
Now Is a Bad Time to Weaken Civilian Control Over the Military
Biden’s nomination of a retired general to head the Pentagon reinforces a dangerous trend. His confirmation must come with concrete safeguards.

Trump’s Withdrawal From Somalia Is a Security Threat. Biden Should Reverse It.
U.S. troops are scheduled to leave the country on Jan. 15, opening the door for al-Shabab terrorists to step up their attacks. The new administration should recommit to protecting the country.

Another Base Attack in Afghanistan Hushed Up to Hurry U.S. Exit
Camp Chapman, once the scene of the CIA’s second-deadliest day, was hit again in December—but never reported.

Why the Pentagon Remains a Battlefield for Women
A woman was passed over to lead the Pentagon—but it’s the entire country that’s missing out.

The True Meaning of Christmas Movies Is a Cozy American Worldview
In the Christmas movie universe, Europeans are royals, the military is a burden, and home is where the heart is.

Lloyd Austin Isn’t Who You Think He Is
The “silent general” has never been very quiet on policy. That’s exactly why Biden picked him as defense secretary—and why Washington’s foreign-policy establishment is wary.

Senate Effort to Stop Trump Arms Sales to UAE Fails
But the vote laid down a marker for the incoming Biden administration on Democrats’ opposition to Middle Eastern arms sales and U.S. involvement in the conflict in Yemen.

Germany Could Have Delivered Justice for Civilian Drone Strike Victims. It Failed.
Missiles remotely fired with the assistance of a U.S. base on German soil killed my family in Yemen, but neither German nor U.S. courts are willing to hold anyone accountable.

Foreign Governments Are Aiding Nigeria’s Violence Against Protesters
The suppression of protests against police brutality wouldn’t have been possible without arms and training from abroad.

The Quad’s Malabar Exercises Point the Way to an Asian NATO
India, Japan, Australia, and the United States have a good model if they want to keep the peace without threatening China.

Can Biden Make the Military Safe for Those Who Serve?
Female and LGBTQ soldiers may face more danger from their colleagues than their enemies. Here’s what the president-elect can do.

National Business Corps to the Rescue
In the United Kingdom, an obscure partnership between business leaders and the military pulled the country back from the brink. The United States and other countries should replicate the model now.

Cameroon’s Government Is Deceiving the West While Diverting Foreign Aid
Paul Biya’s regime is ignoring the battle against Boko Haram and the Islamic State and using foreign counterterrorism assistance to fund its brutal repression of citizens with legitimate grievances.

Can Biden End America’s Forever Wars?
Delivering on his promise will prove extremely difficult—but so may the consequences of not doing so.

The Head of ISIS Is a Hypocrite and a Traitor
Newly released documents expose the Islamic State leader’s betrayal of his comrades, which presents a golden opportunity to discredit the movement.

Forget U.N. Peacekeepers: Send in the Gendarmes
In gray-zone conflicts, police don’t have the skills to bring peace and full-scale military interventions can lead to escalation. A force that can bring stability is needed.