Ideas

Russia Is Waging Asymmetric Warfare Against the US — And We’re Letting Them Win

We must do more to harden against these attacks on our economy, institutions, and the public.

Ideas

The Trump Administration’s ‘Denuclearization’ Is A Road to Nowhere

U.S. policy will remain stuck as long as the administration continues to convince itself that the North’s nuclear dismantlement can be achieved on Washington’s timeline.

Ideas

Under Trump, the US Has Become a Leading Source of Global Instability

The country is now a known unknown, increasing the risk of crises from the Middle East to East Asia to Central America, a new survey suggests.

Ideas

The FBI Needs to Be Reformed

The inspector general’s report identified real weaknesses, particularly with the policies and procedures that govern investigations of political campaigns.

Ideas

The Foreign-Policy Parallels Between Trump and the Ayatollahs Are Uncanny

Neither the U.S. president nor Iran's leaders are as willing to go toe-to-toe as they might seem.

Ideas

Nixon’s Leniency After My Lai Hurt Veterans. Trump’s May, Too.

A president’s actions in 1971 helped turn public opinion against those who fought the Vietnam War.

Ideas

Democrats Retreat on Nuclear Policy

The 2020 authorization bill fails to check Trump’s worst impulses.

Ideas

We Really Need to Fix the Federal Budget Process

With the 2020 defense policy bill close to done, here are some ideas for next year.

Ideas

If Ukraine Is Impeachable, What’s Afghanistan?

A misguided war that drags on inconclusively for more than 18 years is, I submit, a great crime.

Ideas

The ‘Russia Hoax’ Is a Hoax

A report by the FBI inspector general debunks the claims that the investigation into political interference by the Kremlin was a left-wing conspiracy to depose the president.

Ideas

Everyone Knew We Were Losing in Afghanistan

And everyone in charge insisted we were winning.

Science & Tech

Amazon Says Pentagon Got Almost Everything Wrong in JEDI Evaluation

Company officials say Trump's beef with CEO Jeff Bezos led to “substantial and pervasive errors.”

Threats

Who’s Really to Blame for the ‘Ukraine Did It’ Conspiracy Theory?

Judging on the basis of public evidence, the narrative about Ukraine was propagated first and foremost by Americans, not Russian disinformation puppeteers.

Policy

The Space Force Appears Cleared For Launch

Lawmakers hint that bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act will create a new military branch.

Ideas

A New Nuclear Deal? Start with New START

Russia is ready to extend this critical treaty, but Trump isn’t taking “yes” for an answer.

Ideas

GOP Lawmakers Used to Oppose Trump's Embrace of Russia. No More.

High-ranking Republicans are now defending the president with debunked claims that national security experts say play right into Putin's hands.

Ideas

Trump Just Ghosted NATO, But Here’s What He Said That Matters

The president was on a roll until he surrendered a final chance to lay out his concerns and priorities.

Ideas

NATO’s Newest Threat Is Coming From Inside the House

Worry less about the gaps between NATO leaders, and more about the gap between those leaders and the national security community.