James N. Mattis

Erdoğan Sets His Sights on Israel

If Trump wants to prevent another regional conflict, calling Turkey’s president a “friend” won’t cut it.

Israel sends beepers into the battle with Hezbollah

While Biden sounds another retreat

As Authoritarians Rise Abroad, Who Should Teach Democracy in American K-12 Schools?

Although the United States is a wonderfully diverse country with vast resources and a population of more than 330,000,000 people from virtually every race, religion, and background, the country can’t...

The Despotic Duo

Russo-Iranian Cooperation and Threats to U.S. Interests

U.S. Strikes IRGC Weapon and Ammunition Facilities in Syria

The United States conducted airstrikes against Iran-backed militias in Syria on October 26, its first response to multiple attacks in recent days on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria....

Good Luck With That Grand Strategy

Even the most comprehensive plans are bound to fail if leaders can’t build support for them.

Back to the Drawing Board on Iran

Shifting course to a better policy is more critical than ever in the wake of Biden’s botched Afghanistan withdrawal.

Tehran’s crimes, acts of war, and other provocations

Unless Biden responds forcefully to the latest, expect more

Moving Israel to CENTCOM: Another Step Into the Light

The new command shift, which is rooted in years of growing collaboration away from the limelight, promises to facilitate bilateral and regional security cooperation and burden sharing, while the IDF-EUCOM-CENTCOM...

Syria

From Trump to Biden

The Way Forward for U.S. National Security

Defending Forward

Securing America by Projecting Military Power Abroad

Joe Biden’s Curious Defense of Gen. Lloyd Austin

In The Atlantic, the president-elect touts his nominee's handling of the Iraq withdrawal and is notably silent on China.

Why We Need a New ICBM

The arguments for keeping a nuclear triad.

If Biden, Then What, on Iran?

Hope springs eternal in the human breast,” wrote Alexander Pope in An Essay on Man. Such sentiment describes perfectly the lingering adherents of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement known as the JCPOA....

Trump’s ‘They Want to Do Nothing But Fight Wars’ Smear Was Nasty—And Inaccurate

Contrary to the president’s claim, the Pentagon wants out of the 9/11 wars.

The Pentagon Tries to Pivot out of the Middle East—Again

Confusion over the removal of missiles and aircraft from Saudi Arabia could invite the aggression the United States is trying to avoid.

Trump’s Syria decision is a victory for America’s enemies in the Middle East

Thousands of Syrian Kurdish fighters gave their lives to help America defeat the Islamic State, but President Trump just decided to abandon the Kurds to their worst enemy, Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip...

What “Yes” With Iran Looks Like

Oman in the Middle

Muscat’s Balancing Act Between Iran and America