American Security Council Foundation

06/25/2026

The Strait of Malacca may be the world's most vulnerable maritime chokepoint.

At its narrowest point near Singapore, it's only 30 miles wide—yet massive amounts of global oil and trade flow through it every day.

Former U.S. Navy officer and ASCF Vice President- Operations, Laurence F. Sanford, shares firsthand insights on why this strategic passage matters and how China is working around it through pipeline development.

Watch the latest Peace Through Strength Brief.

06/25/2026

📍 What happens when one global shipping chokepoint comes under pressure?

The recent focus on the Strait of Hormuz has highlighted another critical maritime passage that impacts global trade, energy security, and international stability: the Strait of Malacca.

This insightful article explores why this narrow waterway is one of the world's most strategically important maritime routes and what disruptions there could mean for the global economy, supply chains, and national security.

Read the full article here: https://ascf.us/guest-contributors/strait-of-malacca/

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz led to worldwide economic stress and revealed a wider strategic vulnerability: when one global maritime chokepoint comes under pressure, attention quickly shifts to the next. That next chokepoint is the Strait of Malacca, which lies between the Malay peninsula and...

06/24/2026

History matters—especially the parts that are often overlooked.

Did you know that millions of Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians living in the Ottoman Empire faced persecution, deportation, and mass killings during the early 20th century? The legacy of these events continues to shape international relations and debates about historical accountability today.

Our latest article by Laurence F. Sanford, ASCF Vice President- Operations, explores the history, the ongoing controversy surrounding recognition, and why understanding these events remains important in the modern world.

📖 Read the article: https://ascf.us/ascf-articles/turkiye-genocide/

Genocide against Christians was committed in the early twentieth century by Muslim Turks and Kurds of the Ottoman Empire. The deaths were at least 1,500,000 Armenians, 750,000 Greeks, and 300,000 Assyrians.   Now, in the twenty-first century, Turkiye, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip ...

06/15/2026

Is military power the only measure of victory?

In this thought-provoking analysis, ASCF guest columnist, retired USAF Lt. Col. Tom Raquer, explores how China may view the Iranian conflict through a very different strategic lens—one focused not on battles, but on endurance, pressure, and the long-term sustainability of nations.

While the United States often emphasizes military outcomes, Chinese strategic thinking may place equal importance on economic resilience, energy security, political stability, alliance cohesion, and public confidence.

The question may not be who wins the next battle.

The question may be: Which system can better withstand the costs of prolonged competition?

Read the full article and decide for yourself: https://ascf.us/guest-contributors/chinas-perspective-on-the-iranian-conflict/

Strategic Perseverance, Time, and Pressure   The US is concentrating on how to wage the Iranian conflict. China might be more interested in the long-term consequences of the conflict. It is not only an academic distinction. It presents two opposing perspectives on national power, competition, and s...

06/11/2026

Are Americans being left out of decisions that shape the future of our nation?

In this compelling Peace Through Strength Podcast, ASCF Vice President - Operations, Laurence Sanford, sits down with ASCF Guest Columnist Tom Raquer, Col. (Ret.), USAF and Southeast Asia Foreign Area Officer, to discuss his thought-provoking article, The Growing Deficit of Consent in the Republic.

Together, they explore the importance of informed citizen participation, transparency in government, and what it means for a constitutional republic when major decisions move forward without meaningful public engagement.

Watch now and join the conversation about the future of American self-government.
https://youtu.be/8TYWGlhIsJI

What happens when major public policy decisions move forward before...

06/10/2026

The Indo-Pacific has become one of the most important regions in the world for economic prosperity, security, and the future of freedom. As challenges continue to emerge across the region, strong alliances and strategic partnerships remain essential to maintaining stability and deterring aggression.

In this insightful article from the DOWD Report, ASCF Senior Fellow Alan W. Dowd examines why America’s friends and allies in the Indo-Pacific are vital to preserving a free and open international order.

Read the full article and join the conversation:
https://ascf.us/dowd-report/a-beacon-in-the-indo-pacific/

Just as the island democracy of Britain was America’s key transatlantic ally during the Cold War, the island democracy of Japan is emerging as America’s key transpacific ally during Cold War 2.0. Japan is equal to the task and the moment.   Grave Concerns For those who blame China’s neighbors...

06/08/2026

How much influence do Americans really have over the decisions that shape our nation's future?

In his latest article, Tom Raque, Col. (Ret.), USAF, Southeast Asia Foreign Area Officer, examines a growing concern: are citizens being informed about major policy decisions only after they are already underway?

"The Growing Deficit of Consent in the Republic" explores the importance of transparency, civic engagement, and the preservation of the principles of representative government.

We encourage you to read this thought-provoking commentary and consider its implications for the future of our republic.

📖 Read the article here: https://ascf.us/guest-contributors/the-growing-deficit-of-consent-in-the-republic/

We are frequently informed that Americans live in a republic of self-government. But on many of the nation’s most important problems, citizens are learning about critical decisions only after they have entered the policy process.   Recent discussions on the probable merging of parts of the Americ...

06/05/2026

In this Peace Through Strength podcast brief, Laurence Sanford, Vice President - Operations at the American Security Council Foundation, presents his strategic assessment of U.S. policy toward Iran.

Sanford argues that the United States should declare strategic success in its current posture toward Iran and transition away from direct military escalation. Instead, he advocates for maintaining pressure through continued maritime blockades and expanded economic sanctions, combined with support for internal Iranian dissident and civil society groups he believes could eventually drive political change from within the country.

He further contends that the deployment of U.S. ground troops in Iran would be politically unpopular domestically, extremely resource-intensive, and unlikely to gain sustained international backing. According to Sanford, most European allies show limited appetite for military escalation, and even key Gulf states are not broadly supportive of direct intervention.

The discussion centers on the broader “peace through strength” framework—emphasizing containment, pressure, and indirect influence over large-scale military engagement.

In this Peace Through Strength podcast brief, Laurence Sanford, Vic...

06/04/2026

The American Security Council Foundation is pleased to welcome Joe Coakley as Vice President – Development.

In this role, Coakley will lead fundraising initiatives, donor relations, community outreach, and special events that support the continued growth and mission of ASCF.

A native of New Haven, Connecticut, Coakley attended Washington State Teachers College in Machias, Maine. He previously served as a police officer in Milford, Connecticut, before building a successful career in banking, business development, and executive search.

After relocating to Vero Beach, Florida, Coakley became actively involved in community leadership and relationship-building efforts throughout the region. In 2019, he joined Marine Bank & Trust as a Community Relations representative, where he focused on strengthening connections among local businesses, organizations, and community stakeholders.

Please join us in welcoming Joe to the ASCF team.

06/04/2026

In a world where religious freedom is increasingly under attack, Christians in China continue to face persecution under the Chinese Communist Party.

This powerful article examines the case of Pastor Ezra Jin, the CCP's crackdown on independent churches, and the broader struggle for religious liberty under totalitarian rule.

As America approaches its 250th birthday, the contrast between freedom and oppression could not be clearer. Read how the Chinese Communist Party restricts religion, speech, press, and movement—and why these issues matter far beyond China's borders.

Read the full article and join the conversation.

Christians are being persecuted throughout the world. Totalitarian Marxist/Communist and Islamic countries are the worst offenders.   China, led by President Xi Jinping and ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is jailing Christians and harvesting human organs. Not only are Christians being p...