The OCGG Security Section's Governance Area on US Security Policy considers US security policies, capabilities, and activities.

 

by Jean-Michel Rousseau

Recommendation to the Government of the United States of America

“You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you.” Leon Trotsky’s aphorism from a century ago took on a new meaning on September 11, 2001. The events in New York and Washington lead to general and bipartisan calls by American politicians for improved security measures and laws. Driven by the wish to better shield America from terrorist attacks, a major institutional shake-up gave birth to a Department of Homeland Security, flanked by the Patriot Act granting the government new powers of investigation. The issue of homeland security nevertheless remains at the centre of the debate in the current electoral run-up. It could gain even more weight should terrorist groups repeat or try to repeat the scheme of the Madrid bombings. This would not only highlight potential loop-holes in the US national security perimeter, but could prove decisive for the outcome of the presidential elections as well. An analysis of the efforts done on homeland security measures since September 11th therefore seems of the highest importance.

OCGG Security Recommendation No 2 (PDF)

 

Jean-Michel Rousseau, OCGG Analyst, comments on American Homeland Security in OCGG Security Recommendation No 2.

Holger Osterrieder, Director of the OCGG Government Section, criticizes the US approach to Mauritania and calls for a greater EU role in the wake of the coup in OCGG Security Recommendation No 4.

Asle Toje, Director of the OCGG Security Section, analyses nuclear proliferation in Iran in OCGG Security Briefing No 5.

Benjamin Schreer, Senior Researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, and Asle Toje, Director of the OCGG Security Section, comment upon the EU's nuclear diplomacy in Iran in OCGG Security Briefing No 1.

Simon Roughneen, OCGG Analyst, presents advice to the key actors in the Middle East on how to revive the peace process in the post-Arafat era in OCGG Security Advice No 1.