Ideas
The Future of Afghanistan Depends on Local Politics—Not Kabul
Want to know what’s in store for Afghanistan? Saturday’s presidential election only offers a partial answer. By Faiysal AliKhan
Ideas
Heed the Historical Warnings of Post-War Budget Cuts
Want to know how devastating post-war budget cuts can be? The Civil War is a good example. By Gordon Sullivan
Ideas
NATO Expansion Will Put Russia in Its Place
Want to show Russia who has the upper hand? Get more Eastern European nations to join NATO. By Michael J. Quigley
Ideas
Realizing the Asia-Pacific Rebalance
Why the pivot to Asia ‘remains front and center in our national security strategy.’ By Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel
Ideas
Why This Year's Elections in Afghanistan Won't Matter That Much
Four analysts told the Council on Foreign Relations that the upcoming elections may not have that big of an impact on Afghanistan's security situation. Interview By Zachary Laub
Ideas
Afghanistan’s Rising Export Is Not Opium – It’s Telecoms
Roshan Telecom is Afghanistan’s newest growing export, giving hope that the war-torn nation can move beyond opium and rebuild its economy. By Leo Mirani
Ideas
Full Text of Obama's 'Contest of Ideas' Speech on Russia
In a historic speech directed at Russia, President Obama says basic principles of world order believed settled in the last century are again at stake in Ukraine.
Ideas
Getting Past Crimea at the Nuclear Security Summit
Russia’s annexation of Crimea has cast a shadow over the biannual meeting, threatening to distract delegates from securing the world’s nuclear weapons. By Stewart M. Patrick and Claire Schachter
Ideas
Think the Pentagon Isn’t Serious About Asia? Think Again
Next month, Hagel hosts a 3-day summit of 10 defense ministers from ASEAN and beyond, and that’s something. By Brian Harding
Ideas
Why Aircraft Carrier Workers Deserve a Better Plan from the Pentagon
Predictable and stable work is what the aircraft carrier industrial base needs. By Rick Giannini and Darrell Grow
Ideas
Summits Are Nice but Obama Needs to Do More for Nuclear Security
The Obama administration started the Nuclear Security Summit convening this week. Now it needs to pick up the pace before terrorists get a bomb. By Joe Cirincione
Ideas
Will the U.S. Become a Post-Ukraine Energy Superpower?
The Russian chill and Mideast instability are boosting bipartisan support for domestic energy production. By Michael Hirsh
Ideas
The Silver Lining of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370
As China joins Japan in the search for the missing plane we are reminded that crises create strange bedfellows, but grief is universal. By Tara Sonenshine
Ideas
Wake Up NATO, You’re No Deterrent to Russia
If NATO couldn’t finish the job against Libya, why would anyone think it’s ready for Russia? By Philip Seib
Ideas
How Western Bureaucrats Stirred Putin’s Petulance into a Cold War Crisis
From the beginning, all sides have been guilty of faulty assumptions and strategic miscalculation regarding Ukraine – and Putin. By James Kitfield
Ideas
Iraq’s Do-Nothing Legacy
The 11th anniversary of the Iraq invasion finds U.S. leaders paralyzed and gun-shy to intervene anywhere in the Mideast. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Ideas
It’s Time to Award More Medals of Honor for Iraq Vets
No more excuses. No more sidestepping. Secretary Hagel should start naming living Medal of Honor recipients from the Iraq war. By Rep. Duncan Hunter
Ideas
Here’s What the West Can Do to Stop Russia
Economic sanctions are essential but military measures are also necessary to preserve European peace and security. By Stephen Blank
Ideas
Three Myths About the Defense Budget
Critics who say the Pentagon’s FY15 budget request is a ‘skeleton budget’ that sets us back to pre-War War II levels are wrong. Here’s why. By Ben Freeman
Ideas