First of five parts
In a surprise move this year, the Pentagon has reduced spending for two aerial drones. A version of the RQ-4 Global Hawk will be relegated to storage to be superseded by more capable versions, and future …
BattlelandWeapons
BattlelandWeapons
BattlelandAfghanistan
Killed at Their Desks: The Growth of the (Human) IED Threat — and Mutual Mistrust — in Afghanistan
Saturday’s killing of two U.S. military officers inside the highly-protected Afghan Interior Ministry in Kabul by a Taliban-allied shooter is an apt microcosm of the decade-long conflict. The Pentagon was quick to label the …
BattlelandMilitary Mental Health
Scapegoating Doctors
This is a hard post to write. It is with deep sadness and conflicted feelings that I have learned about the controversy on PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) diagnoses at Madigan Army Medical Center. I want to defend my former …
BattlelandNational Security
Incoming! Facts and Figures on the Reaper Drone
Drones are one of the most exciting innovations to come along in warfare in the last 20 years. But as we saw when the Pentagon recently decided to ground part of its new Global Hawk fleet in favor of Eisenhower-era U-2 manned …
BattlelandClose-up
Battleland Diary, Feb. 18-24
TIME’s photo editors bring you the best pictures from the front lines and home.
BattlelandIraq
Post-War Profiteering
Hard to figure out what is worse: this week’s 6th Annual Iraq Aviation & Defense summit – you can seek contracts by cozying up to purported top Iraq military officials for $2,895 for the two-day event at a swank hotel (lodging not included) – or that the Pentagon is letting it happen just down the street.
The lucre being tossed …
BattlelandIraq
Last Iraq MIA Found
Last month Battleland’s Bingham C. Jamison wrote about Staff Sgt. Ahmed Kousay al-Taie, the last U.S. troop missing in action in Iraq:
There are few things in military life more frustrating than searching for a fellow Marine or soldier you are unable to find and bring home. I know, because I’ve tried, and failed…We must bring
…
BattlelandAfghanistan
Koran-Burning Backlash Seems to Ease
…according to John Wendle of Time:
“…as the sun began to set and temperatures again dropped below freezing, fears of more extreme violence and chaos have proven unfounded. Death tolls ranged from four to 12 across the …
BattlelandChina
Guess That Settles That…
Ground Breaking
BattlelandRussia
This Is Progress? Vlad “Boom-Boom” Putin Echos U.S. Defense Platitudes
Our goal should be to build a fully professional army. Servicemen must have a full package of social benefits adequate to their enormous social responsibility. It’s clear there have been plenty of discussions over the amount and
…
BattlelandAfghanistan
Afghan “Night Raids”: Doing More Harm Than Good?
It seems every big U.S. military mission – from launching a war to killing Osama bin Laden – happens under the cover of darkness. “We own the night,” is a catchphrase often used by the U.S. military. Night-vision goggles …
BattlelandSpecial Operations
