Ideas
The Current US Approach to Terror Is a Recipe for Forever War
Defusing terrorist groups requires helping the communities they exploit, not just shooting their leaders.
Ideas
The US Has One Last Chance to Halt Its Withdrawal from the Middle East
The next president must do what is wise, not what is easy.
Defense Systems
Pentagon to develop interim agile software rules
A new adaptive acquisition framework being rolled out by the Defense Department will boost software development.
Ideas
The Pentagon Doesn't Need a ‘Skinny’ Authorization Bill
Sen. Inhofe’s proposal for a place-holder NDAA isn’t necessary, and could be counterproductive.
Defense Systems
Deasy 'very confident' White House didn't sway JEDI award
At his Senate confirmation hearing, Defense Department CIO Dana Deasy said the department's $10 billion cloud contract was awarded by a team of experts.
Defense Systems
Navy increases OTA use but is wary of too many consortiums
The Navy has ramped up its use of other transaction authorities, according to the deputy assistant secretary for procurement, but must make sure they stay focused on the intended purpose.
Defense Systems
JEDI award signals rise of hybrid cloud
Advances in cloud technology are making data and applications increasingly interoperable between clouds.
Defense Systems
Pentagon firms 5G experimentation plans
The Pentagon is looking at facilities and use cases for large-scale experimentation and prototyping of 5G applications and spectrum sharing.
Ideas
Ep. 58: Wargames
All about one of the safer, cheaper ways to figure out who’s going to win a war.
Business
Price of F-35 Falls, But Not as Much As Pentagon Hoped
Defense officials say the cost of the plane’s engine is not declining as much as the airframe itself. The engine maker says it already dropped by half.
Threats
Pakistan May Be Stumbling Toward a Two-Front War
Months after India instituted a lockdown on the disputed region of Kashmir, clashes have erupted on Pakistan’s borders with Kashmir and with Afghanistan.
Ideas
Pull the Nukes from Turkey — and Then Think Bigger
Removing America’s nuclear weapons from Incirlik Air Base doesn’t have to drive a permanent wedge between Washington and Turkey.
Policy
Pentagon Vows to Guard the Syrian Oil That Trump Wants to Seize
That includes warding off Syrian and Russian forces, SecDef Esper says, with murky justification under domestic and international law.
Ideas
Killing Terrorist Leaders Gets Attention, But It Doesn’t Stop Terrorism
Baghdadi’s death is indeed a turning point in the War on Terror, just as Osama bin Laden’s was in 2011. It’s just not clear what the war is turning to.
Ideas
Syrian Women Helped Find Baghdadi, Beat ISIS, Will Face ‘Tough Time’ Ahead, Leader Says
'We will continue our resistance and our struggle,' says the head of the all-women’s YPJ, in a rare interview.
Ideas
ISIS Lost Its Land. Then It Began to Lose Its Ability to Inspire.
As with Osama bin Laden, the most intriguing fact about Baghdadi’s assassination was its location, deep in what was considered enemy territory.
Threats