Strategic Lens on China’s Economic Vicissitudes
Recent Economic Backdrop Appears as Organic Economic Downturn By Summer 2024, China’s economy had reportedly reached average GDP growth between 5.3% in Q1 and 4.7% in Q2 on course with meeting its 2024 goal of 5%. However, during Q3 China saw a dive in consumer spending, 17%-18% young urban unemployment, and more loan defaults by…
Beirut’s Port Explosion: Analysis and Strategic Implications
Introduction Purpose: To analyze open source information about (1) the strategic context and (2) chain of events leading to the massive ammonium nitrate explosion in Beirut’s port on August 4th, 2020, killing some 200 people, injuring over 6,500, and displacing 250,000.¹ Pre-and-Post Explosion Context Lebanon Generally: Modern Lebanon with its East Mediterranean ports2 has been a…
Capitol Hill Pipe Bomb Analysis
Introduction As authorities charge suspects in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot and insurrection, the pipe bomber suspect recorded the night before remains a menacing question mark. This source-linked analysis begins with observations, questions, and analysis of the actions of the suspected pipe bomber captured on select FBI-released video segments from the U.S. Capitol Hill neighborhood…