It’s been nearly two years since Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans and other southeastern areas. Hurricane Dean is approaching the coast of Mexico and is predicted to sweep into Texas. If Dean doesn’t turn into “the next big one,” some other hurricane will. When that happens, how much will response agencies have learned from Katrina?
Roguely Stated
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Vetting Support for Veterans
The Bush administration is hampering a Congressional effort to pay veterans’ full educational costs, reports the Blotter via ThinkProgress. This comes on the heels of a presidential commission report on veteran medical services. Check out the Washington Post coverage of the Dole-Shalala commission. In response to Dole-Shalala, President Bush said, We owe our wounded soldiers [...]
Containing Iraq
Missing the forest for the trees We need more discussion about Iraq at a grand strategic level, rather than at a purely operational or tactical level. As many uniformed officers have said, we have tactical successes on a daily basis. If General Petraeus’ surge yields results, as it well may, we will have achieved a [...]
Squaring off, and Squaring the Circle: national security in the Democrats’ youTube debate
Scattered amidst the questions about planes, trains, and Hillary Clinton’s wardrobe in the Democratic YouTube debate were a handful of thought-provoking national security questions. Don’t get me started on the total absence of a question committed to Afghanistan… Let’s take a look at what we heard from the key contenders.
Running down the clock on Iraq
There’s a time in dead-heat sports matches when a coach has to decide whether to push for the win, focusing all his attention and his players’ energy on the next few minutes, or to run down the clock and start investing in an overtime victory. That decision is hard enough, but perhaps the greatest challenge [...]
O Military President, Where Art Thou?
The U.S. has a long tradition of presidents with military background — all in all, approximately 75% of American presidents. War-time presidencies are also a significant American tradition, laden with special responsibilities and often a special relationship with the public. There has been surprisingly little discussion about the absence of military candidates for 2008.
Dems throw a jab at Bush for Libby commutation … but where’s the knock-out punch?
Independence Day brings two key elements of the American conscience into sharp relief. First, the history of establishing independence and a new form of government, based truly on the people’s power. It is, in a sense, a celebration not just of independence, but also of the rule of law, of a government held in check [...]
Mr. Roboto goes to war?
What do you get when you cross a robot that vacuums floors with a stun gun? One step closer to robots that can choose to exercise lethal force, says John Pike, director of the military research organization GlobalSecurity.org. The military-industrial complex has already come a long way in robot R&D, but Thursday marked another step [...]
Lugar pulls the plug; Kilcullen holds up hope
Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), minority leader on the Foreign Relations Committee, reversed his long-time support of the Iraq war earlier this week, advocating for a major shift in U.S. strategy and a draw-down of troops as soon as possible. David Kilcullen, Senior Counterinsurgency Advisor for the Multinational Force in Iraq, returned from nearly six weeks [...]
RS Morning Brief, 6/26/2007
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: more maneuvering in the Middle East; Brig.-Gen. says Iraqi security forces will need several years to be self-sufficient; Iraqi and Iranian leaders and senior officials to meet; Iran and North Korea take small steps forward on nuclear nonproliferation.
Abu Ghraib and the Chain of Command
In a new New Yorker article, long-time investigative journalist Seymour Hersh delves deep into the months before the Abu Ghraib scandal broke in the media. He probes a report by General Taguba, who was responsible for investigating the role of military police in Abu Ghraib. As the war in Iraq drags on and other military [...]
RS MORNING BRIEF, 6/18/2007
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: Palestinian emergency government pushes back on Hamas; Europe and Israel support Palestinian moderates; Gen. Petraeus predicts years ahead in Iraq; Congress reconsiders U.S. nuclear strategy; former DHS Secretary Ridge on immigration; GOP endorsing Iraq Study Group; Report: Britain entered fighting in Afghanistan to slow down [...]
Dude, where’s my exit strategy? Lieberman’s drive-by on Iran.
First, Vietnam. Then, Iraq. Next, Iran? If you have an exit strategy for getting out of this pattern, now’s your time to shine.
RS MORNING BRIEF, 6/11/2025
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: Lieberman hawkish on Iran; new strategy against Al-Qaeda in Iraq; Powell: close Guantanamo; British PM visits Iraq; profile on U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker; Israel launches satellite; Iraqi Parliament ousts speaker.
RS MORNING BRIEF, 6/10/2025
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: Pentagon plans for long-term in Iraq; Bush for independent Kosovo; Karzai survives assassination attempt; Pope and Bush talk Iraq; GAO to study Pentagon; Iran threatens U.S. Mideast bases; Iraqis fighting Al-Qaeda.
Breaking: Pace Out as Chairman of Joint Chiefs
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has just announced that he will not be looking to Gen. Peter Pace to serve another term as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Read more: WaPo, NYT, LA Times, AP.
RS Morning Brief, 6/2/2025
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: Engagement with China; diplomacy with Iran; Lebanon’s siege in Palestine; and, the hunt for WMD in Iraq.
Ukrainian Tango?
It takes two to tango, but it only takes one to hire a band, strike up the music, and – if they’re pushy enough – drag a partner onto the dance floor. Maybe all the talk of a renewed Cold War is too much hype. But with missiles over Moscow and political upset in Ukraine [...]
RS Morning Brief, 5/30/2007
A roundup of the day’s national and international security news: tough love on immigration; Zoellick in the bank; Peres running for president; Iran stands firm on enrichment; Russia tests missile; and stricter sanctions on Sudan.
Time for House Dems to Take a Breather?
House Democrats have been beating down the door on Iraq withdrawal in louder and stronger terms with every passing day. Their recent strategic push – “strings-attached” appropriations bills – pits the power of the purse against “support our troops.” It’s a battle the Dems may not win.