Center for a New American Security
Senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, and study member in the Project on Military Cultures at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; Retired Colonel in the US Army and a former instructor in Military Strategy and Operations at the US Army War College (l992-94).
US Troops Pose with Afghan Corpses Today's Los Angeles Times made news world wide by publishing photographs of American soldiers posing with the body parts of Afghans who apparently blew themselves up trying to manufacture explosives. The front page shows a soldier from the 82nd Airborne Division with what appears to be the hand of a dead bomb-maker on his shoulder. Is such behavior understandable? Is it forgivable?
US Troops Pose with Afghan Corpses Today's Los Angeles Times published photographs of American soldiers posing with the body parts of Afghans who apparently blew themselves up trying to manufacture explosives. The front page shows a soldier from the 82nd Airborne Division with what appears to be the hand of a dead bomb-maker on his shoulder. The Times says it decided on publication even though the Pentagon asked that they be withheld. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says an investigation into soldiers' conduct will be conducted.
Petraeus to the Rescue After President Obama read the first few paragraphs of Rolling Stone magazine's profile of General Stanley McChrystal, it was less than 48 hours before David Petraeus accepted command of US troops in Afghanistan. The President says he wasn't personally offended , but he told his War Council that the military code of conduct "applies equally to newly enlisted privates and to the general officer who commands them."
Petraeus to the Rescue After President Obama read the first few paragraphs of Rolling Stone magazine's profile of General Stanley McChrystal, it was less than 48 hours before David Petraeus accepted command of US troops in Afghanistan. Petraeus will be implementing his own strategy, which will smooth his replacement of McChrystal. But "counterinsurgency" hasn't been working the way it's supposed to. The Taliban are tenacious, local officials are unreliable and US troops are frustrated. Petraeus rescued the war in Iraq during the Bush years, but said himself the war in Afghanistan was going to be tougher. Can he unify a dysfunctional team of military and civilian leaders? Can he meet the President's deadline of beginning a troop draw-down by July of next year?
Challenging the Generals This spring, the Armed Forces Journal published an article called " A Failure in Generalship ." Lt. Col. Paul Yingling accused the highest officers in the Army of failing to envision the conditions of combat in Iraq-- and failing to prepare their troops accordingly. With junior officers now having more experience on the ground than the generals, in counterinsurgencies different from the conventional war they prepared for, there is a growing "trust gap" within the chain of command. Military sources say they've been "let down" in Iraq by the same mistakes made during Vietnam. Was the current generation trained for the wrong war? Are they less willing to follow orders than those who've gone before?
One year later, Ojai reflects on the Thomas Fire in a new book A year after the Thomas Fire began, a new book out of Ojai tells stories of the community’s destruction and regrowth. Cuddle groups are popping up all over the place, including Santa Barbara. And, according to a newly released report, sea level rise could cover nearly two-thirds of Santa Barbara city beaches by 2100.
DOING ‘BIG’ BETTER When it comes to getting big things done in California, the Bay Bridge between San Francisco and Oakland offers important lessons about what not to do.
Remembering George H.W. Bush A balanced look at George H.W. Bush includes: the smear campaign that won him the White House, his successes in war and diplomacy, and his almost forgotten role as an environmental president. Also what lies ahead for the UK, if there’s no agreement on Brexit?