Ideas
Contain ISIS, Then Roll It Back
If we haven’t defeated al-Qaeda by now, why do we expect to ‘destroy’ ISIS? By Richard Fontaine
Ideas
Like It or Not, Containment Is What It Is
As bad as containment sounds, it may now be hard to accomplish more. By Thomas Karako
Ideas
Why Containment Is a Myth
Containment is no ‘easy button’ for national security. Here’s why. By James Jay Carafano
Ideas
Stop Saying the Pentagon Can’t Pay for Our Wars
The Pentagon has plenty of money to do its job. By Ethan Rosenkranz, Erica Fein and Stephen Miles
Ideas
What Could US Boots on the Ground Do in Iraq and Syria?
Boots on the ground in Iraq or Syria should be seen as a capability, not a strategy. By Brian Michael Jenkins
Ideas
Troops Need To Start Job Hunting Before They Leave the Military
Nearly half of veterans stay in their first post-separation jobs for less than 12 months. It’s time to change that. By James Schmeling and Nicholas Armstrong
Ideas
Is ISIS Using Chemical Weapons?
If reports that the Islamic State has used chemical weapons in Syria are true, where did they get them? By Joseph Cirincione and Paul Walker
Ideas
Obama Is Working With the Wrong Partners in Iraq
The U.S. is behaving like junior partners to Iran and propping up Shiites in Baghdad, instead of Sunnis on the front line. By Bing West
Ideas
A New Army Drawdown: This Time Is Far Worse
We know we cannot predict the future, but we know our Army—active, Guard Reserve, civilians and contractors—will be needed again and again as we move forward. By Ret. Army Gen. Gordon Sullivan
Ideas
To Save the Navy’s Next-Gen Drone, Kill It First
Aircraft carriers need better protection, so let’s restart the UCLASS program from scratch. By Paul Scharre and Shawn Brimley
Ideas
What the West Can Learn from the Ukraine Crisis
The Ukraine crisis has potentially damaged the West’s influence and credibility in the region. Here are five lessons to keep in mind. By Andrew Wilson
Ideas
US Strategic Leaders Need to Think Bigger – Much Bigger
The entire international system is in flux. It’s time U.S. leaders figure out America’s core interests and start fresh. By Hanna Samir Kassab
Ideas
Why It's Nearly Impossible To End the Cuba Embargo
Bill Clinton tried engaging Fidel Castro. After Havana shot down two U.S. planes, it all fell apart. By Peter Korbluh and William M. Leogrande
Science & Tech
Inside the Navy’s Secret Swarm Robot Experiment
Swarming robot boats could be heading to a contested strait near you. By Patrick Tucker
Ideas
Is the Islamic State a Terrorist Group or an Insurgency?
What’s happening in Iraq and Syria calls for a full-blown counterinsurgency – if the American people can stomach it. By Jerry Meyerle
Ideas
The Navy Has No Strategy? A Response to Randy Forbes
The Navy is far from rudderless. In fact, it’s a victim of it’s own overwhelming success. By Jerry Hendrix
Ideas
What Drones Can Do Besides Killing Terrorists
It’s time everyone – including the media – start distinguishing between combat drones that kill and surveillance drones that save lives. By Melissa S. Hersh
Ideas
In War and Tragedy, How the US Media Prioritizes Death
Gruesome beheadings by the Islamic State dominated the headlines, but it's worth understanding what gets lost and why oftentimes sympathy diminishes as death tolls rise. By Jacoba Urist
Ideas
Q&A: Ryan Crocker on Iraq's Role in the Long War Against ISIL
The former ambassador says the Iraqi army is far from finished, but they'll need U.S. special forces with them to help take back provincial capitals like Ramadi. By Bernard Gwertzman
Ideas