Andrew Exum

Biden Is Right About Saudi Arabia

The president is sacrificing his values in the interests of something we haven’t seen much of in the past two decades: realism.

• Andrew Exum
• June 12, 2022

Putting Armed Veterans Into Schools Is Madness

Politicians need to stop turning to the military to solve every problem.

• Andrew Exum
• June 8, 2022

Western Support for Ukraine Has Peaked

The honeymoon that Ukraine’s leaders have enjoyed with the West will not last.

• Andrew Exum
• June 1, 2022

We Need to Learn to Live With Guns

A passive Congress and hostile judiciary leave Americans with little choice but to change the culture of firearms.

• Andrew Exum
• May 25, 2022

The Russian Military Has Descended Into Inhumanity

The brutal war crimes being documented in Ukraine are a warning Americans should heed.

• Andrew Exum
• April 6, 2022

I’m Freezing Cold and Burning Mad in Texas

The state’s power outages have revealed the difference between performative governance and actually governing.

• Andrew Exum
• February 17, 2021

Counterinsurgency Isn’t the Answer

Be wary of those who seek to apply the lessons of our campaigns abroad to our political challenges at home.

• Andrew Exum
• February 5, 2021

Iran Loses Its Indispensable Man

The killing of Qassem Soleimani robs the regime of the central figure for its ambitions in the Middle East.

• Andrew Exum
• January 2, 2020

The Best Athlete Americans Have Never Heard Of

American pro athletes face pressure to stick to sports. Australia’s David Pocock has a different idea.

• Andrew Exum
• October 13, 2019

U.S. Arms Sales to the Gulf Have Failed

Despite spending billions of dollars on hardware, our regional partners don’t have the capabilities we need.

• Andrew Exum
• June 21, 2019

How to Really Honor the Troops

Thousands of soldiers have successfully led combat units without committing atrocities. Pardoning war crimes dishonors them.

• Andrew Exum
• May 13, 2019

One Morning in Baghdad

Fifteen years after the U.S. invasion, there’s no satisfying answer to the question: What were we doing in Iraq anyway?

• Andrew Exum
• March 20, 2018

America's Gun-Culture Problem

Since the September 11 attacks, attitudes around weaponry have transformed into something unhealthy.

• Andrew Exum
• March 5, 2018

The Burden of Trump's National-Security Staff

Those toiling inside this administration are fooling themselves if they think they can somehow rise above the character and temperament of this president to shepherd this country through to a more normal time.

• Andrew Exum
• February 19, 2018

Military Parades Are a Waste of Time and Money

The troops would be better served doing almost anything else to improve combat effectiveness.

• Andrew Exum
• February 8, 2018

Shawn Brimley's Town

Washington, D.C., can be an easy city to mock or resent—but it’s full of workers who’ve given up opportunities to serve something larger than themselves.

• Andrew Exum
• January 11, 2018

What Trump Got Right in Foreign Policy in 2017

For one thing, the Islamic State is largely defeated.

• Andrew Exum
• January 4, 2018

The Hubris of Hezbollah

How the militant group will fumble into the next Middle Eastern war.

• Andrew Exum
• September 18, 2017

How Mattis May Get Himself in Trouble With Trump

The secretary of defense could run afoul of his boss if his review of the policy on transgender troops follows the facts to their conclusion.

• Andrew Exum
• August 31, 2017

When Will Enough Be Enough in Afghanistan?

At some point, a president might have to acknowledge to the military: We fought hard, but we have other, greater priorities elsewhere.

• Andrew Exum
• August 22, 2017