Blogs

Iran’s foreign policy toward Israel combines harsh anti-Zionist rhetoric with strategic ambiguity. While officials like Deputy Foreign Minister Araghchi claim Iran doesn’t seek Israel’s destruction, the regime continues to fund and arm militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This contradiction reflects the use of Taqiyya and Ketman — strategic deception rooted in Shi’a theology — to mask true intentions. Despite diplomatic reassurances, Iran’s actions reveal an ongoing commitment to challenging Israel’s existence.

This article examines the growing disconnect between the European Union and the United States, particularly under Donald Trump’s second term, marked by aggressive rhetoric, ideological divergence and unpredictability in foreign policy. Trump’s actions — ranging from insulting allies to threatening annexations — have undermined international law and the global order the U.S. helped build. The EU faces a dilemma: while Trump’s erratic behavior may not last, deeper ideological divides over societal values persist, especially regarding immigration and social conservatism. In response, the EU is accelerating its efforts toward strategic autonomy, strengthening defense cooperation and preparing for scenarios where U.S. support may falter. However, the article argues that rather than abandoning NATO, Europe should reinforce its own security mechanisms while maintaining NATO as the primary defense framework, ensuring complementarity between the two.

This article explores the nuanced tension between religious freedom — the right to believe — and religious liberty — the right to act on those beliefs — highlighting how these concepts can conflict in pluralistic societies. It examines how governments, particularly in the U.S., have historically navigated and sometimes blurred these boundaries, especially when religious beliefs influence public policy or marginalize minority groups. Pinna advocates for clearer distinctions, stronger safeguards, and mutual respect to ensure that religious diversity is upheld without infringing on others’ rights.

Norwich University, founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge, has been recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark for its role as the first private U.S. college to offer formal civil engineering instruction and its lasting impact on the profession worldwide.

The troubling shift towards transactional and performative foreign policy in 2025 has effectively disarmed this strategic advantage, fragmenting U.S. deterrence and sowing doubt among allies. Unless reversed, America's credibility and leadership face irreversible erosion, emboldening adversaries and creating dangerous uncertainty in global security.

"The History and Philosophy of the Norwich Cadet Creed" delves into the origins and enduring significance of the Norwich University Cadet Creed, penned in 1927 by Professor Kemp Russell Blanchard Flint. The article examines how the Creed encapsulates values such as courage, honesty, temperance, and wisdom, and how it continues to influence the moral and ethical development of Cadets within the university's Corps of Cadets. It also reflects on the Creed's historical context and its role in shaping the institution's commitment to producing leaders of character.

"The Irrelevance of Debating NATO Membership for Ukraine" argues that focusing on Ukraine's potential NATO membership is a distraction from the immediate need to support Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion. The author contends that such debates create uncertainty about NATO's future and the prospects for peace between Russia and Ukraine. The piece suggests that current U.S. policies, including the pause in military aid, exacerbate these uncertainties and may undermine both NATO's credibility and Ukraine's security.

This article examines the evolving dynamics of the conflict as it enters its third year. It highlights Russia's unexpected resilience, bolstered by a war-ready economy and external support, contrasting with Ukraine's challenges, including a stalled counteroffensive and internal leadership tensions. The piece underscores that the war's continuation signals a broader, enduring confrontation between Russia and the West, with both sides bracing for a prolonged struggle.

This article explores the dual nature of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 2003 declaration that nuclear weapons are forbidden under Islamic law. While presented as a religious decree, the article suggests that the fatwa serves as a strategic political tool, adaptable to Iran's shifting geopolitical interests and national security considerations. This flexibility underscores the fatwa's role in Iran's broader strategy to navigate international scrutiny over its nuclear ambitions.

This article examines the multifaceted impacts of the U.S.'s protectionist trade approach initiated under President Trump. It highlights how measures like Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs have led to predictable economic inefficiencies, such as higher consumer costs and disrupted supply chains, aligning with traditional trade theory predictions. The article also warns of unforeseen systemic risks, including global financial instability and geopolitical shifts, stemming from abrupt departures from established trade norms.