Curtis Bowman

The DIA Report on Russian Military Power

Take a look at the eye-opening report from the Defense Intelligence Agency on Russian military power.

I haven't linked directly to the PDF but to the press release which contains the link you need. The PDF is 4.9 MB.

Paul Waldman Wonders Why We Need a Bigger Military

Paul Waldman wonders why so many politicians and policy makers think that the US needs a bigger military. After all, he asks, which of our many wars of the past half century was started because our military was too small? Precisely. So it's not really about defense, is it?

Mr. Waldman's article reminds me of something that I read years ago. Unfortunately, I don't remember the details, but it goes something like this. Lord Salisbury, who was the British Prime Minister several times between 1885 and 1902, once said in exasperation that his military advisers would garrison the moon to ward off an attack from Mars.

I think of Salisbury's remark whenever I read of renewed calls to enlarge our already huge military.

Fareed Zakaria Reviews "The Kennan Diaries"

Fareed Zakaria reviews a new collection of entries drawn from George Kennan's diaries entitled The Kennan Diaries.

Years ago I read and enjoyed Kennan's Sketches From a Life, which, as I recall, was written with his usual elegance and mournfulness. So I'll have to put The Kennan Diaries on my to-read list.

Rachel Maddow Reviews Andrew J. Bacevich's "Breach of Trust"

Rachel Maddow reviews Andrew J. Bacevich's Breach of Trust: How Americans Failed Their Soldiers and Their Country.

Years ago I read Mr. Bacevich's The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War. Since it's now available in an updated paperback, I should give this older work another look. As I recall, it's well worth the effort.

Karen DeYoung on the Resignation of Matthew Hoh

Karen DeYoung of The Washington Post tells the story of Matthew Hoh, a former Marine who recently resigned from the Foreign Service in protest against our continued military presence in Afghanistan.

Be sure to read Mr. Hoh's letter of resignation (PDF, 880 KB). It explains his reasons for resigning in great detail.

Janet Daly on Having Second Thoughts About Europe

Janet Daly points out that right about now President Obama must be having second thoughts about US relations with Europe.

Suicide Rate Among Active-Duty Soliders Climbs

Ann Scott Tyson of The Washington Post reports that the suicide rate among active-duty soldiers is on track to equal the rate among the civilian population for the first time since the Vietnam War.

Andrew Bacevich on Bush's Foreign Policy Legacy

Professor Andrew Bacevich, author of the forthcoming The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism, looks at President Bush's dismal foreign policy legacy.

While you're waiting for your copy of Prof. Bacevich's new book, I would recommend that you read his earlier book The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War.

Johann Hari on Pakistan's Nuclear Weapons

Johann Hari wonders just how certain we can be that Pakistan's nuclear weapons are safely stored where no dangerous hands can reach them.

Peter Bergen on President Bush's War on Terror

Peter Bergen chronicles President Bush's major missteps in the war on terror, beginning with Osama bin Laden's escape from Tora Bora and continuing up to Al Qaeda's recent resurgence.