Ideas
Trump’s ‘Maximum Pressure’ Won’t Make Iran Yield
The one thing Tehran would find more intolerable than the crushing impact of sanctions is raising the white flag because of them.
Ideas
How to Really Honor the Troops
Thousands of soldiers have successfully led combat units without committing atrocities. Pardoning war crimes dishonors them.
Ideas
The Brain of the Pentagon
Andrew Marshall leaves behind an American tradition of strategic thinking that will live well beyond him.
Ideas
Some Cautionary Notes on the New ‘Knife Missile’
Will the blade-wielding Hellfire variant actually reduce civilian casualties? Maybe.
Ideas
Trump’s Bet on Kim Might Not Pay Off
All that’s preventing the collapse of talks is that North Korea’s missiles haven’t flown far enough yet.
Ideas
The Slow Death of the Iran Nuclear Deal
Tehran says it will stop complying with elements of the accord unless the countries that remain live up to their commitments. But those five states are unlikely to stand up to U.S. pressure.
Ideas
Tech Companies Are Deleting Evidence of War Crimes
Algorithms that take down “terrorist” videos could hamstring efforts to bring human-rights abusers to justice.
Ideas
How Much Will It Cost to Protect America's Electrical Grid? Who Will Pay?
The answers are: Likely tens of billions of dollars, and probably us, the electricity customers.
Ideas
Did Israel Have the Right to Bomb Hamas’ Cyber HQ?
The May 5 counterstrike raised questions — and set precedents.
Ideas
How Not to Announce a Ship Deployment
A simple press conference could have avoided 36 hours of confusion and fears of war with Iran.
Ideas
Trump’s Iran Policy Is Counterproductive
It makes no sense to punish allies in Europe while shoring up hardliners in Tehran.
Ideas
Europe Should Do More for Regional Security — Starting with Libya
Allied “burden-sharing” ought not be about financial benchmarks, but about U.S. partners’ investment in their own regions’ security.
Ideas
Once Again, Trump Fails to Press Putin on Electoral Interference
No one in government other than Trump denies the Russian attack. That makes his May 3 phone call even more surreal.
Ideas
Protecting Civilians Still Matters in Great-Power Conflict
It’s easy to see why counterinsurgency campaigns tread carefully around local bystanders. It’s no less important in larger-scale war.
Ideas
Why Baghdadi Risked a Video Appearance
ISIS faces dangers as an organization that are more significant than the ones Baghdadi does as an individual.
Ideas
A US-Russia-China Arms Treaty? Extend New START First
Trump’s proposed pact is likely a pipe dream — or a smoke screen for scuttling yet another arms-control agreement.
Ideas
In the Global Power Era, Remember the Bin Laden Raid
The Defense Department must make choices, but we cannot become complacent about the fight against terrorism.
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The Pentagon Is Flubbing Its Pitch to Silicon Valley
Appeals to patriotism won’t move America’s tech industry. Other approaches might work better.
Ideas
Five Things I Learned From the Mueller Report
A careful reading of the dense document delivers some urgent insights — including a surprising revelation on the counterintelligence front.
Ideas