Micah Zenko
Douglas Dillon Fellow
Expertise
Conflict prevention; U.S. national security policy; military planning and operations; nuclear weapons policy
Programs
Center for Preventive Action
Featured Publications
Douglas Dillon Fellow Micah Zenko analyzes the potentially serious consequences, both at home and abroad, of a lightly overseen drone program and makes recommendations for improving its governance.
See more in United States, Wars and Warfare
In this globalized world, countries will need to cooperate on policies that extend across borders to address issues that affect them all, including conflict prevention and peacemaking. The authors of this report assess the strengths and weaknesses of international institutions and provide a set of practical recommendations for how the United States can strengthen the global architecture for preventive action by partnering with those organizations.
See more in United States, International Organizations, Conflict Prevention
Last August, the Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney performed what has become a quadrennial rite of passage in American presidential politics: he delivered a speech to the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
See more in National Security and Defense, Wars and Warfare
All Publications
Micah Zenko argues that it is time for President Obama to reform U.S. drone policy.
See more in United States, Pakistan, Defense/Homeland Security
Douglas Dillon Fellow Micah Zenko analyzes the potentially serious consequences, both at home and abroad, of a lightly overseen drone program and makes recommendations for improving its governance.
See more in United States, Wars and Warfare
Micah Zenko says, "Similar to everyday choices like which brand of cereal to buy, how senior military officials present and characterize military options strongly influences policymakers' decisions."
See more in United States, Defense/Homeland Security, Presidency
In the past, U.S. officials have been less than eager to define a specific redline for the Iranian threat. While setting a March deadline could provide more certainty and coercive leverage to compel Iran to cooperate with the IAEA, it also places U.S. "credibility" on the line, says Micah Zenko.
See more in United States, Iran, U.S. Strategy and Politics
Micah Zenko says, "Like Dick Cheney 21 years ago, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has engaged in an exhaustive effort to avoid both sequestration and any further reductions in the Pentagon's budget. The distinction between Panetta and his predecessors, however, is in the tactics he has employed to protect his bureaucratic turf."
See more in United States, Defense Policy and Budget, Congress
Throughout the Middle East, Micah Zenko finds blistering criticisms of U.S. foreign policy alongside serious misunderstandings about the limits of American power.
See more in United States, Middle East, U.S. Strategy and Politics
On the subject of targeted killings, Micah Zenko says nations must be transparent about their adherence to international law and defend attacks' proportionality.
See more in United States, Defense Strategy, Defense Technology
In this world of grave uncertainty and looming threats, it is unlikely that the United States will ever have a peacetime president again, says Micah Zenko.
See more in United States, Defense Strategy, Wars and Warfare, Presidency
Micah Zenko says no matter who wins in November, the United States should get ready for ten more years of drones.
See more in United States, Defense Technology, Presidency, U.S. Election 2012
Michael A. Levi and Micah Zenko say nuclear terrorism, however unlikely, is one of the few prospects that could truly devastate the USA, and there are still steps that the U.S. can take to reduce the odds of a catastrophic attack.
See more in United States, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Weapons of Terrorism
Micah Zenko says regardless of who wins the election in November, there are five core principles of U.S. foreign policy that are widely held on both sides of the aisle. However, these principles also rest on shaky ground and often undermine U.S. national interests.
See more in United States, National Security and Defense, Presidency
Micah Zenko says that while it's admirable for senior defense leadership to adopt a forward-looking approach, the U.S. military cannot predict where future conflicts will emerge and where they will be deployed to fight.
See more in United States, Defense Strategy
Micah Zenko says, in the aftermath of the attacks in Benghazi, President Obama faces tremendous pressure to "do something" in response, but force won't stop another attack.
See more in Libya, United States, Counterterrorism, Foreign Policy History
Micah Zenko says even though telling the United States that it should be more scared of Iran has failed so far, Israeli officials will continue to sound the alarm about a nuclear-armed Tehran, with the ultimate objective of changing America's threat perception.
See more in United States, Iran, Israel, Weapons of Mass Destruction
Micah Zenko says leave the "better off" question aside and look at safety, "The reality is that, across a range of criteria, Americans are indeed safer and more secure than four years ago."
See more in United States, National Security and Defense, U.S. Election 2012
Micah Zenko examines the public comments of John Brennan, Obama's closest adviser for intelligence and counterterrorism issues, and finds that there are seven half-truths and direct contradictions between stated U.S. policies and actual practices.
See more in United States, Defense/Homeland Security, Counterterrorism
Micah Zenko says John Brennan, chief adviser to President Obama on counterterrorism issues, has a unique and unprecedented role in shaping and implementing the president's vision for protecting the United States, its allies, and its interests from politically motivated violence.
See more in United States, Counterterrorism, Presidency
Ahead of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Discovery Channel's "Shark Week," Micah Zenko counts down ten things that kill more people than sharks.
See more in United States, Public Health Threats, Health
Micah Zenko argues that U.S. targeted killings campaign is a short-term tactic, not a long-term solution to enduring political or security challenge.
See more in United States, Defense Technology
Micah Zenko says that the debate over domestic surveillance is heating up, but it's not time to panic.
See more in United States, Defense Technology