Policy

Afghans Own Whatever Comes Next, Biden Says

Rejecting critics, President Joe Biden said the United States isn’t responsible for Taliban gains, civilian deaths, or worsening women’s rights after American troops leave.

Policy

Air Strikes Renew Battle Over War Authorizations

Some lawmakers are using Sunday’s strikes in Iraq and Syria to push for keeping a two-decade-old statute, but law experts say their arguments don’t hold water.

Threats

Afghanistan is ‘Not a Winnable War,’ White House Says as Taliban Storms Country

President Ghani leaves Washington empty handed, as Biden rejects Republican calls to reverse U.S. troop withdrawal.

Policy

White House, Pentagon Finalizing Plans to Get Thousands of Interpreters out of Afghanistan

No decision yet on where and how Afghans and their families will be housed and fed as they await U.S. visas.

Policy

Uncertainty About Post-Withdrawal Plans Clouds Biden’s Upcoming Meeting with Afghanistan’s Ghani

Still, experts say, the White House meeting will be an overdue show of support for the Afghan government.

Policy

Austin: I Support Taking Military Sex Crime Prosecutions Away From Chain of Command

Defense secretary breaks with Joint Chiefs after they warn that Sen. Gillibrand’s leading UCMJ reform bill goes too far.

Ideas

Biden’s Defense Budget Will Worry America’s Indo-Pacific Allies

Spending to boost the U.S. military's future edge comes at the expense of addressing today's shortfalls in capacity and warfighting effectiveness.

Ideas

US Companies Won’t Pay to Prepare for Cyber Attacks. Congress Must Step In

A combination of funding and regulation is needed to boost the defenses and resilience of the corporations that America depends on.

Policy

Pentagon Works to Sharpen Definition of ‘Extremism’

Review could reshape cooperation with domestic agencies, consequences for troops’ social media posts, and more.

Ideas

Putin Suddenly Looks Very Small

With Trump out of office, the Russian leader has nobody else. Biden has NATO, the G-7, and the upper hand.

Ideas

The Domestic Counterterrorism Strategy Is a Good Start—But Needs More

For at least three reasons, domestic CT strategy is harder than the international one that worked against al Qaeda.

Ideas

The Biden-Putin Summit Could Produce Both a Little And a Lot

Moscow’s hybrid-war efforts limit what Wednesday’s meeting can accomplish, but even small agreements would make a big difference.

Policy

After Trump ‘Chaos,’ National Security Council Seeks a Return to ‘Regular Order’

The Biden White House is reinvigorating an interagency process some argue had largely halted under the Trump administration.

Ideas

Indian Democracy Is On The Ropes. The US Must Act

There are still things U.S. policymakers can do to shore up the world’s largest democracy.