Ideas
The Lost Pilgrims of the Islamic State
Like past pilgrimages to China and the Soviet Union, the migration of Westerners to the Islamic State group points to the tragic intersection of estrangement and utopian hope.
Threats
China’s New Islands Are Clearly Military, U.S. Pacific Chief Says
Adm. Harry Harris, head of U.S. Pacific Command, says the vastly expanded reefs now look exactly like combat bases for fighters, bombers, ships, and surveillance.
Business
As Deadline Nears, Special Ops Chiefs Talk Women In Combat
The experience of the all-female Cultural Support Teams looms large as former U.S. Special Operations Command commander Eric Olson and current chief Gen. Joseph Votel talk about the future of women as special operators.
Ideas
The Nigerian Military's Inconvenient Truth
By emphasizing his desire for weapons above military reforms, Nigeria's new president squandered a valuable opportunity to raise an important issue in U.S. policy circles.
Threats
You're Safe-ish from Anthrax, For Now
Pentagon investigation into accidental anthrax shipments blames bad processes for killing spores.
Business
You’re Safe-ish from Anthrax, For Now
Pentagon investigation into accidental anthrax shipments blames bad processes for killing spores.
Defense Systems
IARPA wants an early warning system for cyber attacks
The agency is looking to combine internal and external sensors and monitors to try to identify attacks in their early stages.
Policy
From ‘No Deal is Better Than A Bad Deal’ to ‘This Deal or War’
Senators bristle at White House warnings, calling them an attempt to force the Iran nuclear agreement down U.S. lawmakers’ throats.
Threats
Former Pentagon Intel Chief Says Military’s Clandestine Service Is Growing
The original vision for the Defense Clandestine Service was scaled back, but Michael Vickers says the new agency is still building up.
Ideas
Before You Listen To Pundits on Iran, See What They Said On Iraq
To a degree that will baffle historians, the political-intellectual complex that made the Iraq War possible remains intact and powerful.
Threats
Turkey Opens Key Air Bases for US Strikes On ISIS
The newly approved use of Incirlik Air Base and others for bombing missions will greatly reduce the distance U.S. warplanes must fly to their targets.
Defense Systems
How the cyber domain blurs the lines on warfare
Most military leaders and experts agree that stealing information is not an act of war. But what's the cyber equivalent of taking up arms?
Defense Systems
National Guard wants to make more domestic use of drones
A recent report outlines the uses unmanned aerial vehicles could serve in domestic airspace, as well as the constraints standing in the way.
Policy
White House In ‘Final Stages’ of Plan to Close Guantanamo
The Obama administration will submit the plan to Congress shortly, but warned lawmakers: We’re not bluffing on our veto threat.
Science & Tech
In The War of 2050, The Robots Call The Shots
An Army-sponsored workshop on the future of war produces a mashed-up vision of swarmbots, cyborgs, and technology run wild.
Science & Tech
Senators Want Homeland Security To Be a Leading Cyber Defense Agency
After the hack on the Office of Personnel Management, a bipartisan group of lawmakers believes it's time to grant DHS power over government networks.
Threats
The Team That Chases Down Online Threats To The President
It’s easy to find angry words on Twitter and Facebook, but who should be punished and how much time should the U.S. spend doing so?
Threats