Wild Blue Yonder

Aug. 17, 2020
The Future of China’s Belt and Road Initiative

The global COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the export of China’s worst characteristics, while prompting delays and disruptions to BRI construction and investment plans. These delays risk years of planning and hundreds of billions of dollars in PRC economic diplomacy. Quarantine measures are
Aug. 3, 2020
Strike Back!: India–China Border Skirmish

What factors, as the Germans say, were the Anlass (trigger) and the Ursache (underlying reason) for the breakdown of decades-long relative peace along the 3,488 km India–China LAC in the Himalayas? How should India react? And what does the Himalayan clash mean for US strategy?
Aug. 3, 2020
Unilateralism and Competitive Multilateralism in Gray-zone Conflict: A Comparison of Russia and the United States

This article argues that today’s alliances constitute a form of competitive multilateralism that puts allies in a difficult position, assessing US gray-zone campaigns against adversaries and allies in the Middle East and Europe and Russia’s engagements in Ukraine and Georgia and their impact on
Aug. 3, 2020
Doomie

This sci-fi short story, written for an Air University elective, explores a number of important issues, including space exploration, space debris tracking and remediation, international science and military cooperation, superpower and multipolar political dynamics, and more.
July 20, 2020
An Expanded View of Cost Imposition: Application to Personnel and Nondefense Policies

This article finds that the US’s defensive position in personnel costs is relatively strong due to the country's large population and economic power. The article suggests several policy changes to improve America's defensive posture even more by reducing US military personnel costs, including a
July 20, 2020
Assessing India’s Preparedness: External Interference in Political Processes through Social Media

This article examines the existing tools that India possesses, legislative and otherwise, to combat the threats posed by external actors who would use social media to manipulate Indian elections and enumerates possible solutions that could perhaps assist in dealing with these threats.
July 16, 2020
2020 Issues

Archived 2020 issues
July 9, 2020
Why Did Beijing Decide to Apply the Security Law to Hong Kong Now?

The passage of the new Hong Kong national security law probably is the most significant political change that has taken place since Britain transferred Hong Kong to China. Therefore, it is hard to ignore the timing in which China chose to declare the new law—a time when the entire world is
July 6, 2020
Understanding and Challenging “The Digital Air Force” USAF White Paper

This short article is an examination, constructive critique, and epilogue to “The Digital Air Force” USAF White Paper. The article characterizes the white paper in terms of where it falls in a traditional stratification of guidance documents, categorizes the white paper in terms of international
June 22, 2020
On Early Air Combat in Southeast Asia: After Wingate’s Fortitude Eclipsed Mountbatten’s Folly

Generals and admirals bring prior credibility to conferences. Insignia of rank demonstrate authority; rows of ribbons denote extensive service if not valor; and reputations for previous sound decisions (or lack thereof) may affect listeners. Some credibility, however, is enhanced by their speaking