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-5)
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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?

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What America’s Big New Defense Plan Gets Wrong

Posted June 2nd, 2016 at 12:09 pm (UTC-5)
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DoD’s leaders recently identified autonomy and artificial intelligence technologies as the core elements of what they believe our new overmatch will be….But before the Third Offset flies too far, we need to ask the critical question: whether we are soaring in the right direction.

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Securing Whose Future? Militarism in an Age of Climate Crisis

Posted May 16th, 2016 at 11:53 am (UTC-5)
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Regardless of the advocates and detractors, climate change is being entrenched into US military policy; a process that will almost certainly continue no matter who is elected in the next US president….the military concern with climate change is about ensuring its future ‘operationability’, rather than because it has become enlightened and decided to ‘go green’.

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Republicans Won’t Stop Saying Our Military is Weak

Posted February 22nd, 2016 at 2:25 pm (UTC-5)
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Americans should not equate a commander-in-chief’s decision not to use the military with the military’s lack of readiness or its ineffectiveness. Rather, this is the intended outcome of the framework of the Constitution, whereby elected civilians, and those serving under them, exercise control over where the military will be used.

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America’s Military is Getting Deadly Serious about China, Russia, and North Korea

Posted February 10th, 2016 at 2:39 pm (UTC-5)
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The Third Offset Strategy is about retaining America’s lead in military power in the face of potential challenges by Russia, China, North Korea and others. The strategy takes aim at enemy vulnerabilities and weak spots with plans to exploit them in wartime.

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Draft Our Daughters

Posted December 24th, 2015 at 8:28 am (UTC-5)
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As a combat veteran and the father of two young daughters, I embrace the expansion of Selective Service. In Afghanistan and Iraq, women played integral roles on the front lines as members of cultural support teams. High-ranking female officers already hold leadership positions in all branches of the military.

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The Army We Have. The Army We Need.

Posted December 22nd, 2015 at 3:12 pm (UTC-5)
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Most of those running for president say more must be done to defeat ISIS. And more usually equals more military might. In the United States, military service is a choice, not a requirement. While all men must register with the Selective Service System at age 18, there has not been a military draft in 42 years. But that has not stopped some from suggesting its return, for reasons ranging from raising the competency level of the military to improving the country’s social fabric. Many argue that compulsory service would make politicians think twice about going to war. Does the U.S. has the military it needs? And what are the needs of the military it has?

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U.S. European Commander on Russia, Women in Combat

Posted December 10th, 2015 at 8:27 am (UTC-5)
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General Ben Hodges, Commanding General of the U.S. Army in Europe, discusses the threat posed by Russia, the situation regarding Ukraine and the new policy of opening all Army positions, including combat, to women.

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Women Can Go to War

Posted December 7th, 2015 at 10:43 am (UTC-5)
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[M]ilitary culture will need to change … It will demand higher levels of professionalism that will result in a better experience for all parties, including service members and the people they serve and protect. The integration will do out with a macho culture and in with an intellectual and inclusive one.

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Obama Just Signed a Blank Check for Endless War in Afghanistan

Posted October 15th, 2015 at 7:24 pm (UTC-5)
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While Obama suggested that the Afghan military is “fully responsible for securing their country,” his decision to maintain US troops levels effectively guarantees that the United States will remain deeply involved in Afghanistan until after the president leaves office in early 2017.

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Defense Secretary Ash Carter on New Timetable for US Military in Afghanistan

Posted October 15th, 2015 at 7:09 pm (UTC-5)
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Carter said the decision to delay withdrawal of American troops sends “a strong message to the international community that the United States is committed to Afghanistan.”

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