FYSA: For Your Situational Awareness l Issue 21

European Missile Defense after Ukraine and the Iran Deal by Thomas Karako
With the conclusion of a joint plan of action for Iran’s nuclear program, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia has returned to his favorite talking point: that NATO should scale back missile defenses.

U.S. Footprint in Iraq–Should It Grow? by Stephanie Sanok Kostro
General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently noted that Iraqi military operations to retake Ramadi—a critical Sunni city in Anbar province that fell to ISIS forces in May—were gaining momentum. He also reported that security conditions do not require additional U.S. forces, despite suggestions from Congress that up to 10,000 more U.S. troops are necessary to defeat ISIS in Iraq. General Dempsey is correct.

Air Force Seeing Decline in Competition for Services Contracts by Jesse Ellman
Increasing competition for defense contracts has been a continuing effort for the Department of Defense’s (DoD) recent series of “Better Buying Power” acquisition reform initiatives.

Back to the Front by Patrick Garvey
Many Americans are skeptical about our nation’s ability to build partner forces successfully. Last December, Congress authorized a mission to build the capabilities of moderate Syrian fighters.