Author Archive
Ideas
The SolarWinds Hack Doesn’t Demand a Violent Response
Major retaliation is more likely to spur escalation than improve deterrence.
Ideas
Why German Troops Won’t Get Armed Drones
The reasons, which go back to Angela Merkel’s East German upbringing, are leaving the Bundeswehr dependent on allies and partners.
Ideas
Put Societal Resilience at the Center of Defense Planning
It’s already foolish to focus too narrowly on military attack and response. Soon it will be fatuous.
Ideas
The West Is Surprisingly Well-Equipped for Gray-Zone Deterrence
Authoritarian officials and oligarchs interact with Western nations in ways that give democratic governments leverage.
Ideas
A 21st-Century Reality Is Dawning on NATO
In today’s security environment, non-kinetic threats pose as grave a danger as kinetic ones.
Ideas
A Foreign General Is Helping to Lead US Army Europe. Other Commands Should Take Heed
The German military sends its best to serve as an American general’s chief of staff, to everyone’s benefit.
Ideas
No Military Has Done More for Corona-Stricken Allies Than Germany’s
The Bundeswehr has been flying supplies to, and medevacing patients from, its European neighbors.
Ideas
The Coronavirus Pandemic Should Be NATO’s Moment
There’s one multinational organization that has command-and-control for contingencies, the staff to execute operations, and exists to defend its member states.
Ideas
How Climate Change Will Help China And Russia Wage Hybrid War
Increased refugee flows, weather threats, and declining food security will deepen tensions already being exploited to divide and weaken the U.S. and its allies.
Ideas
Here’s a 6-Country Defense-Development Effort That Just Might Work
Among its lessons: sometimes, small is better.
Ideas
Sweden’s Raging Forest Fires Show the Value of Allies
As wildfires raged through the country’s northern reaches, EU allies dispatched hundreds of firefighters and scores of trucks and aircraft.
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Ideas
NATO Needs More Big Exercises, Too
More multinational training events would go a long way towards improving European defense – and it would strengthen the transatlantic relationship, too.
Ideas
Let’s Talk about Food — and What Happens In a Crisis
Sweden is telling its citizens to be ready to feed themselves for a week. Other nations should follow suit.
Ideas
We Need a NATO for Infowar
Western countries have pitifully few defenses against ever-more-powerful disinformation campaigns. Banding together can help.
Ideas
For Not-Quite-Wars, Italy Has a Useful Alternative to Traditional Troops
More nations should consider creating police-cum-military forces for hybrid stabilization missions.
Ideas
How to Deal With Russian Information Warfare? Ask Sweden's Subhunters
Other nations can learn from the Swedes’ long experience with mysterious incidents followed by disinformation campaigns.
Ideas
There Are More and More Threats that Militaries Can't Stop. People's Forces Can Help
Populations are not fragile flowers – far from it. Treating them as a national-security resource can boost a society's resiliency, and even its deterrence.
Ideas
The US Military Needs a Teacher Corps to Train Its Partners
Much of the $70 billion spent to train Afghan armed forces has been wasted. Here’s how to do better.
Ideas
When the War Comes, What Should We Civilians Do?
The military can’t do it all. The US needs a national civilian emergency corps, trained and ready to help in case of the next disaster, be it cyber, nuclear, or natural.
Ideas