This Week in War

Hillary’s emails, the Senate’s letter to Iran, an assassination in Moscow, China in South Sudan, and intrigue in Vietnam were all part of this week in war for 8 to 13 March 2015.
We Need Defense Innovators More Than They Need Us

Air Force Colonel Clint Hinote on innovation and the intersection of the defense and tech industries, a space with many implications for how America defends itself in the future.
‘Intelligence Failures’ Are Inevitable. Get Over it

Chris Miller attempts to unravel the complexities of intelligence failure in order to explain what it is and why it is inevitable.
Tsar of Tsars

Dictatorships are alive and well. As Putin’s Russia demonstrates, their banality has changed remarkably little over the ages, writes Lionel Beehner.
Time to Partner with Iran

David Rickert on how a new American Middle East strategy which includes alliance with Iran would protect our interests in the region for the long-term and end the last quarter century of ‘Whack-a-mole’ foreign policy there.
Can A ‘Freeze’ Work in Syria?

Lionel Beehner looks at whether a “freeze” can work in Syria. The empirical evidence paints a bleak picture.
Interests, Not Emotion, Should Guide Response to ISIS

Colonel (Ret.) Philip Lisagor argues that the provocative terrorist violence used by ISIS in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere should not distract us from other political violence nor be the deciding factor on if, when, and where the U.S. decides to act.
An Awkward Residue of War: Burn Pits and Human Waste

A new report examines how to mitigate against the health risks of human waste during wartime. An inside expert, Navy Captain (Ret.) James Need, finds the U.S. policy on open-air burn pits lacking.
Is Religion Inherently Violent?

UC Berkeley’s Jason Klocek reviews Karen Armstrong’s Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence in which she seeks to systematically debunk the “myth of religious violence.”
Does Transnistria Matter? To Russia, It May

Brandee Leon on why a small breakaway republic in Moldova could be a factor for Russia in the Ukraine conflict as well.
The ‘Secret Speech’ and Putin’s Cult of Personality

Chris Miller on the warnings to Russians from Nikita Khrushchev on the 59th anniversary of his ‘Secret Speech’ on the dangers of the Cult of Personality Josef Stalin built in the Soviet Union — much like the one Vladimir Putin has built in Moscow today.
Vladimir Putin is No Mystery

Ike Cagan, active in the struggle for democracy in the former-Czechoslovakia, explains why Vladimir Putin is not a mystery or suffering from mental illness. Rather it is the West who has thus far failed or refused to see him clearly.
Is there a Place for ‘Total War’ in the Modern World?

Army Captain Justin Lynch on the debate over how America should apply military force in the modern world between supporters and critics of “Total War” and more population-centric methods applied in counterinsurgency.
Bridget Coggins on How States Are Born

Bridget Coggins on her new book, Power Politics and State Formation in the Twentieth Century, on how states come to be in the modern world.
Can Corruption Lose Wars?

Arnold Isaacs discusses his experiences with corruption while covering the Vietnam War and whether government corruption has similarly contributed to the outcomes of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Is the Marine Corps Setting Women Up to Fail in Combat Roles?

Army Colonel (Ret.) Ellen Haring examines the case the Marine Corps may be building against allowing women in infantry roles ahead of a Department of Defense deadline to submit data to justify their exclusion.
When Allying with ‘Evil’ Makes Sense

Peter Storey argues that partnering with “evil” regimes like Saudi Arabia is often necessary from a practical point of view when intervening or stepping away could remove advantages.
Fool Me Twice, Shame on Minsk

Lionel Beehner asks why we take the military solution off the table when it comes to countries like Russia, but turn to it first when it comes to groups such as ISIS.
Nicolaus Mills on Army-Navy Football, Vietnam, and Brotherhood in War

Nicolaus Mills on his book, Every Army Man is With You, and the story of the 1964 Army football team that defeated Navy, but went on to fight less certain and more costly battles as officers in the Vietnam War.
Don’t Build A Berlin Wall in Ukraine

Chris Miller argues that suggestions of turning Ukraine into a ‘buffer state’ as part of an effort to appease Russia will embolden Vladimir Putin to employ the same tactic again in future. America and the West should not suggest a new ‘Ukraine Wall’ be built in Europe.
Don’t Bring Back the Powell Doctrine

Colonel (Ret.) Philip Lisagor on why the Powell Doctrine-real and imagined-is not a magic formula for solving America’s strategic decisions when it comes to the use of military force.
Looking Beyond the Military for Leadership Models

Major John McRae touches on what can be a ‘third rail’ for military leaders: The benefit of drawing lessons in innovation and leadership for the military at all levels from business, academia, and elsewhere in American civil society-and vice versa.
How to Defeat ISIS without Becoming Them

Retired U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Eric Jorgensen on Jordan’s response to ISIS’ murder of Lt. Moaz al-Kasasbeh and how America and its partners can defeat ISIS without becoming like them.
This Week in War

Jordan takes the fight to ISIS, Cameroon takes the fight to Boko Haram, and a new def-sec nominee tells Congress what it wants to hear: ISIS will strike the homeland.
When America and Its Writers Knew War

Sarah Stodola writes that the literary acclaim of Phil Klay’s book, Redeployment, may mean that Americans are beginning to see the Iraq War as a historical event worth grappling with.
Show Me the Terrorists’ Money? Easier Said Than Done

Joseph Sarkisian examines funding sources for al Qaeda and ISIS, now the world’s richest terrorist group, and finds that interdicting their income sources is easier said than done.
Islam’s Clash of Beliefs, As Seen From Modern Iran

