No, I'm Not Over What NAVSEA Did to Constellation
The author argues that NAVSEA’s handling of the Constellation‑class frigate program turned a heritage‑based adaptation of the Franco‑Italian FREMM into a de‑facto clean‑sheet design, eroding cost, schedule and governance controls. The shift occurred between mid‑2022 and mid‑2023 when senior ownership waned, leading to a misalignment between contractual expectations and technical requirements. The piece stresses that the United States still lacks a dedicated anti‑submarine warfare (ASW) frigate, despite the proven performance of French FREMMs. It calls for renewed stewardship to restore the program’s original premise.
This Is What It Feels Like to Be a Rogue State
The article contrasts the $11.3 billion cost of the first six days of the unauthorized Iran strike with the National Science Foundation’s $8.75 billion budget, arguing that the war is illegal and strategically flawed. It condemns executive overreach, calling the generals involved...
US Energy Secretary Wright: Iran Operations to Take Weeks, Not Months
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Wright said Iran‑related naval operations in the Strait of Hormuz will last weeks, not months, and that a U.S. Navy escort for commercial tankers is expected by the end of the month. Washington is working with allied...
☕ Morning Briefing — Thursday, March 12, 2026
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck the Thai‑flagged cargo vessel Mayuree Naree in the Strait of Hormuz, killing three crew members and igniting fears over neutral shipping in a key oil chokepoint. In response to the resulting price surge, President...
This Is Netanyahu's War, Congress Can Prevent It From Becoming Ours
Representative Thomas Massie reminded the House that the Constitution vests war‑making authority in Congress, a point the GOP‑dominated chamber rejected by 212‑219. President Trump ordered strikes against Iran in coordination with Israel without a formal declaration, congressional authorization, or clear evidence...
The State Of Play In The Middle East
The article traces the deterioration of Iran‑Israel relations from the 1979 revolution to the June 2025 Twelve‑Day War, where Israel and the United States launched strikes aimed at regime change and dismantling Iran’s nuclear program. While Netanyahu remained in power,...
America Doesn’t Understand Iran And It Shows (with Danny Citrinowicz)
In the latest episode of The Long Game, senior researcher Danny Citrinowicz argues that the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei could paradoxically push Tehran closer to a nuclear bomb rather than deter it. He notes that Iran’s technical...
Letter From Munich: Militarism in a Post-American World
The 2026 Munich Security Conference unfolded amid heightened U.S. aggression, including threats to Greenland and a looming war with Iran, while the Trump administration mocked its own foreign policy. Inside the conference, officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio pledged...
Government Warns of Risks From Overseas AI Dominance
The UK government warned that the concentration of frontier artificial intelligence development in a handful of overseas jurisdictions creates strategic risks for Britain’s security and freedom of action. Defence Minister Luke Pollard highlighted that most advanced AI capability is currently...
UK and Australia Explore Steel Cooperation for AUKUS
The United Kingdom and Australia are assessing how their steel sectors can jointly support the AUKUS submarine programme, following the first UK‑Australia Defence Industry Dialogue since 2018. Defence Minister Luke Pollard highlighted that British firms, notably Sheffield Forgemasters, are already...
US Forces Urge Civilians in Iran to Avoid Port Facilities Where Iranian Forces Are Operating
On March 11, 2026 U.S. Central Command warned civilians in Iran to stay away from any port facilities where Iranian naval forces are operating. Tehran is reportedly using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz for military activities, which strips...
UK Points to New Powers on Failing Defence Suppliers
The UK government says the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, gives it new powers to curb underperforming defence contractors. The legislation introduces an expanded exclusions regime, discretionary debarment and a transparent, centralized system for...
Frigates Remain Key to UK Atlantic Bastion Plan
The UK’s Atlantic Bastion concept keeps general‑purpose frigates central for maritime presence, escort and reassurance while integrating uncrewed systems. Analysts argue that drones can assume long‑range passive ASW sensing, allowing frigates to avoid the vulnerability of towed arrays. Future frigates...
