Trump's Budget Deal Helps the Military (But the Fight Isn't Over)

February 12, 2018 · Military Budget, Donald Trump, Today's Blogs

The bipartisan budget deal sealed by Congress in the early hours of February 9 was a win for the Pentagon—but not as big a win as it might initially appear. Having jacked up the defense top-line for this fiscal year and next, defense hawks in Congress will be tempted to congratulate themselves for…

Not Too Cold, Not Too Hot

September 8, 2017 · Afghanistan, War on Terror, Hal Brands

In the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001, George W. Bush worried less about rallying the nation to action against the terrorist threat than about warning an enraged public that the campaign would not end anytime soon. The president referred to the emerging “global war on terror” as a…

The Military Buildup We Need

March 1, 2017 · magazine_repost, Eric Edelman, Military

Foreign policy, Walter Lippmann wrote, entails "bringing into balance, with a comfortable surplus of power in reserve, the nation's commitments and the nation's power." If a statesman fails to balance ends and means, he added, "he will follow a course that leads to disaster."

Restoring Solvency

February 24, 2017 · Eric Edelman, Military, DOD

Foreign policy, Walter Lippmann wrote, entails “bringing into balance, with a comfortable surplus of power in reserve, the nation's commitments and the nation's power." If a statesman fails to balance ends and means, he added, "he will follow a course that leads to disaster."