National Security

Soldiers Mourn

We Have Just Been Handed the Pentagon Papers of Our Generation We Have Just Been Handed the Pentagon Papers of Our Generation

The Afghanistan Papers are a devastating indictment of our military and political leaders. The question is: Will anyone notice?

Dec 13, 2019 / Danny Sjursen

Military Officials Sent Us to Fight, Kill, and Die in an Unwinnable War

Military Officials Sent Us to Fight, Kill, and Die in an Unwinnable War Military Officials Sent Us to Fight, Kill, and Die in an Unwinnable War

The Washington Post’s Afghanistan Papers framed in stark terms the incompetence and immorality of the officials under whom I served.

Dec 12, 2019 / Maggie Seymour

American troops on patrol in Afghanistan

The Trauma From Our War on Terror Will Linger Long After It Ends The Trauma From Our War on Terror Will Linger Long After It Ends

A cofounder of Brown University’s Costs of War Project writes on being a military spouse and a witness to the costs of war.

Nov 26, 2019 / Andrea Mazzarino

Ukraine flag

Why Are We in Ukraine? Why Are We in Ukraine?

Historically and even today, Russia has much in common with Ukraine—the United States, almost nothing.

Nov 14, 2019 / Stephen F. Cohen

Berlin Wall

From the Hope of 1989 to a New Cold War From the Hope of 1989 to a New Cold War

Thirty years after the Berlin Wall’s collapse, alternatives do exist to the deep divisions in Europe.

Nov 12, 2019 / Katrina vanden Heuvel

Berlin Wall

The Berlin Wall Kept People In. Our New Walls Keep People Out. The Berlin Wall Kept People In. Our New Walls Keep People Out.

Walls have made a comeback—but like in Berlin, their effectiveness hinges on mass surveillance.

Nov 8, 2019 / Matthew Longo

Trump with arms crossed

Inconvenient Truths Inconvenient Truths

Alarming things we have learned under Trump, but not always about him.

Nov 6, 2019 / Stephen F. Cohen

Trump Navy

Trump Is Right to Want to Stop Our Endless Wars, but He’s the Wrong Person to Do It Trump Is Right to Want to Stop Our Endless Wars, but He’s the Wrong Person to Do It

It’ll take a president with more determination and consistency to put an end to our global crusade.

Nov 5, 2019 / Andrew J. Bacevich

Air Power Demonstration

Trump Has Stolen the Anti-War Mantle. Here’s How to Get It Back. Trump Has Stolen the Anti-War Mantle. Here’s How to Get It Back.

His claims about wanting to “end endless US wars” are lies—but they’re effective, because the massive anti-war movement that we need is missing in action.

Nov 4, 2019 / Phyllis Bennis

Berlin Wall, 1981

It’s Only Been 30 Years Since the End of the Cold War—Why Are We Starting a New One? It’s Only Been 30 Years Since the End of the Cold War—Why Are We Starting a New One?

What can the fall of the Berlin Wall teach us at a time when democracy is in retreat, predatory capitalism is on the rise, and a new arms race is ramping up?

Oct 29, 2019 / James Carroll

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