Ideas
Saudi Arabia: A Kingdom Coming Undone
As Riyadh embarks on a rocky journey to economic diversification, the U.S. should offer help — but not unconditionally.
Ideas
Why Clinton Gets My Vote, by Former Defense Secretary William Perry
The veteran of GOP and Democratic administrations says Trump is unfit for the presidency.
Ideas
The Syrian Kurds Try DIY Nation-Building in a Wartorn Land
The American military's radical, unlikely, democratic experiment in northern Syria now teeters on a knife’s edge.
Ideas
Washington is Quietly Reinforcing Europe’s Northern Flank
Much is being done to counter Russian ambitions in the High North, and yet much more remains to be done.
Ideas
Get Ready to Walk Away from Incirlik
As U.S.-Turkey relations cool, retaining access to the air base will require ending our dependence on it.
Ideas
Donald Trump Is the First Demagogue of the Terrorism-and-Climate Change Era
Here’s why he won't be the last.
Ideas
The World Needs the American Military
It’s fiction to pretend that the most powerful nation can ever be truly “neutral” in foreign conflicts.
Ideas
What the Next US President Needs to Know About Rising India-Pakistan Tensions
Pakistan, in particular, finds itself once again at the center of the tussle between China, Russia, and the United States.
Ideas
Geography Allows America To Choose Its Global Role. Only One Candidate is Choosing Wisely
Because of its location, America can choose whether it wants to be a gatekeeper or a global policeman.
Ideas
Getting Past Grudging Precautions: How the Next President Should Address Climate Change
The U.S. Navy’s former weatherman-in-chief says gradual progress must turn into serious high-level action.
Ideas
The US Accused Russia of Hacking. What Happens Next Will Set a Cyber War Precedent
After blaming Russia for trying to tamper with the presidential election, the White House will want to choose its next move carefully.
Ideas
'What President Trump Meant to Say'
I would have been fired on the spot if I spoke like Donald Trump.
Ideas
The US Should Stand with Saudi Arabia in Yemen
Facing Iran and Hezbollah on their border, Saudis have no choice to see this war to its end – with or without American weapons and support.
Ideas
There’s a Way Obama’s White House Can Save Syrian Lives, There’s Just No Will
As Aleppo burns, little faith as Obama’s White House again considers military options in Syria.
Ideas
As Anti-Corruption Efforts Expand Globally, the Defense Sector Remains an Outlier
A recent anti-corruption summit produced hundreds of commitments, exactly eight of which concerned defense.
Policy
Mike Pence Embraces Foreign Policy That GOP Voters Left Behind
By sidestepping Trump’s messages on foreign policy and trade in Tuesday’s debate, the vice-presidential nominee ignored the choices GOP voters made in their primaries.
Ideas
Private Companies Shouldn’t Be The Ones Crying ‘State-Sponsored Hack!’
If the U.S. government doesn't start officially attributing cyberattacks, it risks losing control of the narrative and evolving legal norms.
Ideas
Syria Is the Thread That Russia Is Pulling to Unravel International Order
The U.S. must act soon, or see its post-WWII work come apart.
Ideas
America's National Security Trilemma — and How to Solve It
In fighting small wars, you get to pick only two of these: centralized control, detailed understanding, and acceptable operational tempo. Here's how to choose.
Ideas