The Case for Donald Trump on National Defense

The Case for Donald Trump on National Defense
The Case for Donald Trump on National Defense

Throughout this presidential campaign, the candidates have barely discussed the most important elements of national security, the United States’ armed forces. We’ve tried to flesh things out, with the excellent force structure and budget analyses done by Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Analyses. But Mark had to work with very few…

Trump Proffers Pentagon Specifics: $60B More To Boost Troops, Ships

Trump Proffers Pentagon Specifics: $60B More To Boost Troops, Ships
Trump Proffers Pentagon Specifics: $60B More To Boost Troops, Ships

When Donald Trump discussed his defense program in Philadelphia on Wednesday, the bluster and lunacy of the primary season were gone and he offered a scripted position paper that reflected (mostly) mainstream Republican ideas. There is still lots one might disagree with, but the discipline of the teleprompter meant that he read a staff-prepared paper that put…

Five Tough Cyber Questions for Trump And Clinton

Five Tough Cyber Questions for Trump And Clinton
Five Tough Cyber Questions for Trump And Clinton

This presidential primary process has been a huge (or, yuge) disappointment. The most disappointing aspect, perhaps, is the failure of the candidates to address the details of their budgetary and defense strategies, and in particular, the cyber security policies they will pursue as Commander-in-Chief. The party platforms may offer more information about Donald Trump’s and Hillary…

Clinton’s Defense Spending: Vague But More Hawkish Than Obama

Clinton’s Defense Spending: Vague But More Hawkish Than Obama
Clinton’s Defense Spending: Vague But More Hawkish Than Obama

This completes our series on the initial defense plans of the major presidential contenders for the 2016 election. Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies will keep his eye on Clinton and Trump’s campaign as we get more details (presuming we do) and analyze them. Read on. The Editor Hillary Clinton really,…

Lunacy, Bluster & Unanswered Questions: Trump On Defense

Lunacy, Bluster & Unanswered Questions: Trump On Defense
Lunacy, Bluster & Unanswered Questions: Trump On Defense

Sen. John McCain, a stalwart defense Republican, has come out against GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying he shares the concerns expressed today by fellow former GOP presidential Mitt Romney and 65 GOP national security leaders “about Mr. Trump’s uninformed and indeed dangerous statements on national security issues…. “At a time when our world has never…

Cruz Wants $750B For Defense: Boost Services, Not Special Ops

Cruz Wants $750B For Defense: Boost Services, Not Special Ops
Cruz Wants $750B For Defense: Boost Services, Not Special Ops

Ted Cruz now leads Donald Trump in at least some national polls. So when the senator offered a fairly detailed military blueprint for his presidency on Tuesday, CSIS defense budget analyst Mark Cancan jumped on it. He ran Cruz’s assumptions and numbers through CSIS’ Force Cost Calculator. What did he find? Read on. The Editor. In…

Feel The Bern! What A Sanders’ Military Might Look Like

Feel The Bern! What A Sanders’ Military Might Look Like
Feel The Bern! What A Sanders’ Military Might Look Like

Here’s a thought experiment. What if Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders becomes president? What would a Sanders defense program look like? Yes, yes, a near win in Iowa does not a presidential nominee make. Even though he’ll probably win in his neighboring state of New Hampshire, there is a long slog to the convention. Then there is…

GOP Candidates Pledge To Fix Unready, Rudderless US Military

GOP Candidates Pledge To Fix Unready, Rudderless US Military
GOP Candidates Pledge To Fix Unready, Rudderless US Military

WASHINGTON: The men who urgently want to be commander in chief of the United States military offered a glum vision of the state of the armed services last night. Jeb Bush: In this administration, every weapon system has been gutted, in this administration, the force levels are going down to a level where we can’t…

Fiorina’s Plans Require DoD Spending Boost Of $100B

Fiorina’s Plans Require DoD Spending Boost Of $100B
Fiorina’s Plans Require DoD Spending Boost Of $100B

We are approaching the presidential primaries, the silliest of the political silly seasons. Magical thinking abounds as candidates appeal to their bases with few constraints on the promises they make or the sentiments they espouse. So it is with defense issues, as the presidential candidates, a group of highly accomplished people (yes, even Donald Trump),…