Stewart Latwin

Oct 2, 2023 | cnas.org | Hamzeh Hadad |Stewart Latwin |Jonathan Lord |Arona Baigal

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented and destructive attack on Israel. The consequences of this attack will reverberate throughout the region, with difficult obstacles ahead for Israel, the United States, and their global partners and allies. In this special edition of Sharper, CNAS researchers provide important insight to sharpen the conversation on Israeli security and what this attack means for the Middle East region and beyond.

Aug 21, 2023 | msn.com | Stewart Latwin

The United States has long viewed its relationship with Saudi Arabia as its most influential partnership in the Middle East. But Turkey is rapidly becoming a regional hegemon, while maintaining close ties to Europe and the U.S. through its NATO membership. With Turkey’s recent shift towards the West, as well as efforts to rebuild relationships with Middle East partners, its strategic importance is growing.

Aug 21, 2023 | cnas.org | Stewart Latwin |Jonathan Lord |Hamzeh Hadad

I recently delved into David Patel’s book, Order out of Chaos: Islam, Information, and the Rise and Fall of Social Orders in Iraq. The book, although published in 2022, draws on Patel’s fieldwork in southern Iraq shortly after the fall of the Ba’ath regime in 2003. In his book, Patel focuses on why Iraqis turned to the mosque in the absence of the state and while examining this, Patel naturally turns to the question of who is running the mosques in Iraq.

Jul 25, 2023 | armytimes.com | Stewart Latwin

The U.S. Army has announced a pilot program for the Future Soldier Preparatory Course, expanding eligibility by lowering the minimum score on the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). This is another attempt by the Army to close the gap in its recruiting shortfall by accepting more recruits who would otherwise not qualify to serve. However, expanding academic eligibility does not solve the problems that the Army is facing with recruiting.

Jul 25, 2023 | cnas.org | Stewart Latwin |Ayla McBreen |Taren Sylvester |Brandon Archuleta

From the Civil War to the global war on terrorism, Californians have a long and proud history of coming to the nation’s defense in times of conflict. Indeed, California is home to more active-duty troops and veterans than any other state in the union. Yet the Golden State is hemorrhaging military retirees, and has been for years, because California is the only state in the Union that fully taxes military pensions.