National Security

US and South Korean ships

A Low-Intensity War Is Underway in Northeast Asia A Low-Intensity War Is Underway in Northeast Asia

Beneath the radar in Korea, a military buildup—by both sides—has raised tensions to an alarming degree.

Dec 23, 2019 / Tim Shorrock

North Korea Threatens to Give the US a ‘Christmas Gift’

North Korea Threatens to Give the US a ‘Christmas Gift’ North Korea Threatens to Give the US a ‘Christmas Gift’

With a mysterious message from Kim Jong-un’s government and a US missile test over the Pacific, tensions have refused to cool this month.

Dec 17, 2019 / Sasha Abramsky

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

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