Munich 2026: The Turning that Didn’t Start This Year
The 2026 Munich Security Conference served as a diagnostic barometer, revealing that the post‑World War II Western order is not collapsing but facing deep‑seated fragility. Delegates highlighted the cumulative impact of eroding arms‑control regimes, weaponized economic interdependence, great‑power rivalry, and internal...
The Quiet Ship Off Oman
China’s Liaowang 1, a signals‑intelligence vessel, has positioned itself off Oman to monitor electromagnetic emissions from U.S. and allied forces in the Gulf. Its radar domes capture radar, communications and movement data, creating a real‑time electronic map of the regional conflict....
A Little Excursion
President Joe Biden referred to the escalating confrontation with Iran as a “little excursion,” downplaying what analysts describe as a full‑scale war. The comment follows a series of missile strikes, cyber attacks, and naval encounters that have already caused civilian...
The Usefulness of Useless Knowledge
Tim Harford’s FT piece argues that research once dismissed as useless often becomes foundational to transformative technologies. He cites the RSA algorithm, born from abstract number theory, and Flexner’s 1939 defense of pure science that later powered radio, cryptography, and...
The China Opening: Nixon’s Strategic Masterstroke and How His Successors Squandered It
President Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit to Beijing broke diplomatic isolation and used the Sino‑Soviet split to gain strategic leverage against the USSR. The move opened a channel that later presidents expanded into full diplomatic ties, WTO membership, and deep economic...
Media: Iran Was Preparing To Strike California With Shahed Drones
The FBI circulated a late‑February bulletin warning that Iran may attempt a surprise Shahed drone strike on California, potentially launched from an unknown vessel offshore. Shahed “suicide” drones, already deployed by Russia in Ukraine, represent a low‑cost, high‑impact weapon that...
WEBINAR (3/11/26): Vigilance Is Not Enough: A History of United States Intelligence
The Michael V. Hayden Center at George Mason University is hosting a live‑streamed and in‑person webinar on March 11, 2026, featuring intelligence veteran Dr. Mark Lowenthal. Lowenthal will discuss his new book, Vigilance Is Not Enough: A History of United...
VIDEO: JSOU Snapshot: Chinese Influence and Cognitive Warfare
The Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) released a short video titled “Chinese Influence and Cognitive Warfare,” examining how Beijing designs and deploys influence campaigns against adversaries. The piece outlines China’s long‑standing focus on controlling narratives both at home and abroad,...
Explainer: How Global Shipping Is Financing China’s Navy without Knowing It
Global shipping’s reliance on Chinese Tier‑1 shipyards is simultaneously financing the People’s Liberation Army Navy. CSIS data shows these yards produce 40% of China’s commercial tonnage while building virtually every major warship, generating $165 billion in export revenue from 2019‑2024. Freight‑rate...
Even Fox News Is Getting Fed Up With Trump’s Conflicting Messaging on Iran War
President Donald Trump gave contradictory descriptions of the U.S. military campaign against Iran, calling it a short‑term "excursion" while also acknowledging it as a war. Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy pressed Trump for clarification, prompting the president to claim the...
Is Congress Finally Reauthorizing SBIR/STTR—And What’s Changing?
On March 3, 2026 the Senate passed the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act (S. 3971), reauthorizing the SBIR/STTR programs through September 2031. The legislation adds a new Strategic Breakthrough Award that can fund up to $30 million over 48 months for...
The War Will End Very Badly for the USA & Israel, Whatever Fantasies the White House Tries to Spin: Col....
Colonel Doug MacGregor argues that decades‑long U.S. and Israeli interventions—from the 1953 CIA‑backed coup in Iran to the training of SAVAK and later support for jihadist groups—have created a strategic backlash that will culminate in a disastrous outcome for both the...
