Ideas

Arming Dictators Will Only Bring Chaos

Obama keeps saying the right things, but doing the wrong ones, by sending weapons to Middle East regimes.

Ideas

National Security Policy and Feminism Don't Have To Be Incompatible

Foreign policies that advocate and legislate for women by influencing the internal politics of other countries hold troubling, but not insurmountable, implications.

Ideas

The End of the Cold War Between the US and Iran Could Be Near

Three decades of animosity between Washington and Tehran may be transitioning to something new: a working bilateral relationship.

Ideas

The Iran Nuclear Deal, in 3 Charts

Thursday's framework agreement was a start, but there are hundreds of areas where a final deal could be derailed.

Ideas

A Funny Thing Happened When These Military Officers and Academics Got Together

The officers were intimidated by the fancy degrees and four-star friends. The scholars were intimidated by the uniforms, medals and deployments. Here’s how they learned to trust each other.

Ideas

The Part of Obama’s Arms-To-Egypt Deal That Matters

The shift to cash-flow financing may sound arcane, but it represents the most significant shift in the Washington-Cairo security relationship since 1979.

Ideas

Special Report: To Protect Ourselves From Bioweapons, We May Have to Reinvent Science Itself

Getting far better at predicting what research will produce may be the only way to save the world.

Ideas

One Huge Oversight in the US-Iran Nuclear Dialogues

If America’s interest lies in a stable Middle East that rejects radicalism and chooses integration, then the U.S. needs to look not towards governments, but citizens.

Ideas

Anti-Access/Area Denial Isn’t Just for Asia Anymore

It’s time for the U.S. to prepare for A2/AD in Europe.

Ideas

Air Force: We Must Invent the Future

To keep its technological edge, the vice chief says, the service must invest in femtosecond data transfer, Mach-8 aircraft, and more.

Ideas

The 4 Things You Need for an Iran Deal

As negotiators meet this weekend, here are the political and technical challenges that lie ahead.

Ideas

A New Day in US-Afghan Relations, But for How Long?

A dazzling goodwill tour by Afghanistan’s president wins a longer U.S. presence, for now.

Ideas

Let’s Lock in the Rebalance to Asia

Much can be done to improve the U.S. defense posture in the Pacific, and for not much money.

Ideas

The US Missile System Driving a Wedge Between China, South Korea

The tentative decision to install a new missile interceptor system in South Korea could force Seoul to pick between its Washington ally and its Beijing neighbor.

Ideas

Why Doesn’t the Intelligence Community Care Whether Its Surveillance Programs Work?

The new cybersecurity bill joins a long list of efforts launched without adequate thought.

Ideas

Better Privacy Protections Key to US Foreign Policy Coherence

While Washington has nominally supported internet freedom around the globe, its surveillance programs have undermined human rights.

Ideas

Meet Europe’s Rising Defense Stars

Below the radar, a new generation of female European leaders is offering bold ideas on defense and taking political risks.

Ideas

Stop Putting Afghanistan on a Deadline

Withdrawal timetables only delay failure; the U.S. should stay in or get out now.

Ideas

Congress Must Match the Money to the Navy's Strategy

How the nation’s strong naval ambition may be undermined by Congress’ weak resourcing.

Ideas

The Pentagon Says 2014 Was the 'Most Complex Year Since 1968'

It's not just the nature of the issues that its working with - it's the volume.