Ideas

The Global Race for Big National-Security Ideas Is On

The United States faces genuinely new challenges—but tries to understand them using outmoded theories from a bygone era.

Ideas

Iran’s Smart Strategy

The Iranians chose neither to fold nor to fight. It is not clear at this point who was more deterred by whom.

Ideas

The US, Iran, and the Consequences of Breaking International Law

Some in the U.S. act as if only naked might matters in foreign policy. Yet American policy in Iran and Iraq illustrates something different.

Ideas

Why US Officials Are Revealing More about Cyber Ops

It’s part of a “costly signaling” gambit. Will it deter America’s enemies?

Ideas

Add Economic Policy to Deterrence Planning

As crisis brews overseas, U.S. leaders often turn first to sanctions and the like. But the Pentagon acts as if economic coercion doesn’t matter.

Ideas

America's Rivalry With China Is Nothing Like the Cold War

In today’s circumstances, Cold War–era policies are not only unnecessary, but likely to catalyze a destructive spiral of heightening tensions that would make the world a more dangerous place.

Ideas

How Best to Thank a Veteran? Avoid More Unjust Wars

A 2017 poll found that about half of Americans would support launching an unprovoked war on a country that poses no near-term threat.

Ideas

Livestream: Defense One Outlook 2020 Main Stage

At Defense One’s annual look into the future, we'll discuss global threats, industry trends, advanced technology, national-security policy and more.

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

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.

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

Ep. 58: Wargames

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

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

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.

Ideas

What the US Can Learn From Iranian Warfare

Tehran's approach to proxy wars offers a surprising lesson.

Ideas

China Has Begun to Shape and Manage the US, Not the Other Way Around

US policymakers long sought to export American values to China. The reverse is happening instead.

Ideas

LIVESTREAM: 2019 Global Security Forum Day 2

The two-day conference will explore the security challenges of modern disinformation and its implications for an increasingly interconnected world.

Ideas

LIVESTREAM: 2019 Global Security Forum Day 1

The two-day conference will explore the security challenges of modern disinformation and its implications for an increasingly interconnected world.