President Obama
“Tonight we pay tribute to the Americans who still serve in harm's way. We are forever in debt to a generation whose sacrifice has made this country safer and more respected. We will never forget you, and so long as I'm commander-in-chief, we will sustain the strongest military the world has ever known.”
Hey, Mr. President: Here’s How to Really Help Hurting Vets
I was initially excited by President’s Obama executive order entitled Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families. But then I was disappointed as I read the details.
The …
Army Life: The Waiting Never Ends
They say war is long stretches of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror – or maybe excitement. Two recent military photos illustrate the point. In one, a lonely soldier awaits attack by the enemy. In the second, …
Countdown to Sequestration: Four Months to Go
Gosh, we started this countdown five months ago, and darned if the nation’s “leaders” have made absolutely no progress toward dealing with the country’s fiscal mess. As you may recall, last year’s Budget Control Act set …
“Only 1% of Americans may wear the uniform, but 100% of Americans need to be supporting you and your families 100%.”
“For the sake of the Syrian people, the time has come for President Assad to step aside.”
Sequester: Muster the Bluster
Many have predicted that the January 2, 2013 “sequester” of $55 billion out of the $620+ billion Pentagon budget for 2013 would cause a lot of noise, even hysteria, during the presidential and congressional elections.
How right they were. But as usual, the politicians, the advocates and the pundits are paying attention to themselves, …
Rocky Road from Air Force to Ambassador
The latest issue of the Air Force’s Air & Space Power Journal complains that the service’s promotion system leaves a lot to be desired, and quotes from its own officer’s training guide to prove it:
“Throughout the
…
A Congressional Insider on Why the U.S. Political System Is Broke
Mike Lofgren came to Washington to work on Capitol Hill 30 years ago, when Ronald Reagan was rebuilding America’s “hollow military” after its Vietnam hangover, and the Cold War was in its final throes – although we didn’t know it yet. He spent 28 years working for Congress, the last 16 as a senior analyst on the House and …
“Don't Ask Don't Tell: Gay soldier and fellow (straight) soldier who served together in Iraq or Afghanistan (ideally the straight soldier was helped by the gay soldier, i.e., medic, in fire fight).”
Countdown to Sequestration: Six Months to Go
This is our fourth monthly flag of the impending sequestration: if Congress and the President can’t agree on $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction over the coming decade, whack: automatic cuts begin January 2. Half that sum – about $600 billion – would come from national-security accounts.
The story line remains the same: the GOP …
Cyber Warfare Treaty: DOA, Thanks to President and Pentagon
Misha Glenny making a smart case in the New York Times for a cyber arms control treaty, but it won’t happen.
Why?
For the same reason why the U.S. has refused – for many years now – to engage other great powers on a treaty …