Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Asking and telling

A 10th Mountain Division website offers a lively discussion of whether to lift the "don’t ask, don’t tell" rule against being openly gay in the military. Typical comment: I never thought I would say this 10 or 15 years ago, but today…yes, I would support allowing gay Soldiers to serve." The commanding general of the ...

A 10th Mountain Division website offers a lively discussion of whether to lift the "don't ask, don't tell" rule against being openly gay in the military. Typical comment:

A 10th Mountain Division website offers a lively discussion of whether to lift the "don’t ask, don’t tell" rule against being openly gay in the military. Typical comment:

I never thought I would say this 10 or 15 years ago, but today…yes, I would support allowing gay Soldiers to serve."

The commanding general of the division, Maj. Gen. Michael Oates, has been a driving force behind the blog, and also has been doing live chats with his troops. It all strikes me as innovative, a bit daring, and very 21st century.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

More from Foreign Policy

Vladimir Putin speaks during the Preliminary Draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia at The Konstantin Palace on July 25, 2015 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Vladimir Putin speaks during the Preliminary Draw of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia at The Konstantin Palace on July 25, 2015 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

What Putin Got Right

The Russian president got many things wrong about invading Ukraine—but not everything.

Dmitry Medvedev (center in the group of officials), an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who is now deputy chairman of the country's security council, visits the Omsktransmash (Omsk transport machine factory) in the southern Siberian city of Omsk.
Dmitry Medvedev (center in the group of officials), an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who is now deputy chairman of the country's security council, visits the Omsktransmash (Omsk transport machine factory) in the southern Siberian city of Omsk.

Russia Has Already Lost in the Long Run

Even if Moscow holds onto territory, the war has wrecked its future.

Sri Lankan construction workers along a road in Colombo.
Sri Lankan construction workers along a road in Colombo.

China’s Belt and Road to Nowhere

Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy is a “shadow of its former self.”

Dalton speaks while sitting at a table alongside other U.S. officials.
Dalton speaks while sitting at a table alongside other U.S. officials.

The U.S. Overreacted to the Chinese Spy Balloon. That Scares Me.

So unused to being challenged, the United States has become so filled with anxiety over China that sober responses are becoming nearly impossible.