WASHINGTON: In a clear sign that China really is the Biden administration’s tracking threat against which much of its strategy, budget and policy will be forged, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today approved a classified directive ordering the military to shrink the gap between what it says and what it does regarding China. “The efforts I…
By Colin ClarkEverything from social media to military advisors to open war is a potential tool of great power competition, Gen. James McConville writes — and the Army plays a vital role across that entire spectrum.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.“The last thing Congress intended when creating the Space Force was to end up with four different space forces,” says CSIS’s Todd Harrison in a new analysis promoting a roles and missions review.
By Theresa HitchensBiden’s order directs the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to include climate risk assessments in developing a new National Defense Strategy, due in 2022, along with the Defense Planning Guidance, the Chairman’s Risk Assessment, “and other relevant strategy, planning, and programming documents and processes.”
By Paul McLearyThe confirmation of the first African American SecDef comes after Avril Haines was confirmed Wednesday as the first woman to serve as Director of National Intelligence
By Paul McLearyAustin and Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken both praise allies, slam Trump admin. handling of alliances across the globe
By Paul McLearyThe congressional calendar and strategic inertia may come together to keep the defense budget relatively high. The calendar helps because the fiscal 2021 defense budget will likely be passed while Congress is in a free-spending mood.
By Mark CancianMac Thornberry, the top Republican on the largest committee in Congress, has long pressed for changes his colleagues didn’t yet see as necessary. I’ve covered him for a long, long time and remember when he pressed hard with then-Sen. Dan Coats to make the services fight and train much more closely together. Their vision resulted…
By Rep. Mac Thornberry“When the services say that 2022 is really the year of NDS implementation, they are putting lipstick on a pig,” says one analyst.
By Paul McLeary and Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.“Creating a more range-balanced, survivable, and lethal force will require a commitment by DoD and the Congress to significantly increase the Air Force’s annual budgets,” CSBA says.
By Theresa HitchensWhile Washington warns of conflict with Iran, some former Trump administration officials complain the persistent problems in the Middle East are hurting the promised reset to meet Chinese, Russian challenges.
By Paul McLeary“We need that partnership with customers on the DoD side where they’re willing to take a step forward with us in understanding that neither one of us knows the ultimate answer.”
By Paul McLeary
Opponents of defense spending may cite the economic consequences of COVID-19 — huge deficits and ballooning national debt— in an effort to slash the Department of Defense’s budget. If they succeed, American military supremacy will erode further, inviting aggression from adversaries and decisively undermining American security.
By Bradley Bowman