The Deadliest Combination
Not bad for a group infamously described as the terrorist “jayvee” team. According to The Wall Street Journal, ISIS’s recent capture of Ramidi revealed a new level of tactical sophistication…
If a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words…
..then the one below should remove any doubts about the gravity of the current situation in the Middle East, and the failure of U.S. leadership: The gentleman on the left…
Body Count
While reports from the war zone run contrary to the spin in Washington, members of the Obama Administration are quite happy to tell you: we are winning the war against…
At Least They Didn't Puke
The Navy’s Blue Angels occasionally put a local reporter in the backseat of one of their F/A-18s and take them up for a spin. They’re called “media rides” and they…
The Mother Lode
Take a look at this: it’s the Standard Form 86, also known as the Questionnaire for National Security Positions. Anyone who has ever held a security clearance knows it well;…
Bad-to-Worse
Remember the outrage that accompanied last year’s scandal at the Veteran’s Administration. Everyone from President Obama was in high dungeon over revelations that dozens of vets died while waiting for…
Burned Out
An article in The New York Times confirms what many in Air Force and military aviation circles have know for years: the relentless tempo of UAV operations around the world…
Pay No Attention to the Terrorist Behind the Curtain
In case you missed it, there was a rather remarkable exchange today on CBS This Morning. Former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morrell was a guest; nothing really remarkable about that,…
Rapid Reaction?
In recent weeks, NATO has been trumpeting the creation of its new “Very High Readiness Joint Task Force,” aimed (in part) at deterring future aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin.…
Anything But Routine, Redux
Two days ago, former Deputy CIA Director Michael Morrell said there was “nothing routine” about warnings of possible ISIS attacks in the CONUS during the 4th of July weekend. At…
The Army Plays the Education and Economic Cards
Supporters of Common Core, the much-maligned effort to set national education standards–have picked up an unusual and (potentially) important ally: the U.S. Army. But don’t look for a ringing, public…
Dogfighting
An F-35 and F-16. A recently-published summary of a mock dogfight between the two jets has raised questions about the F-35’s ability to survive in a within-visual-range battle, but it…
The Capitulation
Hearing news of the Iran deal this morning, I immediately thought of Winston Churchill and his dire warning from 1938, when European diplomats and political leaders were determined to appease…
The Meaning of Trump
Today’s reading assignment is from Professor William Jacobson of Cornell Law School, writing at National Review. He clearly understands why Donald Trump’s message is resonating with voters, even if the…
The Bonus Option
An Air Force drone pilot (top) and sensor operator at work. The USAF has announced plan for larger retention bonuses, hoping to keep more pilots in the UAV force, with…
Going After McCain
Members of the GOP Elite (GOP-E) are again counting down the expected implosion of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Initially, it was thought the billionaire’s run for the White House would…
Defeating "The Ultimate Smart Weapon"
**UPDATE//20 July** In the wake of last week’s attack on the military recruiting station in Tennessee, U.S. Northern Command has directed recruiters to “close their office blinds” for added security.…
Taking Offense
Fresh from her latest, insufficient explanation regarding the classified information that was sent through her private system, Hillary Clinton desperately tried to change the subject this morning. Hoping to avoid…
Does Mrs. Clinton Have Another Missing Form, Redux
Hillary Clinton’s e-mail scandal–like a bad computer virus–simply won’t go away. The latest revelation merely confirms what many have suspected from the start: Mrs. Clinton’s private e-mail network–clearly designed to…
Scapegoating 101
It may not be Rule #1 at the highest levels of federal government, but it’s certainly in the Top 10, and it goes something like this: if a recent event…