Ideas

Obama’s Speech Reflects a Refined Foreign Policy Doctrine

The president’s speech presents a refined American engagement that relies not just on our kinetic capabilities. By Maj. Mike Lyons

Policy

Islamic State Unites Congress, But Lawmakers Diverge on the Way Forward

The Islamic State may have provoked rare unity in a dysfunctional Congress -- but lawmakers’ support for Obama’s strategy comes with crucial caveats. By Molly O’Toole

Threats

Obama Has a Strategy for the Islamic State But He Better Have a Plan B

President Obama laid out a plan to defeat the Islamic State. But it’s hardly a shock and awe. Is there a Plan B? By Kevin Baron

Defense Systems

Researchers 'grow' lasers in chip breakthrough

The DARPA-funded work could cut costs and SWAP for microsystems used in radars, sensors and communications devices.

Ideas

In Obama Speech, Echoes of the Lyndon Johnson Era

President Obama’s speech on the Islamic State was nicely written, if you care about presidential syntax. But it reflected no sense of history. By Philip Seib

Science & Tech

Every Part of the US Government Has Probably Already Been Hacked

A Homeland Security official says 600,000 cyber incidents have occurred so far this fiscal year. By Frank Konkel

Science & Tech

The Army Wants to Use Its Own Secure 4G LTE Networks

The technology would triple the capacity and speed of the long-troubled Joint Tactical Radio System. By Bob Brewin

Policy

Dick Cheney Calls Obama's National Security View 'Willfully Blind'

While the former vice president is as hawkish as ever, the Republican consensus is not nearly as unified as it once was. By Emma Roller

Threats

The Case Against Another War in Iraq

The president's developing campaign against the Islamic State is shaking out to be more emotionally reactive than purpose-driven. By David Frum

Policy

How the US Should Plan Around Thailand's Ongoing Coup

The latest military coup in Thailand may last a few dozen more months. Here's what the U.S. military can do to make the most of the uncertain situation. By Joshua Kurlantzick

Policy

House Republicans Unveil Plan To Keep the Government Open

The fine print offers good news for the Pentagon and State Department and ongoing VA oversight, as well as efforts to curb the Ebola outbreak. By Billy House

Policy

Congressional Leaders Stand Back To Let Obama Strike Islamic State

The White House made clear the president won't go to Capitol Hill for approval to broaden his campaign against ISIL. And for now, no one is dissenting. By Daniel Newhauser

Ideas

‘No Boots on the Ground’ Doesn’t Mean No Combat in Iraq

President Obama is vowing not to send 'boots on the ground' in Iraq but they’re already there. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Defense Systems

Putting powerful analytics into a 'Facebook for terrorists'

Modus Operandi’s semantic technology corrals and analyzes intelligence big data and puts it into a familiar interface.

Defense Systems

DARPA to hunt for space and time vulnerabilities of software algorithms

The STAC program is looking for techniques to find flaws in algorithms that could leak information or enable denial of service attacks.

Threats

How Russia Is Revolutionizing Information Warfare

Putin's Russia doesn’t just deal in the petty disinformation, forgeries, lies and cyber-sabotage usually associated with information warfare. It reinvents reality. By Peter Pomerantsev

Business

The VA Has Way Too Many Websites for Veterans Care

VA Secretary Bob McDonald wants to consolidate the 14 different websites veterans have to choose from to help coordinate their care from the department. By Bob Brewin

Policy

Senate Finds Plenty to Criticize About the 'Militarization' of US Police

After raising concerns about its transparency and questionable spending, senators said Tuesday the Pentagon's so-called '1033' program has to be reined in. By Emma Roller

Science & Tech

The Military Wants a Vehicle That Can Dodge Rockets By Itself

The military wants to build future vehicles that don’t just withstand assaults but avoid them. By Patrick Tucker

Policy

Ignoring Obama's Most Important Achievement in the Middle East

The president is successful at hunting terrorists and denying the Islamic State access to vast storehouses of deadly chemical weapons. So why doesn't he get credit? By Jeffrey Goldberg