Ideas
The Hawkeye State Sours on Hawkish Republicans
Four years ago, Iowans rewarded the neocon-inflected campaigns of Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney. This year, four of the top five finishers are critics of unnecessary interventions.
Defense Systems
DARPA looks to develop a high-res brain-computer interface
The NESD program aims to communicate with up to a millions neurons at a time, in a device the size of a couple of stacked nickels.
Ideas
Want an Alternative to ISIS? Look to Tunisia
The Islamic State offers a false choice between dictatorship and extremism. Tunisia proves there’s a better way.
Ideas
Bring the Troops Home — From Sinai
Your first question is likely: 'We have American soldiers deployed in Egypt?'
Threats
Carpet-Bombing Is Not How You Defeat ISIS, Pentagon Says
Top ISIS war commander dismisses Ted Cruz’s idea, says there’s nothing to gain from an indiscriminate, scorched-earth method of fighting the Islamic State.
Science & Tech
USAF Stands Up Space Mission Force to Counter Russia, China
The service is reorganizing for battle in space, but threats may be progressing faster than fixes.
Ideas
Death of the GRU Commander
An American general remembers Russia's complex military intelligence chief, who shaped the Ukraine incursion — and worked hard to bridge the East-West gap.
Defense Systems
Army developing a universal control for all of its drones
The TOGA system will reduce the number of pilots required while better integrating ISR with its tactical network.
Defense Systems
IARPA wants to improve human/machine forecasting
The agency's Hybrid Forecasting Competition is intended to improve how humans and computers interact on geopolitical and geoeconomic analysis.
Business
Afghanistan Growing More Dangerous for US Rebuilders
The Taliban now controls more territory than at any time since 2001, the inspector general noted in just one of many downward trends for a country now in its 15th year of fighting.
Ideas
The Americans Who Volunteer to Fight ISIS
'A lot of people come over here thinking they’re going to be Rambo. It’s not like that.'
Policy
The 3 Worst National Security Ideas Out of the Iowa Debate
A closer look at the candidates’ remarks on foreign policy reveal plenty of bumper-sticker slogans, but few serious proposals that could actually help keep the country safe.
Policy
The Republican Conflation of ISIS and Immigration
Politically, this serves a purpose. But as public policy, it makes little sense.
Ideas
Want Peace in Syria? Put Women at the Negotiating Table
That’s what the Balkan experience tells us, say current and former British and US ambassadors.
Threats
Break in Egyptian airliner bombing case?; Big hole in the Syrian peace talks; More troops for ISIS war?; Carter’s surprising family-leave moves; and a bit more.
As we look for ways to root out terrorism, it is wise to recognize that women are often best placed to spot signs of radicalization and to counter it, given their central role in the family and the community.
Science & Tech
US Homeland Security's $6B Firewall Has More Than a Few Frightening Blind Spots
A recent audit revealed the National Cybersecurity Protection System—aka EINSTEIN—does not scan for 94 percent of common computer vulnerabilities. But that's not all of its shortcomings.
Defense Systems
Navy putting $49.8M into upgrading its EW test center
AAI Corp. will perform test environment system upgrades to the division's Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division's Electronic Combat Simulation and Evaluation Laboratories.
Defense Systems
Stratcom pushes a unified approach to joint spectrum operations
During a recent gathering hosted by Strategic Command, officials from across the military discuss developing an Electromagnetic Battle Management system.
Defense Systems