It’s More Than Cigars and Rum: Why Cuba Matters
The Trump administration’s rollback of Obama’s opening to Cuba is a step in the wrong direction.
David Bosco
Max Boot
Rosa Brooks
Thanassis Cambanis
Elizabeth Dickinson
Laurie Garrett
Kim Ghattas
Julia Ioffe
Leela Jacinto
Whitney Kassel
Jeffrey Lewis
Aaron David Miller
Suzanne Nossel
Thomas E. Ricks
David Rothkopf
Kori Schake
Emile Simpson
James Stavridis
Bruce Stokes
James Traub
Stephen M. Walt
Lauren Wolfe
Michela Wrong
Micah Zenko
Recent Voices
Book excerpt — national security advisor at war: McMaster as a colonel in Iraq
In sum, he basically was the first commander to get things right in Iraq.
Last man standing: McMaster for NSA?
I think Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster will be the next national security advisor. Like Vice Adm. Bob Harward, General David Petraeus reportedly has withdrawn over the issue of being able to bring in his own staff.
The Gross Misconduct of Radwan Ziadeh’s Asylum Denial
U.S. immigration officials have said the Syrian dissident was “engaged in terrorist activity.” Nothing could be further from the truth.
There Is No Trump Doctrine, and There Will Never Be One
Six months into the president’s term and it’s already clear that small wins and tactical deals do not amount to a strategy of any sort.
“Dunkirk”: A curious war film
“Dunkirk” isn't anti-war in the traditional sense; it's an anti-war film in that it is unlike most war films.
An enlisted Navy sailor tackles suicide
There’s a good, serious article in the February issue of "Proceedings" about how the Navy could deal with suicide better.
Trump Is Becoming Unhinged at the Twists and Turns of Kremlingate
In the depraved reality show that has become this presidency, the Trump administration’s scandals are young and relentless.
We Are (Still) Living in an Orwellian World
Surveillance, drones, and never-ending wars have given new global resonance to the works of George Orwell.
A powerful attack on the Marine Corps leadership — by a serving Marine captain
There is a powerful article in the February issue of the Marine Corps Gazette by Capt. Joshua Waddell, a company commander in the 1st Marine Division. It is so heartfelt that it kind of jumps off the page.
The Dunkirk evacuation, and why it was a near-miracle for England and Churchill
This is an excerpt from my book, Churchill and Orwell: The Fight for Freedom.
This is Not a Eulogy for John McCain
McCain fervently believes in the ennoblement of caring about something bigger than your own interests.
2 big warnings from Gen. McChrystal: War in Europe is possible & we’re going to have to give up rights for our security
In the new issue of Prism magazine, General Stanley McChrystal, U.S. Army (Ret.) offers two warnings. Both are kind of hair-raising.
What is a military professional? Here’s an answer in 90 words of haiku poetry
Best Defense is on summer hiatus. During this restful spell we offer re-runs from the past 12 months.
The Global Consequences of Trump’s Incompetence
From China to the Gulf to Europe, the world's power players are moving ahead without America.
Best Defense contest predictions on President Trump’s first foreign policy crisis, and I gots to say, March is looking pretty busy
Best Defense is on summer hiatus. During this restful spell we offer re-runs from the past 12 months.
What Did Trump Know About His Son’s Meeting, and When Did He Know It?
The administration has resorted to slippery statements and obfuscations, but the truth is closing in around it.
Why didn’t Japanese subs raid U.S. West Coast shipping during World War II?
That thought occurred to me the other day whilst reading about Japanese operations during the war.
Is Treason Still Punishable in America Today?
Donald Trump Jr.’s actions might rise to the level of criminal conspiracy against the republic, but it probably wouldn't even matter.
A World War II Marine looks back and wonders: Where’s the America of sharing?
I am now 91 years of age and it has been 70 long, wide years since I returned home on Christmas Eve, 1945.
Making Peace With Assad’s State of Barbarism
As Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron signal they're not after regime change in Damascus, both leaders should remember there's a price to keeping Assad in power.
Turkey’s Post-Coup Purge and Erdogan’s Private Army
The Turkish president has brutally cleansed ranks and is building a new army with some strange bedfellows.