Arnold Isaacs reviews Nazila Fathi’s new memoir, The Lonely War: One Woman’s Account of the Struggle for Modern Iran, in which she explores the Islamic Republic’s “different personalities.”
Using Social Psychology to Counter Terrorism

Dr. Afzal Upal writes that with no attractive alternative, as social psychologists suggest, our ad-hoc efforts at countering Islamist extremism will continue to fail.
Nothing Unjust About Using Snipers in War

Steven Magnusen writes that ‘means’ of modern war such as snipers, drones, and submarines do not fall foul of the Just War tradition so long as the ‘ends’ being pursued are just.
Jeff Bridoux on Democracy Promotion in the Post-9/11 Era

Jeff Bridoux, co-author of a new book on Democracy Promotion, discusses this controversial concept in the post-9/11 era following George W. Bush’s ‘Freedom Agenda’, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Arab Spring uprisings.
Why Terrorists Do Not Need Territory

Lionel Beehner debunks the myth that territorial safe havens are necessary for terrorists to plan and carry out attacks.
American Snipers and ‘Just War’ Theory

Logan Isaac argues that shallow controversy around Michael Moore’s comments on the film American Sniper has not touched on the deeper issues of ‘Just War’ theory and morality in war, a discussion his fellow veterans are best equipped to lead.
State of Disunion: America’s Lack of Strategy is its Own Greatest Threat

Chris Miller says that the greatest challenge to America’s global position does not come from climate change, terrorism, China, or Russia, but rather from the broken, gridlocked system it rests upon that means it is adrift without a grand strategy.
Is Sri Lanka Ready Yet For Postwar Reconciliation?

Kate Cronin-Furman writes that on one key set of issues it’s not clear that regime change in Sri Lanka heralds progress: post-war reconciliation and accountability for crimes committed during the country’s brutal civil war.
American Snipers are No Cowards

Iraq War veteran and former U.S. Marine Scout/Sniper Matt Victoriano weighs in on the public debate surrounding Clint Eastwood’s interpretation of Chris Kyle’s story, American Sniper.
‘Devils’ Alliance': Moscow’s Pact with Hitler

Dan Kaszeta reviews Roger Moorhouse’s book, The Devils’ Alliance, which sheds new light onto the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, creating an alliance between Stalin’s USSR and Hitler’s Germany, an agreement some in Moscow would rather forget today.
A Former U.S. Army Interrogator on Why Torture Doesn’t Work

William Quinn, a former U.S. Army interrogator, on why, in the wake of the Senate report on CIA’s Enhanced Interrogation Program, the United States should not use torture despite the arguments some make in its favor.
After Charlie Hebdo: Identity, Society, and National Security

Jessie Daniels writes on the interaction of identity, society, and national security in France following the Paris attacks.
‘Concrete Hell': Urban Warfare in the 20th Century

Peter Storey reviews Louis DiMarco’s ‘Concrete Hell’ on the history of 20th century urban warfare and finds the analysis wanting in respect to new contributions to the subject despite the author’s clear in-depth knowledge of the subject.
Scott Horton on How Secrecy Erodes the Ability to Wage War

In his latest book, Lords of Secrecy, legal expert Scott Horton writes that government secrecy and lack of public input are undermining the democratic process of going to war.
The ‘Zero’ Conundrum of Countering Threats

Clint Hinote says if we focus only on the failures when it comes to preventing terrorist attacks like the one in Paris, we may miss some very important successes.
Should Intelligence Officers be ‘Hunters’ or ‘Gatherers’?

Colonel (Ret.) Philip Lisagor argues that America’s leaders and intelligence community missed the inevitable rise of ISIS because of organizational drift to from a ‘gatherer’ to a ‘hunter’ culture and a focus on ‘actionable intelligence’ to the detriment of analysis.
Don’t Overhaul French Anti-terrorism

French terrorism expert Marc Hecker writes that it is neither reasonable to ask that French intelligence agencies foil all terrorist plots, nor that France become a police state.
On Charlie Hebdo, United We Fall?

Lionel Beehner worries that the “Je suis Charlie” solidarity mirrors the aftermath of 9/11, which gave rise to two needless wars. Maybe to prevent such hubris, we need less unity and more divisiveness.
The Army’s Fixed Wing Future

Lt Col Paul Darling says the Army is rightfully committed to organic fixed wing aviation in combat operations, which would give it better capabilities at a lower cost in anticipation of future reduced fleets.
Only U.S. Courts Can Ensure America Will Not Torture Again

Jeff Danovich argues the controversial ICC system and its poor track record in war crimes prosecutions shows that only prosecutions in U.S. courts will send the message that America is serious about stopping torture from becoming government policy ever again.
‘The Lost Battalion of TET': One Answer to the U.S. Army’s Dearth of Substantive ‘Classics’

Lieutenant Colonel Douglas A. Pryer calls Charles Krohn’s “The Lost Battalion of TET: Breakout of the 2/12 Cavalry at Hue” an Army “classic.”
The Forgotten Invasion

Joseph Hammond reviews Robert Sander’s book, Invasion of Laos, 1971: Lam Son 719.
Time Makes Right Choice for Person of the Year, but Something is Missing

CFR’s Clint Hinote warns that demand for “Ebola Fighters,” the very heroes that Time Magazine has honored, may soon outstrip the supply.
Treating Infections, Fighting Insurgencies

Benjamin Kirkup argues that if an insurgent, much like a microbe, has a useful role to play in the community, there is ultimately no reason to remove it post-infection, which may explain why our COIN strategies often fall short.
War and America’s Compromisers in Chief

