President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Six Responses to Six Scenarios

Yet another call for military intervention in domestic politics.

President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead) President Donald J. Trump disembarks Marine One Sunday Aug. 9, 2020, at the Elberon Park landing zone in Long Branch, N.J. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Domestic Enemies

My latest for Defense One.

Dave Dilegge, 1956-2020

The founder of Small Wars Journal passed Saturday.

Taking Away Assad’s Spoon and Giving Him a Fork

f Assad is eating Cheerios, we’re going to take away his spoon and give him a fork.

The Army’s Leadership Problem

Tim Kane continues his campaign against the US military’s antiquated personnel system.

John Nagl Next Haverford Headmaster

John Nagl, who became famous as a leading counterinsurgency theorist and practitioner, is taking on a new challenge: grooming young boys for life.

Does It Matter If A Presidential Candidate Never Served In The Military?

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

Military’s Lock-Step Promotion System

The military promotion system does not reward top performers rapidly enough.

Why America’s Best Officers Are Leaving

The American military personnel system works against keeping the best and brightest officers in the service.

Winning in Afghanistan

NPR Had a Counterinsurgency Debate and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt

NPR’ Morning Edition calls. John Nagl the disciple of COIN’s Jesus, GEN David Petraeus.

Fixing America’s Military

Ultimately, “fixing America’s military” will require fixing America.

John Nagl on ‘Daily Show’

LTC John Nagl, author of How to Eat Soup With a Knife appears on “The Daily Show” with Jon Stewart explaining Counterinsurgency doctrine. Stewart’s reaction to “Be polite – Be professional – Be prepared to Kill” is priceless.

PROFESSOR NAGL’S WAR

NYT Magazine has an illuminating piece entitled, “Professor Nagl’s War.” It’s especially interesting to me because I knew John Nagl when he was an 18-year-old cadet on the West Point debate team. He was a very impressive fellow then and has certainly gone on to do well for himself.