There was an idea expressed recently that declarations of war are obsolete and that further, a President needs the flexibility to respond across the full-spectrum of armed conflict, that he needs to be able to move forces and engage threats, without getting wrapped around the process of obtaining some sort of Congressional approval. This idea […]

A number of years ago at a “Principals Only” staff meeting at a 4-star command, the commander asked for recommendations on programs that might be cut as the Pentagon “front office” was hunting for some extra money to do something or other. After several minutes of silence, one Assistant Chief of Staff signaled he had […]

Today, as with every July 4th, shortly before noon, there will be a brief ceremony on the lawn at Mt. Vernon, George Washington’s beautiful farm on the banks of the Potomac, welcoming a host of brand new Americans. They come from all over the world, but after noon today they will all be Americans. But […]

There’s a funny scene in the movie “Lost in America” in which Albert Brooks confronts his wife, played by Julie Hagerty, after having learned she just gambled away their entire nest egg, and tells her that since she clearly doesn’t understand the meaning of the phrase “nest egg,” she can’t use the word “egg” anymore, […]

The Chief Of Naval Operations (CNO) recently stated that the US Navy will face “flat or declining budgets” and that the US Fleet will be “shrinking.” At the same time, there are vast amounts of money being spent by the federal government – more than $6 trillion this year (and growing debt). Note, the national […]

Editor’s Note: There is a lot of information- and There is a lot of information- and misinformation- flying about these days. There was something this morning that made me sit down in amazement- actor Tom Hanks was assailed for not condemning the Tulsa disturbance a hundred years ago with sufficient vigor. Which is to say […]

On Friday Secretary of the Treasury Yellen said that inflation could climb as high as 3% by the end of the year. But she added that she “believe(s) this represents transitory factors.” In this she echoes Federal Reserve Chairman Powell, who has been saying for several months that signs of inflation are “transitory.” But, what […]

> USS Herring (SS-233) > Memorial Day… It seems lots of people get caught up in the “Served” side of “remembering those who served and died” and Memorial Day quickly becomes a second Veterans Day. But, of course, it isn’t; Memorial Day is not about thanking anyone for their service, Memorial Day is about remembering […]

Editor’s Note: Arrias leads us off this week with some observations on what is rational in our world and what is not. It struck the Editorial Board as a sensible start to a week that is filled with irrationality, if not outright madness. One of my touchstones in the ongoing climate debate is the mutability […]

Editor’s Note: There has been chatter back and forth across the net of old soldiers and shipmates. It is about the nature of things we thought we knew being played out before the backdrop of renewed kinetic war in what we knew as the Holy Land. I had the opportunity to walk the Temple Mount […]