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In defense of the military’s unfunded priority lists
The service branches’ “wish lists” are a key part of Congress’ oversight process.
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Assad’s fall lays the ground for wider peace—if the US can seize the moment
A key will be reshaping the role of the Kurdish militants in Syria.
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Defense One Radio, Ep. 170: Year in review
We listen back on more than a dozen guests from conversations across 2024.
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How China is adopting battlefield lessons from Ukraine
A drone-assisted ambush of a Ukrainian tank drew particular notice by PLA analysts.
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Defense One Radio, Ep. 169: The Reagan National Defense Forum
A recap of this year's conference in Simi Valley, Calif.
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The Army is too top-heavy
Surplus generals, swollen staffs, and excess headquarters drain headcount and resources from warfighting units.
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Will Assad’s defeat be Putin’s Waterloo?
The narrative of Russia's ascendancy in 2024 is beginning to look like more fiction than fact.
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Can Syria's triumphant rebel coalition unite the country?
And what should the U.S. do about this potentially "catastrophic success"?
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Want ‘government efficiency'? Help change agencies from within
DOGE leaders talk a lot about slashing headcount. They should foster better decision-making instead.
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How a director of national intelligence helps a president stay on top of threats from around the world
A former chairman of the National Intelligence Council offers an explainer.
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What game theory says about a MAGA military
A thought experiment based on Trump’s desire for officers who obey without question.
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How did Hayat Tahrir al-Sham come to prominence in Syria’s civil war?
The Islamist group, which spearheaded of the surprise rebel advance into Aleppo, is an offshoot of al-Qaida in Syria.
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What the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire means for the region—and US involvement
A conversation with a professor of history and peace studies at Notre Dame.
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Will Musk’s ‘Algorithm’ reduce military inefficiency—or increase risk?
It's good to question Pentagon requirements. But many exist for deadly serious reasons that may not be obvious in a hasty review.
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How might Trump 2.0 approach Sub-Saharan Africa policy?
The new administration may have some radical ideas for the continent.
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To improve recruiting, make medical standards match retention ones
Many of the assumptions that undergird the recruiting standards are outdated or simply wrong.
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Why Ukrainian soldiers came to Idaho to study nuclear forensics
Hint: It’s an essential element of U.S. deterrence strategy.
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What Ukraine can now do with longer-range US missiles
Q&A with a Marine Corps University professor.
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Is Europe prepared for the U.S. election outcome?
The result will affect defense, but also other forces currently at work in the continent.
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