As world power continues to re-calibrate as former powers decline and new powers rise, the shift is manifesting itself in military spending. Within the military there is a constant tension between sea/air and land forces, as these forces play different roles. To address shifts in global power, it is best to be able to respond flexibly, and navies offer the best way to shift power quickly. And navies all over the world are becoming much stronger and more robust. The relative inability of land-based armies to produce decisive results (in Iraq and Afghanistan) has diminished the appeal of that arm of military power.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with President Obama and urged him to proceed cautiously with respect to Iran. From the Israeli perspective, Iran represents a central threat and a temporary change in government does not alter the strategic threat it poses to Israeli security. It will be difficult for President Obama to thread this needle: engaging Iran productively without alienating Israel. Obama would be well-advised to enlist the aid of allies to test the sincerity of Iranian intentions–that strategy will keep channels to both sides open.
The Guardian continues to publish information about the US National Security Agency from materials leaked by Edward Snowden. Its most recent article details how the NSA stores “metadata” in a program codenamed “Marina.” Contrary to what the US government has asserted, the NSA stores information from everyone, even those people who are not targeted by the NSA. It keeps that information for a year, even though it asserts that that material is not reviewed. How does it feel to know that the NSA can know everything you do (if it chooses) on the internet?
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