Science & Tech

Meet the Encryption Aficionados Who Know How to Hide From the NSA's Watching Eye

Privacy advocates are using 'cryptoparties' to train computer users to better guard their data against surveillance. By Greg Thomas

Threats

Hagel Dodged the Kerry Question Two Weeks Ago

What a difference a dodge makes. Hagel avoided the trap Kerry walked into, refusing to give Syria a say in U.S. decision making. By Kevin Baron

Policy

Obama: Securing Syria's Chemical Weapons Could Avert a Strike

Russia offers to broker a deal to put Syria's chemical weapons 'under international control.' By Marina Koren and Brian Resnick

Ideas

Testing the Waters for Normalizing U.S.-Iran Relations

With a newly elected president in Iran, now is the time to use maritime cooperation to try to lessen tensions between Iran and the United States. By Kevin Cosgriff and Ellen Laipson

Threats

From Missile Strikes to Mission Creep

A quick military strike in Syria would inevitably drag Obama into the broader and messier goal of regime change in Damascus. By Dominic Tierney

Policy

Obama's Last Chance to Convince Congress to Strike Syria

Having lawmakers back in Washington--and away from irate constituents--may be the way that Obama convinces them to shift their positions on Syria. By Shane Goldmacher

Policy

Why Isolationism Is Back in America

The United States' mixed record on military interventions, coupled with an inherent skepticism of foreign involvement, has cooled any appetite towards a strike in Syria. By Ronald Brownstein

Threats

Is Obama Making it Harder to Take on Iran?

The administration's decision to go through Congress could be setting a difficult precedent -- especially if tensions with Tehran heat up in the future. By George E. Condon Jr.

Ideas

‘War’ By Any Other Name Is the Plan

A war by any other name doesn’t matter. A strike on Syria is exactly what U.S. military is built to do and the Pentagon expects to do more of it. By Stephanie Gaskell

Business

How Can Today’s Navy ‘Learn on the Run’?

Unrelenting U.S. Navy deployments and maintenance cycles shouldn’t get in the way of planning for the future. By Thomas Hone and Robert Holzer

Threats

Defense One Guidebook: Who’s Who in Syria’s Opposition

A primer on Syrian rebel factions, their aims, and their history. By Defense One Staff

Policy

Does Assad Win No Matter What the U.S. Does in Syria?

Secretary of State John Kerry admits that Bashar al Assad will ‘weather’ a limited U.S. strike against Syria for using chemical weapons. By Stephanie Gaskell

Policy

Syrian Rebel Commander Idris Prepared to Testify to Congress

Supporters say they may bring Syria’s rebels leaders from the front lines to the witness tables of Capitol Hill, should Congress balk. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Policy

Will Obama Resort to Appeasement in Syria?

Failure to receive approval from the legislature will only harken back to an era where dictators and despots were given free reign to terrorize. By Michael Hirsh

Ideas

How the 'War on Terror' Changed the Way We Go to War

The irregular nature of the past decade of warfare has emboldened presidents to order military action in other nations. Now Congress is saying, ‘Not so fast.’ By Stephanie Gaskell

Ideas

Only a ‘Painful’ Strike Will Stop Syria from Using Chemical Weapons Again

The father of the U.N.-backed Responsibility to Protect doctrine says military action against Syria is justified under the principles it lays out. By Kedar Pavgi

Business

Military Strike Against Syria Could Cost More Than $600 Million

The cost of a possible strike against Syria comes amid steep budget cuts at the Pentagon. By Defense One Staff

Threats

How Will Obama Keep Syria from Turning into Another Iraq?

White House promises of limited American action in Syria have so far failed to ease public concern. By David Rohde

Threats

Industry Cyber Guidelines Target ‘Insider Threats’

A preview of the administration’s industry cyber security standards urges employers to monitor emails and social media to identify ‘risky personnel.’ By Aliya Sternstein

Threats

Will Attacking Syria Prevent More Chemical Weapons Attacks?

An inadequate response to the use of chemical weapons in Syria will only increase the risk that the world's most dangerous weapons will be used to commit further atrocities. By Daryl G. Kimball