Congress: Drop Sec. 716 — FDA Exemption — From NDAA

Congress: Drop Sec. 716 — FDA Exemption — From NDAA
Congress: Drop Sec. 716 — FDA Exemption — From NDAA

The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act contains billions of dollars and much policy concerning medical research and, of course, matters relating to nuclear, biological and chemical warfare. We don’t cover most of those medical issues except when they relate to NBC issues or raise basic military policy considerations. This is one of those cases. In…

How To Avoid War With North Korea

How To Avoid War With North Korea
How To Avoid War With North Korea

Donald Trump spirals downward. As long as he remains in the White House, we are called upon to do everything in our power to limit the damage he can do. Above all, there is the need to prevent a war of choice to disarm North Korea of its nuclear weapons. There are many reasons to…

Proxy War Protocols: How To Make Syrian Opposition Work

Proxy War Protocols: How To Make Syrian Opposition Work
Proxy War Protocols: How To Make Syrian Opposition Work

If the United States arms the so-called “moderate Syrian opposition” to try and overthrow both ISIL and Bashar al Assad, president of Syria, will it work? A close look at the United States’ long and checkered history backing proxy forces reveals a very mixed record when we arm surrogates. The ledger includes historic fiascos such as the…

President Obama’s Historic Middle East Opportunity

President Obama’s Historic Middle East Opportunity
President Obama’s Historic Middle East Opportunity

President Obama was recently depicted on the cover of The Economist as the new George W. Bush, forced to head back to Iraq. One can correctly argue that the President and his national security team have spent more time distancing themselves from Bush’s administration than looking hard into the future and shaping the strategic space within which…

Flynn’s Last Interview: Iconoclast Departs DIA With A Warning

Flynn’s Last Interview: Iconoclast Departs DIA With A Warning
Flynn’s Last Interview: Iconoclast Departs DIA With A Warning

In this exclusive exit interview with Breaking Defense contributor James Kitfield, the outgoing chief of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, talks about metastasizing Islamic terrorism, his struggles to reform intelligence-gathering, and the risk of lurching from crisis to crisis in an Internet-accelerated world.  – the editors. “Disruptive.” That’s how Michael Flynn’s enemies…

300 US Advisors Heading To Iraq; Obama Pledges To Eye ‘Mission Creep’

300 US Advisors Heading To Iraq; Obama Pledges To Eye ‘Mission Creep’
300 US Advisors Heading To Iraq; Obama Pledges To Eye ‘Mission Creep’

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama today outlined a careful commitment of US forces to Iraq, pledging to watch any “mission creep” as he sends an initial 300 special operations advisors to gauge the strengths, weaknesses and cohesiveness of Iraq’s security forces as they battle the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The U.S., Obama…

The New Great Power Triangle Tilt: China, Russia Vs. U.S.

WASHINGTON: The careful diplomatic stagecraft behind President Barack Obama’s recent European visit to celebrate the 70th anniversary of D-Day and to rally the Western alliance against Russia’s aggression in Ukraine was all but swept aside by strong new currents in geopolitics. While Obama talked tough in Poland to reassure NATO’s vulnerable eastern members, Russian President…

Will Syrian Civil War Mark End to American Militarism?

Will Syrian Civil War Mark End to American Militarism?
Will Syrian Civil War Mark End to American Militarism?

This is James Kitfield’s first piece for Breaking Defense since his departure from his award-winning tenure at National Journal. As one of the best defense reporters around, Kitfield’s specialty has always been spotting the big strategic trend first and writing clearly, simply and persuasively about it. Following is a classic example of his work, which…

Gates on Gates: Can We Overcome His Legacy?

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates has done the nation a service by writing his memoirs, “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War,” providing useful insights into his thinking and approach, as well as giving us a unique look at the working styles of two very different presidents. The book demonstrates why and how Gates has navigated…

DoD Toughens Rules For Combat Contractors

Washington: The rules have changed for the hired guns who work on the Defense Department’s payroll. The rules governing private security contracting firms working in war zones will now cover contractors working in all U.S.-led missions overseas, including humanitarian, peacekeeping or “other military operations” where DoD has boots on the ground, according to an Aug.…

Staying in Iraq? DoD’s Got A Plan For That

Washington: If there is one thing the Pentagon takes really seriously, it’s making plans. It has contingency plans for its original plans and if all else fails, well, there’s a plan for that too. But as far as anyone knows, the U.S. is pulling out of Iraq by the end of this year. So when…