Ideas
Erdogan Blasts US at White House. Was That Good for NATO?
Critics howled at Trump’s invitation to the Turkish autocrat. Others clench their teeth and say it’s paramount to keep Ankara in the anti-Russian alliance.
Ideas
Trump's Bullying of Ukraine Set Off Alarms Throughout the US Government
The first day of impeachment hearings revealed repeated threats to resign and repeated referrals to lawyers of possible violations of U.S. law by U.S. officials.
Ideas
Trump's Real Offense Was Outsourcing American Diplomacy
Allowing Rudy Giuliani to handle U.S. diplomacy was a constitutional violation—one whose gravity Republicans might see if they weren’t so busy making excuses for the president.
Ideas
The Mothers Who Fled the Turkish Incursion
Attacks by Turkish-backed forces shattered a hard-won pseudo-normalcy for Syrian women who had lived under ISIS.
Ideas
What’s Wrong with Boeing?
From sloppy work to blown deadlines to deadly failures, the company has lost its way. It needs tough love — in the form of Congressional investigations.
Ideas
Macron's 'NATO Brain Death' Quote Shows Why the US Has Always Outplayed France
Like Charles de Gaulle, the French president would unify Europe under France’s conception, with Germany footing the bill.
Ideas
How Best to Thank a Veteran? Avoid More Unjust Wars
A 2017 poll found that about half of Americans would support launching an unprovoked war on a country that poses no near-term threat.
Ideas
Betraying The Kurds Makes Things Harder for US Operators Everywhere
It will henceforth be much more difficult for U.S. combat forces and advisors to get help from local partners around the world.
Ideas
The Cold War Ended 30 Years Ago. Why Are Things With Russia So Bad?
Critics said NATO expansion would start a new Cold War. They were right.
Ideas
National Security Is Made of People
We need a way to measure the readiness of our civilian national-security workforce. Then we need to fix it.
Ideas
It Was a Corrupt Quid Pro Quo
Not only did the president hold up aid to Ukraine; he made its release contingent on a statement advancing his own political interests.
Ideas
What It’s Like to Deal With US Foreign Policy in the Trump Era
The administration’s shadow foreign policy sees the light of day.
Ideas
Trump Isn’t a Climate Denier. He’s Worse.
Leaving the Paris Agreement and other efforts to slow the globe's transition from fossil fuels will ultimately undermine U.S. power.
Ideas
The Two Things Every Senior Pentagon Leader Is Worried About
Their top concerns don’t include the Mexican border, Iran, or even Syria.
Ideas
Protecting US Bases Increasingly Requires Hardening Civilian Infrastructure
Congress needs to fund its Defense Community Infrastructure Program, and the military needs to think beyond its gates.
Ideas
Yes-Men Are Taking Over the Trump Administration
Trump is making foreign policy on the fly, seeking his personal advantage and undermining American power.
Ideas
It’s Not All Trump’s Fault: Syria Shows the Danger of War on the Cheap
America’s surprise withdrawal is deeply destabilizing, but so is the proxy war that Western countries have fought for five years.
Ideas
We Don't Know Enough about How Women's Perspectives Help Achieve Military Missions
Plenty of anecdotes show the benefits of bringing female perspectives to U.S. military missions. What's needed is data.
Ideas
America’s Military Is Misdirected, Not Underfunded
U.S. strategy should be more focused on preventing conflict with nuclear-armed China than on spinning out elaborate war-fighting scenarios.
Ideas