Planning for the Gray Zone: The Yemen Quagmire

Planning for the Gray Zone: The Yemen Quagmire (MES Insights v9i4 August 2018)

by Adam C Seitz

The conflict in Yemen is in its fourth year, and by many assessments warring factions appear to be locked in a stalemate. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and their coalition partners are engaged in a campaign on the Red Sea coast to break the stalemate, shift the balance of forces in their favor, and secure maritime traffic. Secessionist factions, government-allied forces, and various local militias are competing to consolidate gains in the south and east of the county. The US and its allies have continued to pursue a counterterrorism campaign to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) in Yemen. The complexity of Yemen’s multifaceted conflict is emblematic of the international security environment and the types of intersecting conflicts that policymakers and military planners face when advancing US national security interests and meeting the challenges posed by revisionist actors in the gray zone. ............(Read on)..............

The Tribal-Military-Commercial Complex and the Challenges to Security Sector Reform in Yemen

"The Tribal-Military-Commercial Complex and the Challenges to Security Sector Reform in Yemen" in Addressing Security Sector Reform in Yemen (2017)

by Adam C. Seitz

Chapter in a report entitled Addressing Security Sector Reform in Yemen Challenges and Opportunities for Intervention During and Post-Conflict. The report was edited by Marie-Christine Heinze and published by the Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO) in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) on 20 December 2017.

This report is the result of a conference with the same name, which was jointly organized by CARPO and the Regional Office Gulf States of the KAS at the Dead Sea in April 2017. The papers by prolific experts on Yemen included in this publication discuss the changes, obstacles and limits for successful security sector reform in Yemen during and after the conflict and offer respective recommendations for national and international policy-makers in the field.

Houthi Expansionism, Internal War, Geopolitics, and the Yemen Quagmire

Houthi Expansionism, Internal War, Geopolitics, and the Yemen Quagmire (MES Insights v8i3 June 2017)

by Adam C. Seitz

As Yemen's internal war continues to drag on with no end in sight, there is increased risk of miscalculations that may lead to further escalation and internationalization of the conflict. Increased regional and international geopolitical competition, continued efforts to combat the threat of international terrorism and Islamic extremism emanating from the region, and maritime security concerns that threaten the global economy and freedom of navigation have only increased Yemen's strategic importance to the national security agendas of regional and international actors alike. 1 Such considerations have not been lost on Yemen's domestic incumbent and insurgent elites, contributing, in part, to political and military strategies that seek to manage but not entirely eliminate internal security threats that pose challenges to the national security interests of regional and international actors. As such, Houthi expansionism and the ongoing internal war may be better understood in the context of the development of a domestic elite strategic culture that has contributed to perpetual insecurity and internal war in Yemen. Strategic culture can be described as traditional practices and habits of thought by which military force is organized and employed by a society in the service of its political goals. When viewed through the lens of strategic culture, Houthi expansionism, and internal war in Yemen generally, should not be viewed as an aberration that seeks to change the status quo. Rather, it should be considered a continuation of established political norms and military-decision making institutionalized under the regime of Ali Abdullah Saleh, which seeks to balance a host of internal and external actors and potential threats within an environment dominated by elite competition and internal factionalization, in the absence of effective state institutions and a clear monopoly on the use of violence by the state. Such a governing strategy has contributed to the proliferation of militias and other irregular and non-state forces, military factionalization, and increasingly the formation of civil-military relations akin to warlordism, in which military and/or tribal elites exercise civil power at a local or regional level through their influence and control of militias. 2 Within this domestic environment, the military has played a central role in linking a number of disparate groups to the regime, while at the same time factionalization has allowed for effective divide and rule tactics to shield the regime from reprisal. Furthermore, the dependence of the Yemeni economy on a combination of oil revenues, remittances, and, increasingly, foreign aid has left the Yemeni government vulnerable to external market forces and shocks associated with geopolitical competition. Within this geopolitical setting, internal war and perpetual insecurity threatening regional and international interests have supported a growing war economy and helped to prop up the armed forces as a central player in patronage politics and the economy writ large through its role in the tribal-military-commercial complex and the Yemen Economic Corporation (YECO)—formerly the Military Economic Corporation or MECO—, which has its hands in nearly all facets of the Yemeni economy and serves as a conduit for foreign aid. 3............(Read on)..............

