The Spy Who Stayed in the Clink
As part of the Obama Administration’s “deal” with Cuba, the Castro brothers not only get normalized diplomatic relations, an American embassy in Havana, and billions in trade to prop up…
Here it Comes…
Call it the “Ghost of Christmas yet-to-come,” or a lump of coal in some future holiday stocking. If you’re a military retiree, be forewarned: the “smart” boys and girls in…
The Last of the Dead
Final hours: Clifford Olds (r), a sailor on the USS West Virginia,celebrates with shipmates on the evening of 6 December 1941. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor less than 12…
Great Moments in American Journalism (Cowardice Edition)
Cartoonists around the world are reacting to the horrific terrorist attack on the Paris office of Charlie Hebdo, the French satirical weekly that dared to lampoon Islam (among other subjects).…
Rethinking "The Hack"
Barely 11 days ago, the FBI announced they had identified the chief culprit behind the hack of Sony Pictures, which delayed the release of a major holiday film, and exposed…
Traced to Pyongyang
When Sony Pictures was hacked late last year, there was considerable speculation as to the groups–or nation–that was responsible for the cyber-attack. After the FBI became involved, the agency quickly…
The "New" Retirement Scheme
The military’s 20-year retirement plan, with benefits payable immediately after two decades of honorable service, may soon be a thing of the past. A DoD panel which has been studying…
The Right Cut
Kudos to Michael Bay for doing the right thing. The Hollywood producer and director announced yesterday that he will delete footage of a 1994 B-52 crash from an upcoming film…
The Truth Squad
If Brian Williams thought his lying scandal would soon end, he was sadly mistaken. One week after the NBC anchor retold his false tale of being in a helicopter that…
Remember that Military Education Crisis?
It was one of the hottest topics in higher ed less than three years ago. Amid reports that military members and veterans were being “victimized” by colleges targeting the armed…
One Year On….
With the one year anniversary of the Veterans Administration scandal at hand, it’s remarkable how little attention is being paid by the mainstream media. What a coincidence. One exception is…
Loose Lips (You Know the Rest)
The gang at The New York Times is back again, with another breathless exclusive that jeopardizes American strategy–and lives–in a war zone. According to reporters Matthew Rosenberg and Eric Schmitt,…
Closer to the Action
With the recent execution of that captured Jordanian pilot by ISIS, the U.S. is taking steps to improve survival prospects for other aviators who are downed in terrorist-controlled territory. According…
The Fabulist and the Reporter
Then and now: Bob Simon in Vietnam; Brian Williams in Iraq. There were a couple of reminders this week regarding the state of American journalism. One reminded us of what…
Religious Science
Ever wonder why the Muslim world has contributed relatively few scientific breakthroughs since the 13th century? Or that the number of Nobel laureates from Trinity College, Cambridge (32) is far…
Lone Survivor
On June 6, 1944, Bob Sales–and many other soldiers from central Virginia–were on landing craft heading for the beaches of Normandy and an appointment with destiny. They already knew their…
Hollywood's Forgotten Hero
Lt Wayne Morris in the cockpit of his F6F Hellcat during World War II. The Hollywood actor served as a Navy fighter pilot in the Pacific, shooting down seven Japanese…
Hillary's E-mail Problem
The final act in David Petraeus’s fall from grace played out yesterday, when the retired four-star general agreed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of removing and retaining classified…
The Hollow Shoot-Down Threat
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Washington–and his speech to a joint session of Congress–the charges and recriminations between the U.S. and Israel are flying fast and furious. It’s…
Serenade to the Iron Horse
Above, the HC-130P Iron Horse, tail number #62-1863, begins its final flight to retirement at the boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ; below, the same aircraft in its previous configuration as…