Ideas
Weapons of the Syrian War: Airpower (Syrian)
The Syrian military began the war with more than 500 aircraft, almost all Russian-made jets, transport planes, and helicopters.
Ideas
Weapons of the Syrian War: Airpower (Non-Syrian)
By May 2016, the counter-ISIS coalition had dropped more than 41,500 bombs, leading the Pentagon to borrow from stockpiles in other regions.
Ideas
Weapons of the Syrian War: Cruise Missiles
In this conflict, cruise missiles have largely functioned to remind the world that both the U.S. and Russian militaries have them.
Ideas
Weapons of the Syrian War: Suicide Bombers
The tactic is often used in offensive operations, just after an artillery barrage and before the advance of hundreds of foot soldiers.
Ideas
Weapons of the Syrian War: Advisors
Many governments have dispatched troops, trainers, and advisors to the Syrian warzone to help out their favored combatants.
Ideas
WATCH: A Conversation with Derek Chollet
Former assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs Derek Chollet discusses his new book "The Long Game" with Defense One Executive Editor Kevin Baron.
Ideas
Congress Should Demand Wiser, Not More, War Spending
There’s too much slush in the supplemental, as shown by the fourfold jump in spending per deployed servicemember.
Ideas
Following the Failed Coup, Erdogan’s Broken Democratic Promise to Turkey Lives On
No politician in Turkey’s history has managed to master democracy better than President Erdogan, only to hold it hostage for his own political ends.
Ideas
Yesterday’s Bipolar Nuclear Strategy Isn’t Going to Cut It In Asia
In a region with nuclear powers declared, undeclared, and potential, the U.S. needs a strategy to match.
Ideas
The US Air Force Is Short 700 Fighter Pilots. Here’s Our Plan to Fix That.
Busier but smaller than ever, the Air Force needs higher bonuses and more family time to help compete with commercial airlines and the economy.
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Is Global Terrorism Getting Worse? Depends on Your Definition
Civil war is driving many recent attacks, and that blurs both statistics and remedies.
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In Iraq, the 'Real Mystery' Is What Comes After ISIS
Even as Iraqi special forces and Shia militias roll back the self-proclaimed Islamic State, Baghdad has done little to address the underlying causes of Sunni militancy, says journalist Ned Parker.
Ideas
After NATO Summit, Transparency Must Accompany the Tanks
The alliance’s comparative advantage lies not only in military capabilities, but also in its ability to drive institutional reform within and beyond its member countries.
Ideas
It's Getting Harder to Define Military Readiness. Here's What to Do About It.
Planners and evaluators must try to anticipate how threats and operating environments will change during a deployment.
Ideas
It's Time for America to Distance Itself From Saudi Actions in Yemen
Riyadh is killing civilians with American help, and it’s jeopardizing the international credibility of the United States.
Ideas
Rest Assured, UK Remains Committed to NATO
The UK will continue to be a strong and reliable ally, particularly in NATO.
Ideas
What Presidents Do When Naval Encounters Turn Deadly
Three incidents that shook the nation hold lessons for future commanders-in-chief.
Ideas
Obama Asked the Military For A Plan to Protect Civilians. Here’s One.
We learned through experience the importance of preventing civilian casualties in today’s wars.
Ideas
What Comes Next After Raqqa and Mosul?
Obama is making U.S. special operators and locals do most of the fighting. When ISIS falls, Iraq and Syria need better leaders to keep this from happening again. So, what’s the plan?
Ideas