Ideas
Taiwan Wants Paladins. Congress Should Say No
Taipei’s only hope for an effective defense is not armor but asymmetry.
Policy
‘All the Signs Have Been There’ Predicting Afghan Security Force Collapse, IG Says
For more than a decade, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction has been warning about “ghost soldiers” and corruption to anyone willing to pay attention.
Policy
‘Cannot Ensure Safe Passage’: US Tells Americans in Kabul to Get to Airport On Their Own
Biden says U.S. forces may have to stay past Aug. 31 to help evacuate stranded personnel.
Science & Tech
The Texas National Guard Just Unveiled the Largest 3D Printed Structure in North America
But Russia and China are preparing to 3D print hypersonic components.
Ideas
The Next Big Refugee Crisis Just Started
The U.S. and its partners should respond to the needs of displaced Afghans, for national security reasons and long-term opportunities.
Policy
Air Force Launches Investigation Into Deadly Kabul C-17 Flight
Mobbed by civilians, the Globemaster crew raced to get back in the air. The service’s investigations office will look into the deaths that followed.
Threats
Afghanistan Veterans Struggling With News of Taliban Takeover
Advocates encourage veterans to use VA, veteran service organization resources for help.
Policy
US Ramps Up Emergency Kabul Airlift to Get 5,000 to 9,000 Out Per Day
American commanders are in direct talks with Taliban, who now control all outside access to the airport
Threats
‘There Is No Afghan Government’: NATO Stops Aid To Afghanistan As Taliban Take Over
Stoltenberg says aid could resume to an “inclusive government." And at the White House: “We will have to take a hard look at how we proceed on any basis at all.”
Defense Systems
Senators push DHS to focus intel activities on foreign threats
The Senate version of the annual intelligence authorization bill, which passed out of committee last week, includes a warning to DHS' intelligence arm to distinguish more carefully between its foreign and domestic missions.
Defense Systems
Navy looks beyond RMF to build cyber resilience
The Navy wants to fortify its cyber resilience to keep pace with rapid software development needs, but changing workforce habits has to come first.
Defense Systems
Microsoft nabs top secret cloud ATO
Azure Government Top Secret is now "generally available" for national security workloads, Microsoft announced in a blog post.
Defense Systems
DHS wants a CMMC-like model for contractors
DHS' Office of the Chief Procurement Officer issued a special notice Aug. 10, noting that it is looking for a way to check contractors' compliance with its cyber hygiene clauses released in 2015.
Defense Systems
Solarium progress report highlights security advances, challenges
While most of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission's recommendations are on track to being implemented, but lack of funding could potentially undermine some efforts, according to a recent the commissions’ 56-page progress report.
Policy
Biden: ‘I Stand Squarely Behind My Decision’ on Afghanistan
The president acknowledged that Kabul fell to Taliban control faster than he expected.
Policy
Inside Reach 871, A US C-17 Packed With 640 Afghans Trying to Escape the Taliban
The Air Force evacuation flight from Kabul to Qatar came near the record for most people ever flown in the Boeing airlifter.
Policy