Commentary
Why the US went to war without a plan to evacuate DOD civilians, contractors, and others
A diplomatic veteran cites operational secrecy—and describes how things might have gone better.
The US built up its missile defenses—and will need to do it again
The war against Iran has depleted stocks of vital interceptors.
Why the US attack on Iran is unlikely to produce regime change in Tehran
A conversation with veteran diplomat Donald Heflin, a leader at Tufts University's Fletcher School.
Expect Iranian regime to respond to US‑Israeli strikes as existential threats
The response to last year's strikes on nuclear sites was muted. Don't expect this one to be the same.
Men lie, strategies lie—numbers don’t
The word counts of the new National Defense Strategy.
'Mission ahead, heavens above'
Welcome to Fictional Intelligence, the first of a monthly series that explores the future through short stories.
Pakistan’s burgeoning arms industry is a strategic opportunity for the US
A defense-industrial partnership could benefit the Pentagon while mitigating Chinese influence.
Space-based interceptors make even less sense now
The Pentagon and its Golden Dome contractors are proposing to replace one showstopping problem with another.
Our allies passed your test, Mr. President. Would we?
A former U.S. infantryman responds to Trump’s amnesiac take on Afghanistan.
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.
Featured eBooks
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.
