Blog Posts

The latest concerning the Army’s Human Terrain System, now renamed the Global Cultural Knowledge Network.

“The question is how subtle do you want it, how damaging do you want it, how do you try to end it here rather than just ratchet it up?"

“Tehran’s help in securing Syria’s second city is much less to do with re-establishing state sovereignty than about asserting its own agenda.”

“President Obama has been shamefully derelict in making Putin pay a price for his aggression. It’s time to give Vladimir a taste of his own medicine.”

Continue on for a short statement concerning China’s seizure of a US Navy unmanned underwater vehicle in international waters.

"The message for autocratic leaders in the region and elsewhere is that force works — and brings few consequences."

“Low-profile ground deployments show importance of battle to Kremlin.”

"The Pentagon has revised a 2015 manual for waging combat while obeying the international laws of war, tightening rules for when it is lawful to fire on a military target."

Control over U.S. government international broadcasting will be consolidated under a powerful chief executive, under legislation expected to soon be signed by President Obama.

"New U.S. estimates put the number of IS "battle ready" fighters in Iraq and Syria at just 12,000 to 15,000, less than half of what the terror group was able to field at its height."

“Beltway elites scoff at Rex Tillerson’s background in business and his support of the Boy Scouts.”

"Tillerson’s life has been shaped to a profound extent by two institutions: ExxonMobil and the Boy Scouts of America."

“As Obama prepares to step down, a flap has erupted over the secretive commandos who have become his go-to counterterrorist force across the globe.”

This 2015 essay was adapted from statements made by General James Mattis before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

“Proposals include limiting White House operational oversight and giving military more tactical authority.”

“Their views have been heavily influenced over the past 15 years by intensely personal battlefield losses, the country’s waning attention to the wars and an up-close view of a ruthless enemy.”

"Neither you nor Secretary Clinton said much in the campaign about the war in Afghanistan. I don't blame you. It's a complex issue."

“After years of moldering away under post Cold war budget crunches, Putin has spent billions to modernize the Russian arsenal.”

“Congress passed a measure on Thursday that would offer sanctuary to a fraction of the Afghan interpreters and translators who have risked their lives to help the military.”

This CTC report evaluates how the make-up, scale, and scope of the Iraq- and Syria-bound foreign fighter problem has changed over the last decade.

“Using U.S. support to El Salvador during the country’s 12-year civil war as a case study, Ladwig evaluates Washington’s two main strategies for influencing local governments.”

"Ministries of foreign affairs are no longer the exclusive channel for international contacts."

“There is reason to believe that James Mattis would represent a desperately needed voice of reason in the Trump administration's national security team.”

"Despite making regular remarks on the campaign trail disparaging the nation’s generals, Trump has long shown an affinity for them."

"Hmmm. I have some doubts about this. For starters, that $125 billion is over five years. That comes to $25 billon per year."