Patronage Politics in Transition: Political and Economic Interests of the Yemeni Armed Forces

"Patronage Politics in Transition: Political and Economic Interests of the Yemeni Armed Forces" in Businessmen in Arms: How the Military and Other Armed Groups Profit in the MENA Region (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016)

by Adam C. Seitz

Chapter in edited volume Businessmen in Arms: How the Military and Other Armed Groups Profit in the MENA Region (Rowman & Littlefield 2016) edited by Elke Grawert and Zeinab Abul-Magd.

The Arab Uprisings have brought renewed attention to the role of the military in the MENA region, where they are either the backbone of regime power or a crucial part of patronage networks in political systems. This collection of essays from international experts examines the economic interests of armed actors ranging from military businesses in Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Jordan, Sudan, and Yemen to retired military officers’ economic endeavors and the web of funding of non-state armed groups in Syria and Libya. Due to the combined power of business and arms, the military often manages to incorporate or quell competing groups and thus, to revert achievements of revolutionary movements.

Book and ebook available for purchase at:
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442254558/Businessmen-in-Arms-How-the-Military-and-Other-Armed-Groups-Profit-in-the-MENA-Region#
https://www.amazon.com/Businessmen-Arms-Military-Groups-Profit/dp/1442254556

REVIEWS

The first truly comparative analysis of the political economy of armed forces in the MENA, this fine collection reveals militarization’s widespread, profound and devastating consequences for the region’s development.
— Robert Springborg, professor (ret.) of National Security Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School


Armed forces in the Middle East and North Africa have become industrial, agricultural and commercial enterprises as much as they are instruments of political coercion and national defense, yet we know very little about the dynamics and mechanics of military-run businesses across the region. This collection of conceptually informed, up-to-date surveys raises the bar for scholarship on the economics of military governance from Libya to Pakistan, Turkey to Yemen. Recognized experts who have undertaken path-breaking fieldwork offer factual information and interpretive insights that can be found nowhere else.
— Fred H. Lawson, author of Global Security Watch Syria

Avoiding Yemen's Abyss

Avoiding Yemen's Abyss (MES Insights v6i1 February 2015)

by Adam C. Seitz

The January 22, 2015 resignation of the government of Yemeni President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi and the ensuing chaos have once again sparked both fears of the collapse of the Republic of Yemen as we know it and concerns about the effectiveness of international counterterrorism efforts in Yemen. The same combination of elite competition, military factionalization, and ever-shifting alliances that contributed to Yemen’s current political crisis and insecurity continue to provide al-Qaeda with a foothold in Yemen. Any counterterrorism strategy by the U.S. and its international partners must take such factors into consideration, or risk further internationalizing the Yemeni crisis and plunging deeper into Yemen’s counterterrorism abyss.............(Read on)..............

Houthi Advances in Yemen Pose Security Dilemma for the U.S.

Houthi Advances in Yemen Pose Security Dilemma for the U.S. (MES Insights v5i6 November 2014)

by Adam C. Seitz

In July 2014, the northern Yemeni city of Amran fell to insurgents led by Abdul-Maik al-Houthi. Amran had served as the capital for the elders of the influential Hashid tribal confederation since the 1962 Republican Revolution. Less than two months after the capture of Amran, Houthi militias swept into Sanaa, seizing a number of government buildings and military installations, setting up checkpoints throughout the Yemeni capital, and ultimately forcing the Yemeni government led by President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi to sign the “Peace and Partnership” agreement on September 21, 2014. This in effect created a new political order in Yemen. In the two months following the agreement, the Houthis have captured a number of strategically important cities, including the port city of Hudaydah, and have advanced on a number of others controlled by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and its local affiliate Ansar alSharia (AAS).

Since 2002, U.S. efforts to disrupt, dismantle and ultimately destroy al-Qaeda and its affiliates in Yemen have relied upon a combination of partnership with the Yemeni military that includes capacity building of Yemeni security forces and U.S. airstrikes. Although the Houthis and the U.S. share a common enemy in AQAP and AAS, this does not equate to a situation in which the enemy of my enemy is my friend. On the contrary, the military and political gains made by the Houthis have created a new set of challenges for counterterrorism efforts in Yemen by the United States and its allies.......(Read on).............