Chris Miller discusses why the art of compromise, a strength among elected leaders, becomes a weakness when it comes to the art of war as illustrated by the course of America’s post-9/11 battles.
‘Sitting Ducks': Move Carriers Out of the Gulf, into Mediterranean

Commander (Ret.) John T. Kuehn argues that the operational benefits of a carrier group in the narrow Persian Gulf have caused America to overlook the risks this entails and that shifting the group to the Mediterranean allows for the same capabilities with less risk.
Failure of State: They Fired the Wrong Guy

Colonel (Ret.) Philip Lisigor argues the exponential expansion of the Department of Defense, its corporatization, and embrace of management over warrior culture have contributed to a decline of the State Department and its inability to articulate foreign policy.
Free Speech, Self-Censorship, and the Cartoon that Shook the World

Flemming Rose on his book, Tyranny of Silence, and how a cartoon published in his Danish newspaper ignited violent protests throughout the Muslim world and an international debate about censorship and the boundaries of freedom of speech.
The Case for Coalitions of the Unwilling

Lionel Beehner argues that an alliance of strange bedfellows against groups like ISIS may actually be helpful in the long-term to prevent countries from shirking or contributing only token support.
The Politics of Human Security

Marcos Farias Ferreira describes the ‘Human Security Agenda’, a discourse in international relations that seeks to describe, define, or quantify security and goals in more human terms.
American Grand Strategy or Grand Illusion?

Joseph Sarkisian argues that Washington needs to answer some very basic questions about America’s position and purpose in the world today before it can devise anything approaching a grand strategy.
National Security Policymakers—No Experience Necessary?

Chris Miller argues America’s national leaders making policy decisions for the world’s most capable national security complex are woefully under qualified and this accounts for much of America’s post-9/11 experience.
The Long Gray Online

Army Majors Matt Cavanaugh, Nathan Finney, and John McRae discuss ‘Milblogging’ forums that are driving online discussions on military leadership, doctrine, and innovation and providing valuable tools to today’s leaders.
How Military Advisers Can Avoid Mission Creep in Iraq

Peter Storey evaluates Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. military advisory mission to Iraq now several months in duration, and analyses the prospects of another quagmire or success.
Rethinking the Role of Religion in Counterinsurgency

With recent cases of religiously motivated violence in Jerusalem, Ottawa, and elsewhere, Jason Klocek finds that policymakers frequently use overwhelming force against insurgents motivated by religion.
American Witnesses of the Nazi Rise to Power

Andrew Nagorski describes his latest book, Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power, and what lessons that period of history holds for totalitarianism today.
CBRN Robotics: Unmanned Recon and Decon Systems Needed

CBRN expert Dan Kaszeta argues that the possibilities, capabilities, and advantages of developing unmanned CBRN systems to perform reconnaissance, detection, and decontamination functions should not be ignored.
Iran Nuclear Talks a Win-Win for Tehran, Washington

Joseph Sarkisian argues that even if the P5+1 nuclear talks with Iran do not bear fruit, the very idea of talking directly with Tehran is beneficial in and of itself.
What the War Classics Teach Us about Fighting Terrorists

Colonel (Ret.) Philip Lisagor explores classic war and strategy literature and more recent COIN offerings in an attempt to explain the course of America’s ‘War on Terror.’
When Politics and Intelligence Meet

Chris Miller explores the ‘politicization’ of intelligence and how and when it may occur in relations between intelligence and policymakers.
Revisiting the First 102 Days of the War on Terror

Yaniv Barzilai, author of 102 Days of War: How Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda & the Taliban Survived 2001, discusses our early missteps in the war on terror.
A New and Personal Narrative of Who Lost Vietnam

Arnold Isaacs reviews Frank Scotton’s Uphill Battle: Reflections on Viet Nam Counterinsurgency and finds the author’s first-hand account of who lost the war convincing.
Why ‘Military Readiness’ is so Vital

In light of the sequestration debate, Colonel (Ret.) Eric Jorgensen explains what ‘Military Readiness’ is and why it is so vital to America’s national security.
Network-Centric Warfare Set the Stage for Cyberwar

IT security expert Richard Stiennon explains how the U.S. military’s adoption of Network-centric Warfare (NCW) set the stage for inevitable cyberwarfare in future conflicts between modern states.
A Soldier’s Best Friend

Foreign Policy Magazine’s Rebecca Frankel discusses her new book, War Dogs: Tales of Canine Heroism, History, and Love.
Why We Haven’t Felt the Full Effect of Sequestration — Yet

Col. Clint Hinote argues that while the effect of sequestration on the military appears small now, it will have a greater impact on readiness in the future. There must be a better way to solve America’s budget issues.
Asymmetric Warfare and Abnormal Methodology: Redefining Victory

Jordan Bravin explains how counterinsurgency operations, ‘hybrid war’, and asymmetric conflicts of the 21st century are leading to the development of new measures of how to define victory.
The White House Must Change its ISIS Strategy

Chris Miller argues the Obama administration’s ISIS strategy is based on false conclusions and is likely to lead to yet another prolonged conflict for America in the Middle East.
Camp David and Goliath: The Triumph of Farsighted Peacemaking

Historian Jeffrey Bloodworth reviews Lawrence’s Wright’s Thirteen Days in September, a book about far-sighted peacekeeping and the hopes, however dim, for Israeli-Palestinian peace.
Ron Capps on PTSD and Recovery from Serving in Five Wars in Ten Years

Ron Capps discusses his memoir, Seriously Not All Right, which recounts his experience serving America as a soldier and civilian in five wars in ten years, his struggle with PTSD, and how he has coped and recovered.
President Bush is Still Wrong on Iraq

Following a recent article, political revisionists are again arguing ‘Bush was right on WMD.’ Chris Miller recounts the history of how America went to war in Iraq and why President Bush is still wrong.
Tales from Kabul’s Gender-Bending Underground

Afghan-American author Nadia Hashimi reviews Jenny Nordberg’s The Underground Girls of Kabul, an ethnographic account of the Afghan custom of dressing girls as boys.
Size of U.S. Army Should be Determined by Needs of Victory

Colonel (Ret.) Eric Jorgensen holds that we should not lose sight of the fact that the size and needs of the U.S. Army should be determined first and foremost by one factor: Victory.
What Was a Russian Sub (Possibly) Doing in Swedish Waters?

