Science & Tech

Did the White House Use Drone Killing Technology?

Here's how the White House can keep drones off its lawn but you can't off yours. By Patrick Tucker

Threats

What Dempsey Wants In New War Powers To Fight ISIS

Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey said the Pentagon should not be constrained by time or geography in its long struggle with Islamic extremism. By Micah Zenko

Business

SpaceX Ends Lawsuit, Settles With Air Force for Future Launch Bids

Elon Musk’s rocket company announced a settlement with the Air Force over allegations it unfairly awarded an $11 billion space launch contract to a competitor. By Tim Fernholz

Policy

Iran Sanctions Showdown Is Drawing New Battlelines in Congress

Iran sanctions are pitting hawk against hawk and party against president while aligning hardliners with moderates and libertarians with liberals. By Molly O’Toole

Ideas

The Dangers of Saudi Succession

The monarchy's greatest strength is its outward display of unity. That's also its weakness. By Simon Henderson

Threats

How an ISIS Beheading Might Change Japan

The apparent murder of Haruna Yukawa may compel Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to press for re-militarization. By Matt Schiavenza

Threats

Yemen: From the Arab Spring to a Leaderless Nation

Four years after Arab Spring protests spread across the Middle East and North Africa, Yemen is on the brink of an all-out civil war. By Laura Kasinof

Policy

Instability in Yemen Could Delay Guantanamo's Closing

The White House says it will temporarily halt sending its Yemeni detainees from Guantanamo back to a nation very much in flux at the moment. By Kaveh Waddell

Defense Systems

Lockheed delivers first of Navy's automated aircraft test systems

The enhanced eCASS will allow aircraft carriers to operate more like airports at sea.

Defense Systems

Simulations to help Marines think on their feet

ONR puts out a call for simulation systems that help teach decision-making at the squad level, an area that has been overlooked by researchers.

Ideas

This Is America's Best Shot To Fix the Relationship With Saudi Arabia and Fight Terrorism

The U.S. should use the transition in Riyadh to correct course, adjust its relationship with Saudi Arabia and fight extremism. By Sarah Chayes

Policy

US-Saudi Military Relations Expected To Persist Under King Salman

The new king is the former Saudi defense minister, which should mean steady policy and weapons sales for U.S contractors. By Marcus Weisgerber

Ideas

What the Ayatollah’s Letter to Western Millennials Was All About

Despite being written in response to the horrific violence of Paris attacks, the letter from Iran's Khamenei addressed to Western youth is long on history but short on any condemnations of terrorism. By Esfandyar Batmanghelidj

Science & Tech

The US Military Is Building Gangs of Autonomous Flying War Bots

Flying swarms of semi-smart drones are coming to a war near you. By Patrick Tucker

Policy

How UN Members Want To Bypass a Security Council Veto

Proposals from France and Brazil reopened a much-needed discussion on how to make the Security Council more responsive to mass atrocities like the Syrian conflict. By Stewart M. Patrick

Policy

India's Stake In Obama's Afghanistan Policy

The future of Afghanistan is among India's top concerns during Obama's New Delhi visit to talk terrorism, immigration, climate change and nuclear liability. By George E. Condon, Jr.

Business

The Pentagon Has No Idea How Many Employees It Needs

Defense headquarters offices were asked to reduce their budgets 20 percent by 2019. So far, the Pentagon cannot say how it will meet that goal. By Eric Katz