Limitations of the " Yemen Model " to Counterterrorism

Limitations of the " Yemen Model " to Counterterrorism (MES Insights v5i5 September 2014)

by Adam C. Seitz

On 10 September 2014, U.S. President Barak Obama addressed the nation to lay out his administration’s strategy to “degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant].” To this end President Obama proposed a counterterrorism strategy that relied on a “systematic campaign of airstrikes” and an “increase in support to forces fighting these terrorists on the ground.” Comparing his strategy for ISIL to counterterrorism campaigns in Yemen and Somalia President Obama stated that, “This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years.”

President Obama’s use of Yemen and Somalia as models for a strategy against ISIL has once again reignited the debate on the overall effectiveness of U.S. counterterrorism strategy in both cases. In the case of the “Yemen Model,” a strategy, which has relied upon a combination of airstrikes and support for local forces, has thus far fallen short of the ultimate objective of destroying al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and its local affiliate Ansar al-Sharia (AAS). Indeed, most intelligence and think-tank estimates point to an increase in the number of attacks and the size of AQAP in recent years. This is not to say that U.S. counterterrorism strategy has been completely ineffective, but rather that U.S. efforts have been limited by realities on the ground, especially those contributing to a lack of reliable and effective local partners. Understanding how the political and security environment in Yemen have limited U.S. counterterrorism efforts against AQAP may be useful in managing expectations as the U.S. seeks to duplicate the successes of the “Yemen Model” in Iraq and Syria.............(Read on)..........

Ties That Bind and Divide: The ‘Arab Spring’ and Yemeni Civil-Military Relations

"Ties That Bind and Divide: The ‘Arab Spring’ and Yemeni Civil-Military Relations" in Why Yemen Matters: A Society in Transition (Saqi Books 2014)

by Adam C. Seitz

Chapter in edited volume Why Yemen Matters: A Society in Transition (Saqi Books, 2014) edited by Helen Lackner.

In November 2011, an agreement brokered by the GCC brought an end to Yemen’s tumultuous uprising. The National Dialogue Conference has opened a window of opportunity for change, bringing Yemen’s main political forces together with groups that were politically marginalized. Yet, the risk of collapse is serious, and if Yemen is to remain a viable state, it must address numerous political, social and economic challenges.

In this invaluable volume, experts with extensive Yemen experience provide innovative analysis of the country’s major crises: centralized governance, the role of the military, ethnic conflict, separatism, Islamism, foreign intervention, water scarcity and economic development.

This is essential reading for academics, journalists, development workers, diplomats, politicians and students alike.

Read or download (PDF) chapter at:
https://marines.academia.edu/AdamCSeitz

Book and ebook available for purchase at:
http://www.saqibooks.co.uk/book/yemen-matters/
https://www.amazon.com/Why-Yemen-Matters-Society-Transition/dp/0863567770

REVIEWS

‘A rich, diverse and rewarding account of the multiple security dilemmas now facing Yemen’ Journal of Middle Eastern Studies 

‘Timely and important … An excellent record … [the contributors’] interviews with Yemenis make a welcome addition to the events, facts and figures that form the basis of the papers.’ Bulletin of the British Foundation for the Study of Arabia

‘An up to date and wide-ranging guide to what is arguably the Arab world’s least known and most misunderstood state … brings together an impressive range of experts on the country’ Michael Willis, Director of the Middle East Centre, Oxford University

‘Thoughtful and well-researched, Why Yemen Matters unearths a wealth of information about contemporary Yemeni society.’ Baghat Korany, Professor of International Relations, American University in Cairo

‘Essential reading … The authors shed light on the context of the Yemeni uprising in a way that helps us understand the outlines of Yemen’s future.’ Charles Schmitz, President of the American Institute of Yemeni Studies

‘A remarkable book in terms of its comprehensiveness, accessibility and ethical approach … a must-read for those wanting to go beyond the headlines' Jordan Times 

"Yemen" in the American Foreign Policy Councils World Almanac of Islamism 2014

"Yemen" in the American Foreign Policy Councils World Almanac of Islamism 2014 (Rowman & Littlefield)

by Adam C. Seitz

The American Foreign Policy Council’s World Almanac of Islamism is a comprehensive resource designed to track the rise or decline of radical Islam on a national, regional and global level. This database focuses on the nature of the contemporary Islamist threat around the world, and on the current activities of radical Islamist movements worldwide.

