Ideas
The US Military Is Trump’s Favorite Prop
President Trump sent troops to the border even though they’re prohibited by law from stopping immigrants. He still hasn’t visited U.S. troops in a combat zone.
Policy
Trump to Stick with Saudi Arabia in Spite of Khashoggi Killing
The president reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Riyadh — and said the crown prince may have known of plans to murder the U.S.-based journalist.
Policy
Trump Attacks McRaven Because Everything's Political
In an interview on Fox News, the president dismissed William McRaven as a Hillary Clinton ‘fan’ and asked why it took so long to get the al-Qaeda leader.
Ideas
Mike Pence and The Return of Faith-Based Foreign Policy
In Asia, Trump's vice president delivered a Christian message all on his own.
Policy
Pentagon Began Clampdown on Senior Leaders’ Public Speaking Months Ago, Memos Reveal
DOD says it’s to save money and time. Critics say it’s to avoid conflict with the president.
Policy
Trump’s Visit Highlights Threads of Increasing Global Disorder
France’s Macron, who had wooed the new U.S. president, now decries “the selfishness of countries that regard only their own interests.
Policy
Trump's Space Force Faces an Uncertain Fate
Congressional lawmakers, including Republicans, were skeptical of the idea long before the midterms.
Policy
Trump Warns Against New Russia Probes by Congress
Incoming House intelligence chair: We “have a compelling interest in making sure that U.S. policy is not driven by leverage that the Russians have over the president.”
Policy
America’s Place in the World Was on the Ballot. It Lost.
Barely a word was heard about America’s fading claims to global leadership, or its wars and operations around the globe.
Ideas
Can Trump and Putin Save Nuclear Arms Control In Paris?
Their Nov. 11 meeting might just be their last chance.
Policy
What the Midterms Mean for National Security
House Democrats are poised to boost oversight of the Pentagon — and its commander-in-chief.
Ideas
John Bolton Keeps Citing This 2002 Pact as an Arms-Control Model. It’s Really Not.
The Treaty of Moscow was ill-defined, unverifiable — and not something that Russia would sign today.
Policy
Trump Sparks Outrage with Claims That Rocks Should Be Treated As Firearms
But there is precedent for firing on rock-throwers on the border. CBP agents have done so on numerous occasions.
Ideas
The Lesson of Saruman
Tolkien has a warning to erstwhile #NeverTrumpers who are now choosing to ally with power rather than hold to their values.
Ideas
Trump Needs Help Picking Between His Contradictory Foreign-Policy Desires
Unfortunately, not even a 21st-century version of Eisenhower’s Solarium planning exercise is likely to help.
Ideas
Four Perfectly Trump Reasons Why He Wants Out of the INF Treaty
Within the president's haphazard foreign policy, there is logical coherence to him quitting a nuclear treaty Russia ignores. But it won’t make us safer.
Ideas
Trump Hobbled Efforts to Counter Violent Extremism
The administration cut programs designed to prevent atrocities like Pittsburgh.
Ideas
In a Post-Khashoggi World, Impunity Will Reign
The ugly geopolitics in the wake of the Saudi journalist’s death point to a new era of impunity.
Threats