Author Archive

Melissa G. Dalton

Director, Cooperative Defense Project at CSIS

Melissa Dalton is a Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the International Security Program, and the Director of the Cooperative Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
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Toward A Smaller, Smarter Force Posture in the Middle East

The National Defense Strategy’s turn toward Russia and China requires the U.S. military to alter its Gulf assets.

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Reducing the Human Costs of ‘By, With, and Through’

Partnered operations put civilians at risk, which puts U.S. goals at risk. Here are some options for addressing the issue.

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How Should the Pentagon Reshape Its Mideast Posture? Four Indicators to Watch

A tour of possible scenarios reveals what U.S. policymakers ought to be focused on as they chart the future of regional force posture.

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It’s Long Past Time to Rethink US Military Posture in the Gulf

The rift between Qatar and other Gulf nations should prompt a long-overdue review of what the Pentagon keeps in the region, and where.

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The Best Way To Save Obama's Camp David Summit

U.S. and Arab leaders can launch a framework for security cooperation easily enough, but enduring success will require deeper thinking.

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How the US Can Turn the GCC Into a Lasting Military Alliance

The Islamic State has achieved one thing: it got the GCC to agree on something. Now, can the U.S. make it last? By Melissa G. Dalton