From Western Europe to Asia, from the Middle East to the Horn of Africa, societies are finding themselves under growing assault from radical Islamist forces. In some countries, such as Spain and France, the challenge posed by radical Islam is still limited in scope and embryonic in nature. But in others, including Somalia and Pakistan, it poses a mortal danger to the future of the existing state. The World Almanac of Islamism is the first comprehensive reference work to detail the global reach of Islamism across six continents. Each country study, written by leading subject-matter experts, examines the full scope of the Islamist phenomenon, from the activities of radical Islamist groups to the role of Islamist actors and ideas in society to the response—or complicity—of the local government. An additional series of “movement” studies explores the global reach, ideology, and capabilities of the world’s most powerful transnational Islamist movements. Finally, Almanac includes regional summaries and a global overview designed to provide context and strategic insights into current and emerging trends relating to Islamism the world over. 

Features of the new edition include: 

- Three new country studies (Nigeria, Brazil, Tanzania) 

- Two new movement studies (the Gulen movement and Boko Haram) 

- Updates to all original chapters 

- Consolidation of trends/analyses into one “Global Overview” 

Online resource available at: http://almanac.afpc.org/

Book and ebook available for purchase at:

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442231436/The-World-Almanac-of-Islamism-2014#

https://www.amazon.com/World-Almanac-Islamism-2014/dp/1442231432/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1530114735&sr=1-1

In Yemen, “If Not Drones, Then What?”

In Yemen, “If Not Drones, Then What?” (MES Insights v4i6 December 2013)

by Adam C. Seitz

The use of unmanned drones for the targeted killing of suspected terrorists remains a hotly debated topic among academics, human rights groups, and policymakers alike. Drone strikes following the December 4th 2013 attack on the Yemeni Defense Ministry have reinvigorated the debate, especially as the Yemeni government’s security committee and local officials appear divided on the details of the December 12th drone strike. Much of the debate continues to revolve around the legality of extrajudicial targeted killings and the associated collateral damage, including civilian causalities, rising anti-Americanism and the undercutting of Yemen’s political transition. Such arguments, however, miss the mark when it comes to the overall effectiveness of drones when compared to the alternatives, and fail to put forth a convincing answer to the question: “If not drones, then what?” The reality in a case like Yemen, at least in the near-to-medium term, is that no viable alternative options exist for combating Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and its affiliates, especially given the post-2011 political and security environment.........(Read on)............

Military Restructuring and Yemen’s Stalled Transition

Military Restructuring and Yemen’s Stalled Transition (MES Insights v3i6 November 2012)

by Adam C. Seitz

One year ago, on November 23, 2011, President Ali Abdullah Saleh signed the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Initiative, ending his 33-year presidency and transferring power to then-Vice President Abd Rabu Mansour Hadi as the first step in Yemen’s transition. Nearly one year after Saleh signed the GCC Initiative, the preparatory committee for national dialogue announced that Yemen’s Conference for National Dialogue had been pushed back to early 2013. The Dialogue is an essential element of the Initiative aimed at unifying a deeply divided country and laying the foundation for the drafting of a new constitution. The November announcement marked the latest delay since the April 2012 date for National Dialogue was first announced, highlighting the challenges Yemen still faces moving forward with implementing the GCC Initiative. One barrier that continues to stand in the way of National Dialogue, and further implementation of the Initiative as a whole, is the restructuring of the armed forces. Although the restructuring of the Yemeni armed forces is stipulated as a part of the first phase of the GCC Initiative, ambiguity within the document has left room for Saleh’s relatives to maintain their posts in the military in post-Saleh Yemen............(Read on)..........

