Ink Spots

Ink Spots is a blog dedicated to the discussion of security issues across the spectrum of conflict and around the world. Our contributors are security professionals with interests and expertise ranging from counterinsurgency, stability operations, and post-conflict environments to national security strategy, security cooperation, and materiel acquisition. We hope this site will be a forum for discussion on both the issues of the day and broader, long-term developments in the security sphere.

Ten years of war

Grant aid to Egypt: the more things change...

Without getting into the whole "should we cut off aid to Pakistan?" thing...

Am I missing something here? (More on development and security)

The legend of COIN as essential CT enabler: the bin Laden exemplum

Want to see what the quotidian militarization of foreign policy looks like?

The can-do kids: a Pentagon counterfactual

Dick Holbrooke, a dedicated servant of his country, dead at 69

Demanding good governance vs. meddling in internal affairs (UPDATED)

Probably the best thing to come out of Congress this year (not that that's saying much)

The farce of Pakistan's counterterrorist F-16s

Iranian rebel leader received U.S. backing

Top Taliban commander captured (UPDATED)

Attempts to address lack of continuity and expertise hampered by lack of continuity, expertise

A question for those who think the Afghan war is essential to maintaining stability in Pakistan

The limits of cooperation

Stupid question, unbelievable answer

Hitchens going off the deep end?

The soundtrack to the descent into chaos?

Brave new world, same as the meek old world