Security Assistance
82 Articles
When US Security and Democracy Interests Clash
How to break six common and unhelpful patterns in US engagement with security partners that abuse rights or democratic standards.
Insight Into Biden’s Counterterrorism Thinking Suggests More of the Same
Rather than rebrand painfully flawed approaches, the US must heed the calls and ideas of civil society, academics, and practitioners.
The Last Days in Afghanistan Should Not Deter Biden from Looking Beyond the 9/11 Paradigm
It's time to get off this loop. But ending “endless wars” should not be equated with simplistic solutions.
Five Principles to End the Forever War
A comprehensive and detailed guide to ending the Forever War and enhancing American security.
Former Chair of U.S. National Intelligence Council: Learning the Right Lessons from Afghanistan
"The example of the Iraqi army — which quickly collapsed in the Islamic State’s 2014 blitz across northern Iraq — ought to have sharpened the concerns about the Afghan…
The Top US Diplomat on Arms Control Commits to `Values-Based Security Partnerships’ — Here’s How to Do That
For too long, America’s security cooperation has prioritized short-term, tactical goals over longer-term diplomatic and human rights aims.
Biden’s Egypt Problem
With Egypt, President Joe Biden has inherited a worrying human rights situation in a country that’s strategically important to the United States and its allies.
Why Supporters of Democracy and Security Both Need to Care about Security Sector Governance
Too often, the United States ends up feeding well-intentioned assistance and training into an impervious, corrupt system that eats the aid and spits out further instability.
At 100 Days, Grading Biden’s Progress Toward a More Responsible US Arms Trade Policy
As we near the 100-day mark of this administration, and with the president delivering a “State of the Union”-like address this evening, now is a good moment to assess its arms…
The US Military Should Stay Out of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado; Send Diplomats Who Know the Terrain
The conflict's deep roots illustrate a case where the US should begin to reject two decades of conflict escalation that began with the Global War on Terror.
Getting US-Africa Relations Back on Track With a Focus on Human Rights
The Biden administration needs to ensure that solutions it offers for the continent's challenges are Africa-led, inclusive, multilateral, and multifaceted.
No Military Solutions: A New Approach to Preventing Atrocities
To be a credible proponent of peace, the US must shed destabilizing security ties and unneeded military capabilities, and invest in conflict prevention.