
Trump’s First Year in Review: Views From the Republican Bench
Foreign policy veterans from previous Republican administrations look back on 2017 — the year of Trump.

How Donald Trump Learned to Love War in 2017
The president promised to deliver peace. But in his first year, he expanded every war he inherited.

WWII query: Why did France surrender so quickly while Russia held out for years?
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts.

2017 Was the Year of False Promise in the Fight Against Populism
The populist wave seems like it may have crested. The data proves otherwise.

Out With The Old: New Books on Collusion, Civil War, Doomsday, and Other Happy Tidings
FP staffers learn how democracies die and why Mussolini wrote a bodice ripper.

Situation Report: Russia Slams U.S. Missile Defense Sale to Japan
Saudi blockade of Yemen taking a toll, Turkey buys Russian military kit

2017 Was a Bad Year for Egypt’s LGBT Community. 2018 Could Be Even Worse.
Egyptian authorities are using a "debauchery" law to justify a crackdown on gay and trans people.

U.S.-EU Obligations Should Cut Both Ways in 2018
The United States should be able to count on Europe’s help in isolating Iran.

Trump Is Bluffing About Attacking North Korea in 2018
But that still might get us all killed.

A stunning profile of Ben Rhodes, the asshole who is the president’s foreign policy guru
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts.

11 Stories You May Have Missed in 2017
Logging a primeval forest, Mexican murders, Arctic pathogens, the Russian hack you didn’t hear about, and more.

SitRep: Another Kabul Attack, Details about North Korea’s Missile Technology
Yemen continues to burn, American ISIS pundit makes debut

The United States Should Resolve to Avoid War With North Korea in 2018
The greatest danger to world peace in the coming year is the prospect of war on the Korean Peninsula — and Trump is making matters worse.

Catalonia’s Crisis Is Just Getting Started
Spain's prime minister tried, and failed, to strong-arm Catalonia. The result is an enduring stalemate.

2017 Was the Year I Learned About My White Privilege
I used to be a smart-alecky conservative who scoffed at “political correctness.” The Trump era has opened my eyes.

An Old Colonel Looks at General Kelly
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts.

The Battle of the Breadbaskets Is Coming to a Head
The United States needs to strengthen its agriculture sector — or be overtaken by China.

SitRep: The North Korea Squeeze Is On
U.S. strikes in Somalia and Pakistan keep the Long War grinding on

Europe Is Shocked — Shocked — By Libya’s Slave Markets
The continent is finally admitting what it has known all along: that its migration policies are complicit in crimes against humanity.

How to Save Poland From Itself
Reagan intervened to rescue Poland from authoritarianism. Trump should do the same thing.

Trump’s National Security Strategy Is Nothing Like the British Empire’s ‘Blue Water’ Policy
The historical analogy is wrong — whichever way you look at it.

Corruption Is Mexico’s Original Sin
Personal enrichment has always been central to Mexico's political system — and only a revolution can change that.

America Is Nowhere Near a Constitutional Crisis
Even if Donald Trump fires Robert Mueller, the country's constitutional system still wouldn't be threatened.

Mattis as defense secretary: What it means for us, for the military, and for Trump
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts.

The Crime of Gender Inequality in Global Health
There’s no way we’ll be able to grapple with the coming health crises unless we fix the gaping problem of women’s empowerment in global health.

SitRep: How Moscow Did It
Russia pushing back against U.S. arms sales to Ukraine

Rational Security on The E.R.: The “Beam Me Up, Santa” Edition
Robert Mueller got hold of emails from the presidential transition and the Pentagon has been researching sightings of UFOs. Yes, seriously.

U.N. Votes For New Sanctions Against North Korea
North Koreans working abroad are a source of cash. They won’t be anymore.

Will North Korea Blow Up the Winter Olympics?
It’s possible. But here are a few steps Washington, Seoul, and Pyongyang can take to keep the 2018 Winter Games peaceful.

If You’re Not a Democracy, You’re Not European Anymore
The EU is finally declaring it's a club with rules — and that countries like Poland might not belong.

Iran’s North Korean Playbook to Protect Its Nuclear Program
Tehran is building up Hezbollah as leverage against an attack by Israel.