John Kuehn on why the (possible) Russian submarine trapped off the coast of Sweden is Cold War history repeating and why the West should take notice when it comes to naval strategy.
Ottawa’s Lone Gunman Shows Weakness of ISIS

Jeff Danovich argues that following the Ottawa attack, we should not hand ISIS a victory for their propaganda machine, keeping in mind that the goal of terrorism is to force change in how we live our lives.
The Lives of ‘Others': Menachem Klein on Healing Israel’s Divisions

In his latest book, Lives in Common: Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem, Jaffa and Hebron, Menachem Klein describes how segregated these two communities have become.
Is ‘Restraint’ a Realistic Grand Strategy?

Reviewing Barry Posen’s new book, Restraint: A New Foundation for U.S. Grand Strategy, Michael Page argues that the ability of the U.S. to extract itself from a leadership role in addressing regional conflicts like Syria appears unlikely.
On Integrity: The Foundation of Leadership

Army Major John McRae explains why integrity is the bedrock value of military leadership and how drifting away from it can cause leaders and organizations to lose their moral bearings.
The Case for Arming Rebels

The CIA study commissioned by Obama that found that “arming rebels” is ineffective should be questioned, especially as it pertains to our inaction in Syria, argues Lionel Beehner.
‘Friction’ Where U.S. Intelligence and Policymakers Meet

Chris Miller explores the U.S. Intelligence-Policymaker relationship and explains why their different approaches and interests cause ‘friction’ which affects American national security policy.
A Trail of UN Malfeasance in Afghanistan

Katrin Park argues that the UN should own up to its failures in Afghanistan’s postwar reconstruction and that unconditional spending has to end.
The F-22 Over Syria: Efficiency and Effectiveness

Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Eric Jorgensen counters critics of the F-22 and its use against ISIS over Syria, demonstrating the the aircraft’s efficiency and military effectiveness.
The F-35 Was Built to Fight ISIS

Jonathan Miller explains why the F-35 is destined to become America’s central combat aircraft and why it should see service over Iraq and Syria in the war with ISIS.
Bing West on Fighting the ‘Forgotten War’ in Afghanistan

Bing West talks counterinsurgency policy and his latest book, One Million Steps, the story of a platoon of U.S. Marines he embedded with as they engaged in one of the most important and deadly battles of the war in Afghanistan.
Military Adaptive Leadership: Overcome or Overcompensate?

Army Major John McRae argues that the military must take a balanced approach to the concept of “adaptive leadership,” understanding there is still a need for more traditional and technical leadership forms. Applying the right form at the right time is crucial to the force in war and in peace.
The Lows and Highs of Life Aboard an Aircraft Carrier

Koma Gandy, a Navy veteran, reviews Geoff Dyer’s Another Great Day At Sea and finds the book wanting.
Can Drones Help Us Clear ISIS-Controlled Cities?

Peter Storey discusses lessons learned in Iraq and elsewhere for airpower in urban warfare and how UAVs help mitigate its challenges, an issue relevant to today’s war with ISIS.
To Defeat ISIS, Change the Balance on the Ground

General (Ret.) Mohammed al-Samarae says that for the U.S. to successfully and decisively defeat ISIS, it must change the balance of power and momentum on the ground, something it cannot achieve with airstrikes alone.
Paul Staniland on How to Fix Counterinsurgency

Paul Staniland, author of Networks of Rebellion, discusses the organization of insurgencies, ways to fix COIN and fight ISIS, as well as recent accusations against IR scholars for not being policy-relevant.
How Risk of Great Power War Could Reshape Energy Security

In this book excerpt, Michael Levi identifies a ‘wild card’ that could force us to rethink the relationship between energy developments and the broader world: Great Power war.
On Food, Wine, and War

Lionel Beehner explores whether good cuisine correlates with perpetual conflict in the world’s hotspots.
Limp into Iraq, Limp Out: Time to Revive the ‘Powell Doctrine’?

Chris Miller argues that the ‘No boots’ mentality and ‘economy of force’ have led to deeply unpopular and indecisive wars since 9/11, strategies President Obama seems determined to follow against ISIS. It’s time to bring back the Powell Doctrine.
Asymmetric Warfare Goes Both Ways

Eric Jorgensen on how to take asymmetric advantage of the full range of U.S instruments of national power in a way that overwhelms our adversaries.
Leo Strauss: Teacher, Philosopher, ‘Man of Peace’?

Robert Howse reexamines Leo Strauss in his own works and lectures and finds a ‘Man of Peace’ with a balanced philosophy as to use of force, not the ‘warmonger’ or intellectual forefather Bush-era Neoconservatives adopted him as.
Can a Divided UN Help us Fight Terrorism?

