May 6, 2008
The Bucharest Summit: NATO and the Future of the Transatlantic Alliance
By Kurt Volker
(Heritage Lecture #1082)
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) faces diverse threats, such as terrorism, proliferation, and the consequences of failed states. NATO must sharpen its focus on ...
May 1, 2008
The U.S. Should Reject the U.N. "Responsibility to Protect" Doctrine
By Steven Groves
(Backgrounder #2130)
Advocates of "responsibility to protect" believe that the international community has an obligation to intervene, militarily if necessary, in another country to prevent acts of ...
May 1, 2008
Executive Summary: The U.S. Should Reject the U.N. "Responsibility to Protect" Doctrine
By Steven Groves
(Executive Summary #2130)
Advocates of "responsibility to protect" believe that the international community has an obligation to intervene, militarily if necessary, in another country to prevent acts of ...
April 28, 2008
Congress Should Fund Development of Air-to-Air Missile Defense Technology
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1904)
Congress should make certain that development of the Network Centric Airborne Defense Element interceptor continues into the 2009 fiscal year. Assuming continued interceptor success on ...
April 18, 2008
Missile Defense: The Way Forward
By the Honorable Jeff Sessions
(Heritage Lecture #1077)
The U.S. currently spends less than $10 billion on national missile defense and all our other missile programs. Maintaining funding for the European missile defense ...
April 18, 2008
The Value of American Leadership in the 21st Century
By the Honorable Mirek Topolánek
(Heritage Lecture #1076)
The Czech Republic is now witnessing a debate about the construction of the U.S. radar site for an anti-missile defense system. This issue primarily concerns ...
April 18, 2008
Reagan's Strategic Vision for Missile Defense
By the Honorable Richard B. Cheney
(Heritage Lecture #1078)
In March 1983, President Ronald Reagan announced an initiative to build strategic defenses for the United States with a system to intercept and destroy ballistic ...
April 17, 2008
The War in Afghanistan: More Help Needed
By James Phillips and Lisa Curtis
(Backgrounder #2124)
Greater international support is needed to secure and stabilize Afghanistan, a crucial front in the global war on terrorism. The February 18 Pakistani election provides ...
April 15, 2008
Private Faith, Big Government: Understanding the Impact of Marginalizing Religion
By Ryan Messmore
(Backgrounder #2123)
In the 20th century, America witnessed a significant transition toward a privatized understanding of reli¬gion. Social and political pressures have prompted many to view religion ...
April 15, 2008
Losing Latin America? A Protectionist Congress Is Destroying U.S. Credibility
By James M. Roberts and Ray Walser, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1890)
In American election years, a theme sure to grab the nation’s attention is who "lost" a certain country. In 1952, it was "Who lost China?" ...
April 14, 2008
The Heritage Foundation's Leadership on Missile Defense
By Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1075)
One of The Heritage Foundation’s main objectives is for the U.S. to fully deploy a comprehensive missile defense system within the next decade. Heritage will ...
April 4, 2008
NATO Backs Washington's Missile Defense Plans: A Victory for U.S. Diplomacy
By Sally McNamara
(WebMemo #1884)
NATO's endorsement stands as testimony to the Alliance's strategic relevance in the 21st century and its enduring commitment to the principle of mutual defense.
April 2, 2008
SOS: Congress Must Save the Aircraft Carrier Fleet
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and Jim Dolbow
(WebMemo #1880)
Congress should reject the Navy's request to temporarily reduce its fleet of 11 aircraft carriers to 10.
March 28, 2008
Iraq: Pause in Troop Drawdown Makes Sense
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and James Phillips
(WebMemo #1871)
The Bush Administration and Congress should fully support the recommendation on force levels from the commander on the ground.
March 21, 2008
U.S. Africa Command: Challenges and Opportunities
By Brett D. Schaefer and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2118)
The decision to create the U.S. Africa Command reflects the increasing strategic importance of Africa to the U.S. and recognizes that a single independent command ...
March 18, 2008
Supporting Our South Korean Ally and Enhancing Defense Cooperation
By Bruce Klingner
(WebMemo #1859)
Legislation pending in Congress would facilitate foreign military sales to South Korea.
