Ideas
It’s Time to Sink the Littoral Combat Ship
Things that seem too good to be true usually are, and so it is with the LCS. By Jacob Marx and William D. Hartung
Threats
Top Six Strategic Threats to Worry About in Today's Global Headlines
Forget the Cold War, in the new era of strategic deterrence how do you solve a problem like non-state extremists, nuclear neophytes and attacks in space? By Elaine M. Grossman
Threats
In Search of America's 'Organizing Principle'
Sometimes an ad-hoc foreign policy gets the best results. By Noah Gordon
Threats
Mission Creep? U.S. Has Nearly 1,000 Troops in Iraq Now
The Pentagon just added nearly 130 new advisors to northern Iraq, elevating the exposure of U.S. troops to the risks of violence on Iraq’s new battleground. By Ben Watson
Threats
Navy Chief Says the Future of War Lies in 'Information Dominance'
Cyber threats and capabilities are the dominant considerations for a service entering a new era in naval warfare. By Bob Brewin
Policy
The 'It's About Oil' Theory in Iraq Is Still Inaccurate
The idea that the U.S. is only in the Middle East for oil may seem like a seductive idea -- but it's a deeply misguided one as well. By Steve LeVine
Ideas
What’s Next for the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit?
Fewer and less intense wars in Africa present the U.S. with an opportunity to increase accountability for human rights violations and the rule of law. But is America up to the task? By Amelia M. Wolf
Ideas
4 Rules of War from Al-Qaeda
The terrorist group lays out several lessons of warfare, captured in letters exchanged by two senior al-Aqeda leaders. Here's four of them. By Janine Davidson
Ideas
The Gulf of Tonkin and Lessons for the Global War on Terror
The 50th anniversary of the Gulf of Tonkin incident should give pause to those advocating for aggressive, immediate action to meet today’s challenges. By Lawrence J. Korb
Policy
The Trouble With Cease-Fire Agreements in War
The Israeli-Gaza conflict is testing the limits of the concept of a ‘cease-fire’ as a departure from hostilities. If we can’t 'hear' the total silence from the guns of August, is there any way out of the cycle of violence? By Tara Sonenshine
Business
Air Force Secretary Doubles Down on Nuclear Mission
Air Force leaders want the world to know their June decision save the embattled nuclear corps from forced cutbacks was an absolute necessity. By Rachel Oswald
Ideas
Don't Worry, the Next World War Is Not Upon Us...Yet
Why U.S. military power and America's relationship to China today rule out any sane comparisons with August 1914. By Graham Allison
Threats
The Gaza Ground War Doesn't Look Like It Will End Any Time Soon
Israel's sixth Gaza offensive in 8 years kicked off Thursday. And there are no indications that it's part of any broader strategic plan for peace. By Tim Fernholz
Threats
Attack on Airliner Sets a New Precedent for the World's Battlefields
What the crash of the Malaysia Airlines jet tells us about the military role of non-state actors. By Kathy Gilsinan
Threats
ISIL and the Lesser Evil of Bashar al-Assad
As ISIL tears through Iraq, Syria's Assad has strengthened his alliances with Baghdad, Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia. Could the U.S. be next? By Dominic Tierney
Ideas
The One Thing the U.S. Can't Train the Iraqi Army To Do
The U.S. has trained the Iraqi military for years. But there’s one thing you can’t teach an army to do. By Lt. Gen. Robert Gard
Policy
Rand Paul vs. Rick Perry: The GOP’s Battle for the Future of National Security
The bluster between Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Rand Paul is just smoke for the fire that is the GOP’s identity crisis. By Molly O’Toole
Ideas
Why the Next 'Great War' Won't Happen on China's Doorstep
Today’s rising China is nothing like the threat that rising Germany posed to Europe in 1914. Here's why. By Michael Hunzeker and Mark Christopher
Ideas
Taking the Long View on Iraq
Three experts at the Aspen Ideas Festival discuss why it may take decades before the Middle East stabilizes from the current crisis in Iraq. By Uri Friedman
Ideas