Micah Zenko

List of Micah Zenko articles

MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images
MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images

They Who Must Not Be Named

The administration's reasons for not releasing who's on the list of America's enemies in the war on terror are getting ridiculous.

630912_0_1_2_future2.jpg
630912_0_1_2_future2.jpg

Cloudy With a Chance of Conflict

We asked 1,200 U.S. government officials and experts what they were most worried about in 2014. Here's what they said.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Conflict Avoidance

President Obama's National Security Strategy aims to prevent the emergence of wars. So why won't the White House get behind its own strategy?

David Silverman/Getty Images
David Silverman/Getty Images

The Real Nuclear Option

Why Israel might nuke Iran to prevent Tehran from going nuclear. Seriously.

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Myth Dealers

In an uncertain world ... and 4 other ‘truths' America's generals want to sell you.

Alex Wong/Getty Images
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Shouting ‘9/11’ in a Crowded Internet

Why the NSA's 'we keep you safe from terrorists' rationale is bogus.

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

Two Cheers For America’s Restraint in the Drone War

If Washington launched targeted strikes everywhere its 'partners' asked it to, the war on terror would be totally out of control.

Alex Wong/Getty Images
Alex Wong/Getty Images

Estimated Recovery Time

Will the self-inflicted political wound of the U.S. government shutdown ever heal?

Kyle Gahlou/DVIDS
Kyle Gahlou/DVIDS

The Known Unknowns of Counterterrorism Ops

When it comes to assessing the success of the war on terror, there's a lot we just don't know.

JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images

Threat of Failure

Does coercive diplomacy actually work? Don't let the popular narrative on Syria fool you.

Alex Wong/Getty Images
Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Soldier and the State Go Public

Civil-military relations haven't been this bad in decades.

-/AFP/Getty Images
-/AFP/Getty Images

Responsibility to Protect?

Why none of the plans for intervening in Syria actually tries to save civilians.

Win McNamee/Getty Images
Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Wrong Way to Be Right

Obama's shoddy case for striking Syria to enforce international norms.

Saul Loeb/AFP
Saul Loeb/AFP

A Translation Guide to Foreign Policy Gibberish

Wondering what is meant by 'all options are on the table'? A spokesperson will 'look into that' for you.

EPA/STR
EPA/STR

The Pretenders

When people say the U.S. needs to control events abroad better, this is what they really mean.

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Are America and Europe Aligned on China?

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The war in Ukraine has propelled the United States and Europe closer on a variety of foreign-policy issues. But do Washington and Brussels agree on how to deal with Beijing’s growing clout...Show more

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Inside the U.S.-China Tech War

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Over the last few years, the United States has moved to limit China’s technological rise. U.S.-led sanctions have imposed unprecedented limits on Beijing’s access to advanced computing c...Show more

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participate in a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on September 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden is hosting a Quad Leaders Summit later today with Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. (Photo by Sarahbeth Maney-Pool/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 24: U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participate in a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office of the White House on September 24, 2021 in Washington, DC. President Biden is hosting a Quad Leaders Summit later today with Prime Minister Modi, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide. (Photo by Sarahbeth Maney-Pool/Getty Images)

Is America Making a Bad Bet on India?

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For decades, the U.S. foreign-policy establishment has made the assumption that India could serve as a partner as the United States jostles with China for power in the Indo-Pacific region. B...Show more

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Conflict Avoidance

President Obama's National Security Strategy aims to prevent the emergence of wars. So why won't the White House get behind its own strategy?