March 18, 2008
Iraq Five Years On: The Coalition Is Winning the War Against Al-Qaeda
By Nile Gardiner, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1860)
The U.S. and its allies must make a long-term military commitment to defeating the al-Qaeda threat in Iraq.
March 14, 2008
Liberty's Best Hope: Why American Leadership Is Needed for the 21st Century
By Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D., Henry R. Nau, Ph.D., and Dov Zakheim, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1069)
To counter the challenges to America's leadership at home and abroad, even by long-standing allies, we must be more persuasive, win the war on terrorism ...
March 14, 2008
How the U.S. Navy Inadvertently Supports Hugo Chávez
By James M. Roberts
(WebMemo #1855)
A U.S. designation of Venezuela as a terrorist-sponsoring state would allow the Navy to end its practice of buying gasoline from a company owned by ...
March 14, 2008
Public Diplomacy: Reinvigorating America's Strategic Communications Policy
By Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D., Helle C. Dale, Colleen Graffy, Michael Doran, Ph.D., Joseph Duffey, Ph.D., and Tony Blankley
(Heritage Lecture #1065)
U.S. government agencies are hampered in their efforts to improve public diplomacy by a combination of poor leadership, inadequate coordination, and insufficient resources. As we ...
March 13, 2008
Questions on Iraq for the Petraeus-Crocker Hearings
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1850)
When General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker testify before Congress, Members must ask questions that will help Americans develop an informed opinion about the ...
March 13, 2008
Principles for Stability Operations and State-Building
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1067)
Historically, the United States has done very poor job of post-conflict planning before and during conflicts. In order to be successful in a post-conflict setting ...
March 13, 2008
The Surge in Iraq: One Year Later
By Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno
(Heritage Lecture #1068)
The 2007 Iraq surge allowed Coalition and Iraqi forces to hold the hard-earned ground that was wrested from the enemy, while continuing to pursue terrorists ...
March 12, 2008
Securing the High Seas: America's Global Maritime Constabulary Power
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen, James Dolbow, Martin Edwin Andersen, and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(Special Report #20)
To meet 21st century threats to freedom and world commerce, greater emphasis needs to be placed on bolstering the Navy’s core warfighting mission while expanding ...
March 11, 2008
Nuclear Games: A Tool for Examining Nuclear Stability in a Proliferated Setting
By Baker Spring
(Heritage Lecture #1066)
The United States can address the threat posed by nuclear proliferation and start taking steps to reverse a disturbing trend. “Nuclear game” exercises showed that ...
March 10, 2008
President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative Proposal 25 Years Later: A Better Path Chosen
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1841)
President Reagan's visionary proposal for a missile defense system was based on principles that remain valid today.
March 6, 2008
Sovereign Wealth Funds and U.S. National Security
By Daniella Markheim
(Heritage Lecture #1063)
Sovereign wealth funds are coming under growing scrutiny due to concerns about the investment strategies underlying these funds and the fear that these funds could ...
February 29, 2008
Competitive Technologies for National Security: Review and Recommendations
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Andrew Gudgel, and Alane Kochems
(Special Report #21)
Emerging technologies will provide capabilities that include protection and possible immunity against biological agents, better screening at airports and ports, more efficient information-gathering and information-sharing ...
February 25, 2008
The FY 2009 Defense Budget Request: The Growing Gap in Defense Spending
By Baker Spring
(Backgrounder #2110)
Projected growth in entitlement spending, not defense spending, is at the core of the federal government's looming fiscal crisis. Current defense expenditures, or even spending ...
February 22, 2008
Satellite Shootdown Was a Necessary Operation
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1823)
The Bush Administration made an appropriate executive decision to protect human life, property, and the environment.
February 19, 2008
Providing for the Common Defense: What 10 Years of Progress Would Look Like
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Baker Spring, and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2108)
The U.S. military must cap manpower costs, adapt Reserve Component forces, maintain access to cutting-edge technologies, deploy a robust missile defense system, obtain military space ...
