Blog Posts

The Islamic State has lost ground in Iraq and Syria and its financial future is in flux. Here are several scenarios for the IS’ future operations, finances, and overall sustainability.

A letter from President John F. Kennedy to his mother, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy, dated 3 November 1962.

Strategy Bridge, Military Leader and From the Green Notebook announce that beginning on May 14th they are hosting a 3 week series focused on the current Draft FM 3-0: Army Operations.

Major Dan Maurer has a new book, Crisis, Agency, and Law in US Civil-Military Relations, scheduled for release by Palgrave Macmillan Press next month.

Continue on for the video. As a colleague related on a closed email discussion group: “As usual, he is interesting, insightful, inflammatory, and everything between.”

“Daesh fighters are dedicated jihadists. Some will die fighting, but others will try to slip away for the next battle. We have to track them down, cell by cell.”

“Mark A. Green serves as a rebuttal to the hyper-partisanship of Washington.”

“Donald Trump inherited bad and worse options for dealing with Syria. This week the President selected one of the less bad ones.”

Most people who have not been a Grunt in combat, they do not appreciate what makes a Grunt smile or what passes for amusing.

“America’s armed forces are undeniably impressive, but Mr. Trump’s veneration of military power and disregard for diplomacy is mistaken.”

U.S. President Trump is expected to announce his Afghan policy later this month and his advisers are reportedly recommending adding up to 5,000 additional American troops.

“The U.S. is convinced that the Kurdish fighters, known as the YPG, are the most effective local force in trying to oust IS militants from their stronghold in Raqqa, Syria.”

“The Regionally Aligned Force Concept can help the Army more effectively undertake its Security Cooperation missions.”

“The military’s top commanders are telling lawmakers that slashing diplomacy would undercut the military.”

“The only one way to make MDB both effective and a reality: Eliminate the independent services.”

They are nameless and ageless but they are forever. They made us what we are and they will determine what we will be.

“Turkey is assembling a contingent of of Syrian Arabs who it insists should lead the offensive to retake IS' stronghold of Raqqa instead of the Syrian Kurdish militia the US favors.”

“President Trump has approved a plan to provide Syrian Kurds with heavier weapons so they can participate in the battle to retake Raqqa from the Islamic State.”

Three The Cipher Brief commentaries on the roles, missions, and state of U.S. SOF capabilities.

“Trump is expected to make a final call on the strategy before a May 25 NATO summit in Brussels that he plans to attend.”

“Chronic conflict between Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the Trump White House has hobbled the nomination process for top Pentagon posts.”

This new CNAS report examines the increasingly small subset of the U.S. population serving in the military and their isolation from the general population.

“Insurgents consolidate power by administering schools and electricity, making dislodging them harder for government and coalition forces.”

The leader of Islamic State in Afghanistan has been killed in a joint raid in eastern Nangarhar province, Afghan and U.S. military officials confirmed Sunday.

“The idea of lateral entry remains under discussion among Marine Corps planners. It would not be the first time.”