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
Business
Sexual Assault Reform or 'Slippery Slope' for Military Justice?
The all-or-nothing battle over removing sexual assault cases from command authority shouldn’t stop real reform from happening. By James Kitfield
Ideas
Brooklyn Is Not Baghdad: What Is the CIA Teaching the NYPD?
Brooklyn is not Baghdad. Congress should show more concern that the CIA is teaching NYPD an unwarranted counterinsurgency mentality. By Faiza Patel and Daniel Michelson-Horowitz
Science & Tech
Killing Machines: How Far Can Obama's Drone Wars Go?
Behind every drone is a system that plans, operates and executes operations. This is one glimpse into that world. By Mark Bowden.
Defense Systems
Air Force deactivates orbital tracking system, no decision on replacement
Deactivating the 21st Space Wing radar system will save the Air Force $14 million annually, but the proposed replacement costs could reach $2 billion.
Defense Systems
Navy awards $60M contract for UCLASS drone assessment
UCLASS system would provide ocean intelligence collection, strike capabilities at sea.
Defense Systems
Modern tradecraft moves in parallel with cyber operations
A free wireless network at Starbucks might be the medium for passing along intelligence.
Threats
The Arab World Is on the Brink of Radicalizing
The violence in Egypt only underlines the threat faced by governments being overrun by religious extremism. By Michael Hirsh
Ideas
What the NSA’s Massive Org Chart (Probably) Looks Like
Amid public cries for greater transparency into the intelligence world, here’s a look at the National Security Agency’s organizational chart -- as far as we know it. By Marc Ambinder
Business
Pentagon To Provide Same-Sex Benefits Starting Next Month
The military will also allow troops to take leave to get married if they are stationed more than 100 miles from a state where same-sex marriage is legal. By Amelia Gruber
Policy
Egypt's Military Cracks Down on Protesters
The army began breaking up protests staged by supporters of former President Mohammad Morsi. Unconfirmed reports from Cairo are suggesting a high death toll so far. By Dashiell Bennett
Defense Systems
Streamlined satellite acquisition advances, but challenges remain
While cutting costs through competition, FCSA is threatened by high demand, lagging supply, security shortfalls.
Defense Systems
DARPA funds research to boost sensors
Squeezed light can generate more precise measurements when applied to sensor technology.
Ideas
Forget the Second Carrier, It's Time to Rethink the Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf
It’s not the size of the fleet, it’s how you use it, and PC ships are smaller, more agile and better for Mideast allies. By Bilal Y. Saab and Joseph Singh
Ideas
The Filmmaker Behind the Edward Snowden Leaks
A new <em>New York Times</em> magazine profile describes how far Laura Poitras has gone to protect her privacy, while also reporting on the government's surveillance programs. By Philip Bump
Ideas
This is How Benjamin Franklin Made America a Superpower
Founding father's grand strategy was predicated on economic growth driven by population expansion and immigration. By Miles Kimball
Defense Systems
DOD weighing cuts to combatant commands
Up to 5,000 military and civilian positions may be eliminated if sequestration forces the Pentagon to realign its commands.
Business
How To Reduce the Growing Number of Bid Protests
The number of bid protests has ballooned in the past several years. But for most contractors, protesting a bid is a ‘high-stakes game of poker’ they'd rather not play. By William Keating and Peter McDonald
Business
The Military's Graduate Programs Aren't Really Training the Nation's Future Cyberwarriors
A new report recommends that the Pentagon's graduate programs revise their curricula to include cyber-specific training. By Brittany Ballenstedt
Science & Tech