February 19, 2008
Executive Summary: Providing for the Common Defense: What 10 Years of Progress Would Look Like
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Baker Spring, and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Executive Summary #2108)
The U.S. military must cap manpower costs, adapt Reserve Component forces, maintain access to cutting-edge technologies, deploy a robust missile defense system, obtain military space ...
February 11, 2008
Russia on the March: The Return of the Red Square Parades
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1805)
The world should take notice of Russia’s increasing militarism.
February 11, 2008
U.S. Public Diplomacy: The Search for a National Strategy
By Helle C. Dale
(Executive Memorandum #1029)
Engaging strategically in the war of ideas is crucial to U.S. national security, but U.S. public diplomacy is hampered by a lack of leadership, poor ...
February 8, 2008
International Missile Defense: Washington and Warsaw's Postive Step Toward Final Agreement
By Sally McNamara and Peter Brookes
(WebMemo #1803)
A comprehensive missile defense system would offer protection to America, its forward deployed troops, and its allies.
February 8, 2008
Combating Enemies Online: State-Sponsored and Terrorist Use of the Internet
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Richard Weitz, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2105)
The United States is not defenseless in the face of illicit exploitation of computer networks. Both the government and the private sector have developed significant ...
February 8, 2008
Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties with Australia and the U.K. Will Improve Security
By Baker Spring
(Backgrounder #2107)
The U.S. arms export licensing process can be time-consuming and confusing. Ratification of defense trade cooperation treaties with the United Kingdom and Australia would reduce ...
February 6, 2008
Administration Makes Needed Reforms in the Arms Export Control Process
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1798)
The Bush Administration should also lay the groundwork for more fundamental changes to an outdated system.
February 4, 2008
The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves: Reforming the Reserve Component
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(WebMemo #1793)
Congress should pass legislation to transform America's military—specifically, its Reserve component.
January 24, 2008
Securing American Interests in Japan's Uncharted Political Waters
By Bruce Klingner
(Backgrounder #2100)
The United States should encourage Japan to maintain course on adopting a stronger security presence and implementing the necessary legal and constitutional changes to do ...
December 28, 2007
Grassroots Disaster Response: Harnessing the Capacities of Communities
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Jennifer A. Marshall, and Lauren Calco Hammond
(Backgrounder #2094)
The survivors of a major disaster require immediate, personal relief, and the government is simply not equipped to provide for all of these needs, especially ...
December 21, 2007
Pakistan: Defense and Security Challenges
By Lisa Curtis
(Heritage Lecture #1055)
To garner the full counterterrorism cooperation the U.S. requires from Islamabad, Washington must develop a realistic and hard-nosed policy that takes on Pakistan’s ambivalence toward ...
December 19, 2007
The Pentagon's Robots: Arming the Future
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Andrew Gudgel
(Backgrounder #2093)
America's capability to seize and maintain a strategic advantage in robotic national security applications could be lost without sustained and focused commitment from the Administration ...
December 18, 2007
Omnibus Eliminates Funding for the Reliable Replacement Warhead Program
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1755)
Creating a new nuclear warhead is essential for the security of the United States and its friends and allies.
December 13, 2007
Providing for the Common Defense: Four Percent for Freedom
By The Honorable Jim Talent and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Executive Memorandum #1028)
U.S. foreign policy needs a strong military. Allocating a minimum of 4 percent of GDP to defense spending would be a first step toward meeting ...
December 12, 2007
Trojan Dragons: China's International Cyber Warriors
By John J. Tkacik, Jr.
(WebMemo #1735)
China's clandestine intelligence collection is the top intelligence threat to America's science and technology secrets.
December 11, 2007
Future Combat Systems: A Congressional Guide to Army Modernization
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and Oliver L. Horn
(Backgrounder #2091)
Having gone to war in Iraq in 2003 with equipment based on 30-year-old technologies that has deteriorated even more in harsh operating environments, the Army ...
December 3, 2007
Obsolete Restrictions on Public Diplomacy Hurt U.S. Outreach and Strategy
By Juliana Geran Pilon, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2089)
Section 501 of the U.S. Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 (Smith–Mundt Act) prohibits domestic dissemination of information designed for foreign consumption, ostensibly to ...
November 30, 2007
Combating Insurgencies: Past, Present, and Future
By Honorable Thaddeus McCotter
(Heritage Lecture #1053)
General David Petraeus's strategy of fostering the grassroots will mollify the Sunnis and success will occur. People who have a vested stake in the future, ...
October 31, 2007
Grading Cybersecurity Initiatives: Six Necessary Components
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1684)
Such initiatives should meet all of the nation's priorities: enhancing security, promoting economic growth, and preserving liberty and privacy.
October 15, 2007
Revitalizing U.S. Efforts in Afghanistan
By Lisa Curtis and James Phillips
(Backgrounder #2076)
Consolidating a stable Afghanistan that is free from Taliban influence and ideology will be expensive and will require a patient, long-term, integrated political, military, and ...
September 25, 2007
Four Percent for Freedom:
The Need to Invest More in Defense - Selected Writings
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Special Report #18)
Four Percent for Freedom: The Need to Invest More in Defense provides the rationale for sensible spending on defense; illustrates the dire consequences of inadequate ...
September 24, 2007
Treatment of Detainees and Unlawful Combatants: Selected Writings on Guantanamo Bay
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Steven Groves, and Janice Smith
(Special Report #17)
The research presented in The Heritage Foundation’s Guantanamo Bay collection clearly indicates that Congress should not interfere with the U.S. military’s policy of detaining unlawful ...
September 21, 2007
Nanotechnology and National Security: Small Changes, Big Impact
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Andrew Gudgel
(Backgrounder #2071)
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, leaders in both the legislative and executive branches essentially discarded public diplomacy as a Cold War relic. Since ...
September 20, 2007
The Air Force's Cyber Command: Combating Electronic and Network Threats
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1629)
Congress and the President must fully support the effort to thwart America's adversaries in the cyber domain.
September 19, 2007
The House's Anti-Terror Insurance Bill: Unnecessary Corporate Welfare
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1623)
Congress should reject any reauthorization of TRIA, for any period of time.
September 18, 2007
Public Diplomacy and the Cold War: Lessons Learned
By Carnes Lord, Ph.D., and Helle C. Dale
(Backgrounder #2070)
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, leaders in both the legislative and executive branches essentially discarded public diplomacy as a Cold War relic. Since ...
September 18, 2007
Follow the Leader: The House and Senate Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations Bills
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1621)
To alleviate equipment shortfalls and enable the military to fulfill current and future missions, Congress must fully fund the Army's Future Combat Systems program and ...
September 16, 2007
"Cut and Run Lite": Congressional Iraq Proposal Puts Troops at Risk
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1618)
Congress limiting deployments would tie Pentagon planners' hands and force a de facto drawdown of U.S. force levels in Iraq.
September 13, 2007
A Baghdad Statistician's Perspective on the Positives and Negatives of Polling in Iraq
By Kirk A. Johnson, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1615)
Due to the difficulties of polling in a place like Iraq, policymakers should approach such polls with caution and should use them to measure trends ...
August 31, 2007
Questioning the CIA's Claim of a Drop in China's Military Spending
By John J. Tkacik, Jr.
(WebMemo #1597)
The CIA may be under political pressure to downplay the "China threat."
August 20, 2007
If the Real Simón Bolívar Met Hugo Chávez, He'd See Red
By James M. Roberts
(Backgrounder #2062)
Hugo Chávez aims to dominate the Caribbean Basin and Andean region and fulfill the dream of his mentor, Fidel Castro. Venezuela has become a hub ...
August 20, 2007
Executive Summary: If the Real Simón Bolívar Met Hugo Chávez, He’d See Red
By James M. Roberts
(Executive Summary #2062)
Hugo Chávez aims to dominate the Caribbean Basin and Andean region and fulfill the dream of his mentor, Fidel Castro. Venezuela has become a hub ...
August 1, 2007
Terrorists in Their Own Words
By James Phillips and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2057)
U.S. security depends on bolstering the security of Muslims against the menace of Islamist totalitarian movements. Such unified action requires consensus: a common view of ...