Katrin Park believes that rather than establish a new UN counterterrorism body, existing structures should be made fit for that purpose. Getting members to agree on how to counter terror is yet another matter.
Time to Take Chemical Weapons More Seriously

Dan Kaszeta says it’s time for the U.S. military to take chemical weapons more seriously. Creating CBRN brigades would be a useful start.
How to Assess Risk in a World of Threats like ISIS

ISIS exists partially because of the president’s hands-off approach, a philosophy that has limited U.S. options for shaping outcomes. Eric Jorgensen assesses the risk ISIS poses.
Is COIN No Longer Relevant?

Does the closing of a COIN institution at Ft. Leavenworth signal the end of the Bush-era doctrine? Whitney Kassel assesses what it means for our approach to future conflict.
We Still Need to Defeat Assad, Not Just ISIS

Lionel Beehner argues we should not partner with Assad to defeat ISIS. That is a recipe for regional instability.
Helen Thorpe on War, Sex, and the Women Who Serve

Helen Thorpe, author of Soldier Girls, discusses the male-dominated culture of the military, life for women deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and sexual violence in the military.
The Necessary Hypocrisy of Torture

Avner Mandelman says hypocrisy is necessary for a civilized society and there’s a need for some “necessary evil” to be performed if society is to survive. That goes for torture as well.
Send Development Aid to North Africa, Not Drones

UN expert Katrin Park argues that swarming the impoverished northwest corner of Africa with $5 billion of counterterrorism assistance will not solve the region’s security threats.
What the War with ISIS Teaches Us About Strategy

The problem with the president’s anti-ISIS strategy is that the ends, ways, and means are out of proportion, writes Col. S. Clinton Hinote.
Time for another ‘Sunni Awakening’ in Iraq

Gen. (Ret.) Mohammed al-Samarae argues that a new ‘Sunni Awakening’ would help push ISIS out of Iraq, but U.S. needs to press Baghdad to grant the Sunnis meaningful gains-something the Maliki government refused to do.
With Russia, Eyeball to Eyeball Again

Chris Miller argues Vladimir Putin is following Khrushchev’s “surface tension” strategy in Ukraine, bringing Washington and Moscow “eyeball to eyeball” again. But so far, the West is doing the blinking.
A Witness to Britain’s War Crimes in Kenya

Huw Bennett, author of ‘Fighting the Mau Mau’, talks about the British COIN experience in 1950s Kenya and being called as a historian and expert witness in the landmark legal case brought by Mau Mau victims against the UK government.
A Review of Rory Kennedy’s ‘Last Days in Vietnam’

Dan Southerland, who was a war reporter aboard the last helicopters out of Saigon in 1975, reviews Rory Kennedy’s new documentary about the event, “Last Days in Vietnam.”
Is a New ‘Holy Alliance’ Forming in the Middle East?

Daniel Lakin asks: Is a new reactionary ‘Holy Alliance’ forming in the Middle East among Egypt, Saudia Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates?
Why a War of Attrition Favors Us, Not ISIS

Col. S. Clinton Hinote argues that by occupying territory and grabbing the world’s attention ISIS has also made itself vulnerable to attack, something the U.S. and its partners should take advantage of now.
Do Insurgents Benefit from Controlling Territory?

Should insurgent groups like ISIS control territory? Jordan Bravin examines the pros and cons.
Full-Spectrum Engagement: Better than War

Eric Jorgensen writes on Full-Spectrum Engagement: The mindset necessary to pair both civil and military engagement to preserve strategic victories in the long term in the peace, or “space”, between wars.
It Takes A Massacre to Save a Village

Lionel Beehner ponders the inconsistent and indifferent reaction of the American public to massacres, genocide, and mass violence in places like Syria and Iraq and closer to home in Newtown, Aurora, and inner-city Chicago.
Laura Kasinof on Being an ‘Accidental War Correspondent’

Laura Kasinof, author of Don’t Be Afraid of the Bullets, describes life as an “accidental war correspondent” in Yemen.
Sorry Realists. ‘Containment’ Won’t Work Against ISIS

Michael Page writes that prevailing Realist rhetoric on ‘restraint’ and ‘containment’ coming from Washington underestimates the gathering threat ISIS poses to regional stability and international security.
For Refugees in Turkey, A Tipping Point Looms

Known for its hospitality, Turkey opened its borders to all Syrians fleeing the fighting. Now the refugee crisis may be hitting a tipping point, writes Melissa Harrison.
Would Cicero Have Approved of Putin’s War in Ukraine?

It’s doubtful Cicero would agree that Putin’s incursion into Ukraine constitutes a “just war,” argues Lionel Beehner. But there are commonalities between the Roman Empire and Putin’s Russia.
In Iraq, A Faustian Bargain Awaits

Christian Cooper believes America should broker a deal with Iran to confront ISIS and ease the transition of Iraq into three autonomous regions, rather than await a violent disintegration.
Ruti Teitel on Why Power is Shifting in International Law

In her book, Humanity’s Law, New York Law School professor Ruti Teitel describes a shift in how power operates and is legitimated based on a new discourse of law and legalization.
For the Future Force, More is Not Always Better

Former U.S. Air Force strategic planner Eric Jorgensen argues that for the U.S. military, more is not always better, and decisions should be based on what we need, not on what we want.
For Russia, Death by a Thousand Aid Convoys

As Russia rolls out aid convoys and the same R2P rhetoric it did before its 2008 invasion of Georgia, Lionel Beehner warns that the West must be clear in its support for Kiev.
Unfinished Wars a Recipe for Unsuccessful Nation Building

Chris Miller argues that the roots of failure in Afghan nation building lie in an unfinished war and an underestimated will for independence among Afghans — mistakes America has made before.
Is Extremist Hip Hop Helping ISIS?

