National Defense

$621 Million Air Freshener?

By Marc Comtois | December 2, 2008 |

Harry Reid, so classy: “My staff tells me not to say this, but I’m going to say it anyway,” said Reid in his remarks. “In the summer because of the heat and high humidity, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol. It may be descriptive but it’s true.” Reid was talking about…

On Obama’s disarmament priorities

By Donald B. Hawthorne | October 13, 2008 |

From Power Line: We are now three weeks out from the presidential election, and so far as I am aware Barack Obama has not been asked a single question about the disarmament credo he sets forth in the video… Isn’t it time for someone who covers politics for a living to ask Obama a few…

Review: Your Government Failed You

By Marc Comtois | August 10, 2008 |

Richard Clarke, Your Government Failed You: Breaking the Cycle of National Security Disasters Your government failed you. So said Richard Clarke to the American people during the 9/11 Commission hearings a few years back. Clarke’s resume of over 30 years in the foreign policy arena speaks for itself and adds weight to his point of…

Whitehouse Support FISA, More Liberal Philosophical Gymnastics To Follow

By Marc Comtois | June 30, 2008 |

According to John Mulligan at the ProJo, it looks like Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse will follow the lead of fellow Democrats Jim Langevin, Barack Obama and Jack Reed and vote to approve the FISA bill (Andrew had more details and analysis of the bill here and here). As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen.…

Langevin Takes the Progressive Heat over FISA, will Obama?

By Marc Comtois | June 20, 2008 |

Apparently Congressman Langevin has voted in favor of FISA. Local progressives are apoplectic, throwing around the DINO label (what kind of Democrat is pro-life!). It also seems that the fact that Congressman Langevin is Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee (Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats) is not so much indicative of his familiarity with the issue…

Iraq and the Return of the “Winter Soldier”

By Mac Owens | March 31, 2008 |

On Easter Sunday morning, I appeared on WJAR 10’s News Conference. The topic was the Iraq War after five years and I was paired with a nice young Iraq War veteran, now a Brown student, who opposes the war. I appreciated the work of Jim Taricani and Bill Rappley. The conversation was quite civil. The…

America’s Long War(s)

By Mac Owens | January 20, 2008 |

This past year I had the opportunity to serve as a member of the “Future War” panel of the Defense Science Board 2007 Summer Study. I have distilled my contribution to the final report in this piece for the Foreign Policy Research Insitute (FPRI). In it, I try to lay out some of the challenges…

The New Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard Strategy: A Turning Point in World History?

By Carroll Andrew Morse | October 18, 2007 |

Don’t miss what could be a huge story for the future of the world. Here’s the short version from the Associated Press…It’s being called the first major revision of American naval strategy in 25 years. Maritime officials say they plan to focus more on humanitarian missions and improving international cooperation as a way to prevent…

9/11 Six Years Later

By Mac Owens | September 11, 2007 |

I had a piece in NRO this morning about 9/11 and the meaning of victory. It is here. It’s always important to remember that the war is over when the loser says its over, not the winner.

Petraeus and Crocker

By Mac Owens | September 11, 2007 |

No Such Thing as A Stupid Question? Not So Fast, My Friend! As I watched Gen. Petraeus and Amb. Crocker field questions during the House hearing yesterday, I was reminded of a personal experience. As a young Marine captain, I was assigned to the US Army Field Artillery School to teach artillery tactics. My mentor…