Ideas
The Secret to Defeating the ISIS 'Caliphate' Might Just Be in Islam Itself
Nearly 100 years after the last Ottoman caliph was exiled, the Sunni world has yet to wholly define itself. And if good people don't step in, worse ones—like ISIS—will.
Ideas
Expect More Self-Destruction from Egypt's Sisi
The new Egypt, with its over-reliance on violence, coercion, and lies, looks strikingly similar to the old one.
Ideas
Obama's Chance to Reinvent the U.S.-Israel Defense Relationship
Despite what you may hear this week, the U.S. and Israel are far closer than many realize, says Obama's former Middle East policy chief at the Pentagon.
Business
Can the US Military Win Wars If It Keeps Losing Talented Officers?
The Pentagon worries its rigid personnel system is driving away the leaders it will need for the conflicts of the 21st century.
Ideas
Syrian Peace Prospects Now Hinge on Long-Time Foes Saudi Arabia and Iran
Fighting in Syria cannot be resolved without some kind of accommodation between Riyadh and Tehran—both of whom have used proxies to prolong the war.
Policy
Jeb Bush’s ‘Serious’ Foreign Policy Is Not Serious
The Bush campaign offered what it said were well-thought-out, serious foreign-policy views on Monday. And they were insane.
Policy
President Obama’s Last, Best Chance to Close Guantanamo
Obama needs to stick to his veto guns, hurry up and offer his plan to close Guantanamo.
Science & Tech
The Latest Cybersecurity Bill Will Only Confuse Internet Providers Like AT&T, Verizon and Comcast
Lawmakers could possibly save years of court battles over allegations of mass surveillance if they nail down a few key definitions in a pending bill before a House committee.
Ideas
The US Coast Guard Is (Quietly) Building Up Allies in the Arctic
A new forum frees up Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the U.S. and Russia to talk formally about security in a way prohibited by the Arctic Council charter.
Ideas
Is There a Sunni Solution to ISIS?
David Ignatius calls for reconciliation among Iraqi Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds. But this oversimplifies the bargain that needs to be struck.
Ideas
Maintaining the Edge in the Age of Everything
Ash Carter's message to the Defense One Summit: a new commitment to military, academic, business and scientific partnerships.
Ideas
How ISIS Spread in the Middle East
Tracing the roots of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria—and how to stop it.
Ideas
What It Would Really Take to Knock Out the Power Grid
As our electrical system lifts itself out of the stone age, the defense built around it will require added vigilance.
Ideas
Don’t Call Warlord Territory an ‘Ungoverned Space'
If we are to restore the rule of law to areas held by non-government groups, we must consider the sort of order they provide.
Ideas
Trick or Treat: A Pleasant Surprise for the Defense Budget
The debate over the defense budget is not really about defense. But this is the best possible deal.
Ideas
The History of No-Fly Zones Doesn’t Bode Well for Syria
Tough-talking presidential candidates want a no-fly zone to save Syrians. But nothing in the historical record shows a NFZ would work this time.
Ideas
How Drones Make War Too Easy
A report from the Council on Foreign Relations explores "several reasons why armed drones are unique in their ability to destabilize relations and intensify conflict."
Ideas
Counterterrorism's False Trade-off Between Security and Freedom
Fighting terrorism across the globe involves a dangerous paradox: the better it works, the less we appreciate the need for it.
Ideas
Why Do Top Government Personnel Keep Using Private Email for Official Business?
As government breaches continue, it's hard to argue that 'security' alone is a good enough reason to keep official communication on official servers.
Ideas