Upon news that the ISIS slayer of James Foley may be a British hip hop DJ, Hisham Aidi writes that European hip hop is not new to jihadism.
Anjan Sundaram on Life as a ‘Stringer’ in the Congo

Anjan Sundaram describes the dangers of being a press “stringer” in the Congo, the attraction of Africa and war, and the future of foreign journalism.
How to Found a New Iraq From Embers of War

Kevin Russell writes that Iraq’s leaders, like Lincoln after the American Civil War, will need military progress and de-escalation to create space for political action.
Let Iran and ISIS Fight It Out

To avoid nuclear proliferation in the region, the United States should stay out of Iraq and let Iran’s proxies and ISIS fight it out, argues Lt Col. Paul Darling.
Nicholas Seeley on Rumors, Love and War in a Syrian Refugee Camp

Nicholas Seeley, author of A Syrian Wedding, discusses life inside Jordan’s largest Syrian refugee camp.
Military Force Structure Math-the American Way

There are many ways to restructure our armed forces to match current budgetary conditions. Finding the right balance between risks and benefits poses challenges for policymakers, writes Eric Jorgensen.
Why ISIS is More Dangerous than Al-Qaeda

Unlike al-Qaeda, ISIS has a true sanctuary in the heart of the Arab world. That is why the U.S. is right to intervene in Iraq, writes Colonel Clint Hinote.
How Do We Protect the Kurds? Like We Did in 1991

Chris Miller writes that U.S. airstrikes to protect Kurds and Yazidis is the right thing to do, and we have a blueprint from 1991 on how to protect them and repel ISIS.
Spymaster Jack Devine on Building a Better CIA

CIA spymaster Jack Devine sets the record straight about the agency’s controversial role during the Cold War in his new memoir, Good Hunting.
Time to Retire GWOT Mindset in Africa

In Africa, America is again in search of amorphous monsters to slay. But this GWOT mindset has not made us, or Africans, any safer, writes Thomas Lansner.
A Falklands Strategy to Avoid War over Spratleys

To deter China from claiming the Spratleys, as Great Britain discovered with the Falklands, LTC Paul Darling argues we should more robustly arm our Pacific allies.
What the Air Force Can Learn from FedEx

To reform the Air Force amid budget constraints, it needs to look more like Corporate America. FedEx offers a nice model, writes Eric Jorgensen.
Is ‘Wartime’ Conceptually Different From Peacetime?

Arnold R. Isaacs reviews Mary L. Dudziak’s new book, War Time, but finds that her misreading of history mars what is otherwise an important book on war.
Kayla Williams on PTSD, Recovery, and Life After War

Kayla Williams talks PTSD/TBI, veterans, and life and recovery in the aftermath of war in her new book, Plenty of Time When We Get Home.
Joshua Rovner on Iraq and the Politics of Intelligence

Joshua Rovner of Southern Methodist University talks about his book, Fixing the Facts, on the intelligence-policy relationship and “politicization” of intelligence during the Iraq War and throughout U.S. history.
The Future of America’s All-Volunteer Force

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Darling argues that the U.S. military must rethink its dated benefits system and how it attracts troops and structures their benefits in order to meet the nation’s fiscal challenges today.
It is Time to Retire ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’

CBRN expert Dan Kaszeta argues the terms “Weapons of Mass Destruction” and WMD are undefined, unclear, and unhelpful and should be retired from the lexicon.
The ‘July Crisis': WWI Lessons for Gaza, Ukraine, and Iraq

WWI and the “July Crisis” of 1914 hold lessons for today’s conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine, and the Middle East, argues Chris Miller.
Russell Crandall on COIN and America’s Dirty Wars

Russell Crandall talks about COIN and his latest book, America’s Dirty Wars, which explores America’s history of irregular warfare from the American Revolution to the War on Terror.
Is Defeating Guerrillas Really All About Good PR?

Lionel Beehner reviews Max Boot’s Invisible Armies and finds the author’s theories explaining insurgents’ recent success to be unconvincing.
Prelude to Another Russian Missile Crisis

As the world finds itself concerned with Russian missiles once again, Chris Miller revisits SNIE 85-3-62, the crucial-and wrong-U.S. intelligence estimate that Nikita Khrushchev would not place nuclear missiles on Cuba.
A Cure For America’s ‘Iraq Syndrome’

When it comes to the use of force, America cannot let bad decisions in Iraq stand in the way of decisionmaking in Syria, Ukraine and other conflicts today, especially if it wants to tackle obstacles in the larger strategic environment and pivot to the East.
Ahron Bregman on Gaza, Israel, and Palestine

Ahron Bregman talks about his latest book, Cursed Victory, on the history of conflict in Israel, Palestine, Gaza and the occupied territories, drawing on high-level sources and interviews revealed for the first time.
Germany-U.S. Spy Scandal: Typewriters & Intelligence

Chris Miller on the latest German-American spying scandal and why Berlin and Moscow considering going back to paper shuffling and typewriters to counter electronic intelligence gathering may not be as crazy as it sounds.
Getting Behind ‘Hybrid’ Warfare

For today’s superpowers, strength in the art of hybrid warfare is found not on the front lines but on the fringe of international law and the grey regions of international policy, writes Jordan Bravin.
Voices of Pashtun Women from Wartime Afghanistan

Arnold R. Isaacs reviews I Am The Beggar of the World, a new book of poetry on the war in Afghanistan by ethnic Pashtuns.
What 1914 Teaches Us About Naval Warfare Today