Life as a Janissary in the Ottoman Empire
Centuries‑old Ottoman devshirme system conscripted Christian boys from the Balkans, converting them to Islam and training them as Janissary soldiers. The levy targeted youths aged eight to sixteen, with families often attempting concealment or deception to protect their children. Once...
Ten Points on the A3C and Shield of the Americas Conference
The A3C and Shield of the Americas conference gathered in Florida to discuss countering Chinese influence in Latin America, featuring former Trump officials and defense contractors. The agenda combined hard‑line anti‑China rhetoric with proposals for a regional security pact resembling...
Defense Industrial Base Consortium Issues New Critical Minerals Request for Project Proposals
On February 27, 2026 the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) released a new Request for Project Proposals (RPP) focused on thirteen strategic and critical minerals, with Phase 1 submissions due March 20. The solicitation follows Executive Order 14241 and aims to diversify U.S....
Israel’s Former Intelligence Chief on the Iran War and the Future of the Middle East
Amos Yadlin, former head of Israeli military intelligence and veteran F‑16 pilot, is commenting on the escalating U.S.–Israel campaign against Iran. He draws on his experience in air strikes, cyber operations and strategic think‑tank analysis to assess the war’s trajectory....
Wide Boundary News: The Iranian War, Rising Gas Prices, and the Single Point Failure
The latest Wide Boundary News episode examines the U.S. and Israeli military offensive against Iran and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that handles roughly 20% of global oil and a significant share of LNG, sulfur...
Booz Allen’s US$300M Andreessen Horowitz Investment and the Role of 3D Printing in National Security Innovation
In January 2026 Booz Allen Hamilton pledged a US $300 million capital commitment to Andreessen Horowitz, with an option to expand to $400 million, to back hard‑tech startups focused on AI, robotics and additive manufacturing. The partnership spotlights Firestorm Labs’ xCell, a containerized 3D‑printing...
UPDATE: Trump Says Kushner Helped Convince Him to Go to War with Iran
President Trump told reporters that Jared Kushner was among a small group of advisers who persuaded him to launch major combat operations against Iran. Kushner, who holds no formal government role, participated in Geneva mediation while running his private‑equity firm...
The Gulf Built Oil Pipelines to Avoid Hormuz. It’s Now Doing the Same for Data
Gulf nations are racing to construct six overland data corridors linking the region to Europe, routing traffic through Syria, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. The most advanced, Saudi Arabia's SilkLink, secured an $800 million contract to lay 4,500 km of fiber...
Cyprus First to Use EU GOVSATCOM Secure Communications Service
Cyprus has become the first EU member to operationally use the European Union’s GOVSATCOM secure satellite communications service, announced by EUSPA on 10 March. The service, which went live in January 2026, aggregates capacity from eight satellites operated by five countries to...
The Hidden Cost of “Efficiency”: How DOGE Cuts Are Undermining the War Effort Against Iran
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is slashing contracts, staff, and programs, citing fiscal discipline, but the cuts are hitting the Pentagon and foreign‑aid apparatus at a critical time. Defense officials report more than $580 million in grant cancellations and up...
Pentagon Should Focus on Defense Priorities After Historic $93.4B “Use-It-or-Lose-It”
The Pentagon’s September 2025 spending surge hit a historic $93.4 billion on grants and contracts, with $50.1 billion disbursed in the last five working days alone. This outlays exceed the entire annual defense budgets of nations such as Israel and Italy and...
CRS U.S. Military Operations Against Iran’s Missile and Nuclear Programs
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran targeting its missile and nuclear programs. President Donald Trump framed the operation as preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, destroying its missile arsenal, and...
2026-03-11: Japan Deploys First Domestically Produced Long-Range Missiles in Kumamoto
South Korean military and regulators are treating the escalating Middle East conflict as an immediate business risk, especially after strikes near Korean units in Lebanon and the UAE. The Cheonghae Unit east of Oman has heightened surveillance and is now...
