Condemning Putin will make it harder to end the conflict with Russia
Consider how hard it was to lift sanctions after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait
Biden is threatening Putin with European energy sanctions. That may be difficult to pull off.
Europe is counting on a new Russian gas pipeline to alleviate energy shortages
The U.S. couldn’t build Afghanistan a democracy. That rarely works.
Regimes battling a counterinsurgency often depend on corruption to stay in power
The Taliban has seized more cities, despite U.S. efforts to build a strong Afghan military. What happened?
Persuading partners to emulate the U.S. military approach doesn’t necessarily work, new research finds
Was the U.S. Capitol riot really a coup? Here’s why definitions matter.
Calling this a coup obscures important dynamics.
U.S.-China competition may be a win-win for Africa
Afrobarometer surveys find many Africans approve of U.S. and Chinese investment in the continent.
Trump got it wrong at the U.N. America can’t counteract China without global institutions.
Future international orders may look quite different.
What’s happening in Portland could hurt civilian control of the military. Here’s how.
Blurring the line between police and military could create an internal security force accountable to only one political branch or official.
Yes, Trump can send the military to shut down protests. Here’s what you need to know.
These laws, regulations and limits govern using the U.S. military on U.S. soil.
This is the problem with calling it a ‘war’ against coronavirus
War changes the rules — for better or worse
This is what was so unusual about the U.S. Navy making Captain Brett Crozier step down.
Members of the military can face multiple, sometimes competing, loyalties
The U.S. military’s role in the coronavirus response is likely to grow
But don’t believe the rumors of martial law.
Trump said the Navy can’t take away Eddie Gallagher’s SEAL qualification. That could be a problem.
The U.S. military is supposed to set its own high professional standards.
What radicalized ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi?
Iraq’s post-2003 chaos is actually to blame, not Saddam Hussein.
What China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea means — and what comes next
China’s ‘maritime gray zone operations’ target U.S. naval vessels.
Israel responded to a Hamas cyberattack with an airstrike. That’s not such a big deal.
Policymakers are debating how best to retaliate against cyberwarfare actions — and how not to.
Generals overthrew Sudan’s president, Bashir, but they can’t agree on what comes next
Demonstrators march with national flags during a rally demanding a
Steven Bannon is wrong. The White House ‘resistance’ is the opposite of a coup.
Former senior White House adviser Stephen K. Bannon calls it
What ‘Black Panther’s’ Wakanda can teach us about Africa’s history — and its future
[caption id="attachment_69877" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Chadwick Boseman in “Black Panther.” (Marvel
Should the U.S. try to deter cyberattacks by promising nuclear retaliation?
[caption id="attachment_68522" align="aligncenter" width="960"] (U.S. Air Force/AP)[/caption] Washington security circles
Is Zimbabwe ready to move on without Mugabe?
[caption id="attachment_66431" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe sits for
This is why Richard Nixon taped his White House conversations
[caption id="attachment_58320" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump listens during a news
Why back-channels with Russia cost Michael Flynn his job
President Trump’s national security adviser, retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn,
Trump may be borrowing Nixon’s ‘back channel’ strategy in his contacts with Russia
News that the president-elect’s son, Donald Trump Jr., met with
Trump voters don’t like women in military combat roles. That may have consequences for the use of force.
[caption id="attachment_48894" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Female Marine recruits stand in line
How do Counterinsurgencies End?
I really appreciate Henry asking me to guest post on