Ideas
‘End Forever Wars’ is a Sound Bite, Not a Security Policy
More and more Democratic candidates are echoing Trump’s pledges to withdraw from conflicts abroad. Few say how to do it, nor how it will make us safer.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Aims to Award JEDI Cloud Contract in August
But a court hearing for Oracle's protest is slated for early July, which may complicate DOD's effort to choose between Amazon and Microsoft.
Ideas
Not Even Trump Has Any Idea What His Iran Policy Is
The president canceled a strike because it was “not proportionate,” and then vowed “obliteration.”
Ideas
We Don’t Need Airstrikes to Restore Deterrence in the Strait of Hormuz
Recent history shows that a restrained, multilateral military response can help restore stability.
Ideas
Women are Critical to Ending Wars—and the Trump Administration Agrees
A new law should kickstart long-overdue efforts to include more women in peace and security leadership roles.
Ideas
Is There Still a Deal to Be Done With Iran?
Below the surface, there are faint signs of how both parties can exit the crisis.
Ideas
Worse Than Obama’s Red-Line Moment
Trump has now shown himself just as willing as President Obama to make empty threats that damage American credibility.
Ideas
A Closer Look at the Arguments against the Low-Yield SLBM
Why should the U.S. forgo a modest technical adjustment that improves forces supporting its strategy for deterring limited nuclear war?
Ideas
US Arms Sales to the Gulf Have Failed
Despite spending billions of dollars on hardware, our regional partners don’t have the capabilities we need.
Ideas
Bolton Keeps Trying to Goad Iran Into War
For more than a decade, he’s consistently promoted war with Iran. All that has changed are the pretexts he’s offering to justify one.
Ideas
Cutting Language Training Is the Latest Foolish Retreat from Global Engagement
Cancelling bought-and-paid-for air tickets to study-abroad programs is the latest Trump administration blow to programs that support strategic understanding.
Ideas
For their National Interests, the US and China Must Continue to Engage
Four former Congressmen return from a China trip with new perspectives.
Ideas
How to Step Back from the Brink with Iran
Right now, everything both sides do to strengthen their defenses looks to the other side like preparation for attack.
Ideas
House Democrats Want To Kill This More Useable Nuke. They’re Right.
There are no good arguments for the W76-2 warhead, and quite a few good ones against.
Ideas
Europe's Elections Suggest US Shouldn’t Be Complacent in 2020
The lesson is not that elections are secure, but that Russian and other subversives are choosy about when and how they engage.
Ideas
Deterrence Is Failing — Partly Because Iran Has No Idea What the US Really Wants
Successful deterrence requires clear delineation of acceptable and unacceptable behaviors. That needs to start, pronto.
Ideas
Former Defense Secretary Ash Carter Talks Iran, China, and Trump’s Late-Night Tweets
“I don’t want to have a war with Iran, but I know who would win.”
Ideas
Vetting Foreigners’ Facebook Feeds Won’t Make Americans Safer
The federal government wants visa applicants to cough up their social-media handles.
Ideas