Torie Rose DeGhett
Contributor
Russia's Military Modernization Is Working, But the Money's Running Out
In six months in Syria, the Russians have shown the world that they can fight far from home, win, and then do it again. There's only one problem: It's a very, very expensive thing to do.
The Gulf War 25 Years Later: a US Triumph that Spawned a Problem
In 1991, an American-led coalition waged war against Iraq, and won easily. In 2016, an American-led coalition wages war against the Islamic State, and is nowhere close to winning.
As North Korea Prepares to Launch a Rocket, Everyone Else Prepares to Freak Out About It
North Korea has announced plans to launch satellite into orbit sometime in the next week, and neighboring powers, including the regime's friends, are not pleased.
The US Is Selling Weapons to Taiwan — That's Going to Really Piss Off Beijing
There aren't really any good times for the US to sell high-tech weapons, only less bad times. And one of those times happens to be right now.
Turkey Suddenly Remembers It's Part of NATO and Decides Not to Buy Chinese Weapons
A multibillion-dollar deal that would have put China firmly on the global arms market goes belly up, but China and Turkey are still friends.
China Is Angling for a Strategic Outpost on the Horn of Africa
China has been steadily extending its global presence. Now it's looking to establish an outpost in Djibouti, where the US headquarters its military forces in Africa.
The US Army Wants to Figure Out What Comes After Helicopters
The US Army is starting down a decades-long path to replace it's existing helicopters and may end up buying something that, technically speaking, isn't a helicopter.
US Arms Exports to Egypt: I Wish I Knew How to Quit You
After suspending arms shipments over the 2013 ouster of President Morsi, the US is back to selling fighter jets and tanks to a country with a bad human rights record.
Russia Is Freaking Out Its Northern Neighbors
Russia's northwesterly neighbors are putting their money where their mouths are. Concerned about Russian adventures in Ukraine and elsewhere, they’re all beefing up their defenses.
Russia is Bombing a Lot of Familiar Faces in Syria
The presence of Chechen fighters in Syria — veterans of two wars against Moscow — are a big reason why Russia is bombing targets in the country. The Russian effort is effectively a reenactment of the US' "flypaper" strategy in Iraq.
Is Syria About to Become Iran's Vietnam?
The Iranian government has invested much blood and gold in the effort to prop up the Assad regime, but the conflict could turn out to be a quagmire that the Islamic Republic finds difficult to extricate itself, and its proxies, from.
Romania Is Starting to Freak Out About Russian Designs on Transnistria
Romania, a NATO member, is reversing years of military neglect, spurred by fears that it could end up with front-row seats for a Transnistrian replay of last year's events in Ukraine and Crimea.