Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

A good discussion of the relief of generals

I thought the discussion of the relief of generals started slowly but got much better. By the way, I haven’t checked all the files, but if memory serves, this is the biggest number of comments we’ve had on any post in the history of this blog. Special thanks to “Pete,” “jsinaiko,” “Rubber Ducky,” and “JPWREL” ...

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
577369_091103_rickstonkatruck2.jpg
577369_091103_rickstonkatruck2.jpg

I thought the discussion of the relief of generals started slowly but got much better. By the way, I haven’t checked all the files, but if memory serves, this is the biggest number of comments we’ve had on any post in the history of this blog. Special thanks to “Pete,” “jsinaiko,” “Rubber Ducky,” and “JPWREL” for their meaty comments.

I haven’t read Clay Blair’s Forgotten War but have ordered it from Amazon. Right now I am still mired in the bocage of 1944 in my research, but yeah, I need to get a move on.

This is exactly the sort of exchange I had hoped to see in the blog. I appreciate the efforts of all who contributed.

someToast/flickr 

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

Read More On Military

More from Foreign Policy

The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.
The USS Nimitz and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and South Korean Navy warships sail in formation during a joint naval exercise off the South Korean coast.

America Is a Heartbeat Away From a War It Could Lose

Global war is neither a theoretical contingency nor the fever dream of hawks and militarists.

A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.
A protester waves a Palestinian flag in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. People sit and walk on the grass lawn in front of the protester and barricades.

The West’s Incoherent Critique of Israel’s Gaza Strategy

The reality of fighting Hamas in Gaza makes this war terrible one way or another.

Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.
Biden dressed in a dark blue suit walks with his head down past a row of alternating U.S. and Israeli flags.

Biden Owns the Israel-Palestine Conflict Now

In tying Washington to Israel’s war in Gaza, the U.S. president now shares responsibility for the broader conflict’s fate.

U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.
U.S. President Joe Biden is seen in profile as he greets Chinese President Xi Jinping with a handshake. Xi, a 70-year-old man in a dark blue suit, smiles as he takes the hand of Biden, an 80-year-old man who also wears a dark blue suit.

Taiwan’s Room to Maneuver Shrinks as Biden and Xi Meet

As the latest crisis in the straits wraps up, Taipei is on the back foot.