The Erosion of Congressional Checks on Presidential Power
After his inauguration today, Donald Trump will hold the most powerful office in the country. Just how powerful, however, is much debated. Over the past […] More
Security/Stability
Priess: Historical Perspective on Trump’s Relationship with Intelligence
With a series of disparaging remarks about the intelligence community (IC) from President-elect Donald Trump in recent weeks, David Priess, a former CIA analyst and […] More
Obama's Legacy on Myanmar
Thirteen years ago, on a reporting assignment for The Boston Globe, I described “Burma” as a “deteriorating” country where “the frayed fabric of a nation […] More
Keane: Mattis Will Be Upfront with Trump
Retired Gen. James Mattis called Russia the “principal threat” to the United States’ security and said he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is “trying to […] More
Tillerson Grilled on Russia, Sanctions as He Breaks with Trump on Key Issues
Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson on Wednesday sharply differed from President-elect Donald Trump on a number of key foreign policy issues, suggesting he’d take […] More
Trump Slams Report Saying Russia Has Damaging Information On Him
President-elect Donald Trump Wednesday lashed out in a press conference at reports overnight that U.S. intelligence agencies had given him, President Barack Obama, and leaders […] More
Jammeh to Cede Power, Leave The Gambia
Yahya Jammeh – who ruled The Gambia for more than 22 years – is stepping down and leaving the country the internationally recognized new President […] More
Military Intervention in The Gambia Now More Likely
The Gambia’s Supreme Court was supposed to hold a hearing on a petition to annul the December presidential election, brought by the country’s current President […] More
A Pariah State in West Africa
After more than two decades in power, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh lost the December election to his opponent, Adama Barrow. However, Jammeh now says he […] More
Kelly Downplays Trump Views at Hearing
When President-elect Donald Trump nominated retired Marine Corps General John Kelly to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security, the selection was met with approval […] More
DNI Nominee Says He Will Use Every Tool to Keep America Safe
President-elect Donald Trump Saturday named former Senator Dan Coats (R-IN) as his choice to be Director of National Intelligence. Coats recently retired from Congress, where […] More
The Evolving Role of the National Security Agency
President-elect Donald Trump was briefed Friday on the findings of the intelligence community that Russia was behind hacks of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary […] More
Syria's Tangled Trilateral Road to Peace
The December 30 ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and Turkey, has for the most held throughout the country, despite violence undermining the pact. This […] More
Placating Patrons Who Control the Cards in Syria
As 2016 comes to a close, Russia and Turkey have cobbled together a ceasefire in Syria, paving the way for peace talks to end the […] More
Syria: A Tactical—Not Strategic—Ceasefire
The agreement between Turkey and Russia stipulates a halt to the fighting throughout Syrian territory from midnight on December 29, with the exception of areas […] More
U.S. Navy Readiness: The Fleet’s Problems Are Not Fleeting
With important global roles during times of peace and war, U.S. Navy ships and sailors must be ready to deploy anywhere in the world on […] More
Marine Corps Readiness: Meeting the Challenges While Mitigating the Risks
As the United States’ crisis response force, the Marine Corps prioritizes readiness above capability, capacity, or any other goal. Maintaining this level of readiness in […] More
Iran’s Maritime Mirage
Iran is doing enough damage in the Middle East through unconventional methods without requiring a robust navy. That is why an idea floated by a […] More