US Opinion and Commentary

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‘General’ Concerns About Trump’s National Security Team

Posted December 6th, 2016 at 1:28 pm (UTC-4)
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As President-elect Donald Trump’s list for secretary of state grows, so do questions about others in his national security team. Specifically, the number of generals Trump is surrounding himself with.

Trump has named two retired generals to his team: Michael Flynn as national security adviser and James Mattis as defense secretary. Two other retired generals and a retired admiral are being considered for national security team positions.

The specific issue is Mattis retired from the Marine Corps in March 2013. U.S. law requires seven years of separation from active duty for any secretary of defense. For Mattis to be appointed, Congress would need to waive the requirement.

The U.S. Constitution empowers the President of the United states with the duties of Commander-in-Chief, ensuring civilian control of the military and the government. How might the presence of top military brass in the cabinet room impact the Trump administration?

How Gen. David Petraeus Gets It, And Hillary Clinton Still Doesn’t

Posted October 9th, 2015 at 11:04 am (UTC-4)
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We recently learned that Hillary Clinton and David Petraeus recently shared secret emails. But they are bound by more than just a chain of communications. Both are accused of misusing their classified emails. One has come clean, admitting mistakes. The other can’t seem to admit a mistake or tell the whole truth, and it’s only getting […]

Petraeus’ Plan to Defeat Islamic State Won’t Work

Posted September 2nd, 2015 at 4:29 pm (UTC-4)
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The key problem with Petraeus’s idea is that the U.S. may no longer have any chance of being “credible” in Syria. Four years after the crisis began, U.S. support for groups fighting the Assad regime has slowed. Those moderate groups that haven’t been crushed or coopted by Islamic groups feel abandoned by Washington.