July 25, 2007
If Iran Provokes an Energy Crisis: Modeling the Problem in a War Game
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and William W. Beach
(Center for Data Analysis Report #07-03)
A focused but restrained use of military power oriented toward objectives that address vital national interests would demonstrate U.S. determination to uphold freedom of navigation ...
July 23, 2007
National Security and Biotechnology: Small Science with a Big Potential
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Andrew Gudgel
(Backgrounder #2055)
Because dual-use biotechnologies developed in the private sector offer powerful tools to protect Americans from biological threats and to increase the military’s operational capabilities, the ...
July 20, 2007
CBO Weighs In on the All-Volunteer Force
By Tim Kane, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1561)
A new report by the Congressional Budget Office debunks the notion that a volunteer military is inferior to a conscripted force.
July 17, 2007
New Handguns: The Wrong Priority for the U.S. Air Force
By Mackenzie Eaglen and Oliver Horn
(WebMemo #1560)
Instead of spending more than $100 million on an unnecessary handgun replacement program, the Air Force should devote resources to more urgent priorities such as ...
July 13, 2007
International Missile Defense: Ensuring America's Safety and Its Global Alliances
By Sally McNamara
(WebMemo #1553)
An amendment to pull funding for proposed missile defense installations in Poland and the Czech Republic would damage the transatlantic security alliance.
July 13, 2007
Bolstering Pakistan in its Fight Against Extremism
By Lisa A. Curtis
(WebMemo #1554)
As Pakistan faces a crucial moment in its battle against extremism, Washington must support President Musharraf's offensive against terrorism while pressing for free and fair ...
July 13, 2007
Senate Effort to Impose Iraq Study Group Recommendations: Unrealistic, Unwise, and Unnecessary
By James Phillips
(WebMemo #1555)
Senate Amendment 2063 mandates a "cut and run" strategy that ignores key conclusions of the Iraq Study Group report.
July 13, 2007
Dispelling Misconceptions: Guantanamo Bay Detainee Procedures Exceed the Requirements of the U.S. Constitution, U.S. Law, and Customary International Law
By Steven Groves and Brian W. Walsh
(WebMemo #1556)
Contrary to the claims of the Bush Administration's critics, the detainees held at Guantanamo actually receive the most systematic and extensive procedural protections afforded to ...
July 12, 2007
Visa Waiver Reform: The Heritage Foundation's Research
By The Heritage Foundation
(WebMemo #1552)
Restricting casual travel with many countries that seek stronger ties to America has hurt the U.S. economy, diminished America's image abroad, and actually foreclosed one ...
July 10, 2007
Deployment-Length Amendment Is First Step Toward "Cut and Run" In Iraq
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1544)
Legislating combat deployment schedules would limit the Commander in Chief's flexibility during war and would be the first step toward cutting and running from Iraq. ...
July 5, 2007
Future Computing and Cutting-Edge National Security
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Andrew Gudgel
(Backgrounder #2049)
Data mining and cognitive computers are powerful tools that could greatly improve the identification, analysis, and decision-making capabilities in homeland security and defense. Congress not ...
July 5, 2007
The War on Terrorism: Habeas Corpus On and Off the Battlefield
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1535)
Extending habeas corpus rights to unlawful enemy combatants would impede military operations, undermine the laws of war, and unnecessarily burden an already fair legal process. ...
June 29, 2007
Ratifying the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty: A Bad Idea in 1999, a Worse Idea Today
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1533)
U.S. ratification of the CTBT would jeopardize the national security of the United States by undermining its nuclear deterrent.
June 26, 2007
Twelve Principles to Guide U.S. Energy Policy
By Stuart M. Butler, Ph.D., and Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D.
(Backgrounder #2046)
The best way to facilitate access to oil and gas and foster new alternatives that work for the U.S. economy while addressing homeland and national ...
June 18, 2007
Visa Waiver Reform: Time for Action
By The Honorable George V. Voinovich
(Heritage Lecture #1032)
The Visa Waiver Program is an important tool that we can use to modernize and improve homeland security, public diplomacy, and economic competitiveness. Expanding visa-free ...
