Ideas

Donald Trump’s Reckless Iran Tweet

Why would the president threaten war over such relatively inconsequential words?

Ideas

Congress May Declare the Forever War

A proposed law with bipartisan support would dramatically weaken the ability of legislators to extricate the United States from perpetual armed conflict.

Ideas

Rick Perry Should Not Be Allowed to Pick Nuclear Weapons

The Trump administration and its allies in Congress want the Energy Secretary to determine whether to develop a new class of low-yield nuclear weapons.

Ideas

Counterpoint: Trump’s Syria Strike Was Unconstitutional and Unwise

The military intervention solved nothing, while bypassing Congress, betraying the president’s non-interventionist supporters, and highlighting his hypocrisy.

Ideas

Trump’s Plea to Russian Hackers Foreshadows a Dangerous Stance on NSA Surveillance

His call out to Russian hackers validates the worst suspicions of security-state critics.

Threats

'We Are Not Frozen in a Nightmare,' Says Defiant John Kerry

The secretary of state insisted America is more engaged in global conflicts with deeper impact than ever before, in a sweeping speech at the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Threats

What We Know About the Brussels Attacks

Dozens were killed in bombings at an airport and subway station, prompting outrage and disbelief across an already-shocked Europe.

Science & Tech

Let’s Talk About the Federal Drones Flying Over US Soil

An alphabet soup’s worth of government agencies are exercising their ability to look down on ordinary citizens.

Ideas

The Hawkeye State Sours on Hawkish Republicans

Four years ago, Iowans rewarded the neocon-inflected campaigns of Rick Santorum and Mitt Romney. This year, four of the top five finishers are critics of unnecessary interventions.

Policy

The Principled Realism of Rand Paul

On ISIS, the Kentucky senator steers a distinctive course between his party’s neoconservatives and its bellicose populists.

Policy

How Hillary's Hawkishness Could Cost Her the Presidency

Clinton's support for the Iraq War backfired in 2008. Her support for the intervention in Libya could do the same in 2016.

Policy

How America's National Security Hawks Empowered Iran

Invading Iraq didn't strengthen America's hand with Tehran. In fact, it did just the opposite. By Conor Friedersdorf

Policy

Now the GOP Must Choose: Mass Surveillance or Privacy?

Before May, the new Congress must choose between endorsing or ending NSA spying on the phone calls of virtually every American. By Conor Friedersdorf

Ideas

3 Ways Obama Expanded War Powers Well Beyond George W. Bush

Here are three precedents set by the Obama administration that make it even easier to use lethal force abroad without congressional approval. By Conor Friedersdorf

Policy

How Snowden Complicates the Prevention of Future Leaks

Whether one believes Snowden's leaks to be salutary or deeply regrettable, it's useful to understand what prompted him to act as he did. By Conor Friedersdorf

Policy

Here Are the 7 Pages That Gave President Obama Cover to Kill Americans

A newly released memo giving Obama legal cover from extrajudicial killings is alarmingly terse. By Conor Friedersdorf

Policy

Why Is the CIA Torture Report Still Secret?

The intelligence agency's behavior is enough for even people who dislike leaks to see the need for a whistleblower. By Conor Friedersdorf

Policy

Does John Brennan Know Too Much to Be Fired?

If the Senate doesn't act now to rein in the CIA, what will it take? By Conor Friedersdorf

Science & Tech

Former NSA Director Could Be Cashing In Big Time

The former head of the NSA is walking a fine line as he appears poised to substantially monetize his public service in the private sector. By Conor Friedersdorf

Threats

Libya May Not Be A Case Study in Intervention After All

Instability in Tripoli points to the difficult consequences of military intervention that are nearly impossible to predict. By Conor Friedersdorf