Washington: Thank god the debt deal is done. At least that threat to our national security appears to have been nullified. One of the sacrificial lambs appears to have been the defense budget but, as with so much surrounding the negotiations of the last few months, little is known of the details. The White House… Keep reading →

Washington: They aren’t there yet, but if one peers deep into the voting tendencies of the House Republican Caucus, there are clear indications they are growing more comfortable with the idea of making significant cuts to the Defense Department budget. “The rising tide against defense spending is particularly noticeable among Republicans. A tally by Darcy… Keep reading →

Washington: On his last day on the job, Defense Secretary Robert Gates received the nation’s highest civilian honor and unstinting praise from President Obama and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The initial and official view of Gates’ tenure as Defense Secretary was overwhelmingly positive, with President Obama leading the way.… Keep reading →

The Coast Guard plays important roles combating piracy and keeping America’s shores safe, but unless the President is an alchemist and can turn words into money, the service soon won’t be able to do what Congress says it must do. There is no military area where gap between words and deeds yawns wider than in… Keep reading →