Congressional Republicans Are Pulling a Bait-and-Switch in the Trump-Russia Investigation
Signs are mounting that the House Intelligence Committee plans on prematurely abdicating its work.

2 big warnings from Gen. McChrystal: War in Europe is possible & we’re going to have to give up rights for our security
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts.

Palestine Is a Victim of the Iranian-Saudi War
The two regional powerhouses are more focused on fighting each other than challenging Trump's Jerusalem decision.

Situation Report: Big Pentagon Changes Coming in 2018
Trump transgender ban blocked by courts again, Pence in Afghanistan

Trump Has Set a Scary Strategic Precedent
There's a reason why other administrations didn’t plan national security policy this way.

Cyberattack Targets Safety System at Saudi Aramco
One report points to Iran, but the evidence is far from conclusive.

India’s Political Outsiders: From Protest to Politics to Power
A new documentary traces an Indian anti-corruption party’s rise to power. But life has not stood still since filming stopped.

Beijing Builds Its Influence in the American Media
How one of America's biggest Chinese-language newspapers amplifies China’s message.

Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Agency Alleges Fraud in Arms Industry
The country’s war on graft is far from over.

Federal Court Vacancies Are a Crisis. Military Judges Are the Solution.
A modest proposal to solve a growing problem in America’s judicial system.

What Would a Saudi-Iran War Look Like? Don’t look now, but it is already here
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts

The Guardians of the Great Barrier Reef
Australia’s scientists are working against time and climate change politics to save their beloved coral reef.

Situation Report: Mattis Goes to Gitmo, Congress Struggles to Keep Government Open
B-1 bombers back to Middle East, pressure on Saudi Arabia over Yemen

Deep Pockets, Deep Cover
The UAE Is paying Ex-CIA officers to build a spy empire in the Gulf

Populism Is a Problem. Elitist Technocrats Aren’t the Solution.
The problem isn’t too much democracy — it’s too little.

‘Fake News’ Fights Back
Russian disinformation. A government attacking the media. A populace deeply skeptical of it. These Slovak journalists had seen it all — and decided to do something about it.

David Cameron Didn’t Just Sell Out to China
China’s global economic ambitions require help, and it’s entirely appropriate for the United Kingdom to offer it.

A Crisis of Leadership at the Military Intelligence Agency’s Watchdog Office
Since two whistleblowers stepped forward two years ago, morale at the Defense Intelligence Agency Office of the Inspector General has plummeted.

White House Counsel Knew in January Flynn Probably Violated the Law
Don McGahn was looking at whether the national security advisor violated federal laws just days after Trump moved into the White House.

U.N. Human Rights Chief to Leave, Citing ‘Appalling’ Climate for Advocacy
Zeid Ra'ad Hussein worries the global retreat from human rights makes his job untenable.

We’re getting out of the Marines because we wanted to be part of an elite force
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts.

SitRep: U.S. Navy Looks to Move in Pacific, Japan Beefs Up Defenses
War in Ukraine gets worse, Saudi opens port in Yemen

Haley Warns Diplomats on Jerusalem: Trump Is Watching You
“We will take note of each and every vote on this issue.”

Billionaires May be the Future of Space Travel
Privately funded space ventures are altering the industry … and, maybe, the final frontier itself.

Let USAID Run USAID
Rex Tillerson’s “terrible mistake” is actually the right thing to do.

Trump Nominee Concedes Saudi Siege of Yemen Could Be Violating U.S. Law
Sen. Todd Young lifts a hold on the president’s pick for the next State Department legal advisor, after extracting a promise to review Saudi Arabia’s actions in Yemen.

White House Blames North Korea for Global Ransomware Outbreak
The announcement comes amid heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

How to Grade Trump’s National Security Strategy on a Curve
Strategizing for this president isn’t easy. But that excuse only gets you so far.

The United States of America Is Decadent and Depraved
The problem isn’t Donald Trump – it’s the Donald Trump in all of us.

Two Cheers for Trump’s National Security Strategy
Its survey of the world is mostly accurate, but the discussion of domestic policy falls flat.

