Ideas
Wanted: A Post-War Watchdog for Nation-Building
The U.S. may be ending big wars, but military 'stability operations' and expensive nation-building projects will continue. The U.S. inspector general in Iraq argues the Pentagon needs someone to oversee contingency spending. By Stuart Bowen
Ideas
Ash Carter Got it Right in Aspen, Top DOD Nuclear Weapons Official Responds
Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter was accurate about nuclear weapons costs, but arguing misses the point. The U.S. needs them and can afford them. By Madelyn Creedon
Threats
Iraq’s Descent Into Madness, With No Americans in Sight
Prison breaks, car bombs and cozying up to Iran? This is not what was supposed to happen. By Joshua Foust
Business
Obama's Whistleblower Witchunt Won't Work at DOD
The U.S. has tried something like President Obama’s 'Insider Threat Program' before. It didn’t work then and it won’t work now. By Gabe Rottman
Science & Tech
When Would Cyber War Lead to Real War?
The method of an attack does not dictate the means of reprisal. By Vincent Manzo
Ideas
In The Tank: This Week’s Best Defense and National Security Think Tank Offerings
The latest in wonk reads on national security, tech, and more. By Kedar Pavgi
Threats
Dispatch from Afghanistan: They Don't Want to Fight, Neither Do We
In Nangarhar Province, with the war clock ticking, commanders know the Afghans cannot fight on their own -- or simply will not. “There is no commitment to victory.” By Carmen Gentile
Business
Obama's Intel Workers Need New Policies for Secrets, not Snitches
In the Snowden fallout, the administration should focus on developing a happier intelligence workforce, not outing insider threats. By Marc Ambinder
Business
Let Air Force Run the Military Satellites, Watchdog Argues
It’s been a long time since TSAT. A new report says the Pentagon should let the Air Force control the next-generation MILSATCOM architecture to save money and add security. It’s not that simple, though. By Kevin Baron
Ideas
What Ash Carter Gets Wrong about Nuclear Weapons Spending
It’s hard to imagine how Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter could get it so wrong in Aspen about nuclear weapons spending. But wrong he is. By Kingston Reif
Threats
The Rise of Al-Qaeda 2.0
The terrorism network is now diffuse and lacks a coherent center, but it is still just as deadly. By Frud Bezhan
Threats
Cities Might Not Be as Prepared as They Think for a Bioterrorism Attack
New computer models are showing the deadly impact of viruses and airborne weapons. By John Metcalfe
Policy
Obama Needs to Explain Why We're Breaking Up with Afghanistan
President Obama has switched from a message of 'we have to win' to 'we have to exit,' with little conversation in between. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Policy
Want Syria? Convince General Dempsey
For more than a year, President Obama’s senior military advisor has deflected calls to send the U.S. military into Syria. Convince Gen. Martin Dempsey it won’t be another Iraq and maybe you’ll get your war. By Kevin Baron
Business
Highlights From the Aspen Security Forum
Defense One brings you a wrap-up of the Aspen Security Forum. By Kedar Pavgi
Ideas
Pakistan's New Big Threat Isn't Terrorism—It's Water
Shortages of the precious resource threaten to destabilize the region even further. By Aziz Nayani
Ideas
Goodbye Anti-War, Hello Anti-Secrecy
Unable to stop war, the peace movement believes information freedom could be next. To them, Snowden, Manning and Assange are heroes. And it’s not just a cause, it’s an identity. By Kevin Baron
Business
Ditch the QDR
The Pentagon just conducted two major strategy reviews. So why does it need the QDR? By Doug Wilson
Ideas
