Ideas
US military presence in Syria carries substantial risks—but so does complete withdrawal
The decision to stay or withdraw is a strategic one that will reverberate across the region.
Ideas
Did China just demote its defense ministry?
Adm. Dong Jun has been left off key decision-making bodies. That could complicate the U.S.-China military relationship.
Ideas
Defense boom drives 33% sales surge for Rheinmetall
“We have never seen such growth,” says CEO of German company that recently opened a repair facility in Ukraine.
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It’s increasingly difficult to see how Qatar can broker a Gaza breakthrough
Doha's mediation efforts have been undermined by Israel's recent assassination of Hamas' longtime political chief.
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Let’s start treating cyber security like it matters
That means a real investigatory board for cyber incidents, not the hamstrung one we’ve got now.
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Chinese warships off Alaska signal a new stage in seapower competition
Understanding why requires a look at "near waters," "far waters"—and the colonial past.
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The military needs to make human-performance optimization part of daily ops
Congress is about to pass new legislative prodding the Pentagon to do better.
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Can Donald Trump really build an Iron Dome over America?
In a word, no. The president-turned-candidate is still selling the same old missile-defense snake oil.
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Send private-security contractors into Gaza? That’s a terrible idea
Here are some basic questions to ask before this not-even-half-baked notion becomes a policy failure.
Ideas
As Hamas war drags on, Israeli democracy weakens
Israel is not alone; a recent report finds that the global state of democracy has been declining for the past six years.
Ideas
How the navy-less Ukrainians defeated Russia’s Black Sea Fleet
Their revolution in weapons and tactics offer lessons and warnings for the world’s navies.
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U.S. Air Force culture needs a reboot
Too many of today’s operators think of themselves as passive helpers, not innovative war-winners.
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4 things to watch for as NATO leaders gather in high-stakes summit
Expect important discussion on Ukrainian membership, military aid, China, and internal cohesion.
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Lessons from Afghanistan for NATO’s new Ukraine command
U.S. support to Ukraine is still the biggest lever to stop Russia’s aggression and ensure Ukrainian victory.
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US’s terrorist listing of European far-right group signals fears of rising threat—abroad and at home
The Nordic group’s most notorious attack was at a refugee center in Sweden in 2017.
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The US can improve Egypt’s security at minimal expense. It should do so, post-haste
Cairo is a complicated and beleaguered—yet valuable—partner in a region of chaos.
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NATO's Article 5 isn't as ironclad as many think
Alliance commitments are not quite as binding, either legally or politically, as the conventional wisdom suggests.
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The Day Private Willie Mays Threw Out My Dad
Two lives intersect in a story of baseball, military service, and American society in the Korean War era.
Ideas