The stench of elitism is permeating Washington, just as it did a decade ago when everyone of consequence bought the proposition that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction – and even if there was room for doubt, he was a threat and “had to go.” Today, the subject matter is different, but the methods… Keep reading →

Two top Pentagon spokesmen’s exchange with reporters today illustrated why U.S.-Pakistani relations are like a troubled marriage that at least one partner would like to preserve. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s spokesman George Little and Joint Chiefs chairman Adm. Michael Mullen’s flak Navy Capt. John Kirby echoed their bosses’ accusation that Pakistan’s Inter-service Intelligence agency (ISI)… Keep reading →

Washington: The outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff pulled no punches during his last week on the job, saying today that the across-the-board defense cuts under the so-called “doomsday” scenario will break the military. For the first time, Adm. Mike Mullen said this afternoon that if the Super Committee set up by the… Keep reading →

Washington: Lest there be any doubt, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told the American public point blank today that Congress should raise taxes and cut entitlements instead of making more cuts to the defense budget. This is clearly now the Pentagon’s official line: we have made significant cuts already. When America faces the terrorist threat, is… Keep reading →

U.S. troops will start pulling out of Afghanistan this summer. This raises the basic question — is the Afghan military ready to take over and would it survive the departure of much of the U.S. military. The plan is still to end the “combat mission,” whatever that means, in 2014, leaving behind trainers, advisers and… Keep reading →