Today's Reading Assignment
More than 200 members of Congress are slated to gather at the Pentagon this morning, for a secure video teleconference (TVC) with General David Petraeus, our senior commander in Iraq,…
General Downing's Other Legacy
General Wayne Downing (1940-2007) In five decades of public service, General Wayne Downing accomplished something that is rare in the armed services. He became a hero in the Army (and…
Accuracy in Vick Reporting Dept.
Yesterday, we noted that Atlanta Falcons star (and indicted dog-fighting impressario) Michael Vick had endorsement contracts with Nike and AirTran Airways. While Vick is still with Nike, it turns out…
Real Stories From Iraq
The blogosphere is abuzz about “Shock Troops” a combat “dispatch,” published in the current edition of The New Republic. Supposedly the work of a U.S. soldier serving in Iraq, the…
The Enemy Within
Monday’s edition of USA Today highlights China’s full-court espionage assault on the United States, as illustrated by the case of Chi Mak, the former engineer who passed sensitive defense information…
Half Right
We’ve long expressed our admiration for Ralph Peters. In a military culture still dominated by careerists and organization men (and women), Peters stood out as an original thinker, unafraid to…
The New Hollow Force?
It remains one of the “hallmarks” of Jimmy Carter’s disastrous presidency; the “Hollow Force” of the late 1970s, when U.S. military readiness fell to precipitous lows, limiting our response options…
Terror Dry Runs?
Federal officials have issued an alert to the nation’s airports, asking them to look for possible terrorists, practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft. According to authorities, the warning was…
Meanwhile, Back at Bushehr
Iran’s nuclear power plant at Bushehr (Reuters) A few months ago, we noted a rift between Iran and Russia over the nuclear power plant at Bushehr, which is being built…
Adventures in Defense Acquisition (Airlift Edition)
C-17 Globemaster III (U.S. Air Force image) Three members of the Senate claim that the Pentagon may have violated acquisition rules, by encouraging Boeing to order additional parts for its…