Ideas
For their National Interests, the US and China Must Continue to Engage
Four former Congressmen return from a China trip with new perspectives.
Defense Systems
Defense budget fight coming, Ernst says
The defense top-line budget will be a point of contention between the Republican-led Senate and Democrat-led House as they resolve their differences with the 2020 defense authorization bill, a leading lawmaker said on Tuesday.
Policy
Shanahan Out; Army Secretary Esper to Be Acting SecDef
Trump tweets the news after reports that the FBI was looking into a violent domestic dispute from nine years ago.
Ideas
How to Step Back from the Brink with Iran
Right now, everything both sides do to strengthen their defenses looks to the other side like preparation for attack.
Business
This Kansas Aircraft-Parts Supplier Is Flying High on Secret Military Projects
A longtime maker of airliner parts, Spirit Aerosystems is finding new work in the defense sector.
Ideas
House Democrats Want To Kill This More Useable Nuke. They’re Right.
There are no good arguments for the W76-2 warhead, and quite a few good ones against.
Defense Systems
Shanahan out as Pentagon chief; Army Secretary Esper steps in
President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan was resigning and withdrawing his name from consideration to hold the top Pentagon job on an acting basis. Trump announced that Army Secretary Mark Esper is taking over as acting defense secretary.
Business
Boeing Tankers Still Have Debris; Fix is ‘Months, Maybe Longer’ Away
But the Air Force is once again accepting aircraft so that new inspection processes can be brought to bear, acquisition chief Roper says.
Science & Tech
The Coming Flood of Space Junk Can’t Be Stopped by Technology Alone
Giant nets may help, but nations must solve the problem with new rules down here on Earth.
Defense Systems
DISA, DIU take hits in House defense bill
Lawmakers are taking note of seemingly unjustified defense growth in crafting of the 2020 defense authorization bill.
Ideas
Iran Has Options and It’s Starting to Use Them
Washington’s “maximum pressure” campaign has not forced Tehran to yield—in fact, it’s done the opposite.
Science & Tech
Fight Deepfakes with Cyberweapons and Sanctions, Experts Tell Congress
Social media companies and the federal government must help fight hyper-realistic misinformation, witnesses told the House Intelligence Committee.
Defense Systems
Defense bill calls for DOD to fast-track certain software buys
A provision in the defense bill moving through the House of Representatives calls for the Pentagon to authorize a new fast track for software acquisition, with an eye to upgrading vulnerable weapons systems.
Business
How L3 Technologies Is Culture-Shifting Its Way into the Industry’s Top Tier
Over the past 18 months, the company has overhauled its structure and various modus operandi.
Threats
How the Climate Crisis Threatens the US Energy System
The U.S. military is the largest customer of the U.S. electricity grid, and other insights from a two-day workshop convened by the Council on Foreign Relations.
Ideas
Europe's Elections Suggest US Shouldn’t Be Complacent in 2020
The lesson is not that elections are secure, but that Russian and other subversives are choosy about when and how they engage.
Ideas
Deterrence Is Failing — Partly Because Iran Has No Idea What the US Really Wants
Successful deterrence requires clear delineation of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. That needs to start, pronto.
Ideas