Outside the Beltway

General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander during Operation Desert Storm, has died at the age of 78.

Will the massacre of twenty children in a Connecticut elementary school mark a turning point in America’s gun culture? Don’t count on it.

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates is bemused that the generals who worked for him lived more lavish lifestyles than he did.

It’s okay to criticize military veterans–even if you never served in the military.

The title of most impressive Heisman winner of all time goes to Pete Dawkins, who won the award in 1958.

Are two-term Presidencies the new normal?

Without question, Barack Obama won the foreign policy debate in the 2012 campaign.

All eyes on Northern Virginia.

Mitt Romney is once again making completely false claims about the status of the United States Navy.

The Afghan Surge announced by President Obama in December 2009 is over. By any objective measurement, it was a failure.

President Obama didn’t blow the doors off the Time Warner Cable Arena last night, but he didn’t need to.

The Obama campaign clearly does not want Americans to consider whether they are better off now than they were four years ago.

After three days of buildup to a “mystery speaker,” the closing night of the Republican convention featured a rambling performance by Clint Eastwood and an empty chair.

As its convention begins, one has to wonder what has happened to the Republican Party.

Two groups of former special operations soldiers are opposing Obama. Their military bonafides are not their most interesting credentials.

At some point, however, using the bad actions of the past to justify worse actions in the present has to stop.

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.

Examining a history that might have been.

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.

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

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

Nicholas Katzenbach, a central figure in the civil rights fights of the 1960s, has died.

Some Navy SEALs are weighing in on the brouhaha.

The Obama campaign’s cheap politicizing of the SEAL raid that took out bin Laden is unseemly. And unnecessary.

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

According to some historians, a President isn’t truly great unless he involves America in a bloody and destructive war.

Andrew Exum believes the Army should “get rid of all medals not related to valor or campaign-specific service.”

Far from being deterimental, there is a case to be made that SuperPACs have actually expended democracy during this election cycle.

We’re literally choosing locking up drug offenders over investing in our children.

An lesson from the United Kingdom in the importance of protecting freedom of speech.

The latest round of protests in Afghanistan prove yet again that it’s time for us to leave.

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.

American politics is as polarized as ever, and it shows no signs of changing regardless of who wins in November.

Mitt Romney is making claims about Naval readiness that are, at best, misleading.