Outside the Beltway

A group of former special operations and intelligence officers are criticizing President Obama for “Dishonorable Disclosures.”

For the first time in 80 years, there are no veterans on the major party Presidential tickets.

Tammy Smith has been promoted to brigadier general, thus becoming the first American general officer who also happens to be openly gay.

The Obama campaign is challenging an Ohio law that gives members of the military three extra days to vote. They have a very persuasive argument.

The White House and the Pentagon are buildings, not unitary actors.

Virginia has been offering ID cards to military veterans to make it easier to prove that they’re military veterans for months now.

The Fort Hood shooter is being ordered to shave his beard or have it forcibly removed. It’s rather silly.

In a stunning reversal of policy, DOD is allowing soldiers to march in a gay pride parade in uniform.

The people trying to undo the Defense Budget sequestration cuts are making some pretty weak arguments.

Once again, a pundit has come up with the boneheaded idea of reinstating the draft.

Congress seems to have gotten the message the Supreme Court sent last month about the Stolen Valor Act.

The US Supreme Court has struck down the Stolen Valor Act, which made it a federal crime to lie about military honors, on free speech grounds.

From one Nobel Peace Prize winner to another.

Are the Stuxnet and Flame attacks the opening shots in a dangerous new era of secret war?

Two centuries ago, a war that makes less and less sense with the passage of time began.

Mitt Romney believes he could take America to war without Congressional involvement.

US Army Special Forces are the best we have at working with far-flung villagers. Are they good enough?

After a decade of war, suicides are surging among American troops.

In March, Janet Wolfenbarger became the first female four-star general in Air Force history. Now, she’s assumed command of all Air Force weapons programs.

NASA was in need of new telescopes and got a helping hand from their good pals at the DoD.

Health care is eating up 10 percent of the Pentagon’s budget and rising fast.

The United States may have slowed down Iran’s nuclear program without firing a shot–not counting the one at our own foot.

The first shots have been fired in cyberspace. How will it end?

You have Martin Luther King’s statue in your office, but you are sending these unmanned drones out, and bombs are dropping on innocent people.

Political disagreements about war are no reason to dismiss the sacrifices of those who have died for our country.

For the first time in 68 years, neither major party candidate for President has served in the military. Does this matter?

In office less than a day, Francois Hollande has already been forced to admit he can’t withdraw French forces from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

Another example of Republican foreign policy taking precedence over fiscal conservatism.

My first piece for The New Republic, “Why the Obama Administration’s Drone War May Soon Reach a Tipping Point,” is up.

Some Navy SEALs are weighing in on the brouhaha.

We seldom blame presidents for bold actions that go wrong. We despise them for appearing weak and indecisive.

Should the United States Navy name a ship after martyred gay activist Harvey Milk? This is not a rhetorical question.

My latest for The National Interest,Insurmountable Obstacles in Afghanistan, has been posted.

The commander of Fort Knox has canceled a Ted Nugent concert after the rocker’s recent rant about President Obama.

Some Marine women are going to Infantry Officers Course. Here’s how to make it work.

The consequences of ten years of war?

The story of Ensign Chuck Lord may be the greatest—or perhaps only—prank in Pentagon art history

American revolutionary leader George Washington has been voted the greatest enemy commander to face Britain, lauded for his spirit of endurance against the odds and the enormous impact of his victory.