Experts Highlight Global Security Concerns

The global security environment won't changefor at least next 20 years while becoming “more complex, with shadowy and seemingly unpredictable threats around the globe,” scholars and security practitioners said at a Newsmaker press conference March 23.

Presenting the report, “Adapting America’s Security Paradigm and Security Agenda,” the authors painted a picture of the first quarter of the 21st century where “decentralized and irregular” conflicts with armed groups will pose a major and persistent threat.
The additional pressure comes from the fact that half of the world’s population lives in weak or failed states that spawn these groups, they noted.

Roy Gordon, retired professor of government at Georgetown University and president of the National Strategy Information Center, called Russia and Iran among others the “fairly strong authoritarian regimes with regional hegemony.”

Gordon said those countries are “revisionist states who do not accept present state of world order,” especially in their neighboring regions.

Vikram Sood, chief of India’s external intelligence service from 2001 to 2003, highlighted the role being played by “super-empowered individuals like A.Q. Khan, Dawood Ibrahim and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed” with the blessings of regimes for their vested interests.

Richard Shultz, director of international security studies program at the Fletcher School of Law said corruption is a big issue ijn weak states.

Retired Israeli Major Gen. Jacob Amidror said the “critical role of failed states and building of these (terrorist) organizations within these states,” adding that there are “strong states like Iran,” who act like “godfather to these terror organizations.”

The report highlighted “the need for dedicated military units for specific purposes; different kinds of intelligence capabilities; special units for construction and development; major role for strategic communications; skilled operators of military and civil nature ready to support coalition forces like Lawrence of Arabia.”