Shield of the Republic Arms Control is Dead
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Feb 16, 2026 They roast recent administration blunders and problematic diplomatic picks. They preview the Munich Security Conference and debate U.S. tone there. They examine New START’s lapse and whether arms control has collapsed. They weigh prospects for more U.S. strikes on Iran and analyze Starlink shutdowns affecting Russia and Ukraine. They close with troubling revelations about Epstein and possible national-security links.
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Munich Still Shapes Transatlantic Strategy
- The Munich Security Conference remains the premier forum for transatlantic security dialogue despite growth into a Davos-like event.
- Eliot A. Cohen and Eric Edelman say who the U.S. sends matters more than the spectacle of the conference.
Europe Is Hedging Over U.S. Nuclear Guarantees
- European leaders are hedging as U.S. commitment feels uncertain, prompting talks about alternate deterrence arrangements.
- Eric Edelman warns this could shift Europe's nuclear posture and the NATO bargain.
Modernize To Preserve Negotiating Leverage
- Accelerate U.S. nuclear modernization so negotiating partners see inducements to join talks.
- Eliot A. Cohen urges modernizing forces and command-and-control to preserve deterrence and bargaining power.