Latest Briefings
NATO Commits to Afghan Transition
May 21, 2012
Today is the second day of the NATO summit in Chicago, and the mission in Afghanistan is driving the agenda. Allies have agreed to put Afghan security forces in the lead for combat operations by mid-2013. That shift – which will hand responsibility back to Afghans, allow remaining forces to focus on training Afghan security [...]
Whither Nuclear Weapons? NATO Takes Up the Challenge
May 17, 2012
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit starts on Sunday, May 20, in Chicago. The issues to be addressed at the summit are broad and include the war in Afghanistan, the future of alliance operations such as last year’s campaign in Libya and nuclear weapons policies. Attempts to move beyond obsolete Cold War deployments, and [...]
Pentagon, Conservative Worldviews Clash on House Floor
May 16, 2012
The dramatic clash in worldviews between the American national security establishment and conservative leadership is on display as the House debates its yearly authorization bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Provisions restoring cut programs and bringing back failed policy proposals to keep Guantanamo open, build East Coast missile defense, retain nuclear weapons and prepare [...]
Options on Iran
May 15, 2012
This week in Vienna, Iran is discussing its nuclear program with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The talks come ahead of the G8 Summit at Camp David this weekend and international negotiations with the P5+1 in Baghdad next week. There are also reports of quiet diplomatic efforts ahead of these important meetings. The various [...]
Out of the Mainstream, Out of Ideas
May 14, 2012
As nuclear talks re-open with Iran, Europe’s economic future is in doubt and the U.S. prepares to host world leaders for two summits, the presidential campaign has revealed how deeply the conservative foreign policy establishment is riven by infighting. As the candidate’s advisers say they are unclear on his views, the American public, our allies [...]
Early Budgets Don’t Match Security Priorities
May 10, 2012
This year’s national security budget process has set new lows for disregarding the best advice of military and national security leaders and contravening members’ pledges of fiscal responsibility and strategic focus. Coming out of committee, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2013 wades back into how we try terror suspects and tries [...]
Beyond Bluster
May 9, 2012
The cliché of progressives’ disadvantage on the politics of national security was a staple American political discourse for decades. Since the mid-2000s, however, the American public has embraced a non-ideological and results-oriented approach to foreign policy. Yet another poll this week confirmed that President Obama and his administration’s policies are reaping political as well as [...]
No Drama Counterterrorism
May 8, 2012
Yesterday U.S. officials announced that a plot by al Qaeda’s offshoot in Yemen to use an explosive device on an airliner had been disrupted by the CIA and overseas intelligence partners. The event highlights al Qaeda’s continued desire to strike U.S. targets – but also points out, with its early failure and re-use of unsuccessful [...]
French Elections, European Politics, American Leadership
May 7, 2012
European publics spoke angrily, if not clearly, this weekend: evicting incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy from the French presidency, mounting large protests around Vladimir Putin’s return to the Russian presidency, defeating a Merkel ally in local German politics and splintering from mainstream parties to radical groups on the left and right in Greece. The resulting uncertainty demands [...]
Myth vs. Fact on bin Laden Raid
May 3, 2012
As the nation marks the one-year anniversary of the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, a surprising debate has broken out about who deserves credit for the raid’s success. First and foremost credit goes to the men and women of the military and intelligence services whose tireless and dangerous work brought bin Laden to justice. [...]
