Ideas
Europe Contemplates Life without NATO
Germany is leading a sweeping, on-the-fly rethink of how the European Union might best fend for itself.
Ideas
We’re Ignoring the Best Bad Option for Syria
A frozen conflict would give the country space to begin rebuilding.
Ideas
So, American Mass Shooters and Islamic Terrorists Do Have Something in Common
'It’s the same psychological phenomenon, different culture war.'
Ideas
Are Leakers Defending Democracy or Corroding It?
Are leaks about the White House the work of bureaucrats who want to undermine the president? And if so, is that a good or bad thing?
Policy
What Happens Next Is Up to Republicans
It’s up to them whether a truly independent investigation occurs.
Ideas
Take Off the Pentagon’s Gloves in the ISIS War? Not So Fast.
Policies intended to reduce civilian harm didn’t arise out of elite Washington think tanks or academia; they arose from the military’s own lessons learned.
Policy
Trump’s Empty Ultimatum to NATO
Defense Secretary Mattis just called for Europe to increase defense spending or else...what exactly?
Ideas
One Nuclear Step to Settle an Unsettled Age
The single most symbolic and practical move that states possessing nuclear weapons could make would be to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Ideas
What Does Trump Want from Netanyahu?
It’s clear enough what the Israeli prime minister expects. But the Americans are in a position to make their own demands.
Ideas
When Netanyahu and Trump Meet, Russia Should Top the Agenda
Moscow’s intervention in Syria is one of the most significant strategic shifts facing Israel in nearly two decades.
Ideas
The US and Iran Are Not Yet on a Course to War
Despite bellicose words, both sides have also demonstrated elements of restraint.
Ideas
There's No One At the Helm of White House Foreign Policy
Flynn’s departure won’t solve the Trump administration’s central dysfunction.
Ideas
President Trump, Viewed through NATO’s Guide to Russian Information Warfare
Russia uses theft, narratives, lies, trolls, and bots to weaken Western governments. The U.S. president is playing into its hands.
Ideas
Beyond Yemen, the Ghost of Anwar al-Awlaki Will Long Haunt US Forces
The enduring propaganda value of a martyr.
Policy
Michael Flynn's Disaster
Trump’s national security adviser’s potentially false statements about his pre-inauguration contacts with Russian officials are a major problem.
Ideas
SOCOM Will Soon Lead the Pentagon’s Anti-WMD Efforts. Here’s What It Still Needs.
America’s special operators know how to catch bomb-makers, but need new expertise on other areas of the fight.
Ideas
Why Did Trump Pick a Fight with Putin Over the Nuclear Weapons Treaty?
President Trump took a hard line over New START with Russia. It's an odd battle to choose -- and a dangerous one.
Ideas
Trump’s Dangerous 'Dishonest' Message to the Troops
It’s politics when a candidate disparages “the media.” But it’s potentially dangerous when the commander in chief tells U.S. troops not to trust the reporters who cover them.
Ideas