Threats
Iran’s Soleimani Killed in Trump-Ordered Airstrike
The stunning killing of the Quds Force leader follows Iranian-backed militia attacks on U.S. embassy in Iraq, and months of Tehran testing Washington’s stomach for violence.
Ideas
What US Intelligence Thought 2020 Would Look Like
A 2004 National Intelligence Council report was eerily prescient in some ways, and totally off in others.
Ideas
A Bigger Foreign-Policy Mess Than Anyone Predicted
In the 2010s, global affairs turned out far worse than the most pessimistic scenario foretold by U.S. intelligence experts.
Ideas
In Iraq, the US Gets Hit Where It Hurts
The storming of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad demonstrated that America doesn’t have a monopoly on pressure.
Ideas
Most-Read of 2020 (So Far)
We're three months into the next year already, if you go by the fiscal calendar. Here's the most-clicked posts on our site since Oct. 1.
Ideas
Progress, Peril, Hope: The Nuclear Decade in Review
U.S. policies that restrained and shrank atomic arsenals have been abandoned. Yet there are hopeful trends as well.
Ideas
Best of 2019: Editor's Choice
Even with several best-of lists, it's hard to choose among the thousands of articles we published this year. Here are a few notables that we haven't noted elsewhere.
Ideas
Best of 2019: Ideas
Revisit some of the best op-eds and commentary we had the privilege of publishing over the past year.
Ideas
Best of 2019: Defense One Radio
Review the year that was — and consider what's next — with episodes from our award-winning podcast.
Business
Boeing Has Relieved CEO Muilenburg. Now What?
The next CEO will have to right the 737 program, keep the tanker on track, and figure out why a recent rocket launch went awry.
Policy
Why Trump and Biden Can’t Cut Troops in Afghanistan Much More
Even ‘bare minimum’ counterterrorism forces require critical intelligence only U.S. personnel can provide, officials warn.
Defense Systems
2020 NDAA brings cyber, acquisition, and IT changes
The Defense Department is on the brink of major acquisition changes to help encourage faster tech adoption.
Defense Systems
DOD preps new electromagnetic spectrum strategy
The Defense Department is combining electromagnetic spectrum and electronic warfare into a single strategy for 2020.
Defense Systems
What TRANSCOM learned from its system consolidation
How the Defense Department transformed a complicated, disconnected set of systems into an environment that can readily embrace a modern, digital-ready future.
Science & Tech