June 23, 2022
‘Active denial:’ the best way to challenge status quo and avoid war with China
Major military force posture report emphasizes a restructuring of US deployments and bolstering partners in the West Pacific.
June 26, 2022
America’s best path for fighting Putinism goes through Beijing
Sino-Russian ties are on the rocks, and the West needs all the help it can get.
June 25, 2022
Tensions flare between Russia and Kazakhstan over war in Ukraine
Just a few months ago, Russia intervened in Kazakhstan to help put down a popular revolt. But can the relationship between the two countries survive Russia’s assault on Ukraine?
June 24, 2022
Expert groups say Biden should show ‘political courage’ on Iran deal return
Many are wondering why the president is letting politics stand in the way of a sound nonproliferation agreement.
June 24, 2022
Earthquake poses test of US resistance to the Taliban
Will the administration take additional steps to help Afghanistan or sit on the sidelines because it won’t recognize the government?
June 24, 2022
Why did Biden take so long to reverse Trump’s landmine rule?
These weapons have little to no military value and their use only risks killing or harming civilians, even decades after a war has ended.
June 24, 2022
Diplomacy Watch: How much is the US focused on it?
Your new weekly round-up of diplomatic efforts — what’s happening, what’s not — to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
June 23, 2022
Russia down, NATO up in poll of European, Asian countries
Biden’s ratings are strong overall among these respondents, even if he is struggling with public opinion at home.
June 23, 2022
Officials still ‘don’t know’ if US arms were used to kill Yemeni civilians
It’s not that the military and state department lack the capacity for tracking their weapons, it’s just that such inquiries tend to get in the way.
June 23, 2022
It’s time to normalize relations with Venezuela
Washington’s acrimonious relationship with Caracas serves neither country’s interests, opening up oil trade can help bring down prices.
June 22, 2022
SpaceX, DoD want to send soldiers on spaceships for rapid response missions
Elon Musk’s space enterprise wants to transport U.S. troops to any point on Earth in less than an hour. But its sci-fi pitch doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.
June 22, 2022
A fresh start for Colombia … and for US policy?
Gustavo Petro’s election offers a major turn in the country’s politics, but entrenched interests in both countries will try to make it difficult.
June 22, 2022
US nemesis Muqtada al-Sadr throws Iraqi parliament into the air
The radical Shi’a cleric has found a way to potentially spoil the system imposed by Washington two decades ago. What now?
June 22, 2022
A peace process is possible in Ethiopia, but obstacles remain
Apparent recognition by Prime Minister Abiy that his forces cannot defeat the Tigrayans is moving the parties toward the negotiating table.
June 21, 2022
America’s modern addiction to the big stick
The history of US interventions shows that Washington’s ‘first use’ policy of military force is a relatively recent phenomenon.
June 21, 2022
Is warfare a human destiny?
They didn’t know if it was real or satire, but 55 years ago “Report from Iron Mountain” offered up very dire conclusions about civilization.
June 20, 2022
New report finds dangerous levels of ‘forever chemicals’ around military bases
Women exposed to PFAS in drinking water have reported uterine tumors, birth defects, hysterectomies, and miscarriages.
June 20, 2022
Ukraine minister Kuleba accuses critics of being ‘enablers of Putin’
His fury is understandable given the destruction his country has endured, but it can’t become the basis for US strategy.
June 17, 2022
Poll finds improved US image abroad, but wariness of military ties
The new survey conducted by the Eurasia Group Foundation also found that a ‘democracy vs. autocracy’ frame could be counterproductive.