Defense Systems

Rising Star: Senior Airman Christopher R. DeForge

Geospatial Analyst/Full-Motion Video Screener, 45th Intelligence Squadron, U.S. Air Force

Ideas

China Is No Reason to Abandon the INF

Putting U.S. ground-launched intermediate-range missiles in the Pacific would be tactically ineffective and strategically destabilizing.

Ideas

Kentucky Is Turning to Drones to Fix Its Unsolved-Murder Crisis

Only 52 percent of the state’s homicides result in an arrest when the victim is black. Could automating police work help?

Ideas

In the Gulf, Repression and Discontent Are Rising as US Influence Wanes

After the Arab Spring, rulers are cracking down harder in the absence of US officials to curb their worst impulses.

Science & Tech

How Estonia Secures Its Electronic Elections From Kremlin Attacks

Could innovations like a volunteer infosec corps and 'data embassies' help the U.S.?

Ideas

US Diplomatic Vacancies Are Straining Alliances

Almost half the top jobs in the State Department are empty. In 18 countries, the White House has yet to designate a U.S. ambassador. That includes Australia, a close ally to America that is beginning to look to China instead.

Policy

Here’s How Iran Will Try to Evade US Sanctions

U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic’s oil industry have gone into effect. Tehran is already turning to some old tricks.

Ideas

John Bolton Keeps Citing This 2002 Pact as an Arms-Control Model. It’s Really Not.

The Treaty of Moscow was ill-defined, unverifiable — and not something that Russia would sign today.

Policy

Trump Sparks Outrage with Claims That Rocks Should Be Treated As Firearms

But there is precedent for firing on rock-throwers on the border. CBP agents have done so on numerous occasions.

Threats

China is Exporting its Cyber Surveillance to African Countries

Beijing has trained African officials on its sprawling system of censorship and surveillance.

Ideas

A New Kind of Populism is Threatening Southeast Asia

The region’s fast-growing but fragile democracies have been susceptible to strongmen and autocratic-leaning populists in recent years, propelled by concerns over inequality, crime, and dysfunctional governments.

Ideas

Ep. 27: CENTCOM's Gen. Votel; Exosuits and super soldiers; Weaponizing social media and more.

Welcome to our podcast about the news, strategy, tech, and business trends defining the future of national security.

Defense Systems

DOD details cyber teams to DHS for election duty

The Defense Department has loaned personnel to Homeland Security in effort to prevent -- or react to -- election hacking attempts.

Ideas

The Lesson of Saruman

Tolkien has a warning to erstwhile #NeverTrumpers who are now choosing to ally with power rather than hold to their values.