GNSI Publications
GNSI Decision Briefs
![Drugs, cash and weapons pictured with a portion of the Mexican flag](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-25-should-congress-designate-mexican-cartels-terrorists-250x250.png)
Should Congress Designate Mexican Cartels as Terrorists?
The Drug Cartel Terrorist Designation Act, proposes to formally designate Mexican
drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including four transnational criminal
organizations 鈥 C谩rtel de Sinaloa, C谩rtel de Jalisco Nueva Generaci贸n, C谩rtel del
Golfo, and C谩rtel del Noreste.
![Soldiers stand at attention with flags of U.S. Allies and partner nations](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-24-keeping-allies-in-the-fight-250x250.jpg)
Keeping Allies in the Fight: Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq
Winston Churchill famously quipped, 鈥淭here is only one thing worse than fighting with
allies, and that is fighting without them.鈥 Today, the U.S. has the largest network
of alliances of any nation. These allies and alliances are the asymmetric advantage
the U.S. has against its competitors.
![Artist rendering of protesters in Caraccas holding the Venezuelan flag](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-23-maritime-resiliency-red-sea-250x250.jpg)
Maritime Resiliency in the Red Sea: Lessons from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of
Malacca
The world's global infrastructure is always in peril. But it is not the absence of
disruptions that ensures stability but, rather, the system's ability to absorb shock
and recover.
![Artist rendering of protesters in Caraccas holding the Venezuelan flag](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-22-did-we-miss-golden-hour-250x250.jpg)
Did We Miss the Golden Hour? Foreign Assistance and the Collapse of Afghanistan.
There is a short window of time 鈥 usually a year or so 鈥 immediately following the
cessation of hostilities in a country during which any assistance efforts will prove
successful, or not, in the long term.
![Artist rendering of protesters in Caraccas holding the Venezuelan flag](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-21-free-venezuela-250x250.jpg)
Free Venezuela! The Opportunity for a Return to Democracy
It seems readily apparent that the 2024 Venezuelan presidential election was stolen
by reigning dictator, Nicol谩s Maduro. He is deeply unpopular and has cracked down
on nationwide protests. What happens now?
![Artist rendering of a peace dover flying above Jerusalem](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-20-abraham-accords-thumb-400x400.jpg)
The Future of the Abraham Accords
The Abraham Accords heralded an historic turning point for Istaeli/Arab relations
in the Middle East. A tumultuous four years since its signing have stalled some of
its early momentum. Do the Accords have a role to play in the future?
![Highway bridge in decaying condition over water](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-19-cracks-in-our-foundation-thumb-400x400.jpg)
Cracks in our Foundation: How Neglected Bridges Threaten National Security The poor condition of U.S. infrastructure has implications that go beyond public safety and economic operations. The nation's infrastructure is a lifeline system essential for ensuring public safety, economic security, and national security.
![Artistic rendering of Olympic athletes with arms raised in solidarity with the Olympic rings in the background](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-18-olympic-thumb-400x400.jpg)
Olympic Diplomacy: The Endurance of Soft Power The first Olympic Games were held in 776 BC in Greece. And for the ensuing centuries, the Games have provided ample political opportunity, despite the enduring idea that the Games "not be political." It's an unrealistic expectation that history bears out.
![Thumbnail image depicting a Haitian flag encircled in wispy smoke](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-17-haiti-thumb-250x250.jpg)
Beyond Intervention: Sustainable Solutions for Haiti's Security Needs
Haiti is facing a severe political crisis. With no democratically elected officials
holding office, the country is enduring gang violence and significant humanitarian
crises, including food insecurity and displacement.
![Decision Brief Transnational Repression Thumbnail](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-16-tnr-thumb-250x250.png)
Repression Without Borders: How Nations Silence Critics Abroad The People's Republic of China is one of dozens of countries around the world that engage in tactics of repression against their own citizens living outside their borders. A preview of our GNSI Policy Dialogues: Endangered Freedoms.
