Ideas

China May Hate THAAD, But There's Not Much It Can Do About it

Beijing is blustering as the US prepares to deploy a new anti-missile system in South Korea.

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This is the War Against al-Qaeda the Next US President Will Inherit

Fifteen years after invading Afghanistan in pursuit of the 9/11 attackers, the U.S. is bombing a half-dozen more countries.

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Keep Your Politics Private, My Fellow Generals and Admirals

We must not compromise our military’s special role in democracy, nor hinder those who come after us.

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Trump’s Plea to Russian Hackers Foreshadows a Dangerous Stance on NSA Surveillance

His call out to Russian hackers validates the worst suspicions of security-state critics.

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The Dirty Secret of US-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation

We need a way to fund Israel’s missile defenses without undercutting our own.

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France, ISIS and the Fragile Unity of a Nation Under Attack

With each new terrorist incident in France, the solidarity that accompanied previous ones becomes harder to sustain.

Ideas

Vladimir Putin’s Best Summer Ever

Hacking the Democratic Party’s servers is part of Putin’s plan to prove that democracy doesn’t work.

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China's Rising Near This Key US War Base. Here's How We Push Back

In Djibouti, where China is building its first overseas naval installation, the US must support democratic processes and hold the government accountable to international law.

Ideas

Trump's NATO-Rattling Interview Has Delayed a Key Evolution in US Nuclear Posture

The Obama administration had been working to reassure nervous allies ahead of renouncing any first use of nuclear weapons. Now that's on hold.

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Trump's Loose NATO Talk Already Has Endangered Us

Collective security only works when everyone is committed to the common defense.

Ideas

Military Coups Have Become Less Common, But More Successful

Coup d’etat attempts have been growing less frequent across the world, particularly since the end of the Cold War.

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Inside the ISIS Enlistment Files: All Jihad is Local

I analyzed over 3,500 leaked ISIS enlistment forms. Here’s what I found.

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This Time, Post-War Iraq Needs a Real Plan With Real Money

A plan for reconciliation in Iraq should also come out of this week’s counter-ISIS coalition meeting in Washington.

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Weapons of the Syrian War: Overview

From chlorine gas to Kalashnikovs, barrel bombs to cruise missiles, the Syrian conflict shows what 21st-century militaries and armed groups can bring to bear.

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Weapons of the Syrian War: Small Arms

Small arms were already plentiful in Syria before the war, thanks to years of Soviet and Russian support. More flooded in after the conflict began.

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Weapons of the Syrian War: Tanks

In April 2011, the appearance of heavy armor indicated that a violent crackdown had become a full-fledged war.

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Weapons of the Syrian War: Artillery

Government forces have howitzers, rocket launchers, even SCUD missiles. Rebels have responded with the improvised weapons called Hell Cannons.