Between July 9 and August 1, the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton delivered a series of speeches in the U.S. House of Representatives, addressing the need for a comprehensive strategy to advance U.S .national interests.
Here is what Missouri Democrat Representative Skelton had to say:

"I rise today to talk about a fundamental problem affecting the national security of the United States which has not received the notice and consideration it deserves. The United States suffers from the complete absence of a comprehensive strategy for advancing U.S. interests. This strategic void detracts from almost every policy effort advanced by the United States Government. As a result, major policies are inconsistent and contradictory in different areas of the world and across different policy realms. We find ourselves unable to agree upon and set national priorities for addressing the major challenges of our time. We suffer from a splintering of national power, and an inability to coherently address threats and reassure and cooperate with allies.

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14 ABy Baris Gulmez, Research Associate, U K Defence Forum

Nine Turkish soldiers have been recently killed by the Kurdistan Labour Party (PKK). It was neither the first nor is it likely to be the last such PKK attack. Turkey has been suffering from the terrorist activities of the PKK since the early nineteen eighties. More than 30.000 Turkish people, mostly civilians, have been killed by the PKK so far.Established in 1978, the PKK aims to set up a Kurdish state comprising the south-eastern part of Turkey, northern Iraq, north-eastern parts of Syria and north-western part of Iran. Designated by the US, the EU and the NATO as a terrorist organization, the PKK not only organizes suicide bombings against civilians but also ambushes military troops. Having branches in Middle East and Europe, the PKK also owns a TV channel ROJ TV operating in Europe. Also known as Kurdistan Congress for Freedom and Democracy (KADEK) and Congress for Nation (KONGRA-GEL), the PKK continues its propaganda and attacks all over the region despite the fact that the leader of the organization, Abdullah Ocalan was arrested in 1999.

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