Articles by Michaela Dodge

SecurityCommentary

Maintaining Nuclear Deterrence and Missile Defense

Michaela Dodge | September 24, 2020

This article is an excerpt from the “2020 Mandate for Leadership: A Clear Vision for the Next Administration.” It looks back at policy decisions made… Read More

SecurityCommentary

A Mark That Misses the Mark: House Democrats and the National Defense Authorization Act

Michaela Dodge | June 05, 2019

The Democrat-controlled House Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces is advancing policies on nuclear weapons and missile defense that would make the U.S. and its… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Russia Likely Conducting Low-Yield Nuclear Weapons Tests, Intel Chief Says

Michaela Dodge | May 29, 2019

Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, said Wednesday that Russia is likely conducting low-yield nuclear weapons tests. That’s an indication that… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Trump Is Leading on This Major, Often-Overlooked Security Threat

Michaela Dodge | April 02, 2019

One of the most potentially devastating threats to American security is the threat of an electromagnetic pulse. Such an event could be life-changing and could… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative Has Reached a New Milestone

Michaela Dodge | March 29, 2019

The Pentagon commemorated the 36th anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative in dramatic fashion March 25 by reaching a new technological milestone. The… Read More

SecurityCommentary

It’s Not Wise to Depart From Decades of Bipartisan Agreement on Our Nuclear Triad, Mr. Chairman

Michaela Dodge | March 07, 2019

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee demonstrated a scary lack of understanding of nuclear weapons policy Wednesday during a hearing seeking outside perspectives… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Why Low-Yield Nuclear Warheads Are Critical to Preventing Nuclear War

Michaela Dodge | October 02, 2018

Last month, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., introduced a bill that if approved would stop the administration’s plans to modify select warheads on submarine-launched ballistic missiles… Read More

SecurityCommentary

35 Years On, Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative Pays Dividends

Michaela Dodge | March 23, 2018

Thirty-five years ago, on March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared, “Isn’t it worth every investment necessary to free the world from the threat of… Read More

SecurityCommentary

5 Myths About the Nuclear Posture Review

Michaela Dodge | February 02, 2018

Today, the Trump administration’s released its long-awaited Nuclear Posture Review. Already, myths of a nuclear Armageddon have monopolized the media space. In reality, the review is a… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Russia Has Repeatedly Flouted This Missile Treaty. It’s Time to Scrap It.

Michaela Dodge | December 11, 2017

Thirty years ago Friday, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The treaty was unprecedented. For the first time… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Sobering Film on Nuclear Attack Shows Need for More Nuclear Defense Spending

Michaela Dodge | December 07, 2017

The Heritage Foundation’s documentary “33 Minutes” may not be the most cheerful holiday season film, but its warning to the American public about the risk… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Defense Spending Bill Gets It Right on Nuclear and Missile Defense

Michaela Dodge | November 22, 2017

Last week, Congress passed the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, sending it to the president’s desk. This bill advances many commendable nuclear weapon… Read More

SecurityCommentary

New York Times Doesn’t Get Why Nuclear Weapons Are Actually Necessary

Michaela Dodge | November 09, 2017

Leave it to The New York Times to misrepresent U.S. nuclear weapons strategy. In its Oct. 26 editorial, the Times completely misses the point of possessing… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Our Outdated Nuclear Policy Puts Security at Risk. Here’s How Trump Can Improve It.

Michaela Dodge | October 19, 2017

Reports have begun to swirl over what the Trump administration’s Nuclear Posture Review will hold. The Pentagon will likely release the review in the first… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Some Bad Ideas, Like Zombies, Never Seem to Die. A ‘No First Use’ Nuclear Policy Is One of Them.

Michaela Dodge | August 16, 2017

Some argue that the United States should declare a “no first use” nuclear weapons policy. This would mean that the United States would only use… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Defense Conference Underscores the Importance of Research and Development for Missile Defense

Michaela Dodge | August 10, 2017

While North Korea reportedly achieved another milestone in developing a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. homeland, The Heritage Foundation visited the annual… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Defense Authorization Bills Advance US Missile Defense and Nuclear Weapons Priorities

Michaela Dodge | July 19, 2017

Congress is currently deliberating the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018. The NDAA is an important tool for Congress as it offers it… Read More

SecurityCommentary

North Korean Missile Threat Proves Need for More Investment in Missile Defense

Michaela Dodge | July 05, 2017

Policymakers writing the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act are responsible for crafting new defense policies to deal with an increasingly turbulent and dangerous world. Sen…. Read More

SecurityCommentary

The Challenge of Modernizing Nuclear Weapons

Michaela Dodge | June 12, 2017

The Senate Armed Services Committee hosted a hearing last week on defense nuclear acquisition programs and doctrine. Gen. Robin Rand, commander of the Air Force… Read More

SecurityCommentary

US Missile Defense Technology Has Reached a New High. Why the US Must Keep Expanding Its Edge.

Michaela Dodge | June 02, 2017

North Korean threats to strike the U.S. have hit a new obstacle. On Tuesday, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency conducted a successful test of the… Read More

SecurityCommentary

How Trump Can Rebuild America’s Nuclear Deterrent

Michaela Dodge | February 28, 2017

President Donald Trump concluded last week by calling upon to the military to ensure that the U.S. nuclear arsenal is at the “top of the… Read More

InternationalCommentary

Moscow Issues Its First Nuclear Challenge to Trump

Michaela Dodge | February 15, 2017

Almost right out of the gate, the Trump administration is facing its first arms control challenge from Moscow. Russia has reportedly deployed its new cruise… Read More

SecurityCommentary

What’s Wrong in Our Arms Treaty With Russia

Michaela Dodge | February 15, 2017

Some media outlets reported last week that President Donald Trump called the Obama administration’s New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or New START, with Russia a… Read More

InternationalCommentary

Iran’s Ballistic Missile Test Defies UN, Trump Administration

Michaela Dodge | January 31, 2017

The more things change, the more they stay the same. On Sunday, Iran “welcomed” President Donald Trump into office by conducting a medium-range ballistic missile… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Obama’s Nuclear Legacy Leaves America and Allies Less Safe

Michaela Dodge | January 23, 2017

In his Jan. 11 remarks on nuclear weapons policy, the outgoing Vice President Joe Biden praised former President Barack Obama’s nuclear weapons policy. In reality,… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Rejection of UN Nuke Ban Not Enough, Administration Must Do More to Maintain Arsenal

Michaela Dodge | October 31, 2016

Although last month the Obama administration led a misguided effort in the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution on nuclear weapons testing, it… Read More

SecurityCommentary

What a No First Use Policy Would Mean for Global Security

Michaela Dodge | September 13, 2016

As the clock is ticking, President Barack Obama is striving to cement his legacy in the realm of nuclear weapons policy. In the past, the… Read More

SecurityCommentary

Obama Seeks to Circumvent Congressional Opposition by Advancing Nuclear Agenda at UN

Michaela Dodge | August 05, 2016

President Barack Obama has supported a ban on nuclear testing since his earliest days in office, but has been unable to rally support for ratification of a… Read More

SecurityCommentary

If the Obama Administration Adopts a ‘No First Use’ Nuclear Strategy, It Could Cripple US Security

Michaela Dodge | July 27, 2016

The White House has declared that it may be revising United States nuclear policy during President Barack Obama’s final months in office. A “no first… Read More

SecurityAnalysis

How NDAA Could Impact US Missile Defense

Michaela Dodge | May 31, 2016

The U.S. House of Representatives recently took a first step to enact the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2017 into law…. Read More