Micah Zenko

Micah Zenko is the co-author of Clear and Present Safety: The World Has Never Been Better and Why That Matters to Americans.

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Articles by Micah Zenko
<> on November 4, 2011 in Fort Carson, Colorado.
<> on November 4, 2011 in Fort Carson, Colorado.

Republicans Won’t Stop Saying Our Military Is Weak

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Micah Zenko
DORAL, FL - OCTOBER 23: Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump attends a campaigns rally In Florida at the Trump National Doral on October 23, 2015 in Doral, Florida. Trump leads most polls in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. (Photo by Johnny Louis/FilmMagic)
DORAL, FL - OCTOBER 23: Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump attends a campaigns rally In Florida at the Trump National Doral on October 23, 2015 in Doral, Florida. Trump leads most polls in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. (Photo by Johnny Louis/FilmMagic)

Hail to the Hugely Classy Commander-in-Chief

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Micah Zenko
AMES, IA - JULY 18: Republican presidential hopeful Senator Ted Cruz of Texas fields questions at The Family Leadership Summit at Stephens Auditorium on July 18, 2015 in Ames, Iowa. According to the organizers the purpose of The Family Leadership Summit is to inspire, motivate, and educate conservatives. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - JULY 18: Republican presidential hopeful Senator Ted Cruz of Texas fields questions at The Family Leadership Summit at Stephens Auditorium on July 18, 2015 in Ames, Iowa. According to the organizers the purpose of The Family Leadership Summit is to inspire, motivate, and educate conservatives. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The Best Worst Quotes of 2015

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Micah Zenko
President Barack Obama May 1, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama May 1, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

The Crisis Manager’s Cheat Sheet for 2016

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Micah Zenko
An injured Syrian man makes his way through debris following a reported air strike by government forces in the rebel-held area of Douma, east of the capital Damascus, on November 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / SAMEER AL-DOUMY (Photo credit should read SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP/Getty Images)
An injured Syrian man makes his way through debris following a reported air strike by government forces in the rebel-held area of Douma, east of the capital Damascus, on November 7, 2015. AFP PHOTO / SAMEER AL-DOUMY (Photo credit should read SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP/Getty Images)

The U.S. Air Campaign in Syria Is Suspiciously Impressive at Not Killing Civilians

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Micah Zenko
<> on February 19, 2009 in Fairfax, Virginia.
<> on February 19, 2009 in Fairfax, Virginia.

Inside the CIA Red Cell

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Micah Zenko
QALANDERABAD, AFGHANISTAN - MARCH 22: A U.S. Air Force C-17 drops parachutes of military supplies which blew off course, landing on an opium poppy field on March 22, 2009 next to a U.S. Marine base in remote Qalanderabad in southwest Afghanistan. The opium crop was slightly damaged when the airdrop of supplies blew off target, parachuting on to some of the crops and crushing them. The Marines assured the irate Afghan farmer that he would be paid for his damaged poppy in compensation for the accident. The Taliban often extorts a percentage of the profits from the farmers' harvest to fund attacks on American forces, according to the military. U.S. Marines, however, have no mandate to destroy poppy crops and, in fact, rely on local farmers for information on Taliban activities. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
QALANDERABAD, AFGHANISTAN - MARCH 22: A U.S. Air Force C-17 drops parachutes of military supplies which blew off course, landing on an opium poppy field on March 22, 2009 next to a U.S. Marine base in remote Qalanderabad in southwest Afghanistan. The opium crop was slightly damaged when the airdrop of supplies blew off target, parachuting on to some of the crops and crushing them. The Marines assured the irate Afghan farmer that he would be paid for his damaged poppy in compensation for the accident. The Taliban often extorts a percentage of the profits from the farmers' harvest to fund attacks on American forces, according to the military. U.S. Marines, however, have no mandate to destroy poppy crops and, in fact, rely on local farmers for information on Taliban activities. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Your Official Mission Creep Timeline of the U.S. War in Syria

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Micah Zenko
A Yemeni boy (C) walks past a mural depicting a US drone and reading " Why did you kill my family" on December 13, 2013 in the capital Sanaa. A drone strike on a wedding convoy in Yemen killed 17 people, mostly civilians, medical and security sources said, adding grist to mounting criticism of the US drone war. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED HUWAIS (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images)
A Yemeni boy (C) walks past a mural depicting a US drone and reading " Why did you kill my family" on December 13, 2013 in the capital Sanaa. A drone strike on a wedding convoy in Yemen killed 17 people, mostly civilians, medical and security sources said, adding grist to mounting criticism of the US drone war. AFP PHOTO/ MOHAMMED HUWAIS (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED HUWAIS/AFP/Getty Images)

