Ideas
Defense One Radio, Ep. 202: The known perils of regime change
A scholar of civil wars warns against repeating the past mistakes from U.S. military interventions abroad.
Bombing Iran would shore up its regime
External attacks stir up nationalism and redirect public anger outward, a “rally-around-the-flag” effect long documented by political scientists.
Trump’s Greenland threat has already hurt US security—but far worse may come
A hostile takeover would shatter America’s key alliance, limit its military’s global reach, and invite economic reprisal.
Trump’s Greenland ambitions could wreck alliances that underpin the modern world order
A former diplomat looks at the president's latest ally-shaking outburst.
Ukraine’s future may turn on upcoming votes in Congress
As lawmakers sprint to fund the U.S. government, America’s support for Kyiv hangs in the balance—and could determine how the conflict ends.
Military force can topple a dictator, but it cannot create political authority or legitimacy
Trump is the latest to reach for a military solution of the kind that rarely produces durable peace.
Trump’s new ‘battleship’ should not carry nukes
Producing a new nuclear missile for the Navy would leave us less safe.
Now you can train for the next drone war on simulated Ukrainian front lines
A public version of the simulator used by thousands of Ukrainian drone pilots offers a terrifying glimpse into modern warfare.
To foster Middle East peace and prosperity, help Kurdistan fend off extremists
Two steps are urgently needed, says the regional government’s U.S. envoy.
On Europe, the Trump administration is out of step with Congress, Americans
Most recognize Russia as an antagonist that must be opposed—with force, if necessary.
Sinking speedboats with a supercarrier: the lopsided cost of Operation Southern Spear
History suggests what happens when the U.S. military outspends a foe by orders of magnitude.
To rebuild America’s defense industry, unleash private capital
Here are two concrete steps to take: one by Congress and one by the SEC.
The US needs more than troops at a Syrian airbase to constrain ISIS, Iran
Continued support for the SDF, plus more burden-sharing, is necessary to protect U.S. interests.
The awful arithmetic of our wars
If we don't figure out a way to fight far more cheaply, we won’t be able to afford to win a single battle.
More is needed to turn the Marine Corps' aspirations into reality
If the force is truly to have balanced lethality and battlefield resiliency, it will need more ships, missiles, and money.
Featured eBooks
As we await the Pentagon’s posture review, here’s one country we should keep troops in
Lithuania is geographically vulnerable and strategically important—for several reasons.
Our nation requires three ARG/MEUs
The Marine Corps commandant underscores the necessity of the Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit for projecting American strength and sustaining deterrence.
The Pentagon chooses learning over losing
The secretary’s reforms reveal a revolution: the recognition that adaptability trumps performance.
