Ideas

Ep. 20: Jeffrey Lewis on nuclear war; Loren DeJonge Schulman; the Houthi 'war machine' and more.

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

Ideas

We Need a Strategy in Syria

‘It’s time to act.’

Ideas

America is Losing Power and Influence and Must Adapt, Warns UN Secretary General

The "attraction of American society...is today less clear" says António Guterres, in an exclusive interview.

Ideas

What’s Old Is New Again: It’s the Free World Vs. Neo-Authoritarians

The U.S. must abandon the notion of a liberal world order, and get to work deterring those who would bring down democracy.

Ideas

Congress Wants a Space-Based Missile Defense System. That’s a Colossally Bad Idea

A provision in the 2019 defense authorization act orders the Pentagon to start development.

Ideas

Stuck Fighting the Last War

It’s 2011—not 2001—that defines the challenge facing the United States and its allies in combatting jihadism.

Ideas

How to Dampen Escalation Risks As Cyber-Attack Rules Loosen

Create standing rules of engagement and maintain the dual-hatted NSA/CyberCommand.

Ideas

Welcome, Class of 2022: Last of the Pre-9/11 Cohort

Your arrival reminds us all to do more to connect America’s citizens to their country’s wars, and its civilians to its veterans.

Ideas

The Weaponization of Everything

So far, the U.S. has mustered no response to China’s and Russia’s widening assault on America’s global stature.

Ideas

Deploy the Next-Gen Missile-Defense Network in Pieces

Instead of waiting for full deployment, the Pentagon should roll out parts of its new command-and-control systems as they become ready.

Ideas

What Next for US-India Military Ties?

A new agreement between top U.S. and Indian officials will deepen military cooperation and bolster strategic ties between the two countries.

Ideas

Russia Can Stop a Slaughter in Idlib

The Syrian province doesn’t have to be the site of another catastrophe. But its fate hangs on the decisions of outside powers.

Ideas

What South Korea Wants from the US Right Now

As Seoul prepares for the third Moon-Kim summit, it is trying to get Washington on the same page.

Ideas

Ep. 19: Idlib and the future of Syria's Kurds; Yemen, RISK and more.

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

Ideas

The Woodward Book Comes for James Mattis

A veteran Washington journalist describes the defense secretary as avoiding confrontation and showing respect. But the rest of the book may have blown up that strategy.

Ideas

Syria Is Forcing Former Rebels to Fight Their Friends

The U.S. should withhold reconstruction funds until Assad ends forced conscription and makes other constitutional changes.

Ideas

No One’s Supplanting US Military Influence in Latin America

Concerns about Chinese, Russian, and Iranian forays are overblown.

Ideas

Washington Won’t Keep Rebuffing Moscow’s Cyber Proposals Forever

Here’s where the U.S. will find common ground with the country that attacked its 2016 election.

Ideas

The China Hype

While Beijing’s military gains are impressive, their value fades in the circumstances we’re told to worry about.

Ideas

The US-China Cold War Is Now Playing Out in Pakistan

It is causing a long, tough re-negotiation over the terms of the relationship between Washington and Islamabad.