Ideas
The Pursuit of AI Is More Than an Arms Race
Dealing wisely with the challenges of artificial intelligence requires reframing the current debates.
Ideas
Pompeo’s Secret Korea Trip May Not Save His Nomination, But It Could Save Trump’s Summit
The president needs a "win" somewhere so badly that at the summit he may accept a nuclear freeze and a determined process as a major victory. That is a good thing.
Ideas
What Austria Can Teach the US About Civil-Military Relations
I was raised in a culture in which soldiering is seen as just another dangerous profession.
Ideas
The Corker-Kaine Bill Would Codify, not End, the Forever War
The replacement AUMF would formalize a reversal of the Constitution, allowing the president to declare wars and Congress — if it dares — to veto them.
Ideas
US Military Dominance Requires Better Command-and-Control Tools
Commanders need an AI-infused infrastructure to keep tabs on friendly and hostile forces, suggest actions, and help carry out orders.
Ideas
Neither Precise Nor Proportionate
Trump’s attack on Syria was unserious but intended to relieve emotional pressure—and in many ways, worse than doing nothing at all.
Ideas
A Trump Doctrine for the Middle East
The region has now been Trump-branded as “a troubled place”—and one America is not particularly interested in helping.
Ideas
Trump's Syria Strategy Actually Makes Sense
And it does not involve a commitment to change the horrible and predictable outcome of the civil war.
Ideas
For Not-Quite-Wars, Italy Has a Useful Alternative to Traditional Troops
More nations should consider creating police-cum-military forces for hybrid stabilization missions.
Ideas
The Unconstitutional Strike on Syria
AUMF? The Syrian government is not Al Qaeda, nor an affiliate, nor a successor, nor anything except a sovereign nation against which the president has decided to go to war.
Ideas
The Strike May Have Hurt More than It Helped
Far from instilling fear in Assad, it may merely have created a short-term munitions shortage.
Ideas
Two Decades of War Have Eroded the Morale of America’s Troops
If the courage of young men and women in battle truly does depend on the nature and quality of our civic society, we should be very worried.
Ideas
I Ran US Border Patrol — And I Support Trump's Call to Deploy the National Guard
Critics have assailed the president’s decision to send troops to the border. But they can provide additional assistance and resources to agents in times of need.
Ideas
NATO Needs to Step Up its Maritime Defenses
Here are a few steps the alliance should pursue at its upcoming summit in Brussels.
Ideas
Going BRAC-less: What to Do with the US Military’s Excess Property
The Pentagon is offering an alternative to closing bases, and Congress should support it.
Threats
Assad Defies Another American President
The Syrian strongman saw the red line on sarin as a green light to do everything else.
Ideas
The Logic of Assad's Brutality
No meaningful American response will be forthcoming, no matter how hideous the war crime.
Ideas
Expose — and Hinder — China’s Actions in the South China Sea
The U.S. needs to systematically collect and publicize data on China’s efforts to expand and consolidate its control in the area.
Threats
The Threat Within NATO
An alliance built on democratic ideals is seeing the rise of strongmen in its midst.
Ideas