China’s Flagship TV Network Hasn’t Registered as a Foreign Agent
Based in Washington, CCTV America broadcasts Beijing-controlled news to English-speaking households across the United States.

The ouster of Mattis: Some follow-up details and a White House response
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts.

SitRep: Kremlin Blasts Trump Strategy, Saudi Intercepts Another Houthi Missile
McMaster has tough words for North Korea, which Washington accuses of cyber attack

Buckle Up for Year 2 of Trump
Four major crises the president is steering America toward in the year ahead.

Trump’s National Security Strategy Deserves to Be Ignored
The Trump administration claims — and fails — to provide a plan to keep Americans safe.

Cyril Ramaphosa Isn’t South Africa’s Savior
The newly elected leader of the African National Congress is being treated like a messiah. But he might not even win the next election.

U.N. Security Council Takes Aim at U.S. Recognition of Jerusalem
The U.S. vetoed the resolution, which Nikki Haley called an “insult” to America that “won’t be forgotten.”

Does Trump’s National Security Strategy Have a Values Deficit?
The administration notices growing competition with authoritarian countries, but skirts around the source of conflict.

Five Takeaways From Trump’s National Security Strategy
“America First” is officially all grown up.

Portugal Has Emerged as Europe’s Booming Anti-Germany
Lisbon got its economy back on track by ditching austerity, and now Berlin is eating crow.

Billionaires May Be the Future of Space Policy. Here’s What They Want.
Space nations, UFOs, and Mars colonies are on the wish list.

The NSS and the China Challenge
The president and his team deserve credit for formulating a coherent, cohesive approach to battling Beijing.

Why ‘5027’ is a number you should know: How war in Korea might unfold
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts.

SitRep: Cold War Returns, Democracy Promotion Rejected, in New Security Strategy
Pentagon revamps innovation offices, Putin thanks Trump

The Pentagon’s Third Offset May Be Dead, But No One Knows What Comes Next
Experts say the U.S. advantage over China and Russia is eroding.

Combatting Chinese Economic Coercion in the NSS
The Trump administration needs a robust plan to make sure America remains the world’s most powerful economy.

Tillerson Backtracks on Overture to North Korea, Slams China and Russia
"North Korea must earn its way back to the table," Tillerson told U.N.

A Billionaire, a Minority Government, and a Few Communists Walk Into Parliament…
Confused? So are Czechs.

Hey, shut up about being the best military in the world, because we might not be (A)
After eight years at Foreign Policy, here are the ten most popular Best Defense posts.

Beijing Can’t Understand Taiwan’s Democracy
The Communist Party is baffled — and angered — by the new activism across the straits.
SitRep: Trump and Putin Chat; White House Staffers Rip Into Tillerson and McMaster
China keeps building islands, U.S. Army takes a hard looks at its Mosul operation

What Vladimir Putin Really Wants in the Middle East
A new book translates Russia’s fears and hopes for Syria, and the wider region, for an American audience.

Haley’s ‘Smoking Gun’ on Iran Met With Skepticism at U.N.
She claims 'undeniable evidence' that Iran is violating U.N. restrictions. But not everyone is on board yet.

Rex Tillerson Is About to Make a Terrible Mistake
The knives are out for "F" at the State Department. The secretary should be strengthening rather than dismantling it.

Putin Praises, Defends Trump and Revs Up Own Re-election Bid
In his annual marathon press conference, the Russian president buttered up his American counterpart and cut loose from the party he once led.

The Guerrilla Campaign Against McMaster Is Alive and Well
Now critics claim the national security advisor is hurting efforts to recruit senior White House intelligence advisors.

Head of Congressional Ethics Office Sued for Abusing Position, Accused of Assaulting Women
A key official involved in House investigations faces a federal lawsuit alleging misconduct.

America Needs NAFTA to Win
The U.S. economy has grown because of NAFTA. Scuttling it now would do grievous damage.

Whistleblower Guardian for Spies Escorted Out of Intelligence Agency Building
The clashes at the Office of the Intelligence Community Inspector General continue to escalate.

