National Security Council Articles

Ambushed on the Potomac

One of America’s best-known neoconservatives gives his take on what went wrong over the past eight years, the role of the State Department in hijacking Bush’s foreign policy and why 50 million conspiracy theorists have it wrong.

Our Imaginary Foe

Finding monsters under the bed and bogeymen in the closet. Why exaggerating the Iranian threat is bad for U.S. foreign policy.

Russia Plays the China Card

Russia and China are strengthening their ties, but don’t bet on an alliance—that is, unless poor U.S. policy drives them together.

New Year, Old Story on Iran

A year after their assessment of Iranian nuclear ambitions, the authors look back. There are still no good options for dealing with Iran.

Iranian Beliefs and Realities

Painting an accurate picture of Iran requires listening to all Iranians, not just "our" Iranians

Thinking Outside the Tank

Policy is only as strong as the thinking behind it. We need new ideas--and institutions--to win the war on terrorism.

Confronting Hamas

Terrorist groups make poor peace partners.  Is Hamas any exception?

Defending the Faiths

Global religious persecution increased during the 1990s, but not as rapidly as America's awareness of it. The proper place of religious freedom in the hierarchy of U.S. foreign policy concerns.

The Khatemi Factor: How Much Does It Matter?

Change in Iran is in the air, and it could be dramatic--but this is speculative and both the timetable and the actual policy implications are impossible to specify.

The Smithsonian and the Enola Gay

Not since 1855 has the Smithsonian been riven by a controversy to equal that precipitated by the proposed Enola Gay exhibit.

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May 26, 2012