Ideas
Enacting Trump’s Revenge Campaign at the NSC
The cuts to the National Security Council have less to do with making government better than with making it purer.
Ideas
Beware a Peace Deal That May Spell War
There are important questions still to be answered about Afghanistan and the United States.
Policy
Lawmakers Fire Back at Trump’s Plan to Divert Military Funds to Border Wall
But the bipartisan team of Smith and Thornberry have attracted few other GOPers to the effort.
Ideas
Trump Freezes Hiring at Another DHS Agency
TSA is the second Homeland Security component agency to suspend taking on new employees.
Ideas
Trump’s War on the Intelligence Community Is Also About US Elections
With a loyalist as acting director of national intelligence, the official line on issues like Russian election meddling could bend closer to the president’s.
Ideas
Trump Is Politicizing the Intelligence Community
The president spent the week reshaping America's IC to serve his political needs. What does that mean for the 2020 election, and for national security?
Threats
Trump’s New Spy Chief Failed to Report $100,000 from a Group Funded by Hungary
Richard Grenell’s past clients could raise concerns about his access to state secrets, according to his own office’s rules.
Ideas
It’s Time to Talk About Taiwan
Washington’s longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity is increasingly likely to inflame the kind of crisis it was meant to deter.
Policy
Pentagon Defends Handling Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Iranian Attack
TBI symptoms are often “nonspecific,” the Joint Staff surgeon said.
Ideas
Trump’s New Spy Chief Worked for a Foreign Politician Accused by the US of Corruption
Richard Grenell did not disclose payments for advocacy work on behalf of a Moldovan politician whom the U.S. later accused of corruption. His own office’s policy says that could leave him vulnerable to blackmail.
Ideas
The American Public Wants a Sustainable Middle East Policy
Despite the mainstream narrative presenting a deep lack of appetite for another war in the Middle East, the United States will never be able to ignore the region completely.
Ideas
The US Should Get Ready for Syria’s Return from War
Trump seems determined not to play much of a role in shaping how Syria’s myriad conflicts are resolved. That’s a mistake.
Policy
Defense Policy Chief Ousted By White House
A Pentagon spokesman said he had “no information” that John Rood was fired for his role in Trump’s Ukraine scandal.
Policy
DHS to Waive Contracting Rules to Build Border Wall Faster
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf is using a 2005 law to override certain requirements.
Ideas
Trump Is Ill-Suited to Respond to the Coronavirus Outbreak
A crisis that is heading into its third month could draw out every personal and managerial failing that the president has shown to this point.
Ideas
America Is Alone in Its Cold War With China
If the Trump administration is truly going all-in on competition with Beijing, it’s not clear that Trump himself is fully on board. Nor, it’s now clear, are several of America’s closest friends.
Policy
Esper Says White House 'Never' Pressured Him on JEDI
Denying claims that Trump meddled, Defense Secretary Mark Esper says he alone chose to review the $10 billion cloud contract.
Ideas
The Corrosion of World Order in the Age of Donald Trump
Can the world still work together to address today’s most pressing global challenges?
Ideas