Outside the Beltway

As they did four years, ago the New York Giants will get a parade in New York City today. Some are wondering when Iraq War vets will get theirs.

Despite the opposition of the SECDEF and Joint Chiefs, the latter expanded yesterday.

Thomas Ricks posts several recommendations for fixing the Army. Most of them are really, really stupid.

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the green beret as the official headgear of US Army Special Forces.

My latest for The Atlantic: “Some Reasons Not to Worry About Republican Foreign Policy Craziness”

Herman Cain’s promise to rely on “experts” should raise eyebrows everywhere.

Marcia Anderson has become the first African American woman to be promoted to a two star general in the US Army.

A legendary American soldier, General John Shalikashvili, has died.

The selection process for the Joint Chiefs has been most odd.

Why would David Petraeus take the thankless job of running the CIA?

The uneasy coalition that coalesced around action in Libya will be strained by decisions to come.

U.S. officials are making clear that the current mission in Libya may not lead to the end of Muammar Gaddafi’s rule. If that’s the case, then why are we there in the first place?

The Congress has passed a repeal of DADT.

The commander-in-chief, secretary of defense, and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all support removing the ban on gays in the military without further delay. A long-awaited Pentagon study showed no reason not to do so. But three of four Service chiefs disagree.

Conservative Republicans who are typically deferential to the military are ignoring the advice of the military leadership on the new START Treaty.

The odds that Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell will be repealed anytime in the near future are fairly close to zero thanks to the results of last Tuesday’s elections.

Bob Woodward reports that President Obama was looking for options other than staying the course in Afghanistan. The military didn’t provide any.

According to a new book from Bob Woorward, American policy in Afghanistan is the result of a decision making process that can only be described as chaotic at best.

The effort to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell suffered a setback in the Senate today that likely delays any further moves on the issue until after the midterm elections.

The prospect of repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell before the November elections is in doubt thanks to a threatened filibuster led by Arizona’s John McCain.

Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has proclaimed, “The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.” Is he right?

Of the U.S. military’s 10 combatant commands, only three are held by Army or Marine generals.

Some people are saying that David Petraeus deserves promotion to a rank last held by Omar Bradley.

Are new war strategies putting too much strain on commanders in the field ?

Does it matter if the controversial McChrystal comments were “off the record” ? No, it doesn’t.