Excerpt From ‘Illusions of Victory’: Here’s Why the Iraqi Awakening Broke Down
In Iraq, the U.S invasion toppled over society and let sectarian dynamics run their course.

Mohammed bin Salman Doesn’t Want to Talk About Jerusalem
Saudi Arabia's rulers have lots of worries, but Trump's announcement about the holy city isn't one of them.

Book Excerpt: In ‘Enlisting Faith,’ the Navy Takes Vietnamese Catholics South
It was hot and muggy as monsoon season crested in the summer of 1954.

The Secret History of the Russian Consulate in San Francisco
Overflights, mapping fiber-optic networks, "strange activities." Moscow's West Coast spies were busy.

SitRep: New Drama Over Potential Talks With North Korea
New report out on U.S. weapons used by ISIS; Senator blasts Tillerson

Theresa May Just Negotiated Away the United Kingdom
The price of hard Brexit will be the end of the nation as we know it.

North Korea Had Spurned Talks With U.S. Due to Trump’s Latest Sanctions
Despite months of secret contacts, North Korea has been playing hard to get back to the negotiating table – even as Rex Tillerson reaches out again.

Why Israel Should Be Worried About Getting Into Bed with Trump
There’s long been a bipartisan consensus on support for Israel. That may soon be history.

From Bahrain to Jerusalem
A Bahraini delegation's trip to Israel is the latest sign of the Gulf monarchies' burgeoning alliance with the Jewish state.

Egypt’s Civil Society Is on Life Support
Under the guise of fighting a "war on terrorism," Cairo is cracking down on organizations that shed light on its abuses.

Why is Lloyd’s of London Insuring American Guns?
The iconic British insurance market is good at pooling risk. But critics fear the policies it underwrites could fuel gun violence.

Trump Administration Seeks to Slash Counterterrorism Funding
On the chopping block: incident response teams, air marshals, and nuclear detection.

Reading Rainbow: Take a Look
With the holidays upon us, a collection of military and history books worth checking out.

Learning to Fight When Screens Go Dark
If we woke up tomorrow and found that none of our laptops, iPhones, iPads, or personal assistants worked, what would we do?

SitRep: McMaster Calls Out Russia, While Trump Squashes Russian Rules in Bill
Haley to offer evidence of Iranian meddling; another General sees victory in Afghanistan

Poland’s Prime Minister Is a Technocrat Banker and a Far-Right Populist at the Same Time
Mateusz Morawiecki used to run an international bank. Now he leads an illiberal government.

Tillerson Open to Talks With North Korea
U.S. Secretary of State says he'll talk "until the first bomb drops," redoubling a diplomatic effort to defuse the threat of a nuclear showdown.

The Fate of Social Democracy Is Being Decided in Germany
Germany's center-left is considering another bargain with Angela Merkel, with the EU hanging in the balance — and its own survival.

Why Recognizing Jerusalem Is Good for Peace
Until the Palestinians realize that Israel is here to stay and start negotiating in earnest, it behooves Washington to signal that they are losing ground.

The Walking Dead
As U.S. troops draw down, the Afghan military struggles to provide care for its countless wounded soldiers — on the battlefield and at home.

Operation Mr. Coffee: A Military Memoir
A mission of capital importance

Quote of the Day
How the military misapprehends cyberspace — and how that in turn undercuts cyber deterrence.

Congress Weighs Threat of Moscow Wielding the Energy Weapon
The “mere threat of a cutoff gives Russia political leverage” over Europe.

SitRep: Is North Korea Making Bio Weapons?
Russia sticking around Syria; How ISIS built its arsenal

Jerusalem: After 30 Years of Hope and Failure, What’s Next for Israel/Palestine?
The United States has forfeited its authority as a neutral broker. It may be time for the Palestinian street to have its say.

America Is Heading for an Unprecedented Constitutional Crisis
The Republican Party is ready to serve as an accomplice to obstruction of justice.

Trump’s Jerusalem Policy Is More Ambiguous Than It Seems
And that's going to lead to even bigger problems down the road.

Grand Strategy Is Overrated
Why President Trump shouldn’t necessarily heed the long-term vision of his own National Security Strategy.

