Ideas
How Trump Turned the Military Against Itself
The president’s repeated interference in a Navy SEAL’s case shows that he cares about only one kind of military discipline: obedience to Trump.
Ideas
Don’t Demand Protection Money from Japan. Do Ask Tokyo to Rethink Its Defenses
A well-fortified Japan could take the lead in its own security, with U.S. forces acting as a backstop rather than the primary combatants.
Ideas
Why Elizabeth Warren’s Foreign Policy Worries America’s Allies
Finding savings in the defense budget is possible, of course, but getting to 11 percent will require real cuts to capabilities.
Ideas
Dear Pope Francis: While You're in Japan, Call for No First Use
The pontiff was already planning to call for global nuclear disarmament. Asking the U.S. to adopt a no-first-use policy would make the world a bit safer, faster.
Ideas
To Deter China, Deepen the US-Indian Partnership
Here are some ideas for the upcoming 2+2 defense and foreign affairs ministerial conference.
Business
Pentagon Fails Its Second Audit — But Not As Badly
The comptroller's report said the Defense Department had fixed more than 550 problems — about one-quarter of them — listed in the 2018 audit.
Policy
Esper, Milley Push South Korea to Pay More for US Troop Protection
South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo declined to confirm reports that Trump is asking for a 400-percent hike.
Threats
About 600 US Troops to Remain in Syria, Esper Says
But for what mission? Pentagon chief says Trump’s focus on "keeping" oil is part of fighting 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.
Policy
SecDef: Expect ‘Trimming, Reducing, Some Eliminations’ in 2021 Budget
Esper touts "good progress" in high-level review intended to cut fat and find funds for projects to counter China and Russia.
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.
Threats
The Mad Scramble for Syria
After weeks of chaos in the northeast, great powers redrew a small chunk of the map. And a bigger story is just beginning.
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
Do Americans Still Want The US to Be the World’s Security Leader?
The post-Trump awakening of political activism is inspiring, but seems to end at the border. We’re teaming up with CNAS to find out why.
Science & Tech
The Air Force’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Is in the Shop
The E-4B, a plane that would quarterback a nuclear war, has lost its secondary mission as the SecDef’s main long-haul ride.
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.
Threats
The US Might Have Warded Off Turkey’s Syria Invasion, Says DOD’s Outgoing Mideast Policy Chief
U.S. and Turkish officials were shoring up a joint-patrol deal when Trump scuttled it.
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.
Science & Tech