Ideas
Congress Should Do Its Job, and Get Us Out of Yemen’s Civil War
American support for the Saudi-led coalition is getting us nowhere good.
Policy
Trump Directly Counters Mattis, Military, In Tweet on North Korea
‘Talking is not the answer!’ says president, after threatening ‘all options’ following North Korean missile-launch over Japan.
Ideas
Trump Doesn't Have the Authority to Attack North Korea Without Congress
The decision to engage in armed conflict rests with the legislative branch, a requirement that is neither a formality nor outdated.
Ideas
Our Navy is Broken, and That is a Bad Thing
The fleet’s problems stem from decades of flat acquisition budgets and declining ship numbers.
Science & Tech
Why Didn’t the US Shoot Down That North Korean Missile?
The military’s record of hitting intermediate-range missiles is less than perfect. That makes the decision to attempt an intercept much harder.
Ideas
Lower-Yield Weapons Will Raise, Not Lower, the Threshold for Nuclear Use
Giving the U.S. president more flexible options will improve deterrence.
Ideas
As Independence Vote Nears, Iraqi Kurds Play a Risky Game of Chicken
Kurdistan’s president called the referendum to extract concessions from Baghdad. What if it doesn’t work?
Ideas
The North Korean Threat Beyond ICBMs
Even without them, the Kim regime can menace its immediate neighborhood—or sell nuclear material to rogue states.
Threats
What Does It Mean for North Korea to Fly a Missile Over Japan?
This latest strike may be Pyongyang’s most provocative test this year.
Science & Tech
Look for Military Drones to Begin Replacing Police Helicopters by 2025
General Atomics is working hard to put a close cousin of its Reaper anti-terrorism drone in the hands of local law enforcement.
Defense Systems
Navy sailors get 19 official mobile apps
Sailors by the thousands are now conducting training exercises and learning service information through mobile apps.
Defense Systems
Army develops two-channel software defined radio for dismounted soldiers
Future RFP to outline requirements for a new, two-channel software-programmable radio.
Policy
Ordered to Ban Transgender Troops, Pentagon Plans A New Look at Three Factors
The courts will take their own look, thanks to a trio of lawsuits filed in the wake of Trump’s Friday-night memo.
Science & Tech
DARPA Wants Bots To Protect Us From Cyber Adversaries
The military research unit is looking for technology and software that can identify networks that have been infiltrated—and neutralize them.
Ideas
How James Mattis Tried to Explain Trump to the World
Just as Mattis sought to reassure nervous allies, back home there were numerous reminders that the populist and intemperate impulses of his boss will not be tamed.
Science & Tech
3 Questions: Artificial Intelligence and the Military
AI has moved from the movies to the laboratory, and governments around the world want it in their arsenals. We asked how militaries define it, and how they intend to keep it under control.
Defense Systems