Security Challenges Facing the US and Israel

An analysis of the different characteristics of global and regional conflicts indicates the following five mega-trends. First is the transition from a unipolar to a multi-polar world due to dramatic economic, military, and political changes. The second is related to globalization and the potential inherent in globalization to exercise violence and terrorism by rogue countries and radical elements. The third trend is the rise of radical Islam concomitant with the weakening of the Arab Sunni state. The fourth is signified by the developing nuclear threat and the possibility that such weaponry might land in irresponsible hands and prompt asymmetric fighting and terrorism – the leading way to achieving political and ideological objectives. The fifth trend is the clash between civilizations; this development will be discussed without mentioning the conventional threats.1 Despite the significance of conventional threats, it is more important to understand that in recent years there has been a deep change in the weak that do not possess tanks and do not have air forces. However, if the world is unprepared when these weak realize that there is a way in this asymmetric war to achieve political goals, it will be impossible to cope with that threat.