Blog Posts

"There is an entire unit at USSOCOM dedicated to lessons learned. But those who don’t work there can learn a lot via a new book."

"In an acknowledgment of severe shortcomings in its effort to create a force of moderate rebels in Syria, the Pentagon is drawing up plans to revamp the program."

"We were blindfolded by our conventions of seeing extremism as a product of male violence. That is not true. Extremism is very much a systemic thing in which women have been involved."

Former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell joined NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” In this interview he addressed the fight against ISIS.

"The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps projects Iranian military power across the Middle East. But it has become entangled in protracted conflicts that are testing its limits."

"Secretary of State Kerry expressed U.S. concern about reports of Russia's enhanced military buildup in Syria in a telephone call Saturday with his Russian counterpart."

"The situation is so dire that some analysts told VOA they worry the 'good guys' might never catch up."

Continue on for the video, H/T John Q. Public

Updated throughout the day (and night), 7 days a week. Check it out.

"At a time of constrained budgets, shuffling fiscal priorities, and escalating global instability, national defense choices must be as maximally informed as possible."

"IS has intensified its systematic destruction of treasured ruins, destroying pieces of an ancient city. They claim to be destroying idols, is that the whole story?"

"President Johnson and his team deserved honest analyses in order to optimize their decision-making during the 1960s. President Obama and his team deserve the same today."

Lowy Institute lecture with General David Petraeus, U.S. Army retired.

"Weapons experts say the systems on display showed hallmarks of China’s reputation for stealing technology and adapting it to its requirements."

"A relentless stream of tanks, ballistic missiles, and goose-stepping soldiers paraded into Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Thursday in a massive display of military strength."

What’s the Greatest Threat to U.S. National Security? New York Times Room for Debate, Five Op-Ed pieces.

"Reading political science can usefully complicate and enrich practitioners’ thinking about how the world works."

"Why, after 14 years of spilling blood and treasure, is Afghanistan still mired in turmoil? Because its success is nobody's top priority."

“To take down the so-called Islamic State in Syria, the influential former head of the CIA wants to co-opt jihadists from America’s arch foe.”

"Writing the definition of Army profession was easy; now we need the training program to support it."

"The military's U.S. Special Operations Command is bracing for a new book about its most secretive units, sending out warning letters to special-forces operators."

"The politicization of intelligence is not new, but despite the lessons learned, the mistakes keep getting repeated."

“Adversity, they say, makes strange bedfellows. This is especially true in the contemporary Middle East.”

"Is the United States at war? Even our top leaders do not know."

"

The dissemination of the correct interpretation of Islam is one way Islamic scholars could help defeat al-Shabab, according to a VOA panel discussion held Saturday in Nairobi."