Ideas
The Return of Coercive Diplomacy
It is said "the power to hurt is bargaining power." But can the lesson of Obama and Syria be felt in North Korea and Iran? By Sam Brannen
Ideas
Syrian Caves a Window Onto the Conflict
It takes a village, like Maaloula, to understand the complexities of Syria’s conflict, and the challenges it will face to recover and rebuild. By Tara Sonenshine
Ideas
Obama's Wrong, Syria's Chemical Weapons Require Boots on the Ground
There's no way around it. Securing chemical weapons amid a civil war requires troops. By Joshua Foust
Ideas
Does America Need to Give Up Some Security to Fix the NSA?
The agency -- and its director -- may have pushed the edges of the law. It's time that some of its power is drawn down, even if its comes at a cost. By Bruce Schneier
Ideas
The Obama Doctrine
This wasn’t just an address to the nation about Syria, it was a major foreign policy speech that finally spells out the Obama Doctrine. By Stephanie Gaskell
Business
One Veteran’s Battle to Bring His Afghan Interpreter to the United States
It took five years, amid constant death threats from the Taliban, to get one Army unit’s Afghan interpreter and his family to the United States. There has to be a better way. By Matt Zeller
Ideas
Testing the Waters for Normalizing U.S.-Iran Relations
With a newly elected president in Iran, now is the time to use maritime cooperation to try to lessen tensions between Iran and the United States. By Kevin Cosgriff and Ellen Laipson
Business
How the Military’s 'Bro' Culture Turns Women Into Targets
A testosterone fueled environment is hindering efforts for the military's female personnel to combat sexual assault in their ranks. By Sara Sorcher
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
Ideas
‘War’ By Any Other Name Is the Plan
A war by any other name doesn’t matter. A strike on Syria is exactly what U.S. military is built to do and the Pentagon expects to do more of it. By Stephanie Gaskell
Ideas
How the 'War on Terror' Changed the Way We Go to War
The irregular nature of the past decade of warfare has emboldened presidents to order military action in other nations. Now Congress is saying, ‘Not so fast.’ By Stephanie Gaskell
Ideas
Only a ‘Painful’ Strike Will Stop Syria from Using Chemical Weapons Again
The father of the U.N.-backed Responsibility to Protect doctrine says military action against Syria is justified under the principles it lays out. By Kedar Pavgi
Policy
War with Syria: The Intersection of Interests and Ideology
In the realm of foreign affairs, it’s rare that a cause unites hawkish interventionists and neoconservatives, realists and liberal internationalists. By James Kitfield
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
Ideas
The Battle Between the Air Force and the Air National Guard
The Air Force must stop pretending that it has no choice but to cut the Air National Guard and instead figure out ways to keep capability without being crushed by Congress. By Russell Rumbaugh
Ideas
Drones, Spying, Iraq and the Case Against Military Action in Syria
When it comes to building a case for a strike against Syria, America’s credibility on drones, spying and the invasion of Iraq may get in the way. By Michael Hirsh
Ideas
The Many Challenges of Building an International Military Coalition
Coordinating several militaries with different budgets, capabilities and goals to carry out a strike against Syria isn’t easy. By Kathleen J. McInnis
Ideas
Prospect of War in Syria Rattles Emerging Markets
With Wall Street on edge over the looming military strike against Syria, investors in emerging markets like Turkey and India are rushing for gold and U.S. currencies. By Matt Phillips
Ideas
Pentagon Pivots Within the Pivot, to Southeast Asia
First came the pivot to Asia. Now, there’s the pivot within the pivot. By Kevin Baron
Ideas