Archive for June, 2011

It’s time to reassess the use of contractors in combat zones

In Iraq and Afghanistan, the use of contractors reached a level unprecedented in U.S. military operations. The presence of contractors on …

Choosing the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

In deciding on his nomination for his first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), President Obama will inevitably have been …

At their peak in the summer of 2008, there were more than 160,000 Defense Department-hired contractors in Iraq, outnumbering troops by some 8,000. In Afghanistan, about 90,000 contract employees are providing services …

For remotely piloted aircraft, current wars are the beginning of an era

We recently saw the 20th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm and, in a few months, will mark the 10th anniversary …

Distinctions between military and civil services are unnecessary

Talk about the whole-of-government or comprehensive approach to complex operations such as post-conflict reconstruction often emphasizes that lasting success requires capabilities beyond those provided …

For lacking a communications plan with Pakistan that might have helped reduce, if not remove, the embarrassment the Osama bin Laden raid caused Islamabad. Another consequence of the White House’s undisciplined approach …

The commander in chief should set out goals for the next SecDef

Barack Obama might ultimately rival Lincoln, JFK and Reagan as among the greatest communicators to hold the office of president. …

The reserve component has become an indispensable part of the operational force

The 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review directed that a “comprehensive review of the future role of the Reserve Components” be undertaken. …

Implications of Watson on military operations

“Open the pod bay doors, HAL.”

— “2001: A Space Odyssey”

Released in 1968, the movie “2001: A Space Odyssey” depicts a super-intelligent computer, HAL, performing …

For its coordination of the remarkable Operation Neptune’s Spear, which identified Osama bin Laden’s location and resulted in his death. Meshing together a plethora of military and counterterrorism information and assets into …