U.S. Landpower in the South China Sea

U.S. landpower is an essential, but often overlooked, element of national power in semi-enclosed maritime environments like the South China Sea. This monograph gives U.S. policymakers a better understanding of the role of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Forces (SOF) in the region through potential combat operations employing wide area defense and maneuver; deterrence through forward presence and peacetime operations; and security engagement with landpower-dominant allies, partners, and competitors in the region. Landpower’s capabilities are also essential for direct support of the air and sea services and other government organization’s success when operating in this theater in direct support of U.S. national interests.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1409/thumbnail.jp

Security and Stability in Africa: A Development Approach

The security and stability of Africa has recently become an important national issue readily seen in the increased time, effort, and resources now devoted to the continent by such new organizations as the U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM). This paper seeks to overcome centuries of ignorance and misunderstanding about the conditions and people of Africa by discussing the fundamental issues of economic development and political governance through which enduring stability and security might be obtained. This paper offers solutions in terms of improving African stability and security and a framework of several key issues which should give policymakers the knowledge they need to work in a constantly changing and very challenging environment.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1349/thumbnail.jp

An Introduction to Theater Strategy and Regional Security

Theater strategy and theater security cooperation are two of the most important tools available in attaining national security. They offer an effective means for geographic Combatant Commanders to engage other countries, deter aggression, or resolve crises. However, there is little current, concise, and comprehensive guidance on how they are planned and implemented. This paper explains what theater strategy is, its basis, how it is formulated, and how it is executed with emphasis on theater security cooperation. The author illustrates the role in national affairs of theater strategy and security cooperation through examples from a case study leading up to and during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1360/thumbnail.jp

Dangerous Ground: The Spratly Islands and U.S. Interests and Approaches

View the Executive SummaryThe Spratly Islands warrant better understanding by U.S. policymakers in order to discuss nuanced responses to the region’s challenges. To attain that needed understanding, legal aspects of customary and modern laws are explored to analyze the differences between competing maritime and territorial claims and why and how the parties involved stake rival claims or maritime legal rights. Throughout the monograph, the policies of the United States are examined through its conflicted interests in the region. Recommendations for how the United States should engage these issues, a more appropriate task than trying to solve the disputes outright, are then offered.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1508/thumbnail.jp

The Paracel Islands and U.S. Interests and Approaches in the South China Sea

View the Executive SummaryThe Paracel Islands and South China Sea disputes require better understanding by U.S. policymakers in order to address the region’s challenges. To attain that needed understanding, legal aspects of customary and modern laws are explored in this monograph to analyze the differences between competing maritime and territorial claims, and why and how China and Vietnam stake rival claims or maritime legal rights. Throughout, U.S. policies are examined through U.S. conflicted interests in the region. Recommendations for how the United States should engage these issues, a more appropriate task than trying to solve the disputes outright, are then offered.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1491/thumbnail.jp

The Causes of Instability in Nigeria and Implications for the United States

View the Executive SummaryAn understanding the political economy of Nigeria is needed to reveal the root causes of its many ethnic, religious, economic, and political problems and to address them for the long term. The pressures now weighing on Nigeria could literally fracture the state along deep fault lines if rampant corruption and partisanship continues. As mutually important partners for both of our interests in Africa, the United States should assist in specific but indirect ways to help Nigerians overcome their political economic problems. Within such assistance, the role of the U.S. military is particularly delicate but needed through focused aid to specific programs and sharing of expertise, all best managed through employing units that are regionally aligned to Nigeria or West Africa.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1518/thumbnail.jp

Nigerian Unity: In the Balance

View the Executive SummaryNigeria’s future as a unified state is in jeopardy. Those who make or execute U.S. policy will find it difficult to advance U.S. interests in Africa without an understanding of the pressures that tear and bind Nigeria. Despite this, the centrifugal forces that tear at the country and the centripetal forces that have kept it whole are not well understood and rarely examined. After establishing Nigeria’s importance to the United State as a cohesive and functioning state, this monograph examines the historic, religious, cultural, political, physical, demographic, and economic factors that will determine Nigeria’s fate. It identifies the specific fault lines along which Nigeria may divide. It concludes with practical policy recommendations for the United States to support Nigerians in their efforts to maintain a functioning and integrated state, and, by so doing, advance U.S. interests.https://press.armywarcollege.edu/monographs/1524/thumbnail.jp

Quasi-ordered photonic structures colour the bluespotted ribbontail ray

Due to the scarcity of blue colour exhibited by natural organisms, highlighting the underlying this colour mechanisms is always very impactful for the understanding of the natural world. In this research, the colour of the blue rounded spots occurring in the skin of Taeniura lymma stingray was unveiled by a combination of experimental and numerical techniques. Our results demonstrated that this blue colour arises from coherent scattering in quasi-ordered photonic structures occurring in the skin of this stingray.</p

Quasi-ordered photonic structures colour the bluespotted ribbontail ray

Due to the scarcity of blue colour exhibited by natural organisms, highlighting the underlying this colour mechanisms is always very impactful for the understanding of the natural world. In this research, the colour of the blue rounded spots occurring in the skin of Taeniura lymma stingray was unveiled by a combination of experimental and numerical techniques. Our results demonstrated that this blue colour arises from coherent scattering in quasi-ordered photonic structures occurring in the skin of this stingray.</p