Ideas
What’s Left to Sanction in North Korea?
It’s already one of the most isolated countries in the world. Can further financial punishment really change its decisions?
Ideas
The Downsides of John Kelly's Ascension
The former Marine general is unlikely to succeed in his new job, even as his appointment contributes to the decay of American civil-military relations.
Ideas
Give Up on Denuclearizing North Korea
The question now is how to convince it not to use its weapons.
Policy
Trump’s Transgender Troop Ban Sparks An Instant Opposition of Unusual Allies
The commander in chief tweet-declares a stunning change for military personnel, but it’s far from clear he can make it stick.
Policy
The Dangerous Politicization of the US Military
By asking active duty personnel to lobby Congress in their own self-interest, President Trump crossed an important line.
Ideas
If Trump Undermines the Iran Deal
A report suggests the president is looking for ways to get out of the accord. It says a lot about how he views the world.
Ideas
The End of American Support for Syrian Rebels Was Inevitable
Where the insurgency is concerned, Trump and Obama have plenty in common.
Business
Trump Orders Extensive Study of Defense Industrial Base
The review will examine manufacturing capacity, workforce and other priorities.
Ideas
The Summer of Misreading Thucydides
There’s a delicious irony in the Trump team’s affection for the historian—who repeatedly shows how populists lead societies to ruin.
Ideas
Trump's Syria Ceasefire Is Doomed
It may bring Russia on board, but it hardly acknowledges Iran's role in the war.
Ideas
The Next Battle: State Department, US Military Divided Over Kurdish Fighters In Syria (And Russia)
Frustrated sources on the ground say the State Department is struggling to get behind the Syrian Kurds and the U.S. military would struggle to proceed without them. As for Russia, well...
Ideas
Trump Gave the Military More Power, But Here’s What Really Concerns Us
A recent major conference on the civ-mil divide revealed a more nuanced picture of America and its armed forces.
Ideas
At Trump-Putin Meeting, Start with New START
If the treaty is allowed to disappear, so will the Pentagon’s best tools for divining facts about the Russian nuclear arsenal.
Ideas
North Korea Just Called Trump's Bluff. Here's What the US Can Do
Now that Kim Jong-Un has an ICBM, it's time for 'the least of the bad options.'
Ideas
How Poland Sets Trump Up for Success With Putin
Trump’s Poland visit could give the American president a strong message – and momentum – for his Putin meeting later this week.
Ideas
Why Trump Should Embrace America's Immigrant Soldiers
Immigrants have been part of the armed forces since the Revolutionary War. The administration is considering ending a program that grants some of them citizenship in exchange for their service.
Ideas
Should the US Reassess Its Alliance with South Korea?
Washington's relationship with Seoul makes it a target for the Kim regime.
Ideas
America's Military: Overcommitted and Underfunded
The administration wants to expand the armed forces’ commitments, even while contracting spending.
Threats