Ideas
How Should the Pentagon Reshape Its Mideast Posture? Four Indicators to Watch
A tour of possible scenarios reveals what U.S. policymakers ought to be focused on as they chart the future of regional force posture.
Ideas
Rex Tillerson's Syria Policy Is Sensible—But It's Fanciful
The resources the administration is willing to commit are at yawning variance with its ambitious goals.
Threats
What A Nuclear Missile Attack On Hawaii Would Look Like
A blast over Honolulu would be catastrophic. That doesn’t mean the government shouldn’t help the public prepare for one.
Ideas
We Don't Need a Bigger Nuclear Button
The plan outlined in a draft of the Nuclear Posture Review would cost trillions of dollars — and make Americans no safer.
Policy
UPDATED: See Who Gets Sent Home in a Shutdown
Some agencies would furlough virtually everyone, while others would remain completely open if there is a lapse in appropriations.
Threats
America Quietly Starts Nation-Building in Parts of Syria
The U.S. has escalated its presence in the country, and has signaled no timetable for when it will end.
Policy
Mattis: Pentagon Shifting Focus to Great Power Competition — ‘Not Terrorism’
The first national defense strategy in 10 years puts on paper what Mattis, McMaster have signaled for months: the U.S. is refocused on China and Russia.
Ideas
Why Are There No Cyber Arms Control Agreements?
With the emergence of a militarized cyber domain that creates the conditions for misperceptions that could lead to inadvertent conflict, why are there no cyber arms control regimes?
Ideas
What if H.R. McMaster Is Right About North Korea?
It’s reassuring to think the country wants only a defensive capability. It could very easily be wrong.
Defense Systems
DOD health record effort pivots to lessons learned
After a lengthy rollout, military health leaders will evaluate user feedback on MHS Genesis to prepare for full deployment.
Policy
House Speaker: Budget Fights Have ‘Pushed Our Military Past the Breaking Point’
Paul Ryan highlighted defense hawks’ concerns about readiness and funding as Congress tries to avert a shutdown.
Threats
The Misleading Math in the Trump Administration’s ‘Foreign Terrorists’ Report
The Jan. 16 report counts people extradited to the U.S. and doesn’t count American white supremacists.
Ideas
Don’t Hold Missile-Defense Hostage to the Illusion of a Perfect Grade
How is North Korea improving its ICBMs so quickly? It’s not afraid of a test failure — or six.
Threats
Embattled Intelligence Whistleblower Ombudsman Defends Himself
Dan Meyer, on forced leave, challenges accusations under review by unusual disciplinary panel.
Defense Systems
Faster crypto is the goal of ONR research effort
Galois is creating a suite of tools that will improve the development and testing of new cryptographic algorithms.
Threats
White Supremacists Killed More Americans Last Year Than Any Other Domestic-Extremist Group
One day after a Justice Department report excluded domestic terrorism from its tally, a new report highlights the danger of racist rhetoric and hateful ideas.
Science & Tech