Ideas

The Latest Taliban Leader’s Death Changes What, Exactly?

Ask three people what they make of Mullah Mansoor’s death by drone and you’ll get three answers, none offering a swift end to the war.

Defense Systems

Navy's robotic lifeguard answers the call

EMILY, a Kevlar-coated, jet-powered buoy, was recently used to help rescue 300 Syrian refugees off the coast of Greece.

Threats

The Drone War Crosses Another Line

America took an unprecedented step over the weekend when Obama authorized the Pentagon rather than the CIA to carry out an airstrike inside Pakistan.

Policy

Carter: Wider US-Vietnam Military Relations Not ‘Directed’ at China

Lifting the arms embargo continues years of Obama’s efforts to link American and Vietnamese militaries, the defense secretary said, as president visits country.

Ideas

A New Front In Obama's War on Whistleblowers

Fired Pentagon assistant inspector general John Crane is going public with allegations senior officials retaliated against whistleblowers, destroyed permanent records and altered audits under political pressure.

Ideas

The Old Arguments About US Nukes in Europe Aren’t Working. Here’s A New Approach.

Stressing the humanitarian dimensions of the debate over tactical nukes may break a long stalemate.

Defense Systems

Navy looking to shore up weapons-systems cybersecurity

NAVAIR issues a solicitation addressing the networked nature of weapons and the vulnerabilities can exist.

Ideas

Naysayers Are Learning the Wrong Lessons About the Littoral Combat Ship

The LCS is bringing needed numbers — and following the paths of very successful ship classes.

Ideas

The Myth of American Disengagement

For too many in the foreign policy debate, "engagement" is code for unilateral military intervention. Here's a more honest way to measure Obama's record.

Business

With Oil Revenue Down, Commercial Firms Eye Military Business

The companies showed up at a massive naval trade show, ready to work.

Defense Systems

The Navy has seen the future and it's filled with drones

Naval officials have recently described how unmanned technologies will “fundamentally change the way the Department of the Navy operates in the future.”

Ideas

If Diplomacy Fails, Then What for Syria?

What leverage has a United States that is so reluctant to fight?

Science & Tech

How the Pentagon is Preparing for a Tank War With Russia

Reactive armor and cross-domain fire capabilities are just some of the items on the Army’s must-have list.

Ideas

The Military Isn't Fully Tracking Sexual Assault Reports

Watchdog says DOD has yet to comply with a new law to tally discharged troops who had reported being assaulted.

Science & Tech

The Tiny Town Where Air Force Cadets Learn to Drop ‘Cyber Bombs’

The future of cyber warfare training looks like a model railroad where network security majors take turns turning off the lights.

Defense Systems

DARPA dives in to underwater navigation project

BAE was recently awarded a contract to work on DARPA’s Positioning System for Deep Ocean Navigation, an attempt to create a GPS-like system under the sea.