National Security

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

Victory Day Ceremony

World War II Memories in Moscow, Another Cold War Inquisition in Washington World War II Memories in Moscow, Another Cold War Inquisition in Washington

On May 9, while Russia was commemorating the 27 million Soviet citizens who died fighting Nazi Germany, the US political-media class was vilifying the Kremlin and seeking its Ameri...

May 10, 2017 / Audio / Stephen F. Cohen

US aircraft carrier

We Are Spending a Trillion on War and We Need to Own Up to It We Are Spending a Trillion on War and We Need to Own Up to It

Why doesn’t the American media report the true costs of war?

May 9, 2017 / William D. Hartung

Civilans look at rubble from Saudi airstrike

24 Things the Media Missed While They Were Obsessing Over Trump’s Latest Soundbite 24 Things the Media Missed While They Were Obsessing Over Trump’s Latest Soundbite

These are major national-security issues—but don’t expect to see them on the news.

May 8, 2017 / Andrew J. Bacevich

Moon Jae-in

The United States Should Listen to South Korea—or It Will Reap the Whirlwind The United States Should Listen to South Korea—or It Will Reap the Whirlwind

Recent US actions underscore a deep-seated problem: refusal to see South Korea as an independent nation with interests of its own.

May 5, 2017 / Tim Shorrock

Lemoore California Navel Base

Why Can’t Americans Remember Anyone’s Death Other Than Those of Their Own? Why Can’t Americans Remember Anyone’s Death Other Than Those of Their Own?

A long history of war and terror has left America with a victim complex.

May 4, 2017 / John Dower

Putin 2016

Again, Is the Possibility of a Trump-Putin Détente Really Dead? Again, Is the Possibility of a Trump-Putin Détente Really Dead?

“Kremlingate” is said to have killed any prospect for Trump administration cooperation with Putin’s Kremlin, but the May 2 phone talk between the two leaders showed it is still ali...

May 3, 2017 / Audio / Stephen F. Cohen

x