Orienting Our Sights on the Future: Opportunities and Challenges of the Arab Revolts

Orienting Our Sights on the Future: Opportunities and Challenges of the Arab Revolts (MES Monographs No. 3 August 2012)

edited by Amin Tarzi and Adam C. Seitz

As part of its mission to broaden U.S. Marine Corps access to information and analysis through publishing, Middle East Studies at Marine Corps University (MES) has established different mechanisms to disseminate relevant publications, including a Monograph Series. The aim of the MES Monograph Series is to publish original research papers on a wide variety of subjects pertaining to the greater Middle East, to include the countries of the Arab world, Israel, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The focus of the Monograph Series is on timely subjects with strategic relevance to current and future concerns of the U.S. Professional Military Education community.

The third issue of the Monograph Series brings together five short pieces representing some of the lectures delivered as part of Academic Year 2011-2012 MES Lecture Series, “Orienting Our Sights on the Future: Opportunities and Challenges of the Arab Revolts.”............(Read on)..........

"Yemen" in the American Foreign Policy Councils World Almanac of Islamism 2011

"Yemen" in the American Foreign Policy Councils World Almanac of Islamism 2011 (Rowman & Littlefield)

by Adam C Seitz

The American Foreign Policy Council’s World Almanac of Islamism is a comprehensive resource designed to track the rise or decline of radical Islam on a national, regional and global level. This database focuses on the nature of the contemporary Islamist threat around the world, and on the current activities of radical Islamist movements worldwide.

From Western Europe to Asia, from the Middle East to the Horn of Africa, societies are finding themselves under growing assault from radical Islamist forces. In some countries, such as Spain and France, the challenge posed by radical Islam is still limited in scope and embryonic in nature. But in others, including Somalia and Pakistan, it poses a mortal danger to the future of the existing state. The World Almanac of Islamism is the first comprehensive reference work to detail the global reach of Islamism across six continents. Each country study, written by leading subject-matter experts, examines the full scope of the Islamist phenomenon, from the activities of radical Islamist groups to the role of Islamist actors and ideas in society to the response – or complicity – of the local government. An additional series of “movement” studies explores the global reach, ideology, and capabilities of the world’s most powerful transnational Islamist movements. Finally, Almanac includes regional summaries and a global overview designed to provide context and strategic insights into current and emerging trends relating to Islamism the world over. 

This collection makes a major contribution toward properly defining the Islamist threat and paving the way for the implementation of more effective strategies to counter the rise of radical Islamism by the United States and its allies. It provides policymakers, the news media, scholars, and students with a more comprehensive understanding of the threat we now confront from Islamic extremism. Additionally, the full Almanac is available electronically in database form. 

Online resource available at: http://almanac.afpc.org/

Book and ebook available for purchase at:

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781442207134/The-World-Almanac-of-Islamism-2011

https://www.amazon.com/World-Almanac-Islamism-2011/dp/1442207132/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1530114735&sr=1-4

IRAN'S CONTINUING CHALLENGE IN A TIME OF ARAB TURMOIL

IRAN'S CONTINUING CHALLENGE IN A TIME OF ARAB TURMOIL in The Montreal Review (May 2011)

by Adam C. Seitz and Anthony H. Cordesman

The Islamic Republic of Iran presents a wide range of challenges in a region that is already plagued by insecurity and conflict. As long-standing regimes are threatened by the wave of anti-government protests rolling across the Middle East, Tehran continues to advance its policies intended to expand its influence throughout the region in spite of its own internal challenges and power struggles within its leadership. At a time when the Arab spring is producing unpredictable changes in regional regimes and alignments, Tehran's aggressive regional policy, growing asymmetric warfare capabilities, and developing nuclear and ballistic missile programs present a separate set of challenges of great strategic importance..........(Read on).............

Yemen’s Coming Crisis

Yemen’s Coming Crisis (MES Insights v2i2 March 2011)

by Adam C. Seitz

Following the successful ousting of Presidents Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali in Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, anti-government protests continue to challenge the rule of long-standing regimes throughout the Middle East and North Africa. The 32-year rule of Yemen’s President Ali Abdallah Saleh is no exception. Widespread corruption, growing economic and resource inequality, and internal fragmentation have pushed anti-government protesters into the streets demanding the immediate ouster of President Saleh, challenging the stability of a country already on the brink of becoming a failed state.

