Ideas
There’s a Way Obama’s White House Can Save Syrian Lives, There’s Just No Will
As Aleppo burns, little faith as Obama’s White House again considers military options in Syria.
Ideas
As Anti-Corruption Efforts Expand Globally, the Defense Sector Remains an Outlier
A recent anti-corruption summit produced hundreds of commitments, exactly eight of which concerned defense.
Policy
Mike Pence Embraces Foreign Policy That GOP Voters Left Behind
By sidestepping Trump’s messages on foreign policy and trade in Tuesday’s debate, the vice-presidential nominee ignored the choices GOP voters made in their primaries.
Ideas
US Military Spending Has Declined, But It Still Dwarfs All Other Nations'
It’s easy to see why a steady decline of military spending might alarm many Americans. But a bit of perspective is in order.
Ideas
In Colombia's Hope, Afghanistan's Future
Donors meeting in Brussels should remember Colombia in the 1990s looked a lot like Afghanistan today.
Ideas
Private Companies Shouldn’t Be The Ones Crying ‘State-Sponsored Hack!’
If the U.S. government doesn't start officially attributing cyberattacks, it risks losing control of the narrative and evolving legal norms.
Ideas
Syria Is the Thread That Russia Is Pulling to Unravel International Order
The U.S. must act soon, or see its post-WWII work come apart.
Ideas
America's National Security Trilemma — and How to Solve It
In fighting small wars, you get to pick only two of these: centralized control, detailed understanding, and acceptable operational tempo. Here's how to choose.
Ideas
Unpredictability Is the Biggest Threat Facing America’s Army
Foes are increasing their reach in unexpected ways, while budget whiplash at home is needlessly draining the force of time and resources.
Ideas
Climate Change Is Increasing the Risk of War in Africa: Study
Rising temperatures and changing water patterns are among a host of destabilizing factors, a new study finds.
Ideas
Talking to Russia Cannot Save Syria
Putin and Assad make ISIS look hesitant by comparison when it comes to mass homicide.
Ideas
No, Social Media Isn’t Hurting the Army
In a rebuttal to ‘Unplug, Soldier!’, one officer explains how online time builds bonds in more ways than one.
Ideas
Unplug, Soldier! Too Much Online Time is Hurting the Army
A West Point scholar says team bonding — the bedrock of military effectiveness — is being undermined by electronic distractions.
Ideas
Beating Terror, Indonesian Style
Jakarta’s battle against Islamic terrorist groups has seen improvisation and missteps, but also five key factors.
Ideas
On the Cyber Frontier, Hacking Back is Ethical — and Even Desirable
Governments could treat retaliatory cyberattacks as ‘frontier' incidents, which are not necessarily escalatory.
Ideas
Rein in the National Security Council
Created as a coordinating body, the NSC has become a policymaking powerhouse whose White House status hides it from oversight.
Ideas
Yemen Has Become the Graveyard of the Obama Doctrine
The human costs of facilitating Saudi Arabia’s proxy war have been enormous, and there’s no end in sight.
Ideas
Progress or Oppression—You Decide, Obama Tells the UN in His Final Address
From mass migration to North Korea’s nukes, Obama’s lofty speech contained little guidance about how to resolve the world’s intractable problems.
Ideas
How Mistakes and Mission Creep Are Shaping Libya’s Future
Lost in the din of developments at the UN this week is a British report on the ‘failed’ intervention that has turned the country into an 'unmitigated disaster.'
Ideas