Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks’ daily take on national security.
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anenemyofthepeople_poster -
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters during a news conference announcing Alexander Acosta as the new Labor Secretary nominee in the East Room at the White House on February 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. The announcement comes a day after Andrew Puzder withdrew his nomination. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) What Trump didn’t get about Harward: A lot of what makes a Special Operator tick
Retired Vice Adm. Robert Harward didn’t go looking for the job of national security advisor. He was asked to consider taking it.
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SD hosts press conference The tragedy of James Mattis
Defense Secretary Mattis has immersed himself in the thinking of the Roman philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius.
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a_sergeant_of_the_royal_army_veterinary_corps_bandages_the_wounded_ear_of_jasper_a_mine-detecting_dog_at_bayeux_in_normandy_5_july_1944-_b6496 War Dog: Poor dog!
A mine-detecting dog wounded in Normandy, July 1944.
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Jordan's Prince Faisal (L), Army's head of operations and training Major General Awni Adwan (C) and deputy commander of US Central Command, US Navy Vice Admiral Robert S. Harward (R) attend the "Eager Lion" joint military exercise at the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Centre in Amman on May 27, 2012. The exercise conducted by the U.S. and Jordan includes more than 19 countries from five different continents and more than 12,000 participants, according to the United States Central Command. AFP PHOTO/KHALIL MAZRAAWI (Photo credit should read KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/GettyImages) Is Harward out?
I think we will know by the end of today. My gut feeling is that it is still on, and could be announced this afternoon.
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screen-shot-2017-02-16-at-10-41-44-am Review: ‘Spoils,’ a brutally intimate novel of combat in the early days of the Iraq war
Typical of war novels, "Spoils" wields trauma like a machete, trying to cut its way into the human condition.
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harward_2011 Robert Harward plans a housecleaning of Trump’s National Security Council staff
If, as expected, Harward accepts the job today, he is likely to bring in his own team, from deputy on down, with a focus on national security types with some experience under their belts.
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SANGIN, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers and Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, patrol down route 611 during a clearing operation, known as outlaw wrath, in the Sangin District, Dec. 4, 2010. Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), partnered with companies India and Kilo of 3/5 to clear the route of improvised explosive devices. The Companies provided security for Marines on the road by conducting foot patrols in the surrounding area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John M. McCall) The ghosts of Sangin
The men of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines looked like ghosts to me.
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Major General Joseph K. Kellogg Jr., USA (uncovered) Flynn out, Kellogg in: Annals of a presidency operating on very thin ice
General Michael Flynn is out as national security advisor, with General Keith Kellogg as his acting replacement.
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Spcs. Dino Torres, foreground, and Anthony Alfaro, assigned to Baker Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska, fire the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle system at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 1, 2016. The Carl Gustaf is a man-portable, breach-loading, 84mm recoilless rifle capