Science & Tech

More Basic Research is Needed to Enhance America's National Security Capabilities

Money in this realm reaps dividends and can create the technology and tools needed to combat the threats of tomorrow. By Allan Sontesby and Joseph R. DeTrani

Science & Tech

How Social Media Helps Make the Case for War with Syria

The Obama administration is relying heavily on social media reports of chemical attacks to bolster its case for a military strike against Syria. By Michael Hirsh

Science & Tech

Why the U.S. Should Use Cyber Weapons Against Syria

The crisis in Syria is a good opportunity to show that U.S. cyber weapons can be used effectively (and ethically) on the battlefield. By Jason Healey

Science & Tech

Obama's Power To Set Cybersecurity Standards Is Limited

For the last three years, President Obama has been unable to get a cybersecurity bill through Congress. By Matthew Cooper

Ideas

Pentagon’s Syria Response Reveals Limits of Prized Cyber, Drone Arsenal

Here’s why the 'clarity' of a 20th century cruise missile strike likely will trump the 'sophistication' of the Pentagon’s 21st century drones and cyber-weapons. By Stephanie Gaskell

Science & Tech

Why a Precision Strike Won't Work in Syria

The Kosovo model for a precision strike against Syria ignores two important things - they're not always that precise and there's no guarantee that Assad will back down any time soon. By James Fallows

Policy

Drones Are Controversial But Legal

Just because drones are more technologically advanced than other weapons doesn't mean they violate international law. By James Jay Carafano

Business

Stop Shrouding the U.S. Drone Program in Secrecy

What if Obama was forced by Congress to share, after every lethal drone strike, a detailed summary of the evidence against the people killed? By Conor Friedersdorf

Science & Tech

The NSA May Have Access to 75 Percent of Domestic Internet Traffic

New revelations indicate that the agency's domestic surveillance capacity is much broader, and older, than what was previously reported. By Abby Ohlheiser.

Science & Tech

Pentagon Wants To Expand Program That Detects Foreign Nuclear Tests

A new solicitation indicates that the DoD is considering an upgrade to a system used to track nuclear activity abroad. By Aliya Sternstein

Science & Tech

Area 51 Has Been Hiding U-2 Spy Planes, Not UFOs

The existence of Area 51 isn’t the CIA’s most impressive revelation within the newly declassified document—it’s the U-2’s price tag. By Mark Micheli

Ideas

Why Is the Pentagon Dragging Its Feet on 3D Printing?

Troops in Afghanistan are testing 3D printers on the battlefield, but the military's acquisition process is getting in their way. By Kyle Chayka

Science & Tech

Exclusive: NSA Loophole Keeps Congress Clueless on Foreign Intel Violations

The leaked audit showing the NSA broke privacy rules nearly 3,000 times in one year is just the tip of the iceberg. The NSA is not telling Congress much more. By Marc Ambinder

Science & Tech

Killing Machines: How Far Can Obama's Drone Wars Go?

Behind every drone is a system that plans, operates and executes operations. This is one glimpse into that world. By Mark Bowden.

Business

The Military's Graduate Programs Aren't Really Training the Nation's Future Cyberwarriors

A new report recommends that the Pentagon's graduate programs revise their curricula to include cyber-specific training. By Brittany Ballenstedt

Science & Tech

The Anti-Snowden? Ex-SEAL’s Firm Caught Between Security and Privacy

Former Navy commando Mike Janke is a spy-turned-privacy advocate, but don’t compare him to NSA leaker Edward Snowden. By Aliya Sternstein

Science & Tech

Secure Email Service Used by Snowden Shuts Down

The head of the company that runs the secret email service that NSA leaker Edward Snowden used says he can no longer be "complicit in crimes against the American people." By Zachary M. Seward

Business

DoD's New Anti-Counterfeit Rules Are Confusing Defense Contractors

Many contractors say they can't comply with DoD's new anti-counterfeiting rules because they're too vague. By Aliya Sternstein

Ideas

In The Tank: This Week’s Best Defense and National Security Think Tank Offerings

The latest in wonk reads on national security, tech, and more. By Kedar Pavgi

Science & Tech

Counterfeits Can Kill U.S. Troops. So Why Isn't Congress and DoD Doing More to Stop it?

Customs officials can help greatly reduce counterfeit electronics that make their way to critical military systems, but toothless legislation is getting in their way. By Jim Burger and Kimberly Heifetz