Benjamin H. Friedman

Benjamin H. Friedman is a research fellow in defense and homeland security studies at the Cato Institute, and blogs for The Skeptics at The National Interest.


Commentary

Security

Overwrought on START

| 12.01.10

Opponents and supporters of the New START agreement are exaggerating their cases. Actually, the treaty doesn't matter that much.

Security

The Pentagon on Defense

| 10.31.08

Our politicians are delirious when it comes to defense spending—we need to rein in expenditures, and the Pentagon’s budget should be on the chopping block.

Blog Posts

Politics

The New Pentagon Budget: Better, Not Great

| 01.27.12

The new budget guidance may be a step in the right direction, but it's a very small one.

Society

America Is Not a Military Unit

| 01.25.12

Obama used his State of the Union address to suggest civilians emulate the military. Why this idea is a dangerous—and authoritarian—one.

Global Governance

Iran’s Bluster and Weakness

| 01.06.12

Iran's empty threats show desperation, not security.

Politics

The Defense Authorization Bill: Still Troubled

| 12.16.11

Congress has passed the bill. The question is not whether there is damage to civil liberties here but how bad it is.

Politics

The Real Trouble With the Defense Authorization Bill

| 12.02.11

Why the new bill threatens civil liberties and increases the likelihood of foolish, unilateral decisions.

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February 13, 2012