Ideas
The Problem With the SecDef Purity Test
You don’t want a general, a man, a war veteran — and everyone in the defense industry is evil?
Ideas
Congress Should Vote ‘No’ on Austin. It Likely Won’t.
It's hard to vote against a popular general. That's one reason why lawmakers barred the appointment of recently retired officers as defense secretary.
Policy
Biden Selects Retired Gen. Lloyd Austin for Defense Secretary, Reportedly
Austin, the last commander of the Iraq War, would be the nation's first Black defense secretary.
Policy
US Has Achieved ‘Modicum of Success’ in Afghanistan, Top General Says
But years of military stalemate make negotiating with the Taliban the only option, Gen. Mark Milley says.
Ideas
Are AI Professionals Actually Unwilling to Work for the Pentagon?
A CSET survey finds a more nuanced situation than public perception might indicate.
Ideas
Biden Has Many Good Choices at SecDef
I’m rooting for Flournoy, but she’s not the only one who would do well.
Ideas
Tapping Flournoy as SecDef Would Be a Really Big Deal
A natsec black belt and outstanding leader, the former policy undersecretary would also be uniquely positioned to implement some long-overdue personnel changes.
Ideas
The Next Administration Should Bring the Shadow Wars into the Light
Lethal tactics and entire campaigns launched urgently after 9/11 have corroded oversight and American standing.
Science & Tech
How Two US Military Bases Are Exploring 5G’s Potential
Defense Department-led pursuits of next-generation connectivity will hone in on survivability, security, and innovation.
Science & Tech
More Computers Would Bring Military AI Along Faster, New JAIC Chief Says
Groundbreaking tools are around the corner, 3-star general says. The limiting factor is lack of computing power to grind through giant Pentagon datasets.
Ideas
As Spotlight Fades, What Next for Special Operators?
Under Trump, the Pentagon's ‘service secretary’ in charge of SOF has changed hands eight times between seven people.
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
A Better Way to Fight the Forever War
Why leaving a residual force in Afghanistan may be the only way to both end and win the war.
Science & Tech
Pentagon Risks ‘Paralyzing Ourselves’ as Tech Priorities Keep Shifting
That’s what the outgoing HASC ranking member says, and he’s not alone.
Ideas
Cutting US Defense Attachés from Embassies Abroad is a Bad Idea
Without them on the ground, or without the right rank, commanders and policymakers are mostly blind, deaf, and mute.
Threats
Coronavirus Cases Are Spiking at Federal Agencies
More than 100,000 federal personnel have now tested positive for COVID-19, with some agencies experiencing acute upticks.
Policy
Rolling Back Trump's Workforce Policies Won't Be Simple
President-elect Biden has vowed to rescind on his first day a series of Trump-era directives aimed at weakening federal labor unions and politicizing the civil service, but repairing the damage could take much longer.
Ideas