Ideas

The US Intelligence Community Is Caught in a Collector’s Trap

The information haystack in which we search for useful needles is growing faster than we could ever catch up. Gathering more hay isn't the answer.

Threats

Trump’s New Spy Chief Failed to Report $100,000 from a Group Funded by Hungary

Richard Grenell’s past clients could raise concerns about his access to state secrets, according to his own office’s rules.

Ideas

White-Supremacist Violence Is Terrorism

As commander of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, I fought America’s enemies abroad. Now we must fight violent, hateful ideologies at home.

Ideas

It’s Time to Talk About Taiwan

Washington’s longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity is increasingly likely to inflame the kind of crisis it was meant to deter.

Ideas

You’re Likely to Get the Coronavirus

Most cases are not life-threatening, which is also what makes the virus a historic challenge to contain.

Policy

Pentagon Defends Handling Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Iranian Attack

TBI symptoms are often “nonspecific,” the Joint Staff surgeon said.

Ideas

Trump’s New Spy Chief Worked for a Foreign Politician Accused by the US of Corruption

Richard Grenell did not disclose payments for advocacy work on behalf of a Moldovan politician whom the U.S. later accused of corruption. His own office’s policy says that could leave him vulnerable to blackmail.

Science & Tech

Should the US Have a Secretary For Influence Operations?

Two former top special operations officials say their job was too junior and the Pentagon isn’t taking information warfare seriously enough.

Ideas

The American Public Wants a Sustainable Middle East Policy

Despite the mainstream narrative presenting a deep lack of appetite for another war in the Middle East, the United States will never be able to ignore the region completely.

Policy

Esper Plays Nuclear War: Russia Nukes Europe, US Fires Back

The defense secretary took part in a classified drill at U.S. Strategic Command this week.

Ideas

The West Can’t Even Agree on Itself, Much Less China

At the Munich Security Conference, allies argued with each other as much as their adversaries, rejecting Trump administration views on issue after issue.

Threats

DISA Data Breach Affected 200,000 People, Officials Confirm

Defense officials provided few details but said the affected systems have since been secured.

Ideas

The US Should Get Ready for Syria’s Return from War

Trump seems determined not to play much of a role in shaping how Syria’s myriad conflicts are resolved. That’s a mistake.

Science & Tech

Border Patrol Seeks Automated Sensors to Cover Watery Blindspots

Homeland Security is looking for tech that can help border agents spot illegal watercraft — and decide what to do about them.

Ideas

State of Defense 2020: Special Report

Our annual service-by-service look at the big questions facing the U.S. military.

Policy

Nothing’s ‘Irreversible,’ But the Pentagon’s New Bureaucracies Aim to Come Close

As budget hearing season gets underway, expect to hear a lot about "irreversible implementation" of changes toward great power competition.