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The US Army and the Realities of Modern Warfare
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The US Army and the Realities of Modern Warfare

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Iraq and Afghanistan are not the big wars envisioned by the US Army's high-level doctrine. What will the future require? We hear about a battle raging within the Army itself. Should it adapt to provide for small wars and long-term occupations? Would that perpetuate neo-conservative policies that aren't working? Also, Roger Clemens goes before a House committee over the use of human growth hormone; and it's McCain by a nose, and Obama becomes the front-runner after yesterday's Potomac primaries.

US Navy photo: Petty Officer 1st Class Sean Mulligan

Making News

Waxman Lobs Steroid Accusations and Clemens Doesn't Swing ()

"It's impossible to believe that this is a simple misunderstanding… someone isn't telling the truth." That's from California Democrat Henry Waxman, chair of the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating Roger Clemens. Johnette Howard is a sports columnist for Newsday.

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Main Topic

Rethinking the Art of War ()

After America's defeat in Vietnam, the US Army abandoned counterinsurgency doctrine and prepared for a big war with the Soviet Union. That never happened, and the Army was left ill-prepared for the kind of operations required in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the end of this month, the Association of the United States Army will debate proposed changes in the operations manual that defines what the Army is all about. Currently, doctrine focuses on defeating adversaries on the battlefield. The new manual would give equal importance to stabilizing war-torn nations. We hear how efforts to turn the Army around are being hotly resisted within the Army itself. Is war fighting more than guns, tanks and boots on the ground? Are proposed changes needed or are they a recipe for a new kind of colonialism?

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Reporter's Notebook

Obama and McCain in Front after Potomac Primaries ()

Barack Obama didn't just win yesterday in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. He won by landslides, and now has more delegates than Hillary Clinton.  John McCain won, too, but Mike Huckabee beat him among conservatives and evangelicals. Yesterday's Potomac primaries changed the appearance of both presidential nominating campaigns, as we hear from Byron York of the National Review and Jonathan Weisman of the Washington Post.

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