The Hog Heads Back to the Sandbox
If you need more proof of American “boots on the ground” in northern Iraq and Syria–both now and in the future–consider this announcement, made yesterday by the Indiana Air National…
The Stunned Ox Look
…Today’s TV review from the DiploMad 2.0, who does a find job demolishing “Madam Secretary,” CBS’s prime-time contribution to Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign; a brief excerpt: finally pulled the…
Throw Clapper Under the Bus
Tim Cavanaugh said it best at National Review: if President Obama really believes what he said about James Clapper, the Director of National Intelligence needs to be fired. For member…
His Brillant, Abbreviated Career
Joe Biden has always liked to brag about his son, Beau, who has been a JAG in the Delaware National Guard since 2003. The younger Biden, who also serves as…
Preparing for the Inevitable?
A lot of Marines live by a maxim that is sometimes referred to as The Five P’s, which fully stated are: “Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.” That holds true for…
Slightly Off Target
A Rhode Island ANG C-130J performs an airdrop demo during an airshow (Matt Hintsa photo at Flickriver.com. The Air Force is taking a bit of heat, for a (slightly) errant…
When You Hit Rock Bottom (and Keep On Digging)
In most failed political campaigns, there comes that moment of desperation when the candidate and their handlers decide to unleash their version of the nuclear option–a television ad that is…
More Medevac from the Hot Zone
An Air Force C-17. The Pentagon plans to acquire airborne isolation chambers which can be loaded onto the transport and airlift up to a dozen troops or aid workers infected…
View from the Turret
A knocked-out Sherman tank, somewhere in France in 1944. The hole in the front was made by a German 88mm shell that passed through the tank and blew out the…
Spies in the Land
It’s been a rough week for key members of the terrorist networks in Syria and Iraq. Last Wednesday, a U.S. airstrike successfully targeted David Drugeon, the French defector who had…
An Abundance of Caution
**UPDATE//4:05 pm** Medical officials in Charleston now say the C-17 pilot is at “no risk” of having Ebola, based on his lack of contact with “anyone in Liberia.” The Air…
Keeping Watch
On this–and every–Veteran’s Day, there will parades and speeches and expressions of gratitude for those who served and those who still wear the uniform. But sometimes, the day’ s real…
Playing with Fire
Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, in the UK Telegraph, on Saudi Arabia’s gambit to curb U.S. shale oil production by letting oil prices tumble–a strategy that may quickly backfire: Saudi Arabia and the…
The Fall Guy
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is being forced out, after less than two years on the job. The New York Times (which received the initial leak from the White House), gladly…
Deadline Time
While the media waits for word from the grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, a much more important deadline is looming. We refer to the Monday deadline for reaching an agreement…
Imagine That
Former CIA Chief and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. A new Congressional report concludes that the Pentagon IG “bungled” an inquiry into Mr. Pantetta’s disclosure of classified information to film makers…
Putin Ups the Ante
Ever wonder how Vladimir Putin might respond to western economic sanctions against Ukraine? Some of his option are readily apparent. Analysts have long believed the Russian leader might limit (or…
And They Wonder Why Troop Morale is So Low
…Hugh Hewitt details the lump of coal Congress is putting in the stockings of military members, just before the holidays: Those commandos who went into Yemen to try and rescue…
Torturing the Truth
For anyone who’s ever been involved in the intelligence game, the past few days have been fascinating, disturbing and illuminating. We refer, of course, to the release of the Senate…
Last of the "Boys"
Present at the birth of broadcast journalism: Richard C. Hottelet (far left) at CBS’s wartime offices in London, 1944. He was joined by Charles Shaw, Larry LeSeur and Edward R.…