Apple, Inc. vs. Federal Bureau of Investigation: An Encrypted Debate
Communications / National Security / Politics

Apple, Inc. vs. Federal Bureau of Investigation: An Encrypted Debate

Editor’s Note: This article appears as the first of a three-part series dealing with the recent legal battle between Apple and the F.B.I. over a court order requiring Apple to break into the phone of one of the San Bernardino Shooters. Alessandra establishes the background and calls on the government to create a commission to address this … Continue reading

Arctic Posture (Part I): An Unprepared and Underfunded U.S. Coast Guard
National Security

Arctic Posture (Part I): An Unprepared and Underfunded U.S. Coast Guard

By way of Alaska’s 60,000 mile coastline, the United States is one of the world’s eight Arctic nations. However, many in the U.S. fail to understand the significance of this relatively unexplored frontier. Outside the Cold War, the United States has invested very little to secure its position as a global leader in Arctic affairs. As … Continue reading

A World Free of Nuclear Weapons? More like a World Full of Nuclear Weapons.
Foreign Policy / National Security / Politics

A World Free of Nuclear Weapons? More like a World Full of Nuclear Weapons.

The use of nuclear weapons is perhaps the most dangerous threat one state can make against another. Dropping a single bomb can kill millions of civilians, destroy cities and cause massive economic damage. When the U.S. dropped the Atom bomb on Nagasaki, it destroyed approximately 40 percent of the buildings in the city. In Hiroshima, … Continue reading

Want to Weaken Terrorist Groups? Go After Their Bank Accounts.
National Security / Politics

Want to Weaken Terrorist Groups? Go After Their Bank Accounts.

Terrorist groups use a variety of different methods for funding. Many of them, including Al Qaeda and Al- Shebab, heavily rely on donations and money laundering in order to support their operations. The Islamic State is no exception. While it takes advantage of other funding opportunities, including black market crude oil sales and looting, both … Continue reading

Drone Wars: Bans Against Free Enterprise?
Economy / National Security / Politics / Regulation / Technology

Drone Wars: Bans Against Free Enterprise?

Jeff Bezos’ plans to create commercial drone deliveries for Amazon in upcoming years might be premature based on the severe lack of new regulation establishment from the Federal Aviation Association (FAA).  The Association cannot keep up with American innovation and has resorted to banning most drone usage, aside from several private-sector drones, until it completes … Continue reading

Travelers from Ebola-Stricken Africa: Obama’s “Entry Screening”
Foreign Policy / National Security

Travelers from Ebola-Stricken Africa: Obama’s “Entry Screening”

“Entry Screening” is among the latest concerns in the White House.  Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, met with President Obama and a group of top health and security officials Monday.  They deliberated over creating additional screening requirements for travelers entering the U.S. from African nations stricken with … Continue reading

The Ebola Crisis: An Epidemic with Global Implications
Healthcare / National Security

The Ebola Crisis: An Epidemic with Global Implications

Spiraling out of Control Although Ebola has periodically caused serious localized damage in Africa since it was identified in 1976, the 2014 Ebola epidemic in Western Africa has been the deadliest in history. As of July, approximately 1,000 cases of Ebola have been recorded since February, resulting in over 650 deaths in West Africa. Unfortunately, … Continue reading

Charge It or Lose It: TSA Bans Uncharged Devices from Flights to the US
America / Europe / Foreign Policy / Gov. Officials / National Security / Technology

Charge It or Lose It: TSA Bans Uncharged Devices from Flights to the US

Travelers everywhere, we need to add yet another thing to our international travel checklist: charge your mobile devices. While likely already part of a flier’s to-do list, it is now far more imperative; earlier this month, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), part of the US Department of Homeland Security, announced that powerless devices will not … Continue reading