Congress Will Rubber-Stamp Whatever War Powers Donald Trump Wants
Senators and representatives say they want to scrutinize the White House’s use of the military, but don’t kid yourself.
Should the bottom 10 percent of commanders be removed annually? Depends on whether you want to win!
That’s what the historical record suggests, as I have written before.
A surprisingly good article on innovation — and why the Army is so damn bad at it
I say I was surprised because I barely made it past the first sentence of the article: “The Army is at an inflection point.”
Rethinking the Army’s ‘Wife School’: Maybe time to move it out of the 1950s
Before my husband took battalion command, the spouses of all the battalion commanders in the soon-to-be brigade team were encouraged to attend a week of the Pre-Command Course (PCC) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Today’s military puzzler: What is it about British generals and bird watching?
That is the question that occurred to me as I was reading Ravens in Winter the other day.
Trump Has Picked America’s Enemies in Russia Over Its Friends in Europe
After his most recent trip abroad, the president deserves credit for consistency — but not much else.
A SecDef nominee at war?: What I wrote about General Mattis in ‘The Generals’
Given the possibility that retired Marine Gen. James Mattis will be secretary of Defense, this section from my book, The Generals, becomes more interesting.
Our generals failed in Afghanistan
The United States military failed America in Afghanistan. It wasn’t a tactical failure. It was a failure of leadership.
Reminder: The biggest danger in civil-military relations isn’t making a coup
Rather, it is letting things slide, and winding up with a poor formulation of national strategy.
Why does Trump admire one of the worst generals ever in American history?
For all the reasons you’d expect.
I’ll C U in September!
After today, the Best Defense goes on summer hiatus.
The Air Force fumbles: A post-mortem on the recent promotion board for lt. colonels
The public discussion that’s recently emerged about the U.S. Air Force’s personnel crisis is well overdue.
We Didn’t Kick Britain’s Ass to Be This Kind of Country
Donald Trump’s abandonment of human rights is a repudiation of the country’s founding principles.
An interesting proposal to reduce suicide among people leaving the military
A lot of suicides occur when the new vet is transitioning from military to civilian life, writes Marine Sgt. James Galloway.
Australian Brig. Ryan: Russ Glenn gets our mission command right — but we still have lots of work to do, especially in professional military education
Tom challenged me to reflect on Russ Glenn’s recent article in Parameters, about the theory and application of mission command in the Australian Army.
A submarine skipper reflects on the impact of ‘Loss of Confidence’ reliefs
Tom’s run a lot of news lately about reliefs.
Koko’s a hard-working bomb dog
You'd be tired too.
Could the Chinese Communist Party survive dropping South China Sea claims?
The Chinese Communist Party’s very existence may rest on defending their claims in the South China Sea, and the party’s leadership knows it.
You’d Be Scared if You Were Donald Trump, Too
The president is obsessed with the investigation into his relationship with Russia. He should be.
The next internment: Would Chinese in the U.S. be rounded up during a war?
Present U.S. leadership seems both to make war more likely through its bellicose rhetoric and to heighten the risk that the conflict would lead to violence against the American-Chinese population.
Can Nationalists Ever Make Good Liberals?
France's new president is betting that he can bring disaffected voters back into the liberal fold by combining openness with economic growth. What if he just makes them even angrier?
Reliefs, ousters, and military mischief-making by a general and various others
An Army two-star was acting inappropriately with a female captain, despite warnings from his chief of staff and his command sergeant major.
What are the chances of a second American Civil War? (A Best Defense update)
Last time out, in early March, when we discussed this, the consensus number for national security experts was at about 30 percent, with some outliers at 60 percent and even 95 percent.
You want military innovation? OK, let’s start by cutting the defense budget
“Limited resources tend to drive innovative,” argues retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dan Ward, an expert in defense acquisition.
‘Wonder Woman’: Wonderful war movie
The strength of the film is really in the ideas.
Science Won’t Save Vaccines From Lawsuits Anymore
Europe’s highest court has just cleared the way for vaccine-truthers to sue manufacturers, even without any evidence.
Mohammed bin Salman Will Rule Saudi Arabia for Another 50 Years
What the elevation of the young crown prince — now successor to the throne — means for the Middle East.
The World Is Even Less Stable Than It Looks
Chaos is spreading – and that’s even before getting to America’s lack of competent leadership.
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