On his way out, Marines’ Berger addresses Force Design critics, Afghanistan and what’s next

On his way out, Marines’ Berger addresses Force Design critics, Afghanistan and what’s next
On his way out, Marines’ Berger addresses Force Design critics, Afghanistan and what’s next

The Marine Corps’ top officer spent part of his week at the Modern Day Marine exposition giving some of his last talks as the commandant.

From an Afghan pilot’s ordeal to an ejection seat conundrum: 5 stories from 2022

From an Afghan pilot’s ordeal to an ejection seat conundrum: 5 stories from 2022
From an Afghan pilot’s ordeal to an ejection seat conundrum: 5 stories from 2022

Beyond actual aviation news, I will continue to mention Taylor Swift in these lists until my editors force me to stop. [Editor’s Note: Fine.]

‘They forget us’: How an Afghan Black Hawk pilot saw his country collapse from the air

‘They forget us’: How an Afghan Black Hawk pilot saw his country collapse from the air
‘They forget us’: How an Afghan Black Hawk pilot saw his country collapse from the air

On the anniversary of the last US evacuation of Afghanistan, Col. Salim Faqiri discusses his harrowing escape from the Taliban and his new, difficult life in the US.

In Afghanistan $7.1B in planes, trucks, weapons seized by Taliban since withdrawal: DOD watchdog

In Afghanistan $7.1B in planes, trucks, weapons seized by Taliban since withdrawal: DOD watchdog
In Afghanistan $7.1B in planes, trucks, weapons seized by Taliban since withdrawal: DOD watchdog

Ground vehicles accounted for the lion’s share of the equipment left behind.

How lessons learned during Afghan withdrawal relate directly to JADC2

How lessons learned during Afghan withdrawal relate directly to JADC2
How lessons learned during Afghan withdrawal relate directly to JADC2

The Afghanistan withdrawal and the consolidation of all in-country military networks to one base at Hamid Karzai International Airport illustrated unique challenges with direct applicability to Joint All Domain Command and Control and future Project Convergences.

SOCOM Head On Global Terrorism: ‘I Think It’s Spread’

SOCOM Head On Global Terrorism: ‘I Think It’s Spread’
SOCOM Head On Global Terrorism: ‘I Think It’s Spread’

“I don’t see a direct threat to the homeland today, but I think it’s something that we have to be aware of,” Gen. Richard Clarke said.

US Conduct In Afghanistan Requires A 9/11 Commission-Style Review

US Conduct In Afghanistan Requires A 9/11 Commission-Style Review
US Conduct In Afghanistan Requires A 9/11 Commission-Style Review

The terrorist attack that killed nearly 3,000 Americans and set the US on a course for war in Afghanistan also prompted a formal commission to deeply examine how the US government allowed the attack to happen. Twenty years later, retired Brig. Gen. James Scott O’Meara argues in this op-ed that a similar commission is crucial…

Afghanistan, China, And The Gray Zone: House Committee Passes Intel Bill

Afghanistan, China, And The Gray Zone: House Committee Passes Intel Bill
Afghanistan, China, And The Gray Zone: House Committee Passes Intel Bill

The bill also requires the IC to share information with the Defense Department’s Unexplained Aerial Phenomena Task Force.

Lessons Learned From Afghanistan: Gen. Mark Milley

Lessons Learned From Afghanistan: Gen. Mark Milley
Lessons Learned From Afghanistan: Gen. Mark Milley

The anguish of dealing with the aftermath of the end of the Afghan war came through clearly in some of Defense Secretary Austin’s testimony. “Did we have the right strategy? Did we have too many strategies? Did we put too much faith in our ability to build effective Afghan institutions, an army, an air force, the police force, and government ministries? We built a state, Mr. Chairman, but we could not forge a nation.”

House Passes NDAA, With $24B In Extra Pentagon Funding and Strings Attached

House Passes NDAA, With $24B In Extra Pentagon Funding and Strings Attached
House Passes NDAA, With $24B In Extra Pentagon Funding and Strings Attached

The NDAA easily passed and now heads to the Senate.

Al-Qaida Fears In Afghanistan, But China Takes Spotlight For IC Leaders

Al-Qaida Fears In Afghanistan, But China Takes Spotlight For IC Leaders
Al-Qaida Fears In Afghanistan, But China Takes Spotlight For IC Leaders

One senior official said he wants his agency to have the urgency about China the way the US had urgency about counterterrorism after 9/11.

Afghanistan Has Been ‘Gut-Wrenching,’ ‘Deeply Personal’ For IC: DNI

Afghanistan Has Been ‘Gut-Wrenching,’ ‘Deeply Personal’ For IC: DNI
Afghanistan Has Been ‘Gut-Wrenching,’ ‘Deeply Personal’ For IC: DNI

“There’s no question that as you pull out… our intelligence collection is diminished,” Haines said. “In Afghanistan, we will want to monitor any reconstitution of terrorist groups.”

Afghanistan Is Not Done With Us; Four Long-Term Dangers Await

Afghanistan Is Not Done With Us; Four Long-Term Dangers Await
Afghanistan Is Not Done With Us; Four Long-Term Dangers Await

  The message was clear, from the mouths of military officials, the State Department and President Joe Biden himself: Aug. 30 marked the official end of the US war in Afghanistan. But, as Mark Cancian writes below, just because the US has decided it is done with Afghanistan does not mean Afghanistan is done with…

JADC2 Implementation Plan ‘Weeks Away’: J6’s Parker

JADC2 Implementation Plan ‘Weeks Away’: J6’s Parker
JADC2 Implementation Plan ‘Weeks Away’: J6’s Parker

“Joint always seems fun until we get into decisions about who governs this,” joked Army CIO Raj Iyer.