Ideas
China’s new missiles on parade: showpieces or showstoppers?
The Sept. 3 parade was clearly meant to convey China's growing military strength and technological ambition.
Ideas
Data shows more US extremist violence is right-wing than left-wing
The trends are clear, but more could be done to give policymakers and the public reliable evidence.
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Returning the Air Force to its expeditionary roots
Agility and innovation helped win WWII. They will be essential for the next conflict.
Ideas
You may not be interested in climate change, but it is interested in you
Ignoring a threat doesn’t make it go away.
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A killing at sea marks America’s descent into lawless power
The peremptory strike on a speedboat is a warning to all who serve. Remember your oath.
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The National Defense Strategy still matters. Let’s get it right
There is no substitute for comprehensive written guidance that outlines an administration’s vision for national defense.
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RIP, JCIDS. Let’s stop writing requirements and start solving problems
Time to move from procedural compliance to championing ingenuity and results.
Ideas
What Western security guarantees for Ukraine might look like
At least five layers will be required for any peace deal.
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What National Guardsmen in the nation’s capital need to hear
You have every right to expect a clear mission, an unambiguous chain of command, and appropriate training.
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AI is about to reshape command structures that haven’t changed much since Napoleon
I explored the possibilities with a team of researchers at CSIS' Futures Lab. Here's what we found.
Ideas
This isn’t how wars are ended: a veteran diplomat puts Trump-Putin summit in context
Hastily convened without Ukrainian input, the summit is "amateurish and is unlikely to yield real results," says Donald Heflin, now a Tufts professor.
Ideas
Trump's terror-prevention cuts leave Americans exposed
Since February, at least five government offices devoted to countering violent or terrorist groups have been slashed or shuttered.
Ideas
How big will China’s nuclear arsenal get?
No one knows, but we can game out potential endpoints of Beijing’s buildup.
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Consolidate NORTHCOM and SOUTHCOM
The arbitrary division of the Western Hemisphere creates an exploitable seam we can no longer afford.
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Lessons from this year’s unfunded priority lists
Just 15% of the value would go toward near-term readiness.
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How to write a defense strategy that sticks
Seek clarity always, specificity sometimes—and produce a yardstick that can be used to measure decisions.
Ideas
‘Fund first, ask questions later’ is a bad way to go
Handing $156 billion to the Pentagon with no clear plan invites not just waste but danger. Here's why.
Ideas
Who should coordinate Europe’s defense buildup?
The best candidate, at least for the near term, has granular understanding of existing forces and informal links to suppliers.
Ideas
‘The Bomb Lady’ shows how immigrants power national defense
Just when the United States should be nurturing this source of strength, we are doing the opposite.
Ideas