International Journal of Security Studies

Sniffer dogs have worked alongside law enforcement officers, military units, border patrols and search and rescue teamss since the 1980s. There are two training locations for canines. One is located in Front Royal, Virginia. The headquarters of the Customs and Border Protection Canine Training center is located in El Paso, Texas. There has been many different studies conducted on sniffer dogs and their ability to detect certain odors. One of those studies was conducted by Osterkamp (2011) who examined how dogs are capable of transporting particular scents in water into their noses. Water dogs have been used in the U.S. Navy to help detect human corpses that are submerged in water. Gazit & Terkel (2002), examined how to reduce panting of sniffer dogs, because when they are panting they are not able to fully smell and detect hazardous materials. Panting is used as a cooling mechanism for dogs and can restrain them from their full potential. Bonfanti (2014), studied the difference between chemical sniffers or body scanners and sniffer dogs. Chemical sniffers have been increasing and may take the place of sniffer dogs as a whole, because sniffer dogs have time implications with their training.

Sniffer Dogs

In these uncertain times, when unregularly war is very common and when we were witnesses of helplessness of major countries against Afghanistan or Chechnya, it is important to change the definition of (every) country's military potential. In my essay I show how Home Guard composes the main answer for questions about raise the security level in country. From history to current conception I discuss purposes and structure of Home Guard. Then, there is a few words about place wher theory meets practise – part of “Practical Home Guard militaries functioning” shows reality of Home Guard is making conditions to effective protecting, supporting and supplying activities conducting by operative militaries, and also perform the active form of military conducting common and casual defense. The key of this essay is tu understand how Home Guard conntects high-level activities equally on battlefield and in time of peace.

Role of Home Guard in building security of Poland. Change management and leadership in Polish Army

This paper discusses the NATO war on Serbia and its implications beyond the shores and territorial boundary of Serbia. Moved by what it described as gross violation of human rights, and the images of burning homes resulting from the raging conflict in Kosovo in 1999, NATO intervened into the situation by declaring war against the sovereign state of Serbia in defense of the Albanians in Kosovo. The war, like wars generally, produced effects, especially on Serbia. Besides the implications of this war on Serbia, it had far reaching consequences on the territories and countries beyond Serbia. It is to these extra-Serbian consequences of the NATO’s war that this paper devotes its attention. Using exclusively the secondary method of data gathering, the paper finds that NATO’s military attack against Serbia inter alia, unleashed a tidal wave of refugees that placed both economic and political pressure on the neighbouring countries, set a wrong and dangerous international precedent, damaged United States’ relationship with both China and Russia and made all Serbia’s neighbours register trade declines through war-induced trade disruptions.

EXTRA-TERRITORIAL CONSEQUENCES OF NATO’S WAR ON SERBIA

In 1939, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill observed that Russia was “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.” Equally significant, but often forgotten, is what Churchill said next: “Perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest."
Much has changed in Russia and the world since 1939, but Churchill’s observation remains valid today. What is Russia’s national interest? How do Russia’s leaders, especially Vladimir Putin, view their country’s national interest? And how can their viewpoints be determined?
Many factors determine Russia’s worldview and drive Russian assessments of Russian national interests. Some are derived from Russia’s history. Others result from the threats, dangers, and risks that Putin and others in the Kremlin perceive today. Still others, in turn, are a function of the Kremlin’s current regional and global foreign and defense policy priorities. Together, these inputs allow the overarching strategies that Russian leaders pursue to be deciphered.
Using these tools, this essay assesses: 1) the impact of history on Russia’s worldview and the Putin government’s views of Russia’s national interest; 2) international threats, dangers, and risks as seen from Moscow today; 3) Russia’s current geopolitical and regional priorities and actions; and 4) Russia’s global grand strategy ... assuming it has one.

Russia and the World: The View from Moscow

On June 18, 2018, at a meeting of the National Space Council, President Trump announced that he had directed the Department of Defense and the Pentagon “to immediately begin the process necessary to establish a space force as the sixth branch of the armed forces.” There are distinct legal, logistical, budgetary, and political challenges that must be resolved before a Space Force comes into being, and this paper provides insight into all of these issues. The legal section notes that while certain military activities are permitted in outer space, defensive weapons are likely the only systems that a Space Force would be able to deploy without facing legal challenges. The military section highlights the significant presence of the U.S. Air Force in outer space since the 1980s and the benefits military space systems provide to the U.S. and our allies. Next, the political section addresses the mixed Congressional reaction to the proposal and emphasizes the need for bipartisanship on the issue. Finally, recommendations to the U.S. government are provided, including the need for the Space Force to adhere to international laws, the need for increased public awareness of the Space Force’s mission, and the need for public and Congressional support. The analysis has determined that a Space Force operating as an independent military branch of the armed forces is financially and logistically feasible, but the proposal also raises moral and ethical questions, such as how a Space Force would contribute to international peace and security.

