The American Defense Council is a national nonprofit lobbying and educational organization that advocates a simple message: peace through strength.

"We encourage citizens to be informed about our security interests as well as where our elected officials stand, and to communicate with them regularly on these issues." American Defense Council

The single greatest strength of the United States of America is our Constitution. Specifically, the Bill of Rights and the Separation of Powers doctrine that the Founders designed to keep the three branches of government -- the Executive, the Judicial and the Legislative -- separate but equal are the real twin pillars of American power.

The American Defense Council takes a very dim view of any efforts to weaken the separation of powers doctrine or with any efforts to dilute any single part of the Bill of Rights. It is these principles that millions of Americans have fought, bled, and died for -- and these are principles that American Defense Council will fiercely defend.

American Defense Council Feature Article Taking Back the Panama Canal new! An Alternative Solution to the Neutrality Treaty and Military Intervention Under the facts presented, there are several theoretical avenues available to Panama to terminate its contract with PPC. First, like all sovereigns, Panama possesses the right and power to terminate contracts that contravene its national interests. Accordingly, if PL-5 is seen to harm Panama – i.e., security, environmental, etc. – then Panama has the right to terminate the contract. Second, PL-5 may be vulnerable because the circumstances of its creation may, in fact, have violated Panama’s laws. And, if PPC has violated any of its significant obligations, such as maintenance and repairs... The Sino-Russian strategic partnership new! The Sino-Russian strategic partnership is a clear example of balance-of-power realism, and will be a fact of international politics as long as both nations determine that it serves their individual interests. It is not a formal military alliance, nor is it likely to become one in the near future, barring unforeseeable events. In several respects, it acts as a warning to the United States. Its practical effect, however, will be to hedge American... Who are you, Mr.Putin? At a press conference during Putin's campaign to consolidate power one western correspondent asked Putin a question: "Who are you, Mr. Putin?" This question has yet to be answered. The recent arrest of Mr. Khodorkovsky ...   "China’s Growing Maritime Power - Geopolitical Strategic Assasment" Li Ka-shing, the leader of Hutchison Port Holdings, (China ’s primary shipping line), has close ties to the Chinese Communist Party and to the China International Trust and Investment Corp.... Download Adobe Reader -   See the map of China's Maritime Global Projection Since more than 80%of global trade moves by sea and the U.S.moves 95% of its foreign trade by weight via the world ’s oceans,it is equally obvious that Chinese naval strategy holds in high regard control of these global chokepoints. See the map....

WSJ Online: One Down, Dozens of Dictators to Go We got Saddam Hussein. Now, what about all the other dictators? That long list of surviving despots makes up the true axis of evil, which is the source of the worst troubles of the modern world, according to author and former U.S. ambassador Mark Palmer....

U.S. News: 'Radio Free NRA' Eyes Broadcast from Mexico There could be a new twist in the National Rifle Association's bid to get around speech limits in the campaign finance law just blessed by the Supreme Court. Instead of trying to buy a domestic radio or cable TV station, the NRA might go gunning for its e...

Reuters: Leak? Pakistan Sees al Qaeda in Assassination Bid ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani authorities suspect the hand of al Qaeda may be behind a weekend bid to assassinate President Pervez Musharraf, officials said on Tuesday....

SpaceWar: Taiwan Urges China to Remove Deployed Missiles TAIPEI (AFP) Dec 16, 2003 -- Taiwan's parliament on Tuesday passed a resolution urging China to remove hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting the island to pave way for reconciliation between the two long-time political rivals....

NewScientist: Next One Hundred Years of Flight, Part II At 1035 EST on 17 December 1903, humanity truly took to the air. Orville Wright made the world's first manned, powered and, most importantly, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air craft. Their best flight that day lasted just 59 seconds but it demonstra...

Wired: Bush Appears toDoor to Same Sex Unions WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush on Tuesday appeared tothe door to same-sex unions that stop short of marriage, by saying people should be able to make "whatever legal arrangements" they want as long as a state recognizes them....

MSNBC: Upbeat Data Ignites Triple-Digit, Wall St. Rally NEW YORK - The Dow Jones industrial average closed Tuesday's trading session with a triple-digit gain, boosted by a trio of upbeat economic reports. But technology shares and smaller-capitalization stocks came under pressure as investors moved funds out o...

Colorado Gazette: Hospital Chain to Drop Discounts for Uninsured DENVER -- Colorado's largest hospital system has dropped a plan to offer discount services to the uninsured, saying it might violate federal law....