When will the long nightmare come to an end?

This article seeks to show that the emotive reconciliation project in Zimbabwe, which is currently spearheaded by the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, is not new in the Zimbabwe polity. Its incarnation under the Government of National Unity clearly indicates the inadequacies and ineffectiveness of the initial reconciliation project, which was enunciated immediately after independence in 1980. In this article we argue that while the notion of resuscitating reconciliation is an important step towards durable peace, this institutionalised, state-centric and state-propelled project is haunted by the very same challenges that undermined and shattered its predecessor. We further assert that the reconciliation and healing project, which is politically engineered and institutionally driven without being inclusive and community driven, is a mere token that comes at the expense of durable peace and the actual victims of violence and impunity.     

Dealing with the fast-changing environment in the eastern DRC

This paper is a study of the phenomenon of trans-border ethnic relations and its impact on national integration and citizenship in the countries of West and Central Africa where trans-border ethnic groups exist. Despite the existence of many such groups in these regions, and the numerous problems associated with the continued relations among these groups across their countries of abode, the phenomenon has not been seriously studied, especially as it concerns the identification of members of such groups and how they are viewed by members of other ethnic groups, as citizens of one country or the other. This paper notes that trans-border ethnic solidarity ordinarily presents the relevant African states with two possibilities, namely: enormous benefits accruing from regional integration and cooperation among states harbouring fractions of trans-border ethnic groups; or, debilitating conflicts within and between these states. It is the reality of the latter possibility that this paper examines. The states and the international system are often incapable of containing this phenomenon of trans-border ethnic solidarity and usually respond in hostile ways, ultimately manifesting in citizenship problems. The study shows, however, that what is needed is not conflict but cooperation – within and between states having fractions of a trans-border ethnic group, and within the international system, for the enhancement of national citizenship and development in West and Central Africa.     

A Doctrine without Dogma

ABSTRACT

In No Use: Nuclear Weapons and U.S. National Security Policy, Thomas M. Nichols calls for a constructive rethinking about the history of nuclear weapons and the attitudes that have grown up around them. Despite dramatic reductions since the end of the Cold War, the United States still maintains a robust nuclear triad that far exceeds the needs of realistic deterrence in the twenty-first century. Nichols advocates a new strategy of minimum deterrence that includes deep unilateral reductions to the US nuclear arsenal, a no-first-use pledge, withdrawing US tactical nuclear weapons from Europe, and ending extended nuclear deterrence for allies. The weakest part of his argument eschews nuclear retaliation against small nuclear states that attack the United States, opting instead to use only conventional weapons to guarantee regime change. He admits this will entail enormous cost and sacrifice, but cites the “immorality” of retaliating against a smaller power with few targets worthy of nuclear weaponry, which totally ignores the massive underground facilities constructed to shield military facilities in many of these states. Despite this, Nichols's thoughtful approach to post-Cold War deterrence deserves thoughtful consideration.     

NATO Territorial Ballistic Missile Defense and its Implications for Arms Control

ABSTRACT

Since 2002, NATO's territorial missile defense has evoked continuous debates between NATO states and the Russian Federation. Thirteen years have passed without reaching a common denominator. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the historical background of the debate and the technical details of the missile defense system, highlighting its shortcomings and the state of its deployment process. It also contrasts the military-technical and political arguments of both sides, before addressing the applicable norms of international law to highlight violations and the effect of this noncompliance on existing arms control measures.     

舰艇防空火力规划与调度方法研究

根据舰艇防空武器拦截过程的时间连续性和拦截效果的不确定性特点,提出了智能规划和优化调度相结合的舰艇防空计划生成方法。在规划阶段,先用智能规划描述语言PDDL对舰艇防空问题进行建模;针对新的来袭目标或观察的拦截结果,利用智能规划的高效行动推理能力,快速生成可能的备选行动方案;在优化调度阶段,对已生成的备选方案的行动系列进行时间、资源冲突处理,并计算选择出当前最佳拦截方案。与现有的采用离散化处理的武器-目标分配方法相比,该规划与调度过程充分体现了拦截过程的连续性,拦截效果的不确定性,拦截过程中的武器协同,以及最佳拦截时机的选择等,更好地描述了舰艇防空的实际过程。最后,通过蒙特卡罗仿真试验,验证了算法的有效性,为舰艇的自动化防空提供了一种新的解决办法。     

舰艇编队航渡中对空防御组织研究

为提高舰艇编队的对空防御能力,根据实际情况以及水面舰艇战术理论,从对空中威胁的判断、防空兵力的配置和计算以及对空抗击的组织等方面对编队航渡中的对空防御组织进行了论述。对舰艇编队防空建设及防空能力的提高有一定的现实意义。     

防空兵侦察力量机动部署方案优选与评估

针对防空兵侦察力量机动部署问题,分析并生成了机动部署方案,运用模糊灰色关联分析法选出其中的最优方案。通过实例计算得出了信息化条件下,防空兵侦察力量进行机动部署可有效提高其作战效能的科学结论,并验证了算法的有效性。     

加强坦克连岛上防御能力分析

首先利用综合战斗力指数法,通过对比分析我加强坦克连与敌战车营特遣队的战斗力,得出了我加强坦克连岛上阵地防御的作战能力.而后依据确定的防御优势标准,得出我加强坦克连岛上阵地防御作战任务,并对其可行性进行了定性分析.最后,利用战斗动力学原理具体分析了我加强坦克连岛上阵地防御时与敌对抗的能力,为战斗的组织与实施提供了一些具体可行的建议.     

靶弹系统发展的某些新特点

靶弹系统建设对于防空兵器试验和部队作战训练具有重要的作用。介绍了靶弹的组成,美、俄等国靶弹系统研发现状以及主要型号靶弹的技术战术性能,详细分析了外军靶弹研发的特点和发展趋势,对我国防空兵器靶标体系建设有一定的参考借鉴作用。     

混编防空导弹网络化作战系统功能体系结构分析

混编防空导弹网络化作战系统功能体系结构分析的目的是描述系统结构、系统功能以及功能间的交互关系。基于网络中心战原理,以区域反弹道导弹为背景,描述了混编防空导弹网络化作战系统反导作战的作战过程及其任务序列;分析了混编防空导弹网络化作战系统的功能模块和功能节点划分;构建了以3层逻辑网结构为特征的混编防空导弹网络化作战系统功能体系结构,分析了3层逻辑网的组成与功能及其相互关系。