Military
802 Articles

Why We Haven’t Made Progress on Civilian Protection
Three reasons for the lack of progress on reducing civilian casualties: We don’t learn, we don’t lead, and we don’t help our partners—or hold them to a high enough standard.

The Progress Not Made on Protecting Civilians
I was recently asked to reflect on the progress the United States has made on civilian protection after two decades of war and counterterrorism operations since 9/11. I got down…

Power Politics Obstructs Protection of Civilians in — and After — the Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
Five measures that Azerbaijan and Armenia, along with Russia, Turkey, and the international community must take now to improve conditions.

The Demise of Arms Control Extends Far Beyond Nuclear Weapons
Bilateral and multilateral mechanisms are disintegrating amid tech advances, and “grey zones” below military conflict thresholds are ripe for exploitation.

What Should Be Addressed in Austin’s Confirmation Hearing for Defense Secretary?
Some of the top defense experts and thinkers offer their thoughts on what issues they’d like to see addressed and what questions they’d like to see asked at retired Gen. Lloyd…

Military Personnel and the Putsch at the U.S. Capitol
If active duty, reserve, retired, or former military personnel participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, how should they be held accountable? Courts martial may be available for…

Tragedy at the Capitol: Four Questions that Demand Answers
How can the U.S. Capitol, surrounded by one of the largest concentrations of law enforcement and national security personnel in the world, be so quickly overrun?

Why D.C.’s Mayor Should Have Authority Over the D.C. National Guard
Congress should give the mayor of D.C. control over the D.C. National Guard, absent federalization, to prevent the president both from misusing the DCNG as his own personal army…

Can a Pardon Be a War Crime?: When Pardons Themselves Violate the Laws of War
Editor’s note: Originally published on May 25, 2019; with an author’s note published on Dec. 24, 2020. Author’s note, Dec. 24, 2020: Not all corrupt pardons…

Military Families are Gunning for Peace this Holiday Season
I share my family’s story to underline the urgency behind avoiding war with Iran. We’ve become a nation that engages in wars of choice. We cannot continue down this current…

Invoking Martial Law to Reverse the 2020 Election Could be Criminal Sedition
In his increasingly desperate bid to hang on to the White House, President Trump is reportedly contemplating invoking martial law to force the invalidation of the results of the…

Shifting Norms About Secretary of Defense Has Long-Term Consequences: On the Austin Nomination
Even if retired Gen. Lloyd Austin handles the job of defense secretary perfectly, his nomination alone still has long-term consequences, eroding the norm of civilian control by…