Warning to Congress: Bad Iran Legislation Is Worse Than No Iran Legislation
President Trump can’t let the House and Senate play politics with Iranian nuclear deal.

A Shoutout for Two Key Things Harold Brown Did as Defense Secretary Under Carter
A forgotten legacy.

Moral Repugnance: A Response to ‘Can’t Kill Enough to Win? Think Again’
There are multiple ways to describe retired Lt. Cols. David Bolgiano and John Taylor’s article in the December issue of Proceedings.

SitRep: Putin Lands in Syria, Talks Defense Deals With Egypt
Another big resignation at State Dept.; Iranian missiles with American parts

U.S. Diplomat’s Resignation Signals Wider Exodus From State Department
One diplomat’s stinging resignation letter offers a glimpse into declining morale at the State Department under Trump.

White House Names Trump Loyalist to Iran Policy Job at State Department
The Trump administration’s pick for the Iran post will likely back a more aggressive stance.

U.N. Panel Finds Evidence of Iranian Hardware in Yemeni Rebels’ Missile. And American.
Investigation into weapon’s origins yields clues, but no smoking gun.

Trump Administration Blindsided Palestinian Leaders on Jerusalem Designation
U.S. officials failed to mention the impending recognition of the holy city as Israel's capital just days before Trump's announcement.

As Russia Subverts Missile Treaty, U.S. Looking at New Weapons
Since 1987, Europe has been off limits for medium-range missiles. Russia — and now the United States — seems ready to tear up that detente.

Rational Security on the E.R.: The “When You’re President They Let You Do It” Edition
From possibly obstructing justice to keeping his finances under wraps, President Trump is giving new meaning to “when you’re a star, they let you do it.”

I Was Hillary Clinton’s Chief Foreign-Policy Advisor. And I Have a #MeToo Mea Culpa.
Men in positions of power need to do better. That includes me.

The Unsolved Mystery of Michael Flynn’s Plea Deal
It might be a dramatic breakthrough in the investigation of Donald Trump — or a revelation of Robert Mueller’s weak hand.

Military Mischief: O-5 and Above Edition
A brief list of recent military wrongdoing.

It Is High Time to Do Away With the President’s Nuclear ‘Football’
The recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on nuclear weapons introduced some unsettling possibilities.

Don’t Mess With This Military Working Dog
A military working dog on the go.

Who’s Afraid of a Balance of Power?
The United States is ignoring the most basic principle of international relations, to its own detriment.

Don’t Trust China’s Opening of Its Financial Sector
Inviting foreign investors into a closed economy is a lot easier said than done.

SitRep: Trump Jerusalem Decision Sparks Day of Rage Across Middle East
Temporary government funding bill pushed through, fighting ebbs in Yemen

Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem Is Not a Disaster
But the Trump administration needs to walk a very fine line with Palestine and Arab states.

Tillerson: Biggest Snag in U.S.-Russia Relations is Ukraine, Not Election Meddling
U.S. ‘badly’ wants to mend fences with Moscow, Secretary of State Tillerson says.

Putin Uses Olympic Ban to Rally Support for His Presidential Bid
The IOC’s unprecedented ban on Russia for sports doping feeds his narrative of a nation under siege.

The Voice of France’s Materialist, America-Loving, Rock ‘n’ Roll Silent Majority Is Dead
Johnny Hallyday was a working-class rock star with a right-wing Gallic twist.

Here’s How Both Obama and Trump Stoked the Saudi-Iranian Rivalry
The United States should find a more effective way to deter Tehran and restrain Riyadh.

NATO’s Little Noticed but Important New Aggressive Stance on Cyber Weapons
Not many people noticed it, but last month, NATO made a dramatic change in its cyber policy.

Edgar on Strategy (Part XI): Strategy, or slip-up? The Willkommen that was heard round the world
It was the invitation heard around the world. And maybe that’s the problem.

BuzzFeed Subpoenas Companies for DNC Hacking Information
Amid legal battle, the news site is continuing its efforts to validate the Trump dossier.

