Defense Policy

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Essay, May/June 2013
Jim Thomas

Conventional wisdom holds that the U.S. Army will bear the brunt of forthcoming defense cuts. But that need not be the case, provided it shifts its focus away from traditional ground forces toward more relevant weapons: land-base missile systems.

Essay, May/June 2013
Chris McKinney, Mark Elfendahl, and H. R. McMaster

Looming budgetary constraints and the U.S. Army's ongoing downsizing have enhanced the appeal of forces that are lighter, smaller, and cheaper than tanks and other protected vehicles. But not only have armored forces proved critical in yesterday's wars; they will also be needed to win tomorrow's.

Snapshot,
Keir A. Lieber and Daryl G. Press

As North Korea issues increasingly over-the-top threats, officials in Washington have sought to reassure the public and U.S. allies. But the risk of nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula is far from remote--and the United States should adjust its military planning accordingly.

Snapshot,
Alex Vatanka

The standoff between Iran and the West has moved into the Caucasus, where both the Islamic Republic and Israel are trying to woo Azerbaijan -- a country with firm historical connections to Iran but whose interests have overlapped with those of Israel. The dynamic is upsetting the regional balance of power and threatening to overturn nearly two decades of uneasy peace.

Essay, Jan/Feb 2013
Fred Kaplan

The United States' approach to counterinsurgency, championed by General David Petraeus, helped produce stunning results in parts of Iraq and Afghanistan. In retrospect, however, the fuss over the doctrine seems overblown. It achieved mere tactical successes and only in combination with other, non-military factors.

Snapshot,
Brandon Valeriano and Ryan Maness

Despite the hype, cyberwarfare is a seldom-used, relatively toothless tactic that will not change foreign policy calculations anytime soon.

Snapshot,
Michael Eisenstadt and David Pollock

Critics of the U.S.-Israeli relationship overlook the substantial benefits it affords the United States, from advanced military technology to lucrative business ventures. They also overstate its costs, which have been limited.

Essay, Nov/Dec 2012
Andrew F. Krepinevich Jr.

As Western defense budgets are declining, the price of projecting power is increasing and the range of interests requiring protection is expanding. To square this circle, the Pentagon needs to embrace a dramatic shift in its strategy. It should turn its focus away from repelling traditional cross-border invasions and pursuing regime change followed by stability operations -- and concentrate instead on assuring access to key regions and the global commons.

Essay, Nov/Dec 2012
Megan H. MacKenzie

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced that it will lift the ban on women in combat. That change is long overdue. The exclusion rested on false stereotypes and an outdated understanding of war.

Essay, Nov/Dec 2012
Robert S. Ross

The Obama administration has responded to Chinese assertiveness by reinforcing U.S. military and diplomatic links to the Asia-Pacific, to much acclaim at home and in the region. But the “pivot” is based on a serious misreading of its target. China remains far weaker than the United States and is deeply insecure. To make Beijing more cooperative, Washington should work to assuage China’s anxieties, not exploit them.

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