![Decision Brief Covert Competition Thumbnail](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-covert-competition-thumb-250x250.png)
A Covert Competition and a Competition Over Covert Action The U.S. is again facing key problems in one of the most secret and sensitive areas of national security: covert action. The existing architecture for covert action is lacking and outdated. Does it still provide an opportunity for decision advantage?
![GNSI Decision Brief 14: Creating Sun Tsu: Instituting a Master鈥檚 Degree in Irregular Warfare](/gnsi/images/publications/decision-briefs/dbrief-thumbnails-250x250/dbrief-irreg-warfare-masters-250x250.png)
Creating Sun Tsu: Instituting a Master鈥檚 Degree in Irregular Warfare For today's IW tacticians, the ancient teachings of Sun Tsu are considered a must-learn. Could such ancient lessons, however, be formalized into a modern, accredited Master's Degree? Our latest Decision Brief says YES and, in fact, emphasizes that it SHOULD be done.
![GNSI Decision Brief 13: Developing National Security Practitioners](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/db13-thumbnail-400x400.png)
Developing National Security Practitioners for Strategic Competition
The U.S. National Security Strategy sets out a vision for a global environment that
is "free, open, secure and prosperous." How does that square with developing national
security strategies and plans?
![GNSI Decision Brief 9 Strategic Competition in the Arctic Still Decades Away thumbnail](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/decision-brief-arctic-thumbnail-400x400.jpg)
Strategic Competition in the Arctic: Sooner or Later? (December 2023)
Melting sea ice has made natural resources in the Northernmost area of the earth more
accessible than ever before. But is it enough?
![GNSI Decision Brief: Integrated Deterrence What is it Good For? Thumbnail](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/decision-brief-deterrence-250x250.jpg)
Integrated Deterrence: What is it Good For? (November 2023)
While deterrence has a significant, specific role in national strategy, our latest
GNSI Decision Brief explains why its effectiveness is limited.
![Decision Brief Thumbnail Image Rebuilding Ukraine Public Health](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/decision-brief-ukraine-publichealth-thumb-250x250.png)
Who Will Rebuild Ukraine's Public Health and Disease Research Laboratories? (October
2023)
The West must lead the drive to rebuild the systems, facilities and programs decimated
by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
![GNSI Decision Brief Thumbnail](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/db-use-in-middle-east-thumbnail-250x250.png)
What Keeps the United States in the Middle East? (September 2023)
The short answers: Oil, Allies, Strategic Power Competition, Counterterrorism. This
GNSI Decision Brief digs a little deeper into each one.
![Nuclear weapons on the battlefield](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/bomb-blast-250x250.jpg)
Nuclear Weapons on the Battlefield: Will 鈥淣uke 鈥榚m!鈥 become a New Battlefield Order?
(August 2023)
Old fears have been resurrected. Will Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs) be resurrected
as well?
![Decision Brief Promo Image](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/decision-brief-4-nationalguard-cover-250x250.jpg)
National Guard's State Partnership Program in Strategic Competition (July 2023)
With nothing like it in Russia or China, the National Guard SPP is a pivotal advantage
for the United States in the Great Strategic Competition.
![GNSI Decision Brief Thumbnail - Russo-Ukraine War](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/issue-3-thumbnail-250x250.png)
Lasting Peace to Russo-Ukraine War (June 2023)
There's no end in sight but it's never too early to think about the end of the war
and, hopefully, peace. What does that look like and will it involve the entire globe?
![Hunger as a Weapon Thumbnail](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/decision-brief-hunger-thumbnail-250x250.png)
Hunger as a Weapon Decision Brief (May 2023)
It鈥檚 a story as old as history: a belligerent uses hunger and food insecurity as weapons
of manipulation, oppression and coercion against a population.
![China Energy Sector graphic](/gnsi/images/research-images/thumbnails/china-energy-dbrief-250x250.jpg)
China Energy Sector Decision Brief (March 2023)
Understanding the Chinese domestic demand for energy and the need to secure energy
resources will provide insights into the CCP鈥檚 foreign policy objectives.
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