National Security

President Donald Trump

Our President, the Little Big Man Our President, the Little Big Man

From his proposals on health care, to his tax plan, to his border wall, Trump is symptomatic of the nation he now “leads.”

May 31, 2017 / Tom Engelhardt

Ariana Grande Manchester bombing

Ariana Grande Understands Counterterrorism Better Than Jim Mattis Ariana Grande Understands Counterterrorism Better Than Jim Mattis

Inclusiveness, not polarization, is the right approach.

May 31, 2017 / Juan Cole

Trump Boards Plane

Terrorism and the Perils of ‘Russiagate’ Terrorism and the Perils of ‘Russiagate’

As Trump and Putin strive for an essential US-Russia alliance against international terrorism, American media frenzy, fueled by anonymous leaks, continues to thwart it.

May 31, 2017 / Stephen F. Cohen

Trump in Saudi Arabia

What Explains Trump’s Sharp About-Face on Saudi Arabia? What Explains Trump’s Sharp About-Face on Saudi Arabia?

It has more than a little to do with the power of the Saudi lobby—as well as the administration’s deep hostility toward Iran.

May 22, 2017 / James Carden

Mattis and Nicholson

Trump Is Poised to Plunge Deeper Into the Afghan Quagmire Trump Is Poised to Plunge Deeper Into the Afghan Quagmire

More US troops cannot stabilize the corrupt and despised government in Kabul.

May 17, 2017 / Michael T. Klare

China's New Silk Road

How China Is Building the Post-Western World How China Is Building the Post-Western World

Beijing’s Belt and Road project may be the largest single infrastructure program in human history.

May 16, 2017 / Patrick Lawrence

US Marine Afghanistan

The US Will Never Win the War in Afghanistan The US Will Never Win the War in Afghanistan

The military has no strategy for victory, merely a plan to avoid defeat.

May 16, 2017 / Katrina vanden Heuvel

US Forces YPG Arms

US Arms Syrian Kurds—and Turkey’s Erdogan Cries ‘Terrorism’ Ahead of Trump Meeting US Arms Syrian Kurds—and Turkey’s Erdogan Cries ‘Terrorism’ Ahead of Trump Meeting

Ankara fears it will help the Kurds form a federal ethnic province in Syria, and thus give the Turkish Kurds ideas.

May 12, 2017 / Juan Cole

American troops on patrol in Afghanistan

Why Armed Conflicts Almost Never Achieve Their Stated Goals Why Armed Conflicts Almost Never Achieve Their Stated Goals

When it comes to war, less often accomplishes more.

May 11, 2017 / Danny Sjursen

South Korean President Moon Jae-in

South Korea’s New President Says His Election Completes the ‘Candlelight Revolution’ South Korea’s New President Says His Election Completes the ‘Candlelight Revolution’

In an exclusive interview, Moon Jae-in scoffs at reports of a rift with Trump and talks about his country’s past struggles for democracy.

May 10, 2017 / Tim Shorrock

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