Ideas

Toward A Smaller, Smarter Force Posture in the Middle East

The National Defense Strategy’s turn toward Russia and China requires the U.S. military to alter its Gulf assets.

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Donald Trump Sorrowfully Cancels Another North Korea Meeting

For the first time since his summit with Kim Jong Un, the president acknowledged that nuclear talks aren’t going well.

Ideas

Ep. 17: Why the Afghan war has lasted so long; Rethinking 'militarized policing' and more.

Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.

Ideas

What I Learned by Studying Militarized Policing

It doesn’t make the police or public any safer. But figuring that out exposed the dearth of useable data on law-enforcement practices.

Ideas

This Is the Political Moment to Stop Supporting the Saudi War in Yemen

The deadly attack on a school bus with a U.S. laser-guided bomb should, at last, end Washington's backing.

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A Year On, Pakistan Still the Weak Link in US South Asia Strategy

The Trump administration's strategy has produced no definitive improvements along its pillars. Pakistan remains a safe haven for terrorist groups.

Ideas

Toward a 21st-Century US Navy Mining Force

Standoff weapons and other initiatives promise a renaissance in U.S. naval mine warfare.

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The Retired Admiral, the President, and the Military Profession

How should a former four-star register his dissent? A Naval War College instructor points to an Aug. 13 memo by Defense Secretary Mattis.

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Better Wargaming Is Helping the US Military Navigate a Turbulent Era

Two leaders of the Joint Staff’s Studies, Analysis, and Gaming Division evaluate the two-year-old effort to increase, improve, and boost the impact of analytic wargaming.

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A Message to Pentagon Spokespeople, From Your Former Boss

There’s a difference between campaigning and serving, and people have a right to know what goes on their government.

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Ep. 16: Hypersonic missiles; Black Hat/Defcon 2018; Q&A w/ Chris Lynch of Defense Digital Services.

Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.

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We Regret to Inform You That Russia Is (Probably) At It Again

For Putin and company, election season in America is open season for meddling.

Ideas

Trump's Turkey Pushback is a Welcome Start

Unlike its predecessors, the Trump administration finally seems to be doing something about a long list of U.S. grievances.

Ideas

War & Peace (Is Not Fake News)

Today, we join in the Boston Globe's day of unity with editorial boards and publishers in support of the #FreePress.

Ideas

How US and European Aims Overlap in the Middle East

Although deep disconnects plague transatlantic cooperation, the two sides still share a common interest in stabilizing this volatile region.

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How Artificial Intelligence Could Keep US Army Vehicles Ready for Action

A yearlong pilot program will see if AI can predict when components on Bradley Fighting Vehicles will break.

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Trump’s Secret War on Terror

Drone strikes continue and spread—away from public scrutiny or Congressional oversight.

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Why the Space Force Is Just Like Trump University

The gap between the hype and reality of the proposed new branch of the military makes the project almost entirely an exercise in misleading branding.

Ideas

Ep. 15: Space Force is happening; The future of ISIS in Africa; Charlottesville, one year later; and more.

Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.

Ideas

What It Would Take for Iran to Talk to Trump

It may not seem like it, but Tehran has a lot to gain from meeting with a U.S. president in search of his own nuclear deal.