June 18, 2007
Keep Missile Defense on Track in the Senate
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1511)
The Senate should scrap two provisions in its Defense Authorization bill that would block space-based missile defenses and impose unreasonable delays on fielding a missile ...
June 15, 2007
Enduring Alliances Empower America's Long-War Strategy
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Sally McNamara
(Backgrounder #2042)
Enduring alliances should be the centerpiece of America's long-war strategy, but they will require a concerted U.S. effort to facilitate secure travel and interchange between ...
June 12, 2007
Collective Bargaining for Defense and DHS Would Undermine National Security
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and James Sherk
(WebMemo #1498)
Congress considers collective bargaining policies that would empower unions at the expense of national security.
June 8, 2007
"Buy America" Provisions Hurt War Fighters and Taxpayers
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1494)
The House version of the National Defense Authorization Act would restrict the supply of certain specialty metals used in weapons construction to domestic sources. Congress ...
June 8, 2007
Adjusting to the Reality of a Democratic Indonesia
By Walter Lohman
(WebMemo #1495)
House appropriators have charted a strikingly unwise course in slashing and conditioning military assistance to Indonesia. Indonesia is a natural partner for the United States ...
June 7, 2007
Putin's Missile Defense Proposal Leaves Key Questions Unanswered
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1493)
A new openness on the part of Russia to missile defense in Europe? Perhaps.
May 31, 2007
America's Image Abroad: Room for Improvement
By Lisa A. Curtis
(Heritage Lecture #1027)
Recent polls show that large majorities of Muslim populations believe the U.S. seeks to undermine Islam as a religion. Defeating terrorist ideology requires that we ...
May 29, 2007
Four Percent for Freedom: Spend More on National Defense
By Baker Spring
(Executive Memorandum #1027)
The Bush Administration's budget proposal shows the defense budget declining to 3.2 percent of GDP by 2012. Even with robust levels of economic growth, this ...
May 23, 2007
Making Progress on National Guard "Empowerment"
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(WebMemo #1467)
As Secretary Gates acts on the recommendations of the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, Congress must do its part to ensure that those ...
May 21, 2007
Building on the House's National Defense Authorization Act To Ensure Long-Term Readiness
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1462)
Congress should restore funding for Army modernization and missile defense while supporting funding for many other important defense programs and initiatives that will help provide ...
May 18, 2007
Airmen vs. Modernization: The Air Force Budget Dilemma
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2037)
Current operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere have strained the Air Force's ability to man, operate, maintain, and modernize simultaneously, all of which are essential ...
May 14, 2007
The National Security Consequences of Oil Dependency
By Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1021)
The dependence of the U.S. and the global economy on oil is growing, which can have dire consequences for the economic well-being of the United ...
May 11, 2007
International Missile Defense: Challenges for Europe
By Sally McNamara
(WebMemo #1453)
"Third site" installations allow America to extend its own security umbrella and protect its European allies at the same time.
May 11, 2007
Congress's Critical Role in the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) Program
By Baker Spring
(Executive Memorandum #1026)
Post–Cold War security requires a new nuclear weapons policy, operational doctrine, arsenal, and infrastructure. Congress needs to accelerate the Reliable Replacement Warhead program, require a ...
April 27, 2007
Efforts to Deal with America's Image Abroad: Are They Working?
By Lisa Curtis
(Testimony )
The attacks of September 11, 2001, and their aftermath have renewed Washington's focus on the importance of reaching out to foreign audiences, particularly within the ...
April 26, 2007
The Navy Needs to Close the Projected Gap in the Attack Submarine Fleet
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1432)
Attack submarines provide invaluable capabilities to the Navy and the nation, but without action from Congress, the fleet could fall beneath the number needed for ...
April 25, 2007
The Next Steps for Missile Defense
By Baker Spring
(Backgrounder #2028)
Congress and the American people need to understand that, despite recent progress in putting missile defense systems in the field, the U.S. remains largely vulnerable ...
