Principles Of Government

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Foundational articles (AA) are repeated in Section (A). Both (AA) and (A) articles provide key insights on major policy and cultural issues, while (B) articles address currently urgent or more technical topics that may be replaced more frequently as they become dated.

(A) Middle East

What Went Wrong After 9/11 AA

By William A. Galston Sept. 8, 2026

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By William A. Galston Sept. 8, 2026 – A series of errors over a quarter-century leaves the U.S. in dire need of rebalancing…. On Sept. 10, 2001, the U.S. was at the peak of its post-Cold War dominance. Our response to the attacks … began a process that diminished our status, step by step…. the decision to wage expensive wars in the Middle East while cutting taxes disrupted the … hard-won return to fiscal discipline. … our excessive focus on the Middle East diverted us from the most important foreign policy challenge of the 21st century—the rise of China. Read More

America’s Success Against Iran May Prove a Distraction

By David H. Petraeus April 15, 2026

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By David H. Petraeus April 15, 2026 – War is increasingly defined by unmanned systems, artificial intelligence and mass precision. The Gulf offers useful insights, but Ukraine is the more demanding laboratory. There, the true challenges of unmanned systems at scale and the rapid emergence of autonomous capabilities are already on display….The Ukraine war involves remotely piloted systems, electronic warfare, layered air defenses and relentless adaptation. …This is industrial-scale warfare, in which success depends less on exquisite platforms than on mass, resilience and constant innovation. Read More

There’s a New Way of War, but Is It Evolution or Revolution? AA

By Yaroslav Trofimov July 7, 2026

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By Yaroslav Trofimov July 7, 2026 – The key feature of the war between Russia and Ukraine, and likely of other major conflicts to come, is that what used to be cutting-edge weapons and technologies becomes outdated within months. “If you have an adaptive adversary, it’s the speed of iteration and the rate of learning that matter, rather than the technology per se,” Mosley added….One example of adaptability is Ukraine’s new procurement system for drones, which account for over 90% of enemy losses, electronic warfare systems and some other key weapons. It is fundamentally different from how Western militaries, with their centralized defense budgets, operate. Read More

Biden Leaves His Successor a World of Disorder

By The Editorial Board Updated Sept. 23, 2024

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By The Editorial Board – It is a far more dangerous world than Mr. Biden inherited, and far less congenial for U.S. interests, human freedom and democracy.

Mr. Biden’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan was his single most damaging decision, and it has led to cascading trouble.

More damaging is the message his withdrawal sent to adversaries about American will and retreat. The credibility of U.S. deterrence collapsed. Read More

Four Steps to Creating a National Defense Strategy Built on Strength

By John G. Ferrari | Elaine McCusker | Todd Harrison - June 12, 2025

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By John G. Ferrari | Elaine McCusker | Todd Harrison – The new Pentagon leadership has set itself up to potentially oversee fundamental changes that could dramatically improve military warfighting capabilities for decades to come. In addition to realigning the defense budget, organizational structures, and acquisition policies to support warfighters, key decisions are still pending on how and where America will defend its security and prosperity. Read More