Policy
‘Believe Me:’ Trump Promises Shutdown if Congress Doesn’t Fund the Border Wall
The president says the wall is getting built, one way or another.
Policy
Tell Me What an Afghanistan 'Win' Looks Like
Campaign-trail rhetoric aside, his inability to define victory was the most troubling part of his speech.
Policy
Full Transcript: Donald Trump Announces His Afghanistan Policy
“No place is beyond the reach of American might and American arms.”
Threats
Will Anyone Care About Trump's Barely-Different Afghanistan War Plan?
Pull out. Stay in. Double down. It’s the military’s war until elected officials make it America’s war. And Americans won’t care by Wednesday, anyway.
Policy
Defense Contractors Begin Early Shutdown Preparations
Private firms are already ahead of the government in their planning, experts say.
Policy
Are Mercenaries Really a Cheaper Way of War?
The founder of Blackwater says privatizing the 16-year war could save taxpayer money. History, both recent and farther back, suggests a different outcome.
Policy
After the Marines United Scandal, ‘All Options’ Are on the Table
The Corps is considering integrating female recruits into West Coast training camps to help address subconscious biases, the assistant commandant said.
Policy
Does the US Military Need a Space Corps?
A proposal in Congress would create the first new uniformed service in 70 years, but it faces opposition from the Pentagon.
Policy
The US Balance-of-Power Strategy in the Gulf is Collapsing. But It Never Had a Chance Anyway
The Qatar dispute deals a death blow to Trump Administration dreams of an Arab NATO arrayed against Iran.
Policy
Why Leaking Transcripts of Trump's Calls Is So Dangerous
When the president’s opponents violate norms to undermine him, they do lasting damage to American security.
Policy
Border State Lawmakers Propose a 'Smart' Wall
The group wants radar technology, drones and cameras to make up big chunks of Trump’s proposed border wall.
Policy
Pentagon Tightens Rules After Fake Cops Buy $1.2M in Weapons
A sting operation run by the Government Accountability Office revealed a number of loopholes that bad actors could use to buy excess military arms and equipment through the 1033 program.
Policy
Trump’s Transgender Troop Ban Sparks An Instant Opposition of Unusual Allies
The commander in chief tweet-declares a stunning change for military personnel, but it’s far from clear he can make it stick.
Policy
Annual Defense Bill Aims to Rein in Pentagon Outsourcing
Supporters say measure would protect federal employees from seeing their jobs contracted out.
Policy
The Dangerous Politicization of the US Military
By asking active duty personnel to lobby Congress in their own self-interest, President Trump crossed an important line.
Policy
Why John McCain Matters More than the GOP Realizes
Without McCain, Republicans have no clear leader on defense issues. Not that they ever listen to him, anyway.
Policy
Cuts Proposed for Key Cybersecurity Agency
House Appropriations Committee reduces but retains White House cuts to the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Policy
Mattis on 2018 Budget: ‘We Have Got to Get a Bill Passed’
Congress is working up budgets that bust spending caps, with little evidence of a deal to avoid automatic cuts.
Ideas
The Next Battle: State Department, US Military Divided Over Kurdish Fighters In Syria (And Russia)
Frustrated sources on the ground say the State Department is struggling to get behind the Syrian Kurds and the U.S. military would struggle to proceed without them. As for Russia, well...
Policy