Even before Yemen was swept up by the wave of protests rolling through the region, the Saleh regime had been faced with a number of daunting challenges: a slew of economic and social issues, the Islamist al-Houthi rebellion in the north, a resilient secessionist movement in the south, and a resurgent al-Qaeda offshoot seeking to take advantage of Yemen’s domestic conflicts and demographics.

In the past, Saleh has been relatively effective in managing the issues his regime has faced through power-sharing arrangements brokered with various tribal leaders, Islamist groups and political factions. Recently, however, shifting alliances have put this system to the test.........(Read on).........

Iran at a Crossroads

Iran at a Crossroads (MES Insights v1i1 January 2010)

by Amin Tarzi and Adam C. Seitz

The Islamic Republic of Iran is at a crossroad. 2009 closed with the Islamic Republic regime witnessing the most fundamental challenges to its rule over Iran. As a result both the regime in power and the country of Iran begin the year 2010 with more uncertainty than at any other time in the thirty years since the triumph of the Islamic revolution. The uncertainty in Iran not only translates into insecurity for the regime, but also for the region and beyond, as the regime flexes its muscles to demonstrate relevance and authority. This presents a challenging security environment. Chief among the growing security challenges are Tehran’s continued defiance in negotiations over its nuclear program, and the weakening of the chains of commands which hitherto had kept Tehran from stepping beyond certain red lines in projecting its influence beyond its borders. Which way is Iran heading?........(Read on)............

Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Birth of a Regional Nuclear Arms Race

Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Birth of a Regional Nuclear Arms Race (Praeger Security International, 2009)

by Anthony H. Cordesman and Adam C. Seitz

September 18, 2009

ISBN# 978-0-313-38088-4 (HB)

https://www.csis.org/analysis/iranian-weapons-mass-destruction-2

Iranian Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Birth of a Regional Nuclear Arms Race? is an expert, insider’s look at Iran’s current and potential ability to wage both conventional and asymmetrical warfare—and the options available for dealing with a nuclear Iran.

Are we on the brink of a regional nuclear arms race in the Middle East? In this important volume, Anthony Cordesman and Adam Seitz examine how Iran's nuclear ambitions have already altered security policy for the United States, Iran's neighbors, and the international community. Cordesman and Seitz address the full range of issues related to Iran's quest for nuclear weapons, including its emphasis on medium- and long-range missiles, the decline of Iran's conventional military capabilities, and the continued Iranian efforts to undercut the spread of democracy in the region.

The volume includes hypothetical studies outlining the possible effects of specific nuclear, chemical, or biological attacks by Iran. In addition, it is illustrated with tables and graphs that provide a quantitative and qualitative look at Iran's conventional and asymmetric warfighting capabilities and at the progress of Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

Book and ebook available for purchase at:

https://www.abc-clio.com/ABC-CLIOCorporate/product.aspx?pc=A2233C

https://www.amazon.com/Iranian-Weapons-Mass-Destruction-International/dp/0313380880/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530110157&sr=8-1&keywords=Iranian+Weapons+of+Mass+Destruction%3A+The+Birth+of+a+Regional+Nuclear+Arms+Race

REVIEWS

"This timely analysis explores the serious security implications of Iran's nuclear program in a region already troubled by insecurity and conflict. It also examines how Iran's nuclear ambitions and missile programs and its growing ability for asymmetric warfare are steadily becoming even more critical issues for the United States, Iran's neighboring countries, and the international community. The authors, Cordesman (analyst and television commentator) and Seitz (researcher, Middle East and South Asia), take an assessment approach to determining where the developments in Iran might lead. They also weigh the country's warfare capabilities and the options available for dealing with a nuclear Iran." - Reference & Research Book News

"Clear and detailed at the same time, the in-depth analysis of Iranian military assets includes appropriate references to key nuclear facilities, the major developments in Iran's nuclear program and its long history of research into uranium enrichment, its missile arsenal and technology, and its space, chemical, nuclear and biological programs. … Useful maps, timelines, schemes and chronologies make the scenarios more understandable and provide the keys to understanding a complex but essential issue for international relations. These features make the book a useful tool for policymakers and researchers alike." - The International Spectator