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

What Happens When the US Starts to ‘Defend Forward’ in Cyberspace?

The author of DoD’s 2015 cyber strategy takes a look at the 2018 version.

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.

Ideas

Why Haven’t Terrorists Hit the US with a Devastating Cyber Attack?

National-security experts have been warning about it for 15 years. There are a few theories.

Defense Systems

'Fix it forward'

3-D printers have been a game changer for deployed Marine Expeditionary Units, which often need a replacement part quickly to keep a mission moving.

Defense Systems

Hacking the challenge of tech talent scarcity

The Army Cyber Command’s direct commissioning program plucks technical experts from the commercial sector.

Policy

The US Military Held an American as an Enemy Combatant for Over a Year. Here’s What That Means.

The case could have upended the entire war on ISIS. Instead, it’s changing how we treat some detainees.