SitRep: State Dept. Reacts to Jerusalem Decision; U.S. Bombers Anger Pyongyang
Pentagon admits 2,000 troops in Syria; Tillerson rips Russia

Trump Just Sabotaged His Own Peace Process
The president has ended any hope that the United States can broker a diplomatic solution in the Holy Land.

Pentagon Acknowledges 2,000 Troops in Syria
Officials have no plans to withdraw U.S. forces until ISIS is beaten.

Germany Is Preparing to Send Refugees Back to Syria
Syria’s war isn’t over, but a growing number of German policymakers are trying to revoke asylum and send Syrians back home — against their will, if necessary.

The President Giving Hope to Africa’s Democrats
Gambian President Adama Barrow was born the same year his country gained independence. Now, 52 years later, he’s tasked with putting it back together again.

The Politician Advancing a Values-Driven Alternative to Global Leadership
This year, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland warned her country not to take the liberal world order for granted.

The Journalists Igniting a Conversation on Sexual Assault
Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey, and Ronan Farrow exposed Harvey Weinstein’s crimes against women. Thousands around the word said, “#MeToo.”

Vladimir Putin Isn’t as Russian as He Seems
The Russian president cloaks himself in nationalism, but that’s not where his heart is.

Will the U.S. Embassy’s Move to Jerusalem Matter?
Israel currently sits athwart two countervailing strategic trends.

Yemen’s Snake Charmer Is Dead
Long live the snakes.

What’s wrong with us? We’re living in a tragedy but we don’t know how to do that
For the first time in my life, I fear for the future of our country

A Nervy Idea For the Marines, and Some Outspoken Officers, in the USMC Gazette
Maj. Matthew Peterson suggests in the December issue of “Marine Corps Gazette” that the Marines form a “Marine Legion."

SitRep: U.S. Military Preparing for Violence in Wake of Trump Jerusalem Announcement
Marines deploying to embassies, Yemen gets worse, Tillerson's chilly reception in Europe

Trump to Announce Recognition of Jerusalem
The administration risks riling the region to fulfill a campaign promise.

Pentagon Has No Plans to Lift Freeze on Funds for Pakistan
Even after the Pentagon chief’s visit to Islamabad, the two sides remain at an impasse.

U.S. Cities Want to Join U.N. Migration Talks That Trump Boycotted
Urban centers want a seat at the table, even if the White House doesn’t.

A Message From Philippine Sen. Leila de Lima
The 2017 Global Thinker hopes that the world will "keep watching the Philippines."

Donald Trump Is Guilty
The only remaining question is what exactly he’s guilty of.

The Earthquake to Come in Mexico
With a wave of corruption scandals sweeping out Latin American governments, is Mexico's next to fall?

Lawmakers Take Aim At Tillerson’s Botched State Department Redesign
Two top lawmakers take aim at Tillerson's handling of State Department reform, again.

Quote of the day: For what purpose would you need a combat rocking chair?
Answer: For a military chaplain to hold and comfort wounded and dying Iraqi children.

Carl Prine on the USMC’s ‘Big Lie’ About Every Marine Being a Rifleman
Another excerpt from an interview in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

SitRep: Allies Warn Trump About Jerusalem Decision
Washington tells Moscow to show its roll in Syria; Huge new U.S./South Korean military exercise

The Evidence Is Damning: What Team Trump Knew and When
We already know that the Trump campaign was aware of — and intended to profit from — Moscow’s interference in the election.

Flynn’s Lies Are Just the Latest in a Series
The former national security adviser's plea deal must be understood in the context of various deceits by the president and his associates.

The Political Operative Shaping President Trump’s ‘America First’ Agenda
From Breitbart News to the White House, Steve Bannon represents a powerful and disruptive force that has reshaped American politics.

The Director Bringing the Story of Afghan Women to the Screen
As a teenager, Roya Sadat organized performances dramatizing the Taliban’s appalling treatment of women. Today, she is one of the country’s most prominent filmmakers.

GOP Senator Presses Trump Administration Over Deadly Saudi Blockade in Yemen
Sen. Todd Young is holding up a key State Department confirmation until the White House helps ease the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen.

The Producer Helping Show the Vietnam War in a New Light
In Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's “The Vietnam War,” Ho Dang Hoa shaped the Vietnamese side of the story.