Mine Waste Like Those Found in Sudbury Could Strengthen National Security (Sudbury Star – March 9, 2026)
Nadia Mykytczuk, director of Laurentian University’s Goodman School of Mines, told Canada’s Standing Committee on National Defence that the country’s abundant mining tailings contain billions of dollars’ worth of critical minerals such as nickel, copper, cobalt and rare earth elements....
Are We in the Foothills of World War 3?
The United States and Israel have launched a limited war against Iran, decapitating its leadership and degrading its missile and drone capabilities, while public opinion remains sharply divided. The conflict has spiked global oil prices, stoking inflation concerns and pressuring...
The Oil Endgame as Aussie Rationing Begins
Australia has begun fuel rationing amid tightening global oil supplies, driven by heightened U.S.-Iran tensions. Washington’s objective is to cripple Iran’s naval, nuclear and missile capabilities without seeking regime change. Tehran views confrontation with the U.S. and Israel as a...
Explainer: What Is Pine Gap and How Could It Be Assisting the US and Israel in Their War on Iran?
The Australian satellite‑tracking station Pine Gap, a joint US‑Australia intelligence hub, is alleged to be feeding real‑time data to the United States and Israel for strikes against Iran. Former intelligence officer and MP Andrew Wilkie told SBS that Australian intelligence...
Former 47th Brigade Commander Criticizes Assault Units Leadership
Former 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade battalion commander Oleksandr Shyrshyn publicly condemned the leadership of several Ukrainian assault units, accusing them of systemic failures that generate unnecessary casualties. He argued that commanders prioritize loyalty over responsibility, undermining strategic goals. Shyrshyn called...
DARPA Expands Quantum Benchmarking Initiative with New Stage A Call for Participants
DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) has launched a new Stage A Quantum Benchmarking Initiative Topic (QBIT), inviting organizations not yet funded to submit system concepts for utility‑scale quantum computing. The solicitation targets distinct, untested architectures and offers a six‑month evaluation period,...
Here’s Why Early F/A-18 Pilots Routinely Lost 1v1 Dogfight Against an F-14
The F/A‑18 Hornet proved its strike capability in Desert Storm, shooting down MiG‑21s and surviving surface‑to‑air hits, yet early Navy pilots struggled in air‑to‑air combat. Most of those pilots transitioned from A‑7 attack aircraft and were taught to view the...
Alternate Shots. Episode 20.
John Ellis and former diplomat Richard Haass recorded Episode 20 of "Alternate Shots," focusing on the ongoing Middle East war that began as a conflict with Iran. They explored pathways to end the war, emphasizing a cease‑fire followed by a...
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DEFAERO Strategy Series [Mar 10, 26] Rumer on Latest US-Iran & Russia-Ukraine Headlines
The Defense & Aerospace Report’s Strategy Series featured Carnegie Endowment’s Dr. Eugene Rumer analyzing how the US‑Israel conflict with Iran reverberates in Moscow, including Russia’s willingness to share intelligence that could aid Tehran’s strikes on U.S. forces. He examined the...
Wide Boundary News: The Iranian War, Rising Gas Prices, and the Single Point Failure
The latest Wide Boundary News episode dissects the U.S. and Israeli offensive against Iran and the looming threat of a Strait of Hormuz closure. It argues that oil, often seen as a modest 3% of GDP, actually underlies virtually all...
US Will Take and Keep Kharg Island Before War Is Over
The article argues that the United States should seize Iran’s Kharg Island, a strategic oil export hub handling up to 7 million barrels per day, and convert it into a permanent naval, marine, and special‑operations base. By establishing a fortified presence,...
The Iran War: Draining America While China Watches
The article argues that the United States’ war with Iran is less about defeating Tehran and more about signaling resolve to China. Washington officials portray the conflict as a deterrent against Beijing, but the author contends it reveals critical U.S....