HomeFrom the Desk of George Friedman

From the Desk of George Friedman

The Geopolitics of Heartbreak

George Friedman - July 23, 2021

The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan is winding down, just as it had in Iraq and Vietnam. There are always those who believe wars must be fought, and when they are fought, they are fought by those out in the shit, where lives are lived in the dirt and in the foul smells that feed […]

Killer Facebook

George Friedman - July 21, 2021

Social media began as an oddity growing out of another oddity, the internet. It has grown into a powerful global force, both instrumental in...

A Motherless Child

George Friedman - July 16, 2021

A couple of nights ago, my wife and I discovered something startling about each other. While we were young children, we were both in...

Biden and Merkel to Meet

George Friedman - July 13, 2021

U.S. President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are scheduled to meet Thursday in Washington, where they are expected to discuss issues such...

The 20-Year War

George Friedman - July 9, 2021

On Sept. 11, 2001, a special operations team created by al-Qaida attacked the United States, hijacking commercial airplanes to target psychologically significant structures. I...

China’s Search for a Negotiated Settlement

George Friedman - July 6, 2021

Last week, China celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party. The celebration included a plan for the invasion of Taiwan,...

Children, Grandchildren and the Future of all Things

George Friedman - July 2, 2021

Editor’s Note: As the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaches, we are reminded that many Americans will be traveling to see friends and family,...

China, Russia and the Strategy of Indirection

George Friedman - June 29, 2021

Europe was the primary battleground of the Cold War. NATO adopted a defensive strategy because it saw no value in conquering Eastern Europe and...

Critical Theory

George Friedman - June 25, 2021

I entered graduate school in 1970, determined to study two things. One was political philosophy, the consideration of the nature of justice, particularly as...

US Withdrawal From the Middle East

George Friedman - June 22, 2021

The United States is withdrawing air defense capabilities from several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan, with most of the withdrawals...