Ideas

What It’s Like to Deal With US Foreign Policy in the Trump Era

The administration’s shadow foreign policy sees the light of day.

Ideas

Trump Isn’t a Climate Denier. He’s Worse.

Leaving the Paris Agreement and other efforts to slow the globe's transition from fossil fuels will ultimately undermine U.S. power.

Ideas

The Two Things Every Senior Pentagon Leader Is Worried About

Their top concerns don’t include the Mexican border, Iran, or even Syria.

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Protecting US Bases Increasingly Requires Hardening Civilian Infrastructure

Congress needs to fund its Defense Community Infrastructure Program, and the military needs to think beyond its gates.

Ideas

Yes-Men Are Taking Over the Trump Administration

Trump is making foreign policy on the fly, seeking his personal advantage and undermining American power.

Ideas

It’s Not All Trump’s Fault: Syria Shows the Danger of War on the Cheap

America’s surprise withdrawal is deeply destabilizing, but so is the proxy war that Western countries have fought for five years.

Ideas

A Plan to Crowdsource Voting Machines' Security Problems

A northern Virginia infrastructure-threat clearinghouse is trying to build a system to help voting-system manufacturers learn about problems with their machines.

Ideas

We Don't Know Enough about How Women's Perspectives Help Achieve Military Missions

Plenty of anecdotes show the benefits of bringing female perspectives to U.S. military missions. What's needed is data.  

Ideas

America’s Military Is Misdirected, Not Underfunded

U.S. strategy should be more focused on preventing conflict with nuclear-armed China than on spinning out elaborate war-fighting scenarios.

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Pay More Attention to the Women of ISIS

Many are victims of the terrorist group. But others have demonstrated their resolve to use violence and seek revenge for the Caliphate.

Ideas

The Current US Approach to Terror Is a Recipe for Forever War

Defusing terrorist groups requires helping the communities they exploit, not just shooting their leaders.

Ideas

The Pentagon Doesn't Need a ‘Skinny’ Authorization Bill

Sen. Inhofe’s proposal for a place-holder NDAA isn’t necessary, and could be counterproductive.

Ideas

Ep. 58: Wargames

All about one of the safer, cheaper ways to figure out who’s going to win a war.

Ideas

Pull the Nukes from Turkey — and Then Think Bigger

Removing America’s nuclear weapons from Incirlik Air Base doesn’t have to drive a permanent wedge between Washington and Turkey.

Ideas

Killing Terrorist Leaders Gets Attention, But It Doesn’t Stop Terrorism

Baghdadi’s death is indeed a turning point in the War on Terror, just as Osama bin Laden’s was in 2011. It’s just not clear what the war is turning to.

Ideas

Syrian Women Helped Find Baghdadi, Beat ISIS, Will Face ‘Tough Time’ Ahead, Leader Says

'We will continue our resistance and our struggle,' says the head of the all-women’s YPJ, in a rare interview.

Ideas

ISIS Lost Its Land. Then It Began to Lose Its Ability to Inspire.

As with Osama bin Laden, the most intriguing fact about Baghdadi’s assassination was its location, deep in what was considered enemy territory.

Ideas

What Was the Point of the Syria ‘Withdrawal’?

Donald Trump, who vowed to get troops out of Syria altogether, incurred all the strategic costs without getting any of the political benefit.

Ideas

The Consequences of Donald Trump Washing His Hands of the Middle East

The short-term costs have been brutal, but the longer-term ones could be far more significant.