Bahrain has become the focal point of a struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran for control of the western littoral of the Persian Gulf.

An elective war in which the criteria for success are unclear and for which the amount of land force is insufficient must be avoided.

The Muslim world, from North Africa to Iran, has experienced a wave of instability in the last few weeks.

The events in Egypt are more complex than most of media are describing. While the new regime is doing what the demonstrators wanted, it is also increasing the power of the military.

If the long-term center of gravity of Israel's national security is the neutrality of Egypt, then doing everything to maintain that is a military requirement. (With STRATFOR maps.)

President Barack Obama's address tonight will focus on domestic issues, but it is useful to step back and look at the state of the world for a moment.

As Chinese leaders deal with a generational transition, expanding international involvement, and with an increasingly difficult economic balance, the military is coming into its own and making its interests heard more clearly.

It will be tough for Turkey to remain only a host and not serve as mediator during the upcoming P-5+1 talks.

The argument that the Islamist threat has been dealt with is challenged by the attack, and with it the argument that the security state has become archaic.

Addressing a security issue that last had meaning more than 20 years ago, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty is as archaic as the Treaty of Versailles.