News Discussions

How can historical perspectives on technology and war inform current policy decisions in defense and innovation?

This exclusive Cogs of War interview is with Bret C. Devereaux, an ancient military historian and Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at North Carolina State University. As one of the earliest detailed records of how technology drives war and statecraft, Thucydides’ history proves a valuable guide to the human element for strategists and practitioners amid a time of great technical change. Thucydides is often described as a founder of the discipline of history, a writer who sought to explain events through causes rather than divine will or myth. In his effort to establish this new kind The post What Thucydides Really Thought About Technology and War appeared first on War on the Rocks

What are the potential impacts of the ongoing protests in Iran on domestic policies and international relations?

Semi-official Iranian media say two police were killed in a western town, as videos show security forces firing guns and tear gas at crowds elsewhere

What are the possible effects of Iran's support for Hezbollah on peace and security in the region?

By Laila Bassam, Tom Perry, Samia Nakhoul and Maya Gebeily BEIRUT, March 21 (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) rebuilt Hezbollah's military command after it was mauled by Israel in 2024, plugging gaps with Iranian officers before restructuring the Lebanese group and laying plans for the war it is now waging in support of Tehran, two people familiar with these IRGC activities said

What should be done to protect civilians in conflict areas like Gaza during military actions?

Gaza’s civil defence agency said on Tuesday that 10 people, including a toddler, were killed in separate Israeli strikes in the north of the enclave. Violence has persisted despite an October 10 ceasefire. A strike on a police vehicle in Gaza City killed four people, including a child, and wounded others

What are the benefits and risks of US military involvement in joint drills in the Philippines?

What are the important factors to consider when discussing the opening of the Hormuz Strait?

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure told reporters Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz needs to reopen "but not at any price," adding that G7 leaders stand ready to mitigate the economic fallout from war. The Middle East war erupted after US-Israeli strikes targeting Iran on February 28, prompting Tehran to virtually block the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation. Energy prices have soared since, with the strait being a key waterway for oil and gas transit

What are the different views on the treatment of prisoners in Israel and Palestine?

Nearly 10,000 men, women and children are held in Israeli prisons, a third without charge or trial

How can middle powers like Canada and Australia work together to make a positive impact in the world?

What are the possible effects of the US's actions in Iran on peace and safety in the region?

The United States may need to "escalate" its attacks against Iran to be able to wind down the war, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday, after President Donald Trump gave seemingly contradictory trajectories for the US military campaign. Trump on Saturday threatened to "obliterate" Iranian energy plants if Tehran did not fully open the pivotal Strait of Hormuz, just a day after saying US objectives were "very close" and that he was considering "winding down" the war

What should the international community do to help improve the situation in Sudan after three years of conflict?

The world’s worst humanitarian crisis threatens to engulf the wider region

What should the international community do to support Ukraine and prevent further violence?

Major attack comes just hours after Putin's forces hit Ukraine with more than 380 drones and missiles

What should be done about the treatment of journalists who report on corruption in different countries?

The two journalists had published a report alleging corruption by a local official in southwestern China, rights group RSF said, adding that the case shows how hostile the country has become to independent reporting