Ideas
Let the US Air Force Move Ahead with Its Heavy-Lift Rocket Program
Lawmakers' attempt to force the service to allow more companies to bid on satellite launches would do more harm than good.
Ideas
Don't Trust the Taliban With Afghanistan’s Cultural Preservation
The group continues to attack sites and antiquities. Here are five ways peace negotiators can ensure that Afghanistan’s past will contribute to its future.
Ideas
The Future of Conflict is Proxy Warfare, Again
A new CNA study offers seven lessons from America’s experience with supporting one side from afar.
Ideas
Should Cyber Arms Be Treated Like Bioweapons?
A recent paper suggests that the two are more closely related under international law than previously thought. But the analogy, while useful, is not exact.
Ideas
The Arguments for Weakening Encryption Aren't Any Better Under Trump
Law-enforcement backdoors would still make everyone less safe, even as U.S. officials set their sights on broader access to data.
Ideas
Iran Is Acting Like the International Villain of Trump’s Prophecy
Any number of relatively mundane scenarios now have the potential to escalate U.S.-Iran tensions—from a fire at a militia base to the seizure of an oil tanker to the signal-jamming of a drone.
Ideas
How Smaller States are Choosing Sides in the Indian Ocean
From Sri Lanka to Kenya, governments try to balance major-power influence — except in arms purchases.
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Trump Says US Troops Shouldn’t Be ‘Policemen’ in Afghanistan. So Why Are They There?
In a puzzling Oval Office press conference, the commander-in-chief throws his purported strategy into doubt.
Ideas
Where’s the Coverage of Civilian Casualties in the War on ISIS?
New studies reveal important gaps in coverage of this aspect of the anti-ISIS operation, largely a war of air strikes.
Ideas
Ep. 49: Cyberwarfare tomorrow
This episode, we turn to the future world of cyberwarfare — from life after encryption to the 5G debate, from the next election to the next generation of cyber professionals, and a lot more.
Ideas
How Can Congress Authorize War When It Can’t Decide What War Is?
There’s bipartisan agreement that the law governing America’s wars needs an update. There’s also bipartisan agreement that it won’t happen anytime soon.
Ideas
The US Is Unprepared to Mobilize for Great Power Conflict
In an era of lightning wars and easy-to-reach civilian populations, U.S. planners are giving mobilization far less attention than it requires.
Ideas
The Magpies and the Cuckoos: A Disinformation Fable
The magpies have a complex and vigorous society. What happens when two conniving cuckoos come to town?
Ideas
Don’t Expand the Covert Agents Secrecy Law
A House measure would put not only the press but the intelligence community at risk.
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Trump Is Running Out of Time to Denuclearize North Korea
So what does he have time to accomplish?
Ideas
Where Can the US and Turkey Go From Here?
The battle to save the relationship will not be an easy one, but we have not lost it just yet.
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House to 2020 Candidates: Trump and Nukes Don’t Mix
Those who would win the Democratic nod should heed the vote to kill the new low-yield nuke.
Ideas
No Defense Secretary Can Really Steer Trump
Mark Esper may well be qualified for the job—even a lot of Democrats think so. But in this administration, there’s a limit to anyone’s influence.
Ideas
Europe Has No Attractive Options in the Post-INF World
Soon to be back in the nuclear line of fire, Europeans wonder how to get arms control back on the international agenda.
Ideas