Heritage Foundation experts live-blogged President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. Below are excerpts from their reactions.

A ‘Balanced’ Approach to Deficit Reduction

President Obama called for more “balance” in reducing the deficit, though according to Heritage expert Patrick Knudsen this actually means higher taxes:

With the government drowning in red ink, Obama offers a life preserver made of lead: more spending. He has already pocketed a $618 billion tax increase in the fiscal cliff deal (in addition to $1 trillion in new Obamacare taxes). He needs to accept that true “balance” has two sides—and start cutting spending.

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The Heritage Foundation’s Luke Coffey explains one important lesson Americans should draw from this week’s hostage crisis in Algeria:

This crisis in Algeria once again demonstrates why having forward-deployed military bases in Europe is vital to promoting America’s interest in the region.

During September’s Benghazi attacks, an anti-terrorism team was sent to enhance security at the U.S. embassy in Tripoli. Instead of deploying a team all the way from the U.S.,  the government was able to deploy Marines from a U.S. Navy base in Rota, Spain—a mere two-hour flight away.

A Heritage Foundation report on U.S. military bases in Europe explains more: Continue Reading »

As NATO’s 28 defense ministers meet this week in Brussels, America’s top priority should be to encourage our allies to refocus on Afghanistan and ensure future stability in Central Asia.

The United States needs to stress three important points at the upcoming NATO meeting, Heritage Foundation expert Luke Coffey argues: Continue Reading »

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton implied last week that the United States might back the imposition of a no-fly zone over Syria. But this is a bad option that would achieve little, Heritage Foundation experts Luke Coffey and James Phillips argue.

In a new analysis, they explain that American involvement in a no-fly zone would be foolish:

Under the current conditions, an establishment of an NFZ would be a costly and risky action that would do little to stop the killing on the ground while entangling the U.S. in an intensifying civil war. While the U.S. and its partners have the military capability to establish and enforce an NFZ above Syria if they wanted to, an NFZ is the wrong policy at the wrong time. The U.S. should concentrate on determining which elements inside the opposition want a stable and secure Syria, marginalizing elements inside the opposition movement that promote an extremist agenda, and drumming up regional support against the Bashar al-Assad regime.

The biggest threat from imposing a NFZ is that Syria’s significant air defense system could endanger NATO aircraft. This risk alone should deter the United States from becoming involved in an all-out war. And considering Syria’s alliance with Russia, establishing a NFZ could turn out to be a disaster for both NATO and the U.S. military.

“The U.S. Air Force is not for hire every time there is a popular uprising somewhere in the world,” Coffey and Phillips conclude.

Do you believe a no-fly zone should be implemented over Syria?

NATO should work to foster enduring and friendly relations with its countries outside of the North Atlantic region. After a tumultuous spring in North Africa and the Middle East, solid relationships in these regions are crucial to preserving security for America and our allies.

Heritage Foundation expert Luke Coffey explains:

NATO already has structures in place to better cooperate with partners in this part of the world, but little has been done to enhance these relationships.

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U.S. bases in Germany support American operations in the Middle East. Photo: DoD

The Obama administration’s policy of cutting back military spending is hurting America’s military presence in Europe and around the world.

According to a recent report from The Heritage Foundation’s Luke Coffey, the decision to downsize American bases in Europe abandons our commitment to transatlantic security and only emboldens our adversaries in the Euro-Atlantic region.

These cuts weaken America’s European military footprint by:

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The deteriorating situation in Syria poses a potential threat to the U.S. and other western countries. If or when President Bashar al-Assad is finally ousted, Syria risks becoming a failed state where extremist groups like al-Qaeda can flourish.

Given these threats, it is imperative for the U.S. to take action to ensure a smooth transition of power in Syria, Heritage Foundation experts James Phillips and Luke Coffey argue.

The first step should be to abandon wishful thinking. The Obama administration was under the naive impression that Assad, who holds dictatorial powers, was a reformer. When it became clear Assad was not going to engage with Washington, the administration turned to the United Nations–where its plans were thwarted by Russia and China. Continue Reading »

Russia and China are looking north to expand their claims over the Arctic.  NATO needs to consider this issue seriously, because if one country unilaterally claims ownership over the Arctic, global security may be  threatened.

Heritage Foundation expert, Luke Coffey,  explains:

The Chinese have applied for Permanent Observer status in the Arctic Council, have sent high-level government visits to Arctic countries, and have established a small toehold on Svalbard…Russia is increasingly militarizing the Arctic. Russian air and submarine patrol activity in the Arctic and the North Sea has hit Cold War levels. The North Sea Fleet is now the largest fleet in the Russian navy. Recently, it was announced that Russia was reopening airbases on archipelagos above the Arctic Circle that were closed at the end of the Cold War.

Dominion over the polar ice cap would enrich its owner with many lucrative assets, Coffey says: Continue Reading »

Last weekend in Chicago, NATO leaders announced the Interim Missile Defense Capability in Europe, which will protect the alliance from potential ballistic missile attacks.

“It is the first step towards our long-term goal of providing full coverage and protection for all NATO European populations, territory and forces,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

NATO member nations such as France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain have developed their own short range missile defense but as The Heritage Foundation’s Luke Coffey explains, “With relatively modest investment and adaptation, these platforms could eventually form part of NATO missile defense capability.”

NATO must move forward with creating a comprehensive defense. Coffey explains how this could be accomplished: Continue Reading »

Photo: White House

President Obama should take advantage of British Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to Washington next month to recommit to America’s “Special Relationship” with the United Kingdom, Heritage Foundation scholar Luke Coffey says.

“This visit will be an important opportunity for the two leaders to discuss the U.S. – U.K. defense relationship in light of recent defense cuts on both sides of the Atlantic,” explains Coffey, Heritage’s Margaret Thatcher Fellow.

Maintaining this relationship is in both countries’ interest:

It is in America’s interest to have a strong British military partner. On the military level, the desire to increase cooperation is there. President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron need to help facilitate this cooperation. Like all relationships, the U.S.–U.K. defense relationship needs nurturing and direction. Both leaders should use this visit as an opportunity to expand military cooperation.

Read Coffey’s full report here.

What do you think should be the most important topic of the agenda for President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron’s visit?