balance

amausner — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0500

The military balance in North Africa, and internal security developments in each country, receive less attention than the Arab-Israeli balance and the balance in the Gulf. They are, however, an important part of the security of world energy exports, and the struggle against terrorism and extremism.

The Saudi Arms Sale

amausner — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The Department of Defense has proposed a new series of arms transfers to Saudi Arabia whose cost could eventually total up to $60 billion. A new analysis by the Burke Chair indicates that these transfers serve the vital national security interest of both nations. This analysis is entitled The Saudi Arms Sale: Reinforcing a Strategic Partnership in the Gulf.

Spread Sheet Model for Analyzing the Military Balance in Asia

ian — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The 2010 Asia Military Balance Database was developed by Robert Hammond during an internship at the Burke Chair, as a tool for providing rapid updates to assessments of the Asian military balance. It is available to all users and can be found on the CSIS web site at:

The Military Balance in Asia, 1990-2010

amausner — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400

The Burke Chair has developed a new analysis of the military balance in Asia. This report traces developments in the balance since 1990, and provides a detailed comparison of military forces as of 2010.

The Arab-Israeli Military Balance in 2010

amausner — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Major changes are taking place in the Arab-Israeli military balance.

The Gulf Military Balance in 2010: An Overview

amausner — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0400

Much of the current focus on the Gulf concentrates largely on Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. This, however, is only part of the regional military balance. Changes are also taking place in the conventional military balance and in the balance of capabilities for asymmetric warfare.

GCC - Iran: Operational Analysis of Air, SAM and TBM Forces

amausner — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently stated that the U.S. will not allow the Gulf Region to be dominated by a hegemonic Iran, and that an Iran in possession of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. If Iran continues to pursue a nuclear weapon program then the U.S. will likely arm its allies in the region, extending a defense umbrella over the Gulf.

Iran Status Report

amausner — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 -0400

US policy towards Iran requires more than dialogue. It requires careful consideration of Iran’s evolving military capabilities and the range of threats it can pose to its neighbors, the wider Middle East, and to the flow of world oil exports.

The Lebanese Armed Forces

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The purpose of this report is to examine the force development challenges that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) are facing in post-Syria Lebanon. The report also seeks to identify opportunities for Lebanon and its foreign allies to strengthen the LAF both as a local institution and as a stabilizing fighting force in the Middle East.

Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile programs, and their interactions with its growing capabilities for asymmetric warfare, are becoming steadily more critical security issues for the US, Ira

Saudi National Security and the Saudi-U.S. Strategic Partnership

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The United States faces major problems in restoring its reputation and strategic partnerships all over the world. Every opinion poll that has addressed the subject has shown that the last eight years have done immense damage to America’s position. There are few areas, however, where U.S. action is more urgent than in the Gulf and in dealing with Saudi Arabia.

Israeli-Syrian Air and SAM Strength Analysis

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The relative balance of Israeli and Syria air combat capabilities has long been a key factor shaping both the level of deterrence in the Arab-Israel conflict and the outcome of any conflict.

The Israeli and Syrian Conventional Military Balance

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The armed forces of Israel and Syria have evolved in response to continued tension and the prospects for conflict between the two countries. This report summarizes the development of each country’s conventional military strengths and weaknesses in force strength, force quality, capabilities, and leadership.

USCENTCOM and the Future

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The United States must do more than deal with its withdrawal from Iraq and reverse the course of the Afghan conflict. It needs to rethink the overall structure of its military posture and strategy in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.

Security Cooperation in the Gulf

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Southern Gulf states and the United States must make major changes in their national security posture over the next few years. U.S. withdrawals from Iraq, the rising potential threat from Iran, and the need to meet new security challenges all require substantial changes in the security posture and forces of each Gulf country and in the size, structure, and deployment of U.S.

Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile programs, and their interactions with its growing capabilities for asymmetric warfare, are becoming steadily more critical security issues for the US, Ira

Iranian Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Iran’s nuclear ambitions and missile programs, and their interactions with its growing capabilities for asymmetric warfare, are becoming steadily more critical security issues for the US, Ira

The United States, Israel, the Arab States, and a Nuclear Iran

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Conventional Armed Forces in the Gulf

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Conventional military strength is only one aspect of the trends in Gulf security, but it is important to understand how Gulf forces now compare and the mix of quantitative and qualitative strength

The Iraq War

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 -0400

The Iraq War is an extremely complex conflict, and one where the overall trends and developments are difficult to track with any clarity.

Security Challenges and Threats in the Gulf

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Both Gulf and US policymakers need to reassess the priorities in dealing with the threats to the Gulf.

Israel and Syria

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0400

The Arab-Israeli military balance now consists of two largely separate balances: The first such balance is the balance between Israel and the Palestinians. Since 2000, this has been an asymmetric war that Israel has largely won. Its politics poison the region, and have led to a civil conflict among the Palestinians that may take years to resolve.

Warfighting and Proliferation in the Middle East

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0400

Key Actors in 2010-2020

Arab-Israeli Military Forces in an Era of Asymmetric Wars

Sat, 30 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0400

The reality of the Arab-Israeli balance now consists of two subordinate balances: Israel versus Syria and Israel versus the Palestinians. This book analyzes these two balances in detail, as well as their impact on defense planning in each country and on the overall strategic risk to the region as a whole.

The Gulf Military Forces in an Era of Asymmetric War: Bahrain