Donald Trump: Breaking With The Past (The Beltway Ain’t Happy)

Donald Trump: Breaking With The Past (The Beltway Ain’t Happy)
Donald Trump: Breaking With The Past (The Beltway Ain’t Happy)

President Trump is breaking with the past. He’s arguing that Washington must cut its losses, withdraw its forces, climb out of the Middle Eastern and Afghan money pits, and acknowledge that Seoul (with U.S. backing) won the war on the Korean Peninsula. Washington hates him for doing these things, but most Americans and future generations of Americans will love him for it.

Mr. President, Leave Syria

Mr. President, Leave Syria
Mr. President, Leave Syria

No one knows precisely what happened inside the White House that resulted in President Trump’s sudden about-face on Syria. One day he was planning to extricate American ground troops from Syria; then he wasn’t. Regardless, whoever is urging the president to leave a small contingent of 2,000 lightly armed soldiers and Marines in a remote corner of Syria is doing the president and the nation a grave disservice. 

Army Modernization Needs Experimental Force

Army Modernization Needs Experimental Force
Army Modernization Needs Experimental Force

The Army says it’s learned its lessons from more than two decades of failed acquisition. Its Big Six will work. The service will build the weapons it needs to overmatch the Russians and Chinese and it will do it at reasonable speed and cost. Doug Macgregor, a retired Army colonel famous for his penetrating analyses and critiques of the Army he loves, isn’t buying it. Why? Read On, dear reader! The Editor.

AUSA’s Carter Ham To Macgregor: Futures Command Will Work

AUSA’s Carter Ham To Macgregor: Futures Command Will Work
AUSA’s Carter Ham To Macgregor: Futures Command Will Work

Army Futures Command will not become a comfortable resting place for platoons of old generals. Rather, I think the secretary and the chief expect Futures Command to be the engine of innovation for the Army.

Why Are We Buying The Army’s Big Six? What Will They Do?

Why Are We Buying The Army’s Big Six? What Will They Do?
Why Are We Buying The Army’s Big Six? What Will They Do?

The last time the US Army tried to modernize it spent $20 billion buying the Future Combat System, which was cancelled as it foundered. Is the Army repeating the same mistakes with its Big Six?

Battle For Army’s Soul Resumes: Lessons From Army After Next

Battle For Army’s Soul Resumes: Lessons From Army After Next
Battle For Army’s Soul Resumes: Lessons From Army After Next

History never repeats, but it often rhymes, and a wise man listens to the echoes. Today, the Army is exploring a new concept of future combat called Multi Domain Battle, which calls for small, agile units designed to overwhelm the enemy with coordinated actions not only on the land, but in the air, on the sea,…

Can The Air Force Innovate? Snake Clark And Buzz Moseley

Can The Air Force Innovate? Snake Clark And Buzz Moseley
Can The Air Force Innovate? Snake Clark And Buzz Moseley

Many observers of the US military would agree that the best ideas are often not to be found among its generals and admirals. If you want to find good and disruptive ideas in the military, you get to know the majors and colonels. One of the standard comments you’ll hear about smart colonels is that they…

What Should Congress Do About Ukraine?

Poland suddenly reappeared in 1919, 120 years after it vanished from the map of Europe, sowing confusion at the Versailles Peace Conference as the great powers tried to heal the wounds of World War I. The British questioned the legitimacy of the new Polish State and the French were suspicious of Polish ambitions. Frustrated with…

Five Rules for Defense Spending

Five Rules for Defense Spending
Five Rules for Defense Spending

  In 1796 Thomas Jefferson said there were two types of American political parties, “One which fears the people most, the other fears the government.” In domestic politics the contemporary American political divide is equally wide and Americans should not expect their elected leaders to change course one iota. National defense is different. There is a…

Budget Deal: Does the Pentagon Really Need An Extra $20 Billion?

Budget Deal: Does the Pentagon Really Need An Extra $20 Billion?
Budget Deal: Does the Pentagon Really Need An Extra $20 Billion?

Much of official Washington likes the budget deal struck this week by Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Paul Ryan, chairs of the two chambers budget committees. No more stupid and debilitating showdowns. No more federal shutdowns. Perhaps Congress can actually do what it is expected to do and pass some spending bills. At least we…

Debt Deal Nails DoD Budget; HAC Must Cut Another $19B

UPDATED Washington: Few things seem certain at this point from the budget deal struck yesterday. One point that three Hill sources agree on is that the Defense Department budget may well be frozen at or near 2011 levels. That means, a professional Hill staffer says, that the House Appropriations Committee will need to find another…