Security & Defense

New Iranian President Undertakes ‘Damage Control’

By Barbara Slavin

This Sunday Iran will trade an abrasive diplomatic embarrassment for a far more presentable figure.

Iran’s Cyber Capabilities Pose a Threat to United States

On July 29, the South Asia Center‘s Iran Task Force and the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security‘s Cyber Statecraft Initiative launched an issue brief entitled, “Iran: How a Third Tier Cyber Power Can Still Threaten the United States” by Barbara Slavin and Jason Healey, and hosted a public briefing on past and possible future […]

Turkey-Syria-Kurdish Fronts Heat Up

By Ross Wilson

Reports that Turkish F-16s will fly reconnaissance flights along the Syrian frontier highlight rising alarm over border security and suggest a further internationalization of the civil war in Syria with implications for it, Turkey, and the region’s Kurds.

The NSA Isn’t the Only One Watching You

By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

On Wednesday, lawmakers in the House narrowly defeated a measure proposed by Rep. Justin Amash that would have dramatically curtailed the National Security Agency’s ability to collect phone records. While concerns about the breadth of the NSA’s surveillance are far from behind us, privacy advocates will do themselves a grave disservice if the NSA remains the sole […]

Can Senators Handle the Truth on Syria?

By James Joyner

Senators John McCain and Carl Levin have demanded answers from General Martin Dempsey on Syria. Can they handle the truth?

Three Hops and You’re Out

By James Joyner

Revelations that the government’s ability to access American citizens’ phone records without probable cause is much broader than previously contemplated got Congress’ attention last week, drawing rebukes and warnings from both sides of the aisle.

Congress Misunderstands Role of Joint Chiefs

By James Joyner

Senator John McCain is blocking a second term for General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after a testy exchange in a hearing Thursday. His grounds? The refusal of Dempsey to “respond to legitimate questions” from the senior senator from Arizona.