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.
Ideas
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.
Ideas
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.
Ideas
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
2020 Democrats Have Found Their Foreign-Policy Battle Cry
Casting Trump as a threat to global democracy and American security, they aim to persuade voters that the danger is real.
Ideas
The Coming AI Metamorphosis
Artificial intelligence may destabilize everything from nuclear détente to human friendships. We need to think much harder about how to adapt.
Ideas
Ep. 48: Cyberwarfare today
In the first of a three-part podcast series, we're going to look at the contemporary risks of cyber warfare, from ransomware and extortion to online banking and culture wars.
Ideas
Send Turkey’s F-35s to Eastern Europe
If Putin is going to send S-400 air-defense systems to Ankara, NATO should send advanced fighter jets where they can deter Russia.
Ideas
Organizational Resilience Can Help Prevent the Next Ransomware Attack
City and state governments should start with an informed, clear-eyed look at their vulnerabilities.
Ideas
How We Tamed the F-35’s Spiraling Costs — and Created a Model for Controlling Waste
The former defense secretary says defending America means defending taxpayers’ dollars.
Ideas