Vital Interests
This is the archive page for Vital Interests, which is no longer actively sending. Once each week, Thomas Joscelyn, who is sought out by the nation’s top foreign policy and national security policymakers, sent a deeply researched but highly readable analysis of American power on the world stage.
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Why the Worldwide Threat Assessment Hearings Matter
What we don’t learn when politics gets in the way of the intelligence committee.
What You Won’t Learn From the NYT Op-Ed by the Taliban’s Deputy Leader
The author is a designated terrorist closely allied with al-Qaeda. That's not mentioned. Neither is al-Qaeda.
Are We Headed Toward an Ignoble End in Afghanistan?
The question is less about when to leave and more about how to do so without further emboldening the Taliban.
How China’s Quest for Dominance Is an All-Encompassing Threat
Xi Jinping seeks geopolitical, military, and economic superiority.
Why We Need to Worry About China and 5G
The Chinese have taken the lead on this important technology while also building a surveillance state. What could go wrong?
The Good, the Bad, and the Never-Going-to-Happen of the China Trade Deal
Plus, who’s in charge of ISIS these days?
The Good, the Bad, and the Never-Going-to-Happen of the China Trade Deal
Plus, who’s in charge of ISIS these days?
How to Understand Our ‘Great Power Competition’ With China
It’s important, but it’s not the only national security issue.
Coming soon
Welcome to Vital Interests, a weekly analysis of threats to American security. Brought to you ...