Military historian John T. Kuehn looks at what naval warfare ahead of World War I can teach us about avoiding conflict today in places like the South China Sea.
Revisiting COIN Strategies in Vietnam

Chris Miller investigates which COIN strategies worked in Vietnam and why, providing valuable lessons for U.S. efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Kristan Stoddart on U.S.-NATO Nuclear Policy

In an interview on his detailed new book, The Sword and the Shield, Kristan Stoddart talks about the U.S., Britain, and NATO nuclear policy and cooperation and how cyberwarfare may be the new Cold War.
How War Has Shaped American Exceptionalism

Caleb Spencer explores how the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan shaped American Exceptionalism and also Americans’ sense of morality during wartime.
The Chemical Fingerprint of Assad’s War Crimes

Chemical weapons expert Dan Kaszeta writes that the presence of Hexamine implicates Bashar al-Assad and Syrian government forces in the August 2013 chemical attacks in Ghouta.
Cold War Lessons for Counterintelligence Today

Following Edward Snowden’s NSA disclosures and renewed clashes between Washington and Berlin over espionage, Chris Miller discusses Cold War lessons in counterintelligence still applicable to national security challenges today.
Is Iraqi Kurdistan on the Verge of Statehood?

Iraqi Kurdistan’s status as a buffer state may be its biggest attribute to eventual statehood, argues Lionel Beehner.
‘Everyday’ Ways to Fix Peacekeeping

Séverine Autesserre says peacekeepers must reform their ‘everyday practices’ to avoid failure in her new book, Peaceland.
The ‘Hot’ War in Cold War Southeast Asia

The dominant narrative of the Cold War focuses on the conflict in the West between Washington and Moscow, forgetting about the lessons learned in the “hot” war in Southeast Asia. These lessons are worth another look, argues Chris Miller.
Taming Cities of the 21st Century: A Book Review

Peter Storey reviews the book, Out of the Mountains: The Coming Age of the Urban Guerilla, by David Kilcullen.
Ian Morris on Why War Is ‘Sometimes Good’

In his provocative new book, War! What is It Good For?, Ian Morris discusses the Hobbesian role of the leviathan in reducing violence and why war is “sometimes good.”
‘The Troubles': COIN Tactics Against the IRA

John Wood argues looking at the “criminalization” of IRA terrorist violence during The Troubles may shed new light on COIN tactics in ethnic and sectarian conflicts in the 21st century.
The Myth of Obama’s Realism

Why do polls show Obama’s approval on foreign policy at record lows? Hint: It’s not because he is a realist, Lionel Beehner explains.
Why Urban Warfare Studies Still Matter

Peter Storey makes the case that the rise and fall of urban warfare studies should not mean we turn away from the literature, especially given that our planet is becoming more urbanized.
Will U.S. Military Advisers Face ‘Mission Creep’ in Iraq?

U.S. military advisors have a long history of “mission creep.” Don’t be surprised if the ones redeployed to Iraq serve in a combat role against ISIS, writes Chris Miller.
Christopher Coker on Prospects for a Great Power War

Christopher Coker, author of Can War Be Eliminated?, says we may be ‘sleepwalking’ into another Great Power war.
Two Views of Intelligence

Chris Miller breaks down two philosophical approaches to intelligence analysis, but finds that the practice is still “informed guesswork.”
Just Killers, Moral Injuries

Robert Emmet Meagher writes that “just war” doctrine explains our inability to comprehend moral injury and to make sense of our military “heroes” marching off to take their own lives.
Are Manned or Unmanned Aircraft Better on the Battlefield?

Jacquelyn Schneider and Julia MacDonald list the merits of manned versus unmanned aircraft, or drones, in military effectiveness. Neither is a silver bullet.
The Fading Memory of War in Congress

As the last of our World War II veterans leave Congress, the risk of losing the memory and lessons learned during a time of unparalleled global warfare is both present and real, argues Jordan Bravin.
The U.S.-Chinese War Over Africa

With $2 trillion in trade, China may well win its second round in the scramble for Africa, writes Chris Miller.
Russia’s Fair Energy Friends

For Russia, energy policy equals foreign policy. But the few pliant friends Russia has, writes Zoran Tihomirovic, could turn their back on Moscow if its energy becomes too expensive, financially or politically.
Moral Injury and Military Suicide

The second of a two-part feature, Lt. Col. Douglas A. Pryer examines the effects of moral injury on military culture and military suicide.
Moral Injury and the American Soldier

Lt. Col. Douglas A. Pryer, looking back at classical literature and his own experience in Iraq, makes the case that “moral injury” better explains some psychological symptoms than PTSD. This is the first of a two-part essay.
Russia’s NATO Expansion Myth

Chris Miller argues that Russia’s claim that NATO verbally agreed never to expand in the 1990s is nonsense. If NATO expansion was as vital an issue to Russia then as is claimed today, Moscow would have insisted on a clear statement of it in writing.
Morten Ender on Millennials and the Military

Morten G. Ender, coauthor of a new book that examines millennials’ attitudes on the military, says he is optimistic about future generations’ views on war and argues there is a narrowing of the civilian-military gap in this country.
How Many Fingers in the Warthog Pie?

The axing of an aging, likely strategically inconsequential aircraft like the A-10 ‘Warthog’ is a small price to pay in order to maintain top-flight armed forces for America’s future, argues Jonathan Miller.
What a ‘Head Strong’ Military Looks Like

Mike Matthews writes in a new book that “moral trauma” and PTSD are occupational hazards of combat, but that military personnel tend to be resilient. His research suggests that psychological wounds may be as medal-worthy as physical ones.
Ireland 1916-1921: The War COIN Theorists Forgot

COIN theorists tend to hold up the British as exemplar counterinsurgents because of their successful operation in Malaya. But Peter Storey writes that operations in Ireland from 1916 to 1921 should receive greater attention from military historians.

