Author Archive
Defense
Forward Observer: Costs of War
The total tally for the war on terrorism through the Pentagon's fiscal 2010 supplemental comes to $1.12 trillion, with no end in sight.
Defense
Forward Observer: The True Cost Of Assassinations
Lawmakers should look into the cause-and-effect relationship between White House-approved assassinations abroad and retaliatory attacks at home.
Defense
Forward Observer: Just Do It
The Pentagon is moving too slowly on repealing "don't ask, don't tell."
Defense
Forward Observer: Have Guns, Will Travel
Is Congress willing to keep financing wars like the ongoing one in Afghanistan in perpetuity?
Defense
Forward Observer: Unmarked Exit
The question of how to leave Afghanistan is weighing on the Obama administration and dividing lawmakers.
Defense
Forward Observer: Nuclear Time Bomb
Strategy document identifies nuclear terrorism threat as urgent.
Defense
Forward Observer: Gates' Swan Song?
Pentagon chief is clearly fed up with the status quo in the military-industrial-political complex.
Defense
Forward Observer: Rational Defense
The country is spending more than $1 trillion a year on national defense despite fighting only two little wars against enemies with no ships, warplanes or tanks.
Defense
Forward Observer: Kill The F-35?
A defense expert predicts the government will keep the fighter jet alive no matter what, to show taxpayers they got something for their money.
Defense
Forward Observer: QDR is a Quite Disappointing Report
Goal of the strategy document seems to be to avoid ruffling feathers.
Defense
Forward Observer: Weyand's Message
Vietnam general believed that the psychological support of the American people for hard-to-explain wars is far more important than troops, guns, bombers and tanks.
Defense
Forward Observer: F-35 Challenges Gates
Briefing shows it will cost almost twice as much to fly the fighter jets for one hour as it does the existing F/A-18A through D models and AV-8.
Defense
Forward Observer: Back To Tit For Tat
Al-Qaeda and the Taliban will respond sooner or later to Obama's surge, much like the Vietcong did during the escalation of the Vietnam War.
Defense
Forward Observer: Another Looming Disaster
Retired officer says the all-volunteer military "has priced itself out of the market."
Defense
Forward Observer: Atonement
Congressman's book will outline his regrets about voting to let former President George W. Bush invade Iraq.
Defense
Forward Observer: Through Iran's Eyes
Mutually assured destruction might not be enough to keep Iran and Israel at bay if Iran develops a nuclear bomb.
Defense
Forward Observer: Obama the Pragmatist
The president is unlikely to give his generals in Afghanistan everything they want.
Defense
Forward Observer: A Second Chance
Congress needs to reassert its war-making authority and ask the administration's top officials the tough questions on Afghanistan.
Defense
Forward Observer: Lessons Not Learned
Obama will face decisions in Afghanistan similar to those that confronted Nixon in Vietnam.
Defense
Forward Observer: Obama's Defense Reckoning
The president is facing a tough fight over the Pentagon budget.
