Articles by James Carafano

SecurityCommentary

What Acquistion Reform for the Pentagon Should Look Like

James Carafano | November 25, 2015

Not since the heady days of the “revolution in military affairs” over a decade ago has reforming the Pentagon been such a central focus of… Read More

SecurityCommentary

3 Ways Our Next President Must Reverse Obama’s Failed Foreign Policy Doctrine

James Carafano | November 24, 2015

There is a reason President Obama’s poll numbers for stuff like fighting terrorism are falling faster than the thermometer. By most objective measures, the president… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Why Isn’t ISIS Afraid Attacking West Will Lead to Invasion of Its Middle East Regions?

James Carafano | November 20, 2015

ISIS, Russia, Iran, and China all share a common concern: the United States. In short, it’s a problem. As conventional states, three of them have… Read More

EconomyCommentary

Could We Soon Be 3D Printing, Not Cooking, Thanksgiving Dinner?

James Carafano | November 20, 2015

Just this month, 3D Systems in Los Angeles, Calif., opened “their new culinary innovation center, the 3DS Culinary Lab … a first-of-its-kind workshop kitchen where avant-garde culinary… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Some States Talk About Border Security. Arizona Is Taking Action.

James Carafano | November 20, 2015

While the presidential candidates clash over how to handle illegal immigration and border security, Arizona is doing something about it. When Doug Ducey ran for governor,… Read More

SecurityCommentary

What a Responsible Syrian Refugee Policy Looks Like for US After Paris Attacks

James Carafano | November 17, 2015

Following the horrific attacks in Paris last week, Americans are right to have real concerns about who might be next in the terrorists’ cross hairs…. Read More

SecurityCommentary

ISIS Just Named D.C. as Possible Target for Terrorist Attacks. Has the Risk Increased?

James Carafano | November 16, 2015

The Washington Post reports a social networking site related to Daesh, the Islamist terrorist group in Syria-Iraq also known as ISIS, has released a video… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Every Veteran Has a Story. This Is Ben’s.

James Carafano | November 10, 2015

Ben Richards is, by any definition of the word, a hero. Ben is selfless, dedicated, and talented, but war did not treat him well. A… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Is a Defense Renaissance Around the Corner?

James Carafano | November 06, 2015

Get ready for resurgence in planning the future of the American military. It’s long overdue. In fact, serious thinking about the “future force”—what America will… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Obama’s Special Operations Policy: Useless and Dangerous

James Carafano | November 06, 2015

No respectable historian will find much to admire in the president’s legacy as foreign policy and national security leader. Still, they may well bicker for many… Read More

SecurityCommentary

On Afghanistan, Obama’s Supporters and Detractors Not Whom You’d Expect

James Carafano | October 30, 2015

In response to what he called a “fragile” security situation in Afghanistan, President Obama recently announced plans to leave about 5,500 U.S. troops there when… Read More

SocietyCommentary

The Origins of American Think Tanks

James Carafano | October 23, 2015

“The Think Tank is Dead.” So predicted Michael Tanji a half-decade ago. Tanji argued that “virtual think tanks,” groups of experts tethered only by common interests and cyber-communications,… Read More

InternationalCommentary

Obama’s ‘Best’ Foreign Policy Achievement

James Carafano | October 16, 2015

The president now plans to continue a U.S. ground force presence in Afghanistan to help hold off the Taliban until he leaves office. This is… Read More

PoliticsCommentary

Obama’s Accomplishments as Commander-in-Chief Are Pretty Meager

James Carafano | October 16, 2015

When serious military historians ponder Barack Obama’s record as commander-in-chief, there’s little likelihood of heated debate. Let’s just say they’re not likely to award him… Read More

InternationalCommentary

Putin Is Not a Child. Obama Should Stop Treating Him Like One.

James Carafano | October 09, 2015

In last Friday’s press conference, President Obama called Vladimir Putin’s incursion in Syria “an act of weakness.” It’s his pat answer when Putin misbehaves. The… Read More

SecurityCommentary

US Needs a Foreign Policy That Marginalizes Russia’s Ability to Mess With Us

James Carafano | October 02, 2015

The Kremlin is not our friend. Nor is Moscow a 10-foot-tall threat to our national interests. What America needs is a middling foreign policy that… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Obama Has Followed Through on the Obama Doctrine. That’s the Problem.

James Carafano | October 02, 2015

If there was one strong signal in President Obama’s speech to the United Nations this week, it was this: Don’t expect the American ship of… Read More

SecurityCommentary

5 Steps To Survive Any Hurricane (Including Joaquin)

James Carafano | October 02, 2015

The government isn’t very good at disaster response (it’s also slow). In all likelihood, in a major disaster, the feds won’t get there fast enough… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Government Report Is Compelling Indictment of Obama’s ISIS Strategy

James Carafano | September 20, 2015

Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports will never be mistaken for a Tom Clancy novel. The editorial style is intended to be subdued and analytical—lest the… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Time for the White House to Develop a Serious Arctic Agenda

James Carafano | September 19, 2015

Washington is waking up to the fact that America is an Arctic nation. But, as in a doomed polar expedition, the administration seems to be… Read More

InternationalCommentary

The Chinese Economy Just Hit a Major Speed Bump. Why the Pentagon Cares.

James Carafano | September 06, 2015

The Pentagon cares as much about how money moves around the world as it does about the movement of arms. Small wonder the recent bobbling… Read More

SocietyCommentary

The Nuclear Activity You Should Be Paying Attention To

James Carafano | August 22, 2015

The Iran deal is the biggest nuclear story of the decade. Yet most Americans are paying little attention. Even the 70th anniversary of dropping the… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Let the Killer Robots Live (For Now)

James Carafano | August 16, 2015

Stephen Hawking, Elon Musk and Steve Wozniak headline a list of science luminaries signing on to a letter demanding a universal ban on autonomous weapons…. Read More

EconomyCommentary

We Can Figure Out How to Control Drones in the U.S.

James Carafano | August 07, 2015

Until recently, most of our attention on drone wars has been about the debate over us going after bad guys with armed flying robots.  Indeed, America’s… Read More

InternationalCommentary

How the Iran Deal Complicates Israel’s Approach to Iran

James Carafano | August 02, 2015

The Vienna Agreement overseeing Iran’s nuclear program brought no joy to Tel Aviv. “Israel is not bound by this deal with Iran,” declared Prime Minister… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Under Obama, Our Military’s Strength Has Significantly Decreased

James Carafano | July 26, 2015

Barack Obama is not likely to be mistaken for Teddy Roosevelt. Yes, his foreign policy has been quite soft-spoken—especially when addressing openly hostile states such… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Terrorists Use Social Media to Win War of Ideas

James Carafano | July 25, 2015

Used to be that, when a crime occurred, investigators would flood the crime scene. Now, they race to access the perpetrator’s footprint in digital space…. Read More

InternationalCommentary

The Deal From Tehran’s Perspective

James Carafano | July 19, 2015

Want to judge the value of an international deal? Grade it not by measuring what it means to the United States, but what it means… Read More

InternationalCommentary

4 Big Red Flags in the Iran Deal

James Carafano | July 18, 2015

Once a major diplomatic agreement is inked, the world typically reacts by holding its breath, waiting to see if it will all turn out alright…. Read More

InternationalCommentary

No, We Can’t Say It’s Only Up to the Arabs to Fight ISIS in Iraq

James Carafano | July 18, 2015

Some argue that ISIS in Iraq is an Arab problem. Ergo, it should be Arab boots on the ground that kick the land-grabbing insurgency from… Read More