Defense One

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

2016 Predictions: A Look Ahead at the Future of War

New America polled former Navy SEALs, Pentagon officials, technologists, historians — and here’s what they expect.

Peter W. Singer
December 21, 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

Three Minutes With Ted Cruz on National Security

The Texas senator calls for “carpet bombing ISIS” in Iraq and Syria and “whatever is necessary” to defeat the Islamic State.

Molly O'Toole
December 10, 2015

Ideas

It's High Time for US, Russian Militaries to Start Meeting Again

It is increasingly dangerous in this cyber-fast world for the nuclear-tipped nations to have such a dearth of contact.

Peter Zwack
November 19, 2015

Policy

Ben Carson's National Security Ignorance May Not Matter to US Voters

While it isn’t news that Carson is untutored on foreign policy, his rise in the polls coupled with the Paris attacks have brought a new focus to his lack of experience.

David A. Graham, The Atlantic
November 19, 2015

Threats

Brussels Has Become the Jihadist Capital of Europe

In the last few years, one particular suburb has been at the heart of a thriving black market where military weapons can be bought in record time.

Aamna Mohdin, Quartz
November 17, 2015

Threats

Lawmakers Demand US Military Carry Out Pretend Cyber War Against China, Russia

In an unprecedented move tucked into the defense authorization bill, Congress ordered U.S. Cyber Command to carry out simulated 'war games' against Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

Aliya Sternstein
November 14, 2015

Policy

The Mindless Logic of Republican Foreign Policy

A country’s strength isn’t measured by how many bombs it drops, or how many armies it funds.

Peter Beinart, The Atlantic
November 13, 2015

Ideas

Cuban, US Ties Form Aboard US Military’s Hospital Ship

Thanks to the new open U.S. policy toward Cuba, the work done aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort heals more than bodies.

Rebecca Bill Chavez and Gen. John F. Kelly
November 13, 2015

Policy

Facing Divisions at Home and Wars Abroad, Obama May Go It Alone for His Final Stretch

On Guantanamo and other issues, the president has to decide whether he will let Congress stand in his way.

Lauren Fox and Alex Rogers, National Journal
November 11, 2015

Ideas

Make No Mistake: A Syrian Safe Zone is a Major Intervention

Safe zones can work if great powers and regional actors are united and committed to protecting civilians. These conditions don’t exist in Syria.

Dominic Tierney, The Atlantic
November 10, 2015

Business

Obama Should Have Given Weapons to Ukraine, Says Former Pentagon Russia Official

Evelyn Farkas, who stepped down last week as the Pentagon’s top policy official for Russia and Ukraine, says the U.S. should open a military base in Eastern Europe to send a message to Vladimir Putin.

Marcus Weisgerber
November 4, 2015

Policy

Can the US Military Help the White House and Israel Move Beyond Iran?

The Iran-inspired breakdown in relations between Obama and Bibi has meant that Defense Secretary Ash Carter is now point man on maintaining the relationship.

Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic
November 3, 2015

Ideas

The US Coast Guard Is (Quietly) Building Up Allies in the Arctic

A new forum frees up Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the U.S. and Russia to talk formally about security in a way prohibited by the Arctic Council charter.

Ronald A. LaBrec, Council on Foreign Relations
November 3, 2015

Policy

A Weakened Bush Swings at Rubio; Rising Rubio Aims at Clinton

Jeb goes negative, along with his poll numbers, awkwardly aiming at Rubio's absent Senate record.

Molly O'Toole
October 29, 2015

Threats

Russia Is Forcing the Pentagon to Rewrite Its European Playbook

The U.S. military is looking at ways to better prepare its troops to counter and deter Moscow, which continues to surprise U.S. officials with its military moves.

Marcus Weisgerber
October 14, 2015

Policy

Hillary Clinton Defends Hawkish Record in First Democratic Debate

But the expected “she voted for the Iraq War” line of attack didn't stick to the former secretary of state's superlative national security credentials.

Molly O'Toole
October 14, 2015

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

New America polled former Navy SEALs, Pentagon officials, technologists, historians — and here’s what they expect.

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 Texas senator calls for “carpet bombing ISIS” in Iraq and Syria and “whatever is necessary” to defeat the Islamic State.

It is increasingly dangerous in this cyber-fast world for the nuclear-tipped nations to have such a dearth of contact.

While it isn’t news that Carson is untutored on foreign policy, his rise in the polls coupled with the Paris attacks have brought a new focus to his lack of experience.

In the last few years, one particular suburb has been at the heart of a thriving black market where military weapons can be bought in record time.

In an unprecedented move tucked into the defense authorization bill, Congress ordered U.S. Cyber Command to carry out simulated 'war games' against Russia, China, Iran and North Korea.

A country’s strength isn’t measured by how many bombs it drops, or how many armies it funds.

Thanks to the new open U.S. policy toward Cuba, the work done aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort heals more than bodies.

On Guantanamo and other issues, the president has to decide whether he will let Congress stand in his way.

Safe zones can work if great powers and regional actors are united and committed to protecting civilians. These conditions don’t exist in Syria.

Evelyn Farkas, who stepped down last week as the Pentagon’s top policy official for Russia and Ukraine, says the U.S. should open a military base in Eastern Europe to send a message to Vladimir Putin.

The Iran-inspired breakdown in relations between Obama and Bibi has meant that Defense Secretary Ash Carter is now point man on maintaining the relationship.

A new forum frees up Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the U.S. and Russia to talk formally about security in a way prohibited by the Arctic Council charter.

Jeb goes negative, along with his poll numbers, awkwardly aiming at Rubio's absent Senate record.

The U.S. military is looking at ways to better prepare its troops to counter and deter Moscow, which continues to surprise U.S. officials with its military moves.

But the expected “she voted for the Iraq War” line of attack didn't stick to the former secretary of state's superlative national security credentials.

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