Ideas
Where We're Headed in 2018
You can bet there will be new crises, weapons, leaders, and technologies to come. And, oh yes, there will be tweets.
Ideas
What Does a Government Shutdown Mean for the Department of Defense?
Four years ago, this staffer for the defense policy undersecretary helped the Pentagon figure out the impacts of a shutdown. Hint: it wasn’t pretty.
Threats
Kaspersky Strikes Back After US Government Ban
The Russian anti-virus company wasn’t given a meaningful opportunity to defend itself, the CEO says in legal suit.
Policy
Trump Just Signed a Dire Warning about Climate Change
The 2018 NDAA acknowledges and anticipates climate change as an urgent threat, in sharp contrast to his administration’s past denials.
Policy
Five Ways the 2018 Defense Bill Will Change Pentagon IT
From a half-billion dollars for modernization to a closer look at bid protests, the NDAA may have a quick impact on defense IT.
Ideas
The Pentagon’s Next Terrorism Threat (and Solution): Kids
As ISIS-type extremism spreads, counterterrorism commanders are right to be concerned with the youth population bulge. Here’s how to turn a threat into a resource.
Policy
One Chart Showing Every Military and Civilian Pay Raise Since 1984
Since 2000, military pay raises have been either higher than or equal to civilian ones.
Ideas
Paris Pullout Shows How The US Is Shrugging Off Its Global Leadership
If America so easily tosses aside a hard-won diplomatic victory, what else is it willing to jettison?
Ideas
It Took Comfort 39 Days to Get Pierside in Puerto Rico. That's a National-Security Problem.
The hospital ship's poor utilization suggests that the US military's biomedical support doctrine needs shoring up.
Ideas
‘Military Options’ Against North Korea Isn’t the Problem—Loose Talk Is
There are a lot of ways for things to go wrong.
Ideas
Should the US 'Send In the Marines' After Hurricanes?
The military can make a big difference right away but humanitarian deployments should generally be rare and brief.
Threats
How to Tell If North Korea and America Are Actually Headed to War
Watch what Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un do, not just what they say.
Policy
Here’s How Much of Your Taxes Have Gone To Wars
Previously unreported Pentagon data shows how much the average U.S. taxpayer has paid for combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and now Syria.
Ideas
How Solar Power Can Protect the US Military From Threats to the Electric Grid
Military bases usually get their electricity from the civilian grid, which is vulnerable to attack and to disaster. Solar-powered microgrids could protect national security, and would save money.
Threats
In Fiery UN Speech, Trump Delivers The Far-Right Goods
The black-helicopter crowd, and the president’s base, should love this Bannon-esque, undiplomatic speech, filled with ‘America First,’ ‘radical Islamic extremism,’ and cries for sovereignty over collective security.
Threats
US Military Leaders Worry About Iran’s Media Operations
Forget Russian fake news. Iranian media and messaging are thwarting U.S. efforts across the Middle East.
Ideas
It’s Time to Move US Forces Back to Europe
Basing troops abroad will increase their deterrence, make them readier to fight, and even save money.
Ideas
How Mattis May Get Himself in Trouble With Trump
The secretary of defense could run afoul of his boss if his review of the policy on transgender troops follows the facts to their conclusion.
Policy
Trump Directly Counters Mattis, Military, In Tweet on North Korea
‘Talking is not the answer!’ says president, after threatening ‘all options’ following North Korean missile-launch over Japan.
Ideas