Threats
AFRICOM Commander: SpecOps Cuts Won’t Help China, But We Could Use More Regular Troops
“It’s really a misleading narrative to say that optimization is causing us to walk away from Africa,” Gen. Waldhauser said in an interview.
Science & Tech
China, Russia Building Attack Satellites and Space Lasers: Pentagon Report
The DIA says Chinese lasers could be ready to disable U.S. satellites in low Earth orbit by next year.
Policy
The Afghan Government Is Missing From Afghanistan's Peace Process
Two sets of negotiations with the Taliban are under way in Afghanistan. Neither includes the country’s democratically elected, internationally recognized administration.
Policy
Lawmakers Say They Have an Agreement to Avoid a 2nd Shutdown
They offered no details on the deal "in principle," but said they hoped to finalize it quickly.
Defense Systems
DISA, GSA clarify classified requirement for DEOS bidders
Aspiring vendors for the Pentagon's $8 billion back-office cloud contract won't have to be certified to host classified data on the date of the award.
Defense Systems
Defense Digital Service reimagining tech recruitment
In the race for tech talent, the Defense Digital Service is seeking a contractor to help lure workers from industry, state, local and federal agencies.
Ideas
Two Ideas That Might Stop a Post-INF Arms Race, and One That Won’t
Discard the pipe dream of INF-plus-China. Focus instead on keeping new missiles too far away to strike.
Science & Tech
DARPA Is Trying Bioelectric Implants to Help Heal Wounds
One of the Pentagon’s new research programs could see biosensors, actuators and even artificial intelligence implanted in soldiers to speed up the body’s healing processes.
Policy
Illegal Immigration Doesn’t Cause Crime
A review of the available evidence shows no link between illegal immigration — currently at a decade-long low — and crime.
Ideas
How a Forever War Ends
Trump might well wrap up the war in Afghanistan, but only by giving up on America’s original goals.
Science & Tech
Trump To Feds: Prioritize Artificial Intelligence Work
A sweeping executive order to be signed Monday will push agencies to boost funding, improve training, and propose regulations for AI-related efforts.
Science & Tech
US Army Aims to Put Cloud Data In Troops’ Hands
The Army Research Lab is funding tech that could put the computing power of the cloud in the hands of individual soldiers—and ultimately bring more artificial intelligence to the battlefield.
Policy
State Dept. Taps Ex-Fox News Correspondent to Counter Propaganda
Pompeo hails "vision" of long-rumored appointee Lea Gabrielle.
Ideas
Russian-Style Kleptocracy Is Infiltrating America
When the U.S.S.R. collapsed, Washington bet on the global spread of democratic capitalist values—and lost.
Ideas
Ep. 37: Beyond South China Sea tensions, part one: The Tinderbox
The episode is broken up into three parts: how did it all begin?; what's in it for Beijing?; and where to go and what to know from here.
Science & Tech
China’s Rapid AI Development Has Its Limits: Report
Chinese artificial-intelligence researchers are aware of ways their work lags the United States’ — and Beijing is working to fix those.
Policy
Diplomats Aren’t Following the State Department’s Social Media Rules, Watchdog Says
At least 20 ambassadors have used their personal Twitter accounts for diplomatic activities.
Defense Systems