Threats
Obama: Strike Against Syria Would Be a 'Shot Across the Bow'
President Obama said a internationally backed military strike against Syria would punish the regime for using chemical weapons. By Stephanie Gaskell
Ideas
Pentagon Pivots Within the Pivot, to Southeast Asia
First came the pivot to Asia. Now, there’s the pivot within the pivot. By Kevin Baron
Threats
Not Yet! U.S. Still Determining Syria Attack Objectives
Obama administration officials are still trying to decide what objective they want to achieve with an attack on Syria, fearing additional chemical weapons use. By Stephanie Gaskell
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
Policy
U.S. No Longer Seeking U.N., NATO Permission to Strike Syria
Bypassing the United Nations and NATO, the United States is 'ready to strike' Syria with British, French and Arab support. By Kevin Baron
Threats
Kerry Makes the Case for Military Action in Syria
Secretary of State John Kerry says it’s not about stopping the civil war in Syria anymore– it’s about ending the proliferation of chemical weapons. By Stephanie Gaskell
Ideas
The War After the War in Syria
The continued fracturing of Syrian fighters threatens any hope for reconstruction once the fighting dies down. By Joshua Foust
Ideas
To Reach the East, NATO Must First Go North
NATO has an opportunity to engage its Asian partners and counterbalance the burgeoning Russian and Chinese interests in the Arctic. By Robbie Gramer and Alex Ward
Ideas
Whatever Comes Next, Syria Is Forcing a New U.S. Strategy for the Middle East
President Obama is deciding how to respond in Syria knowing that most Americans are wary of another mess in the Middle East. By Kevin Baron and Stephanie Gaskell
Threats
Pentagon ‘Stands Ready’ for Military Action in Syria as U.S. Warships Move to Region
President Obama huddles with his national security team to decide whether to take military action in Syria amid reports of more chemical attacks. By Kevin Baron
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
Ideas
Hagel Begins Asian Pivot as the Middle East Burns
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will spend the week setting up what the U.S. hopes to achieve over the next century: driving security in Asia while leading from behind in the Middle East. By Kevin Baron
Ideas
How Badly Did Manning Hurt the United States?
Manning said he was sorry for leaking troves of classified information from Iraq and Afghanistan. But just how much damage did he do? By Stephanie Gaskell
Policy
How Egypt Helps Assad
The U.S. is reluctant to get involved in Egypt - and Syrian President Bashir Assad knows it. By Michael Hirsh
Threats
With or Without U.S. Intervention, Syria Will Become Iraq
Old line in Washington: Syria will be another Iraq if the U.S. military gets involved. New line: Syria will become another Iraq if they don’t. By Kevin Baron
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.
Threats
A Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria May Have Killed Hundreds
Specific details about the incident are currently unknown, but the attack could be one of the war's deadliest to date. By Dashiell Bennett
Ideas
Once an Iraqi Interpreter, Now an American Soldier
The American dream -- and the fear of post-war Baghdad -- has led tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees to the U.S. For one former interpreter to the U.S. military, the only way to stay was to join up.
Ideas
Whispers in the Ranks that Iraq Has Turned Obama Isolationist to a Fault
Some in Obama’s diplomatic corps fear the president has “learned all the wrong things from Iraq” -- a deadly lesson for Syria’s rebels. By Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
Ideas