Views from the Tower

Rick de la Torre

Oct 7, 20244 min read

How China’s Hackers Are Blinding U.S. Defenses

The recent cyber operation by Chinese state-backed hackers—dubbed Salt Typhoon —is more than just a breach of critical U.S....

Rick de la Torre

Oct 2, 20244 min read

Stop Funding China's Military

It’s beyond comprehension that, while U.S. policymakers warn of Chinese military aggression, American tax dollars and investments are...

Rick de la Torre

Sep 30, 20243 min read

Time to Answer Iran’s Aggression

Iran’s recent barrage of nearly 200 ballistic missiles aimed at Israel isn’t just another attack—it’s a calculated provocation, a signal...

Rick de la Torre

Sep 27, 20243 min read

China’s Submarine Setback, What Now?

The sinking of China’s newest nuclear-powered submarine might seem like a major embarrassment for Beijing, but it’s hardly a reason for...

Rick de la Torre

Sep 26, 20243 min read

The New Iron Curtain: Russia and China’s Strategic Foothold in Latin America

In recent years, a quiet but profound geopolitical shift has been occurring in Latin America, particularly in the Caribbean. The...

Rick de la Torre

Sep 26, 20242 min read

The UK - US Special Relationship

The U.S.-UK "special relationship" is more than a diplomatic term—it's the backbone of Western security, a partnership forged in war and...

Rick de la Torre

Sep 17, 20243 min read

Mexico’s Leadership Transition

It is a critical test of the durability of U.S.-Mexico relations, with implications that stretch well beyond the border.

Rick de la Torre

Sep 17, 20243 min read

Confronting the Rise of Tren de Aragua

The longer we wait, the more emboldened they become—and the greater the cost to both our national security and the lives of those who sought

Rick de la Torre

Sep 8, 20243 min read

How Economic Fragility in China, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran Fuels Global Tensions

The economic landscape in China, Pakistan, Russia, and Iran is bleak, yet their priorities remain focused on bolstering military...

Rick de la Torre

Sep 5, 20244 min read

The Energy Crisis Holding Back America’s AI Potential

America’s energy infrastructure, once a marvel of engineering, is now teetering on the edge of irrelevance.

Rick de la Torre

Sep 4, 20244 min read

AI Will Define Cognitive Warfare

It’s time we wake up to the reality that cognitive warfare isn’t a side show—it is the main event.

Rick de la Torre

Sep 2, 20243 min read

The Brutality of Hamas and the Shadow of Iran

Not just Israel’s fight; it’s a fight for the values that the United States stands for—freedom, democracy, and the sanctity of human life.

Rick de la Torre

Aug 30, 20243 min read

Free Speech as a Universal Right: The Implications of Brazil's Ban on X

The ability to speak one’s mind, to express dissent is not merely a luxury of democracy, it is the lifeblood of it.

Rick de la Torre

Aug 30, 20242 min read

Petro’s Power Play and its Dire Implications for Colombia

...when governments are given carte blanche to define and target threats, the real victims often become those who dare to dissent

Rick de la Torre

Aug 29, 20241 min read

Iran's Nuclear Ambitions: A Case of U.S. Policy Failure

The U.S. must abandon the illusion that diplomacy alone will contain a regime that perceives strategic advantage in nuclear brinkmanship.

Rick de la Torre

Aug 29, 20242 min read

The Illusion of Security: Why Governments and Corporations Must Rethink Their Reliance on Commercial Apps

The message is clear: complacency is not an option.

Rick de la Torre

Aug 28, 20242 min read

China’s Dangerous Game in the South China Sea: The Need for a Strategic Response

China’s activities in the South China Sea are a threat not only to regional stability but to global security.

Rick de la Torre

Aug 26, 20243 min read

Revisiting the “September 10th Mindset”: A Dangerous Complacency in the Face of Modern Threats

A small, daily reminder that complacency is the enemy, and that the resolve we showed then must guide us now.

Rick de la Torre

Aug 26, 20243 min read

The Unseen Cost of Nuclear Complacency: Why Modernizing U.S. Missile Silos Is a National Imperative

In the end, our national security is worth every penny, and our commitment to maintaining it must be unwavering.

Rick de la Torre

Aug 25, 20243 min read

The New Iron Curtain: Russia and China’s Strategic Foothold in Latin America

The time for complacency has passed.