April 13, 2007
Remarks by the Vice President to The Heritage Foundation
By Vice President Dick Cheney
(WebMemo )
Remarks by the Vice President to The Heritage Foundation
April 10, 2007
Four Percent for Freedom: Maintaining Robust National Security Spending
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Baker Spring, and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Executive Memorandum #1023)
Congress and the President should commit to spending 4 percent of GDP on national defense even after any drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan or ...
April 9, 2007
A Step Forward in Reforming the U.S. Arms Export Control Process
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1416)
An industry proposal to streamline the arms export approval process deserves serious consideration by the Bush Administration.
March 27, 2007
Delayed Emergency Appropriations Put U.S. Forces at Risk
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1410)
Further delay by Congress will have serious real-world consequences for U.S. military operations and U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
March 27, 2007
House and Senate Defense Budgets Imply the Need for Future Supplemental Funding
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1411)
Congress needs to support plans to fill the gaps in the defense budget between FY 2009 and FY 2012 and pave the way to sustain ...
March 20, 2007
Why America Is Such a Hard Sell: Beyond Pride and Prejudice
By Juliana Geran Pilon, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1003)
America's greatest contribution to the world is not material but spiritual. Our job is to make it clear, to others as much as to ourselves, ...
March 19, 2007
Navy Transformation: A Stable, Long-Term View
By The Honorable Donald C. Winter, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #1004)
The Navy needs to transform the fleet to be better positioned to meet the challenges of an uncertain future. A nation achieves peace through strength; ...
March 1, 2007
Expanded Missions of the National Guard Demand Expanded Authorities
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1379)
The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves's new report should serve as a starting point when Congress drafts and debates this year's defense bills. ...
February 14, 2007
A "Rucksack" for U.S. Military Personnel: Modernizing Military Compensation
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #1020)
A "rucksack" of health care and retirement benefits that military personnel select themselves and can carry with them would help the Pentagon get the military ...
February 6, 2007
U.S. Navy: Maintaining Maritime Supremacy in the 21st Century
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2005)
The U.S. Navy should increase shipbuilding by finding efficiencies within the current shipbuilding budget, continuing to invest in modernization programs, strengthening and codifying the National ...
February 6, 2007
The Still Enduring Features of the Debate Over Missile Defense
By Baker Spring
(Backgrounder #2004)
The debate over missile defense has shifted from whether missile defense should be pursued as a matter of principle to whether deploying such a defense ...
February 5, 2007
An Adequate Defense Budget That Must Be Sustained into the Future
By Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1342)
The U.S. government will need to devote no less than 4 percent of GDP to defense on a sustained basis to meet the nation’s defense ...
February 1, 2007
China's Anti-Satellite Weapons and American National Security
By The Honorable Jon Kyl
(Heritage Lecture #990)
America's space platforms are the strategic center of its defense architecture, and China wants them eliminated. China's new anti-satellite weapons programs are targeted exclusively on ...
February 1, 2007
A Successful Test Shows the Way Forward on Missile Defense
By Peter Brookes and Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1335)
A big step forward for the U.S.'s leverage against hostile regimes that would develop ballistic missiles.
January 31, 2007
Nine Essential Points for Talking About the War on Terrorism
By James Phillips and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(Executive Memorandum #1019)
Winning the war on terrorism requires understanding the enemy, delegitimizing its view of the world, offering a credible alternative, and demonstrating the will to prevail. ...
January 24, 2007
State of the Union 2007: What the President Should Have Said on Missile Defense
By Peter Brookes and Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1328)
Despite the deployment of launchers in Alaska and California for dealing with the North Korean nuclear and missile threat, more work needs to be done ...
January 23, 2007
Thinking Differently About Winning the Peace
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #987)
Winning the peace is part of fighting and winning the war. Historically, American occupations tend to be ad hoc affairs. We do a poor job ...
January 23, 2007
State of the Union 2007: Increasing the Size Of The Army And Marine Corps
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1321)
Congress should continue its support for growing America's ground forces by funding the President’s proposal to do so.
January 22, 2007
The Conservative Consensus: Frank Meyer, Barry Goldwater, and the Politics of Fusionism
By Lee Edwards, Ph.D.
