Threats

Is This the Best Option for Syria?

CFR President emeritus Les Gelb argues that the U.S. should pressure moderate rebels to work, at least temporarily, with the Assad regime in defeating the hard-line Islamists—the 'biggest threat' to both sides. By Bernard Gwertzman

Business

Beth McGrath, Top DOD Management Official, to Resign

Beth McGrath’s 25-year career focused on bringing business strategies to Defense Department operations. By Charles S. Clark

Ideas

Hagel’s Plan for the Military in the Post-War Era

As the nation comes off a 'perpetual war footing,' Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warns against relying too heavily on military might. By Kevin Baron

Business

Pentagon Building Security Chief Is Accused of Abusing His Authority

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency chief is accused of abusing firing range, golf and meal privileges. By Charles S. Clark

Business

Panel: DOD, CIA Required Doctors to Break Ethics With Detainees

Pentagon rejects as "high comedy" independent panel's criticism of post-9/11 intelligence gathering practices. By Clara Ritger

Policy

Get Over It: America and Its Friends Spy on Each Other

The U.S. may be allied with France, Germany and a host of other countries, but their interests aren't necessarily aligned all the time. By Michael Hirsh

Policy

How Obama Can Bypass Congress and Ease Sanctions on Iran

A recalcitrant and hawkish Congress won't cut back on Iran sanctions by itself. Good thing the White House has plenty of other options. By Sara Sorcher

Policy

Doubts Linger Over Syrian Weapons Disclosure

After U.N. certification, U.S. officials still unsure of the actual number of Syria's weapons making sites or their facilities. By Global Security Newswire

Ideas

How Obama Can Help Iraq

The Iraq war President Obama never wanted is back. Here’s what he can do to help stop Iraq’s spiral into chaos. By Stephanie Gaskell

Ideas

Crocker: Send More U.S. Counterterrorism Troops to Iraq

Ryan Crocker, the former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, knows what it takes to save Iraq: political will and military muscle that President Obama has been unwilling to use. By James Kitfield

Ideas

Overcoming the Gulf in the Gulf

America’s Gulf partners should reconsider their forceful protests of U.S. Middle East policy. By Colin H. Kahl and Jacob Stokes

Business

Budget Cuts Put Acquisition Reform Back in the Spotlight

While the Defense Department grapples with budget cuts and sequestration, the House Armed Services Committee sets its sights once again on acquisition reform. By Charles S. Clark

Ideas

Congress vs the President: Who Should Make the Calls on NSA?

Are the intel committees upset that the NSA tapped Merkel's phone -- or that they didn't know about it first? By Marc Ambinder

Business

Will Corruption Force U.S. Troops to Abandon Afghanistan?

There’s growing concern that the number of U.S. and NATO troops that remain past 2014 might be too small to oversee billions of aid money to Afghanistan. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

NSA, Watergate, Vietnam: What Should Presidents Know?

Presidents have lied about what they knew and knew too much. But there are things that a president really shouldn't know. By George E. Condon, Jr.

Policy

Germany's Real Spying Scandal

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is upset over U.S. spying, but where's the outrage over a recent prank using a drone? By Moisés Naim

Business

Exclusive Interview: DIA Director Flynn on Why Special Ops Will Keep Us From War

DIA's Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn talks about his mission to reform military intelligence and why al-Qaeda is metastasizing. By James Kitfield

Policy

Senate Intel Committee Orders 'Major Review' of U.S. Spying Practices

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is ‘totally opposed’ to spying on allies and has ordered the Senate Intelligence Committee to conduct its own review of U.S. intelligence gathering. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

U.S. To Release Its Review of Spying Practices By Year's End

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the results of a review of the way the U.S. gathers intelligence will be released by the end of the year. By Matt Vasilogambros

Policy

Kirsten Gillibrand's Fight to Change the Pentagon

The New York senator has fought relentlessly to fix the military's sexual assault crisis, even as it pits her against leaders in her own party. By Ben Terris