Ideas
Stop Putting Afghanistan on a Deadline
Withdrawal timetables only delay failure; the U.S. should stay in or get out now.
Ideas
Congress Must Match the Money to the Navy's Strategy
How the nation’s strong naval ambition may be undermined by Congress’ weak resourcing.
Ideas
Lawmakers Should Listen to the Budget Hawks, Not the Defense Hawks
There are plenty of ways the Pentagon could spend its money more efficiently.
Ideas
How America’s Drones Can Defeat ISIS
Critics of airstrikes over Iraq and Syria should give credit where it’s due: US sustained drone strikes are doing the job.
Ideas
Why the West Will Ignore Samantha Powers’ Call for UN Peacekeepers
The West may have abandoned peacekeeping operations, but UN blue helmets are going strong amid a quiet global power shift.
Ideas
Ten Years After ODNI, Why Intelligence Needs More People, Money and Trust
Ten years after ODNI, the intelligence community needs more money and people -- and a better public explanation of what we do.
Ideas
Obama’s New Drone Export Rules Won't Sell More Drones
President Obama’s new drone export rules are little more than a mix of existing rules reflecting an outdated perspective on these important weapons.
Ideas
Why the FBI Needs To Protect Its Intelligence Whistleblowers
The FBI director says that whistleblowers are 'critical' to democracy, but the Justice Department doesn’t protect intelligence whistleblowers.
Ideas
The Weapons of Tomorrow Must Come Cheaper, Faster and Simpler Than Before
Instead of trying to build silver bullets for the future, policymakers and industry must become better at responding to the unpredictable.
Ideas
Ukraine’s Military Needs More Than Just Arms
Let’s not overstate how lethal arms can save Ukraine. Here’s how the US and Europe really can help develop a professional and capable force.
Ideas
The World Needs New Rules for Armed Drones
New data shows how armed drones are proliferating around the world and why international standards to govern them are overdue.
Ideas
What Is the Future of War?
Facing a new inflection point, 'Future of War' project members sound off with their take on where conflict is headed in the 21st century.
Ideas
Hold Your Fire: The Intelligence Community’s Problem With Privacy Officers
They are routinely called terrorists, but they are the Intelligence Community’s own privacy watchdogs and they deserve respect.
Ideas
Why America's Obsession With Iran’s Centrifuges Could Give Tehran the Bomb
The fixation with Iran’s machines diverts us from the real threat.
Threats
The War Over Vaccines: Terrorism's New Front
Terrorists are withholding vaccines and that’s not just a public health emergency; it’s a threat to global security.
Ideas
Why Size Doesn’t Matter When Judging the Intelligence Community
Instead of criticizing how big the Intelligence Community has grown, let’s get the US to do a better job explaining why.
Business
On Extremism: Stop Talking About Strategy and Start Talking About Execution
The boring truth is we have strategies to fight violent extremism; we’re just not able to execute them.
Ideas
Reform Pentagon Acquisition By Slowing Down the F-35
John McCain and Ash Carter want real acquisition reform? Great, they can start by slowing – or stopping – the F-35.
Ideas
What the Military Compensation Commission Must Do To Succeed
History shows that policymakers listen to blue ribbon defense commissions when they’re done right – like this one was.
Science & Tech