The Prime Minister Putting His Country Back Together
Haider al-Abadi has one of the world’s hardest jobs: driving ISIS out of Iraq, launching reforms to the public sector, and preventing his country from being used as a battleground.

The President Trying to Rebuild Decent Democratic Leadership
Despite inheriting a corruption scandal and a looming threat to the north, South Korean President Moon Jae-in is pushing for open government, dialogue, and peace.

The Women Who Came Forward
In 2017, what started as a trickle became a waterfall, as women across the world began sharing stories of sexual harassment and assault as part of the #MeToo campaign.

We’re finding out now what might have happened if Burr had won the election of 1800 & what that means for North Korea
America's close call in 1800 is back with a vengeance

Mattis Shows How to Handle a Reporter’s Question About His Religious Beliefs
Secretary of Defense James Mattis comments on religion.

FP’s 2017 Leading Global Thinkers
2017 was a year of reckoning. These minds found remarkable ways not just to rethink our strange new world but also to reshape it.

SitRep: New Trump National Security Strategy Wrapped Up
New fighting in Yemen may have claimed former president, Pentagon buildup not looking good

In Return to Cold War Posture, U.S. Sending Sub-Hunting Planes to Iceland
NATO and the United States are confronting years of neglect of their submarine-detecting capabilities, while Russia has pulled even.

Trump Boycotts U.N. Migration Talks
The White House’s ‘America First’ policymakers see little gain in setting the global rules for migration.

Hell Hath No Fury Like a Former British Colony Scorned
The U.K.'s biggest hurdle to a successful Brexit is the small country next door.

Mike Flynn Pleads Guilty to Lying to FBI, Is Cooperating on Russia Probe
The former national security adviser was asked by Trump team officials to make contact with the Russians.

How Not to Fix the U.N. Human Rights Council
The Trump administration wants reform. But putting Israel above all other priorities is a big mistake.

Proposed U.S. Cuts to AIDS Funding Could Cause Millions of Deaths: Report
While the Trump administration praises its progress on the AIDS fight, health campaigners warn they are making the fight that much harder.

The reflective leader: A major lesson from the memoirs of U.S. Grant
Grant's memoirs show that self-awareness and honest reflection are crucial to leadership

War and Reconstruction: Ron Chernow’s marvelous new biography of U.S. Grant
In the years following the Civil War, the American south descended into chaos.

SitRep: Tillerson Still in; The Pentagon’s Magic Numbers in Syria
U.S. looks to fly armed drones in Niger; privatizing covert ops; and lots more

How to Move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem
And what it means, legally, if Trump does.

Donald Trump Is Single-Handedly Wrecking the Special Relationship
America has no greater friend than Britain. Or had.

Rational Security on The E.R.: The “Power of Delusional Thinking” Edition
Mike Flynn may be cooperating with Mueller’s investigation, but the president thinks there’s nothing to worry about.

This Is How Every Genocide Begins
Why Trump’s most un-American moment can’t be overlooked.

Sisi Doesn’t Know How to Beat ISIS
Egypt’s brute-force approach to counterterrorism isn’t working in Sinai.

Rexit: Secretary of State Tillerson Could Soon Get the Boot
Reports suggest Trump is mulling replacing the embattled secretary of state with CIA head Pompeo, and putting Sen. Tom Cotton at CIA.

A Key Intelligence Advisory Board Has No Members
President Trump’s antipathy toward the intel community extends to the Intelligence Advisory Board.

Australia Is Worried About America’s Ability to Lead
The West needs a strong, committed, engaged White House to hedge against China’s inexorable rise.

Feds Quietly Reveal Chinese State-Backed Hacking Operation
Prosecutors say Chinese hackers from a mysterious cybersecurity firm stole corporate secrets from three big firms.

Malcolm X, Bayard Rustin and MLK Jr. Hailed in the ‘Marine Corps Gazette’
Civil rights, and some news about Best Defense

An Appreciation of Recently Departed Lieutenant General John H. Cushman
Gen. “Jack” Cushman, former commandant of the U.S. army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) from 1973-1976, died earlier this month at 96.