Interviews

Feb 20, 2015

Bridget Coggins on How States Are Born

The Editors Interviews civil war, foreign policy, State Formation, War 0 Comments

Bridget Coggins on her new book, Power Politics and State Formation in the Twentieth Century, on how states come to be in the modern world.

Feb 13, 2015

Nicolaus Mills on Army-Navy Football, Vietnam, and Brotherhood in War

The Editors Interviews Army-Navy Football, veterans, Vietnam War, War 0 Comments

Nicolaus Mills on his book, Every Army Man is With You, and the story of the 1964 Army football team that defeated Navy, but went on to fight less certain and more costly battles as officers in the Vietnam War.

Jan 30, 2015

Jeff Bridoux on Democracy Promotion in the Post-9/11 Era

The Editors Features, Interviews Afghanistan, democracy promotion, Freedom Agenda, Iraq, Middle East 1 Comment

Jeff Bridoux, co-author of a new book on Democracy Promotion, discusses this controversial concept in the post-9/11 era following George W. Bush’s ‘Freedom Agenda’, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Arab Spring uprisings.

Jan 16, 2015

Scott Horton on How Secrecy Erodes the Ability to Wage War

The Editors Interviews CIA, National Security, secrecy 0 Comments

In his latest book, Lords of Secrecy, legal expert Scott Horton writes that government secrecy and lack of public input are undermining the democratic process of going to war.

Dec 5, 2014

Free Speech, Self-Censorship, and the Cartoon that Shook the World

The Editors Interviews Free Speech, Islam, Middle East, Terrorism 0 Comments

Flemming Rose on his book, Tyranny of Silence, and how a cartoon published in his Danish newspaper ignited violent protests throughout the Muslim world and an international debate about censorship and the boundaries of freedom of speech.

Nov 20, 2014

American Witnesses of the Nazi Rise to Power

The Editors Interviews Germany, Hitler, Hitlerland, Nazis, WWII 0 Comments

Andrew Nagorski describes his latest book, Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power, and what lessons that period of history holds for totalitarianism today.

Nov 13, 2014

Revisiting the First 102 Days of the War on Terror

The Editors Interviews Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden, Tora Bora 3 Comments

Yaniv Barzilai, author of 102 Days of War: How Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda & the Taliban Survived 2001, discusses our early missteps in the war on terror.

Nov 7, 2014

A Soldier’s Best Friend

The Editors Interviews war dogs 0 Comments

Foreign Policy Magazine’s Rebecca Frankel discusses her new book, War Dogs: Tales of Canine Heroism, History, and Love.

Opinion

Mar 10, 2015

Tsar of Tsars

Lionel Beehner Opinion dictatorships, Putin, tsar 2 Comments

Dictatorships are alive and well. As Putin’s Russia demonstrates, their banality has changed remarkably little over the ages, writes Lionel Beehner.

Mar 9, 2015

Time to Partner with Iran

David Rickert Opinion foreign policy, Iran, strategy 4 Comments

David Rickert on how a new American Middle East strategy which includes alliance with Iran would protect our interests in the region for the long-term and end the last quarter century of ‘Whack-a-mole’ foreign policy there.

Mar 6, 2015

Can A ‘Freeze’ Work in Syria?

Lionel Beehner Opinion ceasefire, civil war, Syria 0 Comments

Lionel Beehner looks at whether a “freeze” can work in Syria. The empirical evidence paints a bleak picture.

Mar 3, 2015

Interests, Not Emotion, Should Guide Response to ISIS

Colonel (Ret.) Philip Lisagor Opinion Iraq, ISIS, Russia, Terrorism, Ukraine 1 Comment

Colonel (Ret.) Philip Lisagor argues that the provocative terrorist violence used by ISIS in Iraq, Syria, and elsewhere should not distract us from other political violence nor be the deciding factor on if, when, and where the U.S. decides to act.

Feb 24, 2015

Vladimir Putin is No Mystery

Ike Cagan Opinion Cold War, Russia, Ukraine, Vladimir Putin 3 Comments

Ike Cagan, active in the struggle for democracy in the former-Czechoslovakia, explains why Vladimir Putin is not a mystery or suffering from mental illness. Rather it is the West who has thus far failed or refused to see him clearly.

Feb 17, 2015

When Allying with ‘Evil’ Makes Sense

Peter Storey Opinion Islam, Middle East, oil, Saudi Arabia 1 Comment

Peter Storey argues that partnering with “evil” regimes like Saudi Arabia is often necessary from a practical point of view when intervening or stepping away could remove advantages.

Feb 16, 2015

Fool Me Twice, Shame on Minsk

Lionel Beehner Opinion deterrence, Russia, Ukraine 1 Comment

Lionel Beehner asks why we take the military solution off the table when it comes to countries like Russia, but turn to it first when it comes to groups such as ISIS.

Feb 12, 2015

Don’t Build A Berlin Wall in Ukraine

Chris Miller Opinion Berlin Wall, Cold War, Russia, Ukraine 0 Comments

Chris Miller argues that suggestions of turning Ukraine into a ‘buffer state’ as part of an effort to appease Russia will embolden Vladimir Putin to employ the same tactic again in future. America and the West should not suggest a new ‘Ukraine Wall’ be built in Europe.