(First Principles #8)
Frank Meyer, the intellectual father of fusionism, and Barry Goldwater, the first political apostle of fusionism, sought to unite, not divide, all conservatives. Their goal ...
January 5, 2007
Negroponte Departs with Intelligence Reform Still a Work in Progress
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1299)
Much work remains to be done to finish the job of creating the intelligence community America needs.
December 27, 2006
Grow America's Ground Forces and Don't Forget the Reserve Component
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1293)
Increasing endstrength is prudent, and the Reserve component must be a substantial part of any plan to add troops. For Congress, more troops need more ...
December 15, 2006
Evaluating Emergency Supplemental Spending: Advice for Congress
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Mackenzie M. Eaglen, and Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1288)
Congress should use emergency supplemental spending to provide our armed forces in the field with the support they need while being a good steward of ...
December 13, 2006
Giving the National Guard What It Needs for the Future
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(Executive Memorandum #1016)
Congress should carefully consider the National Guard’s needs when deciding policy and provide adequate funding for equipment, personnel, and training. Specifically, Congress should promote the ...
December 8, 2006
The United States: Anticipating and Conducting War, 1939–1942
By Brian McAllister Linn
(Heritage Lecture #981)
Recognition that the military was not the sole, or even the most important, member of the interagency process made officers who helped mobilize the nation ...
December 5, 2006
The Gates Confirmation Hearing: Congress Must Focus on Defense Essentials
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1275)
Prudent confirmation hearings should focus on the near-term issues that can be addressed and will have the greatest long-term impact on national security.
December 5, 2006
Gates Confirmation Hearing Focuses on Right Issues
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1277)
The confirmation hearing of Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense focused on the war in Iraq and the broader war on terrorism, equipment modernization, the ...
November 30, 2006
President's Proposed Visa Waiver Program Reforms Strengthen Fight Against Terror
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Laura P. Keith
(WebMemo #1268)
President Bush’s proposed reforms for the Visa Waiver Program would create better, more flexible security standards and open up business and trade.
November 29, 2006
The Case Against the Draft: The Heritage Foundation's Research
By The Heritage Foundation
(WebMemo #1265)
Heritage Foundation research counters arguments in favor of reinstating the military draft.
November 28, 2006
No Justification for a Military Draft
By Tim Kane, Ph. D.
(WebMemo #1263)
Rep. Charlie Rangel’s three justifications for a military draft are not supported by facts or history.
November 13, 2006
Equipping the Army National Guard for the 21st Century
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #1983)
The Army National Guard currently faces a severe shortage of available equipment within the United States and needs its own modernization program to buy the ...
November 9, 2006
The Pentagon's Inadequate Vision for Safeguarding U.S. Soil: What’s Needed from the Reserve Components
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(Heritage Lecture #975)
National Guard forces ought to large and robust and dual-use, suitable for domestic missions at home and many of the tasks our military is called ...
November 9, 2006
Grassroots Response: Citizens Taking Care of Citizens During Disasters
By The Honorable James Gilmore
(Heritage Lecture #976)
To manage disasters, there needs to be a national strategy, which means a partnership between federal, state, local, private sector, and community leadership for an ...
November 8, 2006
After Rumsfeld: Next Steps for the National Defense
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1251)
Defense priorities for Congress and the next Secretary of Defense.
November 3, 2006
Stupid Soldiers: Central to the Left's Worldview
By Tim Kane, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1244)
John Kerry's gaffe reveals a common belief among the antiwar Left.
October 31, 2006
Private Contractors on Deployed Military Operations: Inter-Agency Opportunities and Challenges
By Matthew Uttley
(Heritage Lecture #972)
Armed forces, especially in the U.S. and U.K. are making increasing use of private contractors to provide military support services. Further study is needed before ...
October 27, 2006
Who Are the Recruits? The Demographic Characteristics of U.S. Military Enlistment, 2003–2005
By Tim Kane, Ph.D.
(Center for Data Analysis Report #06-09)
The all-volunteer force is representative of our nation and meets standards set by Congress and the Department of Defense. Although recent recruiting goals have been ...
October 25, 2006
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