A Three-Pronged Analysis of the Proposal for a United States Space Force

Since the 9/11 attacks, Islam has remained at the center of the global terrorism debate. In order to weaken Islamist terrorist groups, it is crucial to understand nuance differences in their ideologies and goals. This research focuses on two such groups, Boko Haram and al-Qaeda, and argues that despite the two groups’ Salafi-jihadist roots, the groups harbor sharply different ideologies and goals—and thus, different outcomes. The research finds that al-Qaeda adheres to a rigid organizational and goal-oriented structure, while Boko Haram’s bureaucracy is less clear and less organized. While al-Qaeda has a number of stated goals, Boko Haram has very few. As the research shows, it is evident that these factors have influenced the success and global reach of each group. This is merely an introductory analysis; further research should compile data on a wider variety of groups.

Al-Qaeda versus Boko Haram: Ideologies, Goals, and Outcomes

This paper aims to analyse the link between the African Union (AU), as the premier regional institution whose mandate is mainly to provide peace and security on the continent, and Regional Economic Communities (RECS) in maintenance of peace and security. The article, other than providing a brief background of the international security system, attempts to analyse the conceptual, theoretical, and normative aspects of security within the context of mainly the role of African Union, and RECs, and connects it to the broader international system, where the United Nation(UN) remains a central actor on issues of global peace security. To anchor the debate on the role of the AU and RECs on peace and security the paper uses the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a case study for empirical analysis. This is due to the greater similarity between ECOWAS and the AU peace and security architecture that continues to play a complimentary role in ensuring peace and security in the ECOWAS sub- region as evidenced by its numerous intervention with full support of the AU. The article concludes by reiterating the need for institutionalising further the various norms and legal frameworks that should mirror RECs and AU’s collective stand in ensuring peace and security. RECs should also be at the forefront in ensuring peace and security as they are closer to the conflict, which impacts their national interest more than the AU or UN which in most cases seems far flung and do not bear the immediate negative impact of the conflict.

The Role of the African Union and Regional Economic Communities as Impetus for Peace and Security: A Case Study of the Economic Community of West African States

Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) are a special class of weapons systems that, once activated, can identify and engage a target without further human intervention. Semi-autonomous weapons are currently in use today, but the transfer of the decision to kill to machines inevitably raises novel ethical, legal, and political concerns. This paper examines the current ethical debate concerning LAWS use during wartime and outlines the potential security benefits and risks associated with the development of LAWS and other autonomous artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Allowing moral considerations to play a role in the development of AI weapons systems is crucial to upholding the principles of international humanitarian law. Depending on the degree of autonomy that a weapon has, it can pose distinct advantages and disadvantages that must be considered prior to deployment of the technology in dynamic combat settings. The transformative potential of LAWS in warfare cannot be ignored.

The Future of Wars: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS)

Overall, this research finds that cultural jihad is a significant threat to the Western way of life, particularly when combined with the direct threat of the more commonly known violent jihad. This research draws upon primary sources including evidentiary exhibits, government documents, publications from radical Islamist leaders, and the Quran. As a backdrop, the paper reveals a pathway and series of key influencers that have shifted violent jihad to be viewed by radicals as (1) the only option for change and (2) an offensive and globally-oriented tactic. Cultural jihad is also discussed as a passive, long-term threat to the West. Several shared operational themes are identified relative to both violent jihad and cultural jihad. Thus, the homeland security apparatus, and particularly the intelligence community might benefit from propagating a less offense-oriented ideology as part of an overall approach that holistically addresses the combined threat of violent jihad and cultural jihad. This paper also identifies the need for further academic research on cultural jihadism as a key component in addressing the long-term threat to the West.

Addressing the Combined Threat of Violent Jihad and Cultural Jihad

Far-left terrorism rocked Latin America during the 1980s and 1990s, making that region the epicenter of global terrorism for fourteen years. Now, nearly three decades after the Shining Path collapsed under the Peruvian Government’s counter-insurgency efforts, remnants of the group continue to operate. While the brutality and carnage for which the Shining Path is known have subsided, factions disseminate propaganda calling for the “People’s War” and revolution. One such faction, the Peruvian People’s Movement, has published the magazine Sol Rojo [Red Sun] at a rate of about two editions since around 1994. This study examines content from the 30 of 49 editions available online through the application of text analysis software. Analysis of this nearly 700,000-word corpus reveals important themes that changed over time based on domestic challenges, geopolitical events, and other factors. Psychometric properties of these texts reflect distinct tones, emotions, and topical groups that evolved over time. Sol Rojo is a remnant of Shining Path and the Maoist ideologies the group spread throughout rural Andean regions decades ago. The magazine’s writers seek influence and relevance in a world where their calls for “People’s War” seem more elusive with the passage of time as their generation of ex-Senderistas fades and a new generation of revolutionaries fails to materialize.

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