D360’s Bad Ideas in National Security series features short articles from our scholars on recently considered and not too obvious bad ideas in the defense and foreign policy space.
The Budget Control Act of 2011 was intended to promote compromise, yet that has not been the case in practice. Gregory Sanders explains why treating the budget caps as a one-off mistake, rather than a reflection of diminished political capacity, is a bad idea.
It is a bad idea for Congress to pursue a new AUMF without a constructive debate. In this piece, Tommy Ross outlines the importance of addressing critical questions and formulating a debate for any new AUMF legislation.
The idea of space-based missile interceptors is not new nor prohibited, but it is a bad idea. This piece looks beyond the policy arguments and explores the inefficiencies and vulnerabilities of space-based missiles.
Although SOF provides a valued role in performing TAA and security cooperation missions; it is misguided for the defense department to solely rely on SOF. This piece examines the trade-offs of limiting security cooperation missions to SOF.
While de-alerting the U.S. ICBMs is an option for minimizing nuclear risks it does not solve the problems associated with the threat. The authors of this piece outline why it is ill-advised to pursue this option as a solution.
In an environment where budgetary concerns are high, it is normal to consider cost-saving operations. However, this piece explains why it is a bad idea to combine multiple defense acquisition programs with unproven technologies into one program as an attempt to cut cost in defense acquisition.
Intentions are well, but the formation of national unity governments in conflict-ridden states is a cookie cutter idea the U.S. should reconsider using.
The strategy of ‘deal-making’ is a hallmark of the political approach employed by the Trump administration and some in Congress. But a deal-making approach is a simple-minded strategy for public policy that disregards crucial implications and complexities that are inherent in politics, that can have negative implications for national security interests.
There is no doubt that a war with North Korea is a bad idea. In this piece, John Schaus highlights the cost attributed to starting a pre-emptive strike against North Korea and emphasizes the importance of persistent and patient diplomatic efforts.
While the use of drones in West Africa is an operational tool, Alice Hunt Friend contends that they will make the U.S. counterterrorism efforts harder to acquire.