Best Defense

Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Private money for military education: what’s in the fine type?

I see that Texas moneybags Ross Perot is giving $6.1 million to the Army’s Command and General Staff College for, among other things, ethics training. I mainly think this is a good thing. But I’d like to know if there are any strings attached, like on the types of speakers to be brought in. What ...

576385_091123_perot1309261bn2.jpg
576385_091123_perot1309261bn2.jpg

I see that Texas moneybags Ross Perot is giving $6.1 million to the Army’s Command and General Staff College for, among other things, ethics training. I mainly think this is a good thing. But I’d like to know if there are any strings attached, like on the types of speakers to be brought in. What if a war college got a big contribution earmarked to bring in conservative speakers (as if military officers never run into that point of view among their peers) — is that ok?

Oversight note: This is another type of thing some congressional staffer needs to keep an eye on — just send letters to all the schools asking for disclosure of such strings.

Alex Wong/Newsmakers

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

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