The Intercept’s ‘Drone Papers’ Revelations Mandate a Congressional Investigation

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Micah Zenko
US National Security Advisor Susan Rice (C) looks on alongside US President Barack Obama (2nd L) during a bilateral meeting with Philippines President Benigo Aquino (not in picture) at Malacanang Palace in Manila on April 28, 2014. Obama landed in the Philippines on April 28 to cement new defence ties on the last leg of an Asian tour conducted against a backdrop of territorial tensions between US allies and China. AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
US National Security Advisor Susan Rice (C) looks on alongside US President Barack Obama (2nd L) during a bilateral meeting with Philippines President Benigo Aquino (not in picture) at Malacanang Palace in Manila on April 28, 2014. Obama landed in the Philippines on April 28 to cement new defence ties on the last leg of an Asian tour conducted against a backdrop of territorial tensions between US allies and China. AFP PHOTO / Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

Leaning From Behind

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Micah Zenko, Amelia Mae Wolf
hacker
hacker

6 Things Washington Doesn’t Get About Hackers

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Micah Zenko
WEST POINT, NY - MAY 28: U.S. President Barack Obama enters the stadium at West Point to give the commencement address at the graduation ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy on May 28, 2014 in West Point, New York. In a highly anticipated speech on foreign policy, the President provided details on his plans for winding down America's military commitment in Afghanistan. Over 1,000 cadets are expected to graduate from the class of 2014 and will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
WEST POINT, NY - MAY 28: U.S. President Barack Obama enters the stadium at West Point to give the commencement address at the graduation ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy on May 28, 2014 in West Point, New York. In a highly anticipated speech on foreign policy, the President provided details on his plans for winding down America's military commitment in Afghanistan. Over 1,000 cadets are expected to graduate from the class of 2014 and will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The Existential Angst of America’s Top Generals

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Micah Zenko
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 3: Defense Undersecretary for Policy Christine Wormuth and Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of the U.S. Central Command leave for a break during the House Armed Services Full Committee hearing on "The President's Proposed Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ISIL and U.S. Policy, Strategy, and Posture in the Greater Middle East" in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 3, 2015 in Washington, D.C. President Obama is asking Congress for approval on his war against the Islamic State. (Photo by Gabriella Demczuk/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 3: Defense Undersecretary for Policy Christine Wormuth and Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of the U.S. Central Command leave for a break during the House Armed Services Full Committee hearing on "The President's Proposed Authorization for Use of Military Force Against ISIL and U.S. Policy, Strategy, and Posture in the Greater Middle East" in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 3, 2015 in Washington, D.C. President Obama is asking Congress for approval on his war against the Islamic State. (Photo by Gabriella Demczuk/Getty Images)

The Big Winners of the Iran Nuclear Deal

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Micah Zenko
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: (R-L) Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker, former commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Admiral Eric Olson (Ret.), former director of U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Michael Leiter testify during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee February 11, 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony on the situation in Afghanistan. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 11: (R-L) Former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham, former U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker, former commander of U.S. Special Operations Command Admiral Eric Olson (Ret.), former director of U.S. National Counterterrorism Center Michael Leiter testify during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee February 11, 2015 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony on the situation in Afghanistan. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The National Commission on the War on Terrorism Is Hereby Called to Order

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Micah Zenko
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: Armed British Transport Police officers patrol the Eurostar platforms at St Pancras railway station on January 8, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. France is on maximum security threat level after twelve people were killed, including two police officers, at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 08: Armed British Transport Police officers patrol the Eurostar platforms at St Pancras railway station on January 8, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. France is on maximum security threat level after twelve people were killed, including two police officers, at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

Terrorism Is Booming Almost Everywhere But in the United States

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Micah Zenko
LASHKAR GAH, AFGHANISTAN - APRIL 03: An American supervisor from the DynCorp security contractor watches Afghan forces cut opium poppies on April 3, 2006 near Lashkar Gah in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan. Afghan forces are feverishly working to eradicate the poppy fields before the harvest begins in the next month. The Taliban reaps huge profits from protecting the opium trade, according to Afghan officials. Afghanistan produces up to 85 percent of the world's opium and Helmand province almost half of that. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)
LASHKAR GAH, AFGHANISTAN - APRIL 03: An American supervisor from the DynCorp security contractor watches Afghan forces cut opium poppies on April 3, 2006 near Lashkar Gah in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan. Afghan forces are feverishly working to eradicate the poppy fields before the harvest begins in the next month. The Taliban reaps huge profits from protecting the opium trade, according to Afghan officials. Afghanistan produces up to 85 percent of the world's opium and Helmand province almost half of that. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

The New Unknown Soldiers of Afghanistan and Iraq

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Micah Zenko
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