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. …

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. …

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 …

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 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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

10 problems with the Afghan campaign

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander Gen. David H. Petraeus often talks about getting the “inputs” right in Afghanistan, which means having the right mix of …

Libya points to a new era of aggression and turmoil

As these words are written, U.S., British and French warplanes are striking Libyan ground forces along the Mediterranean littoral; American and other …