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Sierra Rayne

Sierra Rayne holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry and writes regularly on environment, energy, and national security topics. He can be found on Twitter at @srayne_ca

Most Recent Articles by Sierra Rayne:

Report: Guilty Knowledge on the Vulnerability of the Electric Grid

A report by the Center for Security Policy (CSP) paints a dire picture regarding the vulnerability of the U.S. (and by extension -- Canadian) electricity grids from man-made or natural electromagnetic disturbances. The CSP and others in the national security sector have been beating this drum for a number of years, but unfortunately all too little is being done about the risks. William Forstchen even wrote a compelling must-read novel on this topic -- One Second After -- back in 2009. In 2004, the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack also released a report which reached the following conclusions:
- Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Lexington Institute: F-35 Critics Need to Calm Down

As the F-35 fighter program continues to make successful progress, critics of the joint strike fighter procurement are unrelenting in their attacks. In a recent commentary, Dr. Daniel Goure -- a Vice President with the Lexington Institute, a nonprofit public-policy research organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia -- takes issue with the hysteria and injects some realism and balanced perspective back into the debate:
- Monday, May 11, 2015

Report: Potential Impacts of Second Circuit's Ruling Against NSA Bulk Collection

Following last Thursday's federal appeals court decision, the Congressional Research Service (CRS) has issued a legal sidebar on the possible impacts of this Second Circuit ruling against bulk collection on USA PATRIOT Act reauthorization:
On May 7, 2015, a federal appeals court issued a decision in American Civil Liberties Union v. Clapper that could have significant implications for both the telephone metadata collection program operated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the legislative debate surrounding consideration of the USA FREEDOM Act of 2015 (H.R. 2048 S. 1123) currently taking place in the House and the Senate. While the ruling did not reach the question of whether the collection itself was a violation of the Fourth Amendment, the court did reject the government's use of Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 (as amended) to effectuate the bulk collection of telephone records by the NSA.
- Monday, May 11, 2015

ONI Report Highlights Rapidly Growing Chinese Navy

A new report by the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) sheds further light on China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N)). According to the authors, China's naval ambitions extend towards a global presence -- thereby seeking to place it alongside the U.S. Navy as the only other nation with a worldwide seaborne military reach:
Since our last publication in 2009, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N)) has made significant strides in operationalizing as well as modernizing its force. Although the PLA(N)'s primary focus remains in the East Asia region, where China faces multiple disputes over the sovereignty of various maritime features and associated maritime rights, in recent years, the PLA(N) has increased its focus on developing blue-water naval capabilities. Over the long term, Beijing aspires to sustain naval missions far from China's shores.
- Sunday, May 10, 2015


Largely Ineffective Sanctions Against Iran

For those who believe that sanctions on Iran have made substantial progress towards their stated goals, a recent report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) is illuminating. The report reviews the sanctions applied against Iran by various entities and then critically examines their actual impacts. The results are not promising for those who believe sanctions are an effective tool with which to exert serious geopolitical pressure.
- Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Report: World Health Organization Failed at Ebola Response

A new report by The Heritage Foundation analyzes the international response to the Ebola epidemic during 2013 and 2014. The findings are not good news for the World Health Organization (WHO), whose track record has been less than stellar over time.
- Monday, May 4, 2015

Deng Xiaoping's Advice on Soviet Relations Applies to China

In a recent conversation with Bill Kristol ofThe Weekly Standard, Jeff Bell -- a writer, strategist, and two-time Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate -- and Kristoldiscussthe concerns they had at the time over Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger's policies towards China in the early and mid-1970s:
- Saturday, May 2, 2015

Illusions of Freedom

A narrative has dominated the West's foreign policy since the end of the Cold War: if we increase per capita GDP in authoritarian nations, they will democratize.
- Friday, May 1, 2015

Hispanic Catholics Are Not Conservative

With Pope Francis' "green encyclical" due this summer, the Catholic propaganda is out in full force -- most notably at "conservative" websites. Some articles ask the question: "Pope Francis, Green Conservative?"
- Monday, April 27, 2015


The Uncertainty Over Adam and Eve's Skin Colors

Political correctness has infested all aspects of society, and the Bible is no stranger to controversy. As Judi McLeod's recent article highlights, even the U.S. Defense Department -- which is now likely almost over-run by atheists and those of the non-Judeo-Christian faiths -- is taking full aim at the Scriptures -- deeming them sexist.
- Saturday, April 18, 2015

Family Values and Fertility Rates

The attacks on "family values" in the liberal mainstream media seem never-ending. And yet, when we look rigorously at the data the anti-family value advocates use to support their claims, we often find the liberal attacks are built on rather dubious foundations.
- Wednesday, April 8, 2015



Larger Government and Slower Economic Growth in Canada

A strange rumour is making the rounds among left-of-center media outlets in Canada: public sector revenues and expenditures are approaching 70 year lows. Wrong. Very wrong. Unless you consider the federal government to be the entirety of public sector taxation and spending, in which case you are still wrong. Very wrong.
- Thursday, January 8, 2015




Reagan, Thatcher, Billy Graham, and QEII Top Most Admired Lists Over Past 70 Years

Gallup has released its lists of the most admired men and women by Americans since 1946. Reverend Billy Graham and former President Ronald Reagan top the list for the "most admired man" over the period from 1946-2014. Queen Elizabeth II and former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher lead the way for the "most admired woman" during this time frame.
- Friday, January 2, 2015

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