Ideas
When the Enemy Is Everywhere: The Rise and Fall of the 'Kill Box' in US Military Strategy
Once a hallmark of state-on-state conflict, simply finding oneself inside of an American kill box in today's counterterrorism wars is enough to be retroactively defined as guilty.
Ideas
Securing Syria Region-by-Region from the Bottom Up
We’re too focused on fighting ISIS and Assad and not enough on finding and uniting the Syrians who will govern after the war.
Threats
Sudan Now Spending Up to 70% of Its Budget on War
New estimate finds the northeast African nation is throwing $4 million per day at its wars in Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile.
Ideas
Three Reasons the 2017 Defense Budget Won’t Be Enough (And How to Fix It)
The responsible path is not the easy path, but there is bipartisan support for a stronger defense budget and ways to make it happen.
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.
Ideas
How ISIS Appeals to Converts — and Ex-Criminals
Understanding both sides is key to figuring out how to slow recruitment.
Threats
For the First Time, US Makes Russia's List of Top Security Threats
The document, an update of Moscow's 2009 national security strategy, also alleged an 'anti-constitutional coup d’etat' in Ukraine while leaving out any hint of the conflict in Syria.
Ideas
Social Movements Are The Next Big Weapon
Governments and non-state actors will increasingly foment citizen protests to topple terrorist states and influence regimes.
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.
Business
Japan's Military Is Recruiting More Women for Its Growing Global Role
A looming gender imbalance is compelling Tokyo to create new jobs and facilities for females throughout its defense ministry.
Ideas
Here’s What’s Keeping the World from Uniting Against ISIS
People need a common story before they will go to war with an enemy. ISIS has one. The rest of the world does not.
Ideas
The Unintended Consequences of Containing ISIS
The Paris attacks have prompted calls for a stronger military response to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. But restraint may be the better course of action.
Policy
Would Sun Tzu Endorse Donald Trump's Total-War Political Strategy?
Forget The Art of the Deal—what does The Art of War have to say about whether the Republican frontrunner’s campaign has peaked?
Ideas
Yemen's Refugee Crisis Is Spilling Over Into Somalia
There are now nearly 1.5 million displaced people in Yemen, though their plight is no less dire than those pouring out of the battlefields of Iraq and Syria.
Ideas
The Rules of Cyberspace Just Got A Bit Clearer
The UN's new recommendations guiding state activity in cyberspace break new ground in three important areas.
Threats
Inside the Pentagon’s Manhunting Machine
A brief history of Joint Special Operations Command, from Panama to the war on terror
Ideas
Who's Leading the World's ‘Counter Violent Extremism’ Efforts? No One
An international institution dedicated to CVE research and evaluation would reduce redundancy and promote buy-in.
Business
Now NATO’s Prepping for Hybrid War
Like the US, the alliance as a whole is readying forces for a full range of combat scenarios — and planning a historically complex exercise.
Ideas
The New US Army Chief Sets His Tone
Here are a few takeaways from Milley's first address since taking command of the nearly half-million strong active duty force.
Ideas
The Legal Problems with Cyber War Are Much Bigger Than You Think
Much of the unchartered territory begins with questions of what it takes to trigger self-defense in cyberspace, and what does it mean for a nation-state to have 'effective control' of a hacker?
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