Message from the Editor

Dear Colleagues,

            As the new Director of the Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, I take great pleasure in welcoming you to the latest edition of the Security and Defense Studies review (SDSR), the eJournal of CHDS.

            Instituted four years ago, the purpose of the eJournal is to provide a forum for the publication of articles, essays, reviews, and commentary by members of the military education and academic communities relevant to Western Hemisphere security and defense.  To date, the eJournal has enjoyed considerable success in that endeavor, and has contributed to the spread of scholarly work to colleagues throughout the region.

            As one of the several elements of our outreach and public affairs programs, the SDSR is an important component of our efforts to provide continuing contact among members of the security and defense community in the Hemisphere.  It is of great interest to me, and to the Center, to know that the eJournal fulfills your expectations in this regard.  I encourage each of you to make comments and recommendations to the Center.  Dr. Herbert C. Huser is the Senior Editor, the day-to-day manager of the Security and Defense Studies Review.  The journal welcomes your input at his email (huserh@ndu.edu) or at the eJournal email (chdseJournal@ndu.edu).  As always, we encourage you to submit items for consideration for the eJournal.  The submission requirements and deadlines are indicated in the Submissions sections below.

This issue of the eJournal focuses primarily on Central America and Mexico in terms of Hemispheric Security issues and different perspectives on involvement.  Three of the articles and a special feature address these matters.  In that South America often seems to receive the “lion’s share” of attention with regard to Hemispheric defense and security matters, we hope this issue will provide other views and venues for addressing the common themes.  In addition, this edition features an article by Dr. David Pion-Berlin that was judged to be the best paper at the REDES forum at Santiago, Chile in 2003.

            On a personal note, I am very proud and excited to be the new Director of CHDS.  I look forward to engaging with you to better understand the issues of security and defense in the region.  Al link to my biographical sketch is provided below, so that you may have access to more information about me as I begin my tenure as Director.

            Once again, we here at CHDS welcome your comments and seek to continue communicating with you via the eJournal and the Center’s other outreach programs.

Best Wishes,

Richard D. Downie, Ph. D.
Director, CHDS

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