Cuts in President Obama’s fiscal year 2014 defense budget submission are troubling, according to Mike Rogers (R–AL), Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, House Armed Services Committee. While the President proposes to reduce the defense budget by about $120 billion in the next 10 years, the world is not getting …
A recent Washington Post op-ed asked the question, “[C]an the U.S. rely on SOF [Special Operations Forces] power?” As the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan, and a combination of defense budget reductions and isolationist sentiments reduce America’s military presence, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) intends to expand its “non-kinetic” actions across …
In the three months since President Barack Obama released his first National Security Strategy (NSS), the news has been dominated by his responses to domestic problems—from the economy to the Gulf oil spill to more stimulus spending. And that focus on traditionally domestic issues is reflected in the 2010 National …
Last week the Obama Administration released its National Security Strategy for 2010. The document waxed fulsome in praise of Brazil as an “emerging center of influence.” It welcomed “Brazil’s leadership” which promises “to move beyond dated North-South divisions to pursue progress on bilateral, hemispheric, and global issues.” Brazil’s decision, along …
Vice President Joe Biden explained to graduates today why the Obama Doctrine and new national security strategy have all the right answers. First, it will “guarantee” US prosperity and security. In a world where the enemy gets a vote that seems an incredible boast for an administration committed to more …
The roll out of the administration’s first National Security Strategy this week has been a classic exercise in strategic communication, Obama style – a highly coordinated, choreographed exercise involving the highest levels of government. First, the President himself laid the groundwork at the West Point graduation last weekend. Then, Deputy …