Author Archive
Threats
What a Small ISIS Cell in Trinidad is Teaching SOUTHCOM
Just because a country is relatively small doesn’t diminish the threat, or the difficulty of mustering a counter-effort.
Threats
Pentagon Rebrands PACOM as ‘Indo-Pacific Command’
The change is symbolic, defense officials say, but it emphasizes the U.S.’s commitment to new partnerships.
Science & Tech
The US Military Has a New Tool to Connect Its Far-Flung African Bases
A medium-earth-orbit satellite contract hints at AFRICOM’s data and connectivity needs.
Threats
What the Long, Corruption-Enabling, Mostly Failed Afghanistan-Stabilization Effort Tells Us
It’s about managing expectations: ours about the timeline, the foreign population’s about governance.
Policy
Show of Unity: US’ NATO Ambassador Says ‘We Are One’
Working to ease continental worries deepened by Trump’s Iran-deal decision, a top U.S. diplomat says America is as committed as ever to the alliance.
Policy
Trump Touts Increased NATO Spending, But That Sort of Misses the Point, Experts Say
Experts say that the conversation’s been too focused on how much allies are putting toward defense, not on what they get for it.
Threats
Congress Wrestles with Foreign Infiltration of US Universities
The latest NDAA tries to stop potential adversaries from recruiting talent and stealing innovative technology on campus.
Threats
Mattis: Leaving the Nuclear Deal Will Help the US Negotiate with Iran
Withdrawal will help the U.S. develop a ‘more compelling’ deal on a range of issues, SecDef told lawmakers.
Science & Tech
US Coast Guard Is Putting Cubesats Over the Arctic
As the icecap melts and activity rises in the high latitudes, the commandant says his force needs better situational awareness.
Threats
Pentagon’s Focus on Sexual Assault Has Spurred Reporting, But Also Created ‘Training Fatigue’
Prevention-and-reporting leaders want the U.S. military to be a “bit more strategic” in how it talks to troops about sexual assault.
Featured eBooks
Policy
A Law Meant to Punish America’s Foes Is Hurting Its Partners: Mattis
The secretary asked senators to punch a hole in the sanctions law they passed last year.
Policy
House Lawmakers Close Pentagon Budget Hearing to the Public
Mattis and Dunford have open hearings at the Armed Services Committees, but will talk over their $686.1 billion request with House appropriators in private.
Threats
The US Navy Wants a Better Way to Keep China’s Nose Out of Its Contracts
A subcontract with a Huawei partner has the secretary looking for an ‘institutional algorithm’ for spotting dicey partnerships.
Threats
Three Things to Watch from the PACOM’s (Likely) Next Commander
The current leader of U.S. Fleet Forces command says he would work on the U.S.-India relationship “with great energy.”
Threats
Lawmakers Ask: Where’s the Broader Syria Strategy?
No surprise that Democrats questioned Friday’s retaliatory strike, but even a few GOP defense hawks wondered aloud.
Threats
Mattis Confirms Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria, But No Trump Decision to Strike Yet
The National Security Council discussed options with the president for responding to the attack, but the administration was still syncing up with allies Thursday evening.
Threats
Special Operators Are Getting a Bit More Much-Needed Rest
At least two SOF components are on a ‘glide path’ to the Pentagon’s desired optempo.
Threats
Is It Time for AFRICOM to Get Its Own Troops?
A key Republican senator thinks so, and is pushing to send one of the U.S. Army’s new advising brigades there.
Science & Tech