Defense One

Ideas

Ben Carson's Blueprint for Better US Cybersecurity

The Republican 2016 contender is just the second candidate of either party to lay out a comprehensive cybersecurity plan for the United States.

Lincoln Davidson, Council on Foreign Relations
February 3, 2016

Threats

Carpet-Bombing Is Not How You Defeat ISIS, Pentagon Says

Top ISIS war commander dismisses Ted Cruz’s idea, says there’s nothing to gain from an indiscriminate, scorched-earth method of fighting the Islamic State.

Ben Watson
February 1, 2016

Policy

The 3 Worst National Security Ideas Out of the Iowa Debate

A closer look at the candidates’ remarks on foreign policy reveal plenty of bumper-sticker slogans, but few serious proposals that could actually help keep the country safe.

Daniel DePetris, Quartz
January 29, 2016

Policy

The Republican Conflation of ISIS and Immigration

Politically, this serves a purpose. But as public policy, it makes little sense.

Peter Beinart, The Atlantic
January 29, 2016

Policy

When It Comes to Iran, Bernie Sanders Is Less Naive Than You Might Think

In his call to end America’s cold war with Iran, Sanders is challenging the bipartisan foreign-policy consensus in the same way Obama did in 2008.

Peter Beinart, The Atlantic
January 26, 2016

Policy

The Obama Doctrine Has No Heir in Hillary Clinton

As Clinton puts more distance between her foreign policy and President Obama’s, his national security legacy may prove short-lived.

Molly O'Toole
January 24, 2016

Policy

GOP Candidates Try to Scare the Hell Out of America

In Thursday's debate, candidates exploited the nation’s anxieties over national security and Obama.

Ron Fournier, National Journal
January 15, 2016

Policy

Swooning for Saudi Arabia

What the Middle East needs is not intensified conflict, as some 2016 contenders advocate, but a series of political compromises to help end the civil wars traumatizing the region.

Peter Beinart, The Atlantic
January 5, 2016

Ideas

5 Big National Security Questions for 2016

U.S. policymakers and triggerpullers will confront a long list of foreign policy challenges around the world.

James M. Lindsay, Council on Foreign Relations
January 4, 2016

Threats

African Extremist Group Al-Shebab Shows Trump in Recruitment Video

Video of the GOP frontrunner appeared between old clips of now-deceased al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki.

Olivia Goldhill, Quartz
January 3, 2016

Policy

Opposing Political Views Emerge in Face of Real, Imagined Threats

In the U.S. and Europe, two factions duel on immigration, Muslims, and nation-building.

Ronald Brownstein, National Journal
December 30, 2015

Ideas

What to Watch in 2016

Keep an eye on these nine story lines in warfighting, industry, politics, and technology.

Molly O'Toole, Patrick Tucker and Marcus Weisgerber
December 22, 2015

Policy

Exit Lindsey Graham, Veteran and NatSec Pro

The South Carolina senator and former JAG officer struggled to gain traction throughout the race, even as his signature issue took center stage in recent weeks.

Adam Wollner, National Journal
December 21, 2015

Policy

How Trump and ISIS Help Each Other

They confirm each other's narratives, even from opposite sides.

Dominic Tierney, The Atlantic
December 18, 2015

Threats

The Global Conflicts to Watch in 2016

Concerns about the Middle East, and especially Syria, have displaced other threats.

Uri Friedman, The Atlantic
December 18, 2015

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.

Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic
December 17, 2015

Policy

Trump and Cruz's 'Protectionism' Reveal a GOP National Security Identity in Tatters

The insular vision of the two top-polling candidates poses a sharp challenge to the usual internationalism that has long dominated the Republican party.

Ronald Brownstein, National Journal
December 17, 2015

Policy

Here’s What Each 2016 Candidate Has Said About Using Military Force

The Presidential Candidates Use of Force Tracker aims to capture and better understand the sort of military missions that prospective presidents might pursue.

Micah Zenko, Council on Foreign Relations
December 16, 2015

Policy

Tough Talk vs. Military Muscle

Cruz and Rubio duke it out over how to deal with ISIS.

Josh Kraushaar, National Journal
December 16, 2015

Policy

A Fractious, Fragmented Republican Debate

The GOP candidates shared a stage in Vegas, but seemed locked in their own, only occasionally intersecting conflicts.

The Atlantic, The Atlantic
December 16, 2015

The Republican 2016 contender is just the second candidate of either party to lay out a comprehensive cybersecurity plan for the United States.

Top ISIS war commander dismisses Ted Cruz’s idea, says there’s nothing to gain from an indiscriminate, scorched-earth method of fighting the Islamic State.

A closer look at the candidates’ remarks on foreign policy reveal plenty of bumper-sticker slogans, but few serious proposals that could actually help keep the country safe.

Politically, this serves a purpose. But as public policy, it makes little sense.

In his call to end America’s cold war with Iran, Sanders is challenging the bipartisan foreign-policy consensus in the same way Obama did in 2008.

As Clinton puts more distance between her foreign policy and President Obama’s, his national security legacy may prove short-lived.

In Thursday's debate, candidates exploited the nation’s anxieties over national security and Obama.

What the Middle East needs is not intensified conflict, as some 2016 contenders advocate, but a series of political compromises to help end the civil wars traumatizing the region.

U.S. policymakers and triggerpullers will confront a long list of foreign policy challenges around the world.

Video of the GOP frontrunner appeared between old clips of now-deceased al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki.

In the U.S. and Europe, two factions duel on immigration, Muslims, and nation-building.

Keep an eye on these nine story lines in warfighting, industry, politics, and technology.

The South Carolina senator and former JAG officer struggled to gain trac­tion throughout the race, even as his sig­na­ture is­sue took cen­ter stage in re­cent weeks.

They confirm each other's narratives, even from opposite sides.

Concerns about the Middle East, and especially Syria, have displaced other threats.

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

The insular vision of the two top-polling can­did­ates poses a sharp chal­lenge to the usual in­ter­na­tion­al­ism that has long dom­in­ated the Republican party.

The Presidential Candidates Use of Force Tracker aims to capture and better understand the sort of military missions that prospective presidents might pursue.

Cruz and Rubio duke it out over how to deal with ISIS.

The GOP candidates shared a stage in Vegas, but seemed locked in their own, only occasionally intersecting conflicts.

The South Carolina senator and former JAG officer struggled to gain traction throughout the race, even as his signature issue took center stage in recent weeks.

The insular vision of the two top-polling candidates poses a sharp challenge to the usual internationalism that has long dominated the Republican party.