April 2013

Statesman. Nobel Prize laureate. Alleged War Criminal. Henry Kissinger is a man who arouses fierce condemnation in his critics and fervent defense in his supporters. How he is remembered depends largely on whom you ask to remember him. Fortunately, you won't have to ask Stratfor Chief Geopolitical Analyst Robert D. Kaplan.

Stratfor regularly mentions in its China coverage that China is "an island." This is not literally true, of course, but it's a useful way to think about the country and its geographic situation. China shares land borders with 14 other nations, and yet it is among the most geographically insulated countries in the world.

Karen Hooper's route to becoming Stratfor's Director of Latin America Analysis began near the U.S. border in Arizona, where she grew up regularly traveling to northern Mexico. Her interest in Mexico grew into a passion for international affairs in general and Latin America in particular.

In Stratfor's weekly Naval Update Map, we track the approximate locations of U.S. fleet aircraft carriers and amphibious war ships. The map helps our analysts -- and customers -- discern Washington's strategy and even predict looming conflicts.

Stratfor was founded in 1996 as a geopolitical intelligence company. Intelligence is obviously a very sexy term, conjuring visions of James Bond and elegant parties. Undoubtedly there is a part of intelligence that has the pleasure of experiencing this. I am waiting for my invitation.