National Security

A Commitment Strategy for Afghanistan

Lorelei Kelly | Posted 11.19.2009 | World


Lorelei Kelly

The president will put forward his decision on Afghanistan soon. It will involve a troop increase. If progressives stay in full opposition mode, they will exist on the margin of the debate.

Promises Unkept: Obama Administration and a Unified Security Budget

Tamar Abrams | Posted 11.19.2009 | Politics


Tamar Abrams

While the president has made some strides toward curbing waste, fraud and abuse in Pentagon contracting, he has yet to change the crucial balance between military and non-military security spending.

Alternative 25 Year National Strategies

Gary Hart | Posted 11.16.2009 | Politics


Gary Hart

A strategy of new internationalism is anticipatory rather than reactive, appreciating that major disruptions will occur globally so rapidly that reliance on time to react is unrealistic.

National Security Adviser Jim Jones Makes Secret Trip To Pakistan

newsweek.com | Michael Hirsh | Posted 11.12.2009 | Politics


Only hours before President Obama took off for Asia on Thursday, his national-security adviser landed in Pakistan on an unannounced trip to meet with ...

A National Security Act for the 21st Century

Gary Hart | Posted 11.12.2009 | Politics


Gary Hart

NATO has yet to define a 21st century mission. There are new security threats that do not lend themselves to military response and that cannot be addressed either by old alliances or by the US alone.

Note to Assignment Editor: Not Your Dad's National Security Establishment

Heather Hurlburt | Posted 11.05.2009 | Media


Heather Hurlburt

If you care about the people of the United States being engaged in our foreign policy, then you need to care what the faces of the people who represent our foreign policy look like.

What Obama Is Up Against

Russ Baker | Posted 11.04.2009 | Politics


Russ Baker

We Americans harbor a quaint belief that a new president takes charge of a government that eagerly awaits his next command. But that's not how things work at the top, especially where "national security" is concerned.

Timidity Vs. Audacity? The Tests Are Yet to Come

Amb. Marc Ginsberg | Posted 11.03.2009 | Politics


Amb. Marc Ginsberg

So far this year, there has been a tendency to vocalize intent and engage in convenient can-kicking, rather than actionable resolve. That's not timidity -- that's testing the state of the ship's rudder.

Road to Copenhagen - Part 2: Risky Business

William S. Becker | Posted 11.04.2009 | Green


William S. Becker

Public officials tend to be risk-averse in matters with potential political consequences; now they must become risk-savvy. Here are 10 ideas on how to make that happen.

Does Afghanistan Offer Lessons?

Gary Hart | Posted 11.02.2009 | World


Gary Hart

We do not have to wait for the final resolution of the American military presence in Afghanistan to begin to see what, if anything, we have learned from our checkered experience there.

On National Weatherization Day, a New Bunch of Skilled Denver Workers Pioneer National Green Jobs Movement

Jamie Starr | Posted 10.30.2009 | Denver


Jamie Starr

Once rolled out, the training program could create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, reduce energy costs by $3.5 billion per year, and save 500 million barrels of oil annually.

Lula's Red Carpet Welcome for Ahmadinejad

Robert Amsterdam | Posted 10.29.2009 | World


Robert Amsterdam

Why, with so much going for him and his country, should the president of Brazil make such controversial choices in his friends? The logic of the relationship with Iran is perplexing.

Patriot Act: Congress Shouldn't Rush to Judgment (Again)

Sen. Ron Wyden | Posted 10.28.2009 | Politics


Sen. Ron Wyden

Striking a balance between protecting Americans' security and protecting American rights and freedoms is not always easy, but members of Congress have an obligation to try -- as well as a new opportunity.

Wait! First A Good Argument About Afghanistan

Stewart Nusbaumer | Posted 10.27.2009 | Politics


Stewart Nusbaumer

Recently I spent 5 months in Afghanistan, studying the country up close, going all around the country and writing about the conflict. If I'm confused, how about average Americans?

Cheney: A Tortured Soul

Lance Simmens | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics


Lance Simmens

Mr. Vice-President, you and your President had eight full years to chart a direction for this nation. That direction was soundly rejected by the voters in the most recent national election.

Commander in Chief: Yes He Is

Lorelei Kelly | Posted 10.22.2009 | World


Lorelei Kelly

Obama and his team (and an increasing number of voices on Capitol Hill) know that, in today's world, security problems are beyond the purview of the military acting alone.

Who Is the Traitor?

Heather Taylor-Miesle | Posted 10.22.2009 | Green


Heather Taylor-Miesle

Vets left their families, jobs, and lives to go community by community in the name of ending the United States dangerous addition to oil provided by countries who dream of our complete destruction.

The Eagle and the Bear

Gary Hart | Posted 10.19.2009 | Politics


Gary Hart

Following the adage that we don't have permanent friends, we have permanent interests, we have many more common interests with the Russians than we have matters in opposition.

Does the United States Require a Strategy?

Gary Hart | Posted 10.15.2009 | Politics


Gary Hart

We are miserable at anticipation and preparation. The latter requires centralized authority, something Americans instinctively resist.

Liz Cheney's 'Keep America Safe' Video Tears Into Obama (VIDEO)

Huffington Post | Gazelle Emami | Posted 10.13.2009 | Politics


Liz Cheney is stepping even further into her father's shoes as the Republican ringleader for national security. Keep America Safe, a new group launche...

Congress Is Losing Its Chance to Reform the Patriot Act

Michael Macleod-Ball | Posted 10.07.2009 | Politics


Michael Macleod-Ball

Tomorrow the debate continues over the USA PATRIOT Act Sunset Extension Act, which includes minor tweaks to the Patriot Act but does not go nearly far enough to protect the Fourth Amendment rights of Americans.

Madeleine Albright: Stop Creating More Terrorists in Afghanistan

Nathan Gardels | Posted 10.07.2009 | Politics


Nathan Gardels

The last time the Democrats ran a war, it was "Madeleine's war," when we bombed Serbia. Albright, the former secretary of state, weighs in on Obama's deliberations on Afghanistan.

Jason Linkins

Anonymous White House Sources Praise White House In Important Journalistic Scoop

HuffingtonPost.com | Jason Linkins | Posted 10.07.2009 | Media


Yesterday, Glenn Greenwald tore apart a piece of stenographic PR that ran in the Washington Post. Titled "Obama Team Says Zazi Case Illustrates Balan...

Memo to Bill Maher: Young People Understand the Climate Change Stakes

Eric Greenberg and Karl Weber | Posted 10.06.2009 | Green


Eric Greenberg and Karl Weber

Hey, Bill Maher -- at least when it comes to global warming, the kids are all right. It's the oldsters we have to worry about.

American Police Force: For All Your Sketchy, Private Security Needs!

Julie Farby | Posted 10.03.2009 | Politics


Julie Farby

The firm provides SWAT training and convoy security in war zones and has "interdicted weapons of mass destruction" -- but it also takes your marriage seriously.