Op-Eds

America's Flawed Afghanistan Strategy Dr Steven Metz Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "Despite the lavish time and attention that the Obama administration devoted to reviewing its Afghanistan strategy, the result was more continuity than change. The administration adjusted U.S. troops levels and shifted some operational methods but accepted the most basic—and questionable—assumptions of the Bush strategy. Unfortunately, these do not hold up under close scrutiny. The new strategy, like the old one, totters on a dangerously flawed foundation."

Enter the Era of Persistent Competition for Talent COL Carolyn F Kleiner Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "The era of persistent conflict is forcing the U.S. Army to become more nimble and adaptable, driving changes in equipment and doctrine. Yet the systems required to manage its most critical asset—people—continue to operate in a Cold War paradigm with Industrial Era processes. The Army must take action to implement modern and creative human resource management systems if it hopes to maintain a high-quality force capable of fighting the wars of the future. As we live in an era of persistent conflict, we are also entering an era of persistent competition for talent."

Wanted: A Strategy for the Black Sea Dr Stephen J Blank Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "There exists an extensive literature on the strategic importance of the Black Sea zone. Yet it is difficult to discern whether U.S. policymakers are pursuing a coherent strategy for this crucial region. Although Kyrgyzstan is in Central Asia, an adjoining region, events there are symptomatic of this strategic challenge. Not only did our embassy in Kyrgyzstan repeat the mistake the United States made in Iran by being excessively attached to the reigning government and insufficiently attuned to other opposing sociopolitical groups, its actions during the April 2009 upheaval were inadequate, even though it had forewarning of that event."

Untangling a New Gordian Knot: Don't Ask, Don’t Tell, and Alexander’s Sword Prof Douglas C Lovelace Jr, Dr Leonard Wong Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "The polarizing dispute over Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT)—the law prohibiting anyone who demonstrates a propensity to engage in homosexual acts from serving in the U.S. military—has increased in both amplitude and frequency. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, argued before the Senate Armed Services Committee that the 1993 compromise law has created an untenable situation: 'I cannot escape being troubled by the fact that we have in place a policy which forces young men and women to lie about who they are in order to defend their fellow citizens.' "

The Goose and the Gander Dr Cori E Dauber Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "On November 10, 2008, David Rohde, a New York Times reporter, was kidnapped by the Taliban. At the request of the Times, the press “embargoed” that information—they did not report on it in any fashion—for 7 months, until Rohde escaped. To justify their request, the Times made the case to their colleagues that any publicity would put their reporter’s life in danger..."

Foreign Policy Continuity: War Finds Us Mr Lawrence Kaplan Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "In recent months, a chorus has emerged to blame (or credit) President Barack Obama for sustaining many of the signature national security policies of his predecessor, President George W. Bush. Yet anyone puzzled by the similarities between the foreign and defense polices of Presidents Bush and Obama would do well to cast a glance backward, for this is hardly the first time we have heard such complaints."

A Death Knell for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Prof John R Martin Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "The U.S. military's so-called “don't ask, don't tell” policy, which prohibits homosexual personnel from serving openly in the uniformed Services, is frequently mentioned when President Barack Obama's Democratic base complains that he has not kept his campaign promises. In his State of the Union address last week, President Obama vowed to “work with Congress and our military” to repeal the “don't ask, don't tell” law."

Something Brewing in Venezuela COL Phillip R Cuccia Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "Addressing a regional diplomatic-military problem is made all the more complicated when the region is not at the forefront of U.S. global strategic interests. Such a region simply does not get the attention that it deserves. I fear that may be what is happening now with South America in general and Venezuela in particular."

Resetting the Reset Button: Realism About Russia Dr Stephen J Blank Op-Ed by the US Army War College, Strategic Studies Institute "In Washington, there is a widely shared view that the United States needs Russian cooperation to stop Iranian and North Korean nuclear proliferation, particularly Iran’s. This view rests on the premise that the United States should take Russia “seriously,” and taking Russia seriously means accepting Russian demands for no missile defense in Europe and no NATO enlargement or further European integration of the countries of the former Soviet Union."