Threats
Trump Declares Victory in Syria, Claims Credit for It All
“Let someone else fight over this long-bloodstained sand,” the president says, as Congress fumes.
Ideas
How Climate Change Will Help China And Russia Wage Hybrid War
Increased refugee flows, weather threats, and declining food security will deepen tensions already being exploited to divide and weaken the U.S. and its allies.
Business
As Secret Pentagon Spending Rises, Defense Firms Cash in
Classified spending has edged up faster than overall defense budget requests, and accounts for nearly 11 percent of the $716 billion proposed for 2020.
Threats
Russian Hackers Used Stolen Iranian Malware to Attack 35 Countries, NSA Says
U.S. and British authorities said the Turla group is piggy-backing off the work of Iranian rivals to advance its own agenda.
Policy
Esper Recuses Himself from JEDI Cloud-Contract Review
Nearly three months after he put the program on hold, the defense secretary has concluded that his son's job prevents him from overseeing it.
Threats
We're Still In the Fight, Trump’s Syria Envoy Tells Congress
Amb. Jim Jeffrey denied the U.S. withdrawal has ceded influence to Russia, and declined to reveal his personal opinion of it.
Science & Tech
Facebook, Czech Republic Shut Down More Russian Influence, Espionage Efforts
Facebook announced a takedown of Russian-government connected accounts. But experts say that the U.S. isn’t doing enough.
Ideas
The US Has Supported Lebanon’s Corrupt Ruling Class Long Enough
As protestors rage against oligarchs, the United States should end its stability-minded approach and foster political and economic reform.
Ideas
Will America's Next Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile Match Up to China's?
The Air Force says the AIM-260 won't be powered by a ramjet. Does it have another trick up its sleeve?
Science & Tech
US Marines Try Using Drones to Bring Blood to Battle
The light unmanned aircraft made hundreds of supply drops during recent Australian live-fire wargames.
Ideas
10 Ways America’s Situation in the Middle East Will Get Worse
The Syrian pullout and the Iraqi instability are undermining U.S. national-security interests.
Ideas
How to Protect America After the Syria Withdrawal
Fighting ISIS just got harder—but it’s still possible, and it’s necessary.
Ideas
What the US Can Learn From Iranian Warfare
Tehran's approach to proxy wars offers a surprising lesson.
Threats
Top SDF Commander: Turkey Blocking Kurds’ Retreat; Urges Trump to ‘Stop This War’
“I am asking President Trump right now to fulfill his promise to us and stop this war,” Mazlum Abdi told Defense One by phone.
Science & Tech
The US Army Wants to Reinvent Tank Warfare with AI
A new project aims to make the battlefield more “transparent” — while relying on robots and software that “think” in unpredictable ways.
Business
Just One Bidder Is Vying for Two Pentagon Programs Worth $130 Billion
The defense acquisition chief is looking into the Army’s disqualification of a second bidder to replace Bradley armored vehicles.
Threats