Later this week, President Obama will travel to the National Defense University (NDU) for a major policy address. Under massive pressure to address his Administration’s mishandling of the terrorist murders of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, and potentially illegal surveillance of Associated Press reporters, Obama will attempt to refocus the …
Yesterday, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel gave his first major speech since he was confirmed for the job in February. “The Department must understand the challenges and uncertainties, plan for the risks, and, yes, recognize the opportunities inherent in budget constraints and more efficient and effective restructuring,” he said. Secretary …
The Pentagon announced this week that those service members who had been wounded during the deadly attack at Fort Hood, Texas, perpetrated by Major Nidal Hassan would not be considered eligible for the Purple Heart medal. This is a wrong-headed decision. The Purple Heart, one of America’s oldest military awards, …
As most commentators are focusing on the impending massive defense cuts that will devastate the military readiness of America, is it possible that this is only a part of the problem? The Department of Defense (DOD) is facing other symptoms of leadership failure. The recent firing of one of America’s …
President Obama’s Chief of Staff Denis McDonough recently said of former-Senator Chuck Hagel (R–NE), “I think he’ll be a great Defense Secretary. This is a guy who volunteered to go to Vietnam…heavily decorated when he was there, well performing when he was there, and everything since.” Members of the U.S. …
French President Francois Hollande told reporters yesterday that Boko Haram, an Islamist terrorist group based in Nigeria, abducted a French family of seven, including four children, in northern Cameroon. Hollande noted the continuing role of France in the fight against Islamist radicals in Mali and said the French parents and …
Just how diplomatic would former Senator Chuck Hagel (R–NE) be as Secretary of Defense? The fact that Iran backs Hagel’s nomination should give Senators pause. Hagel has called repeatedly for better relations with Iran, the worst state sponsor of terrorism in history. In several past speeches (some not provided to …
By delaying defense sequestration two months, President Obama and Congress have shown their unambiguous recognition that sequestration’s automatic and indiscriminate cuts to the U.S. military pose clear dangers to national security. However, America’s leaders must now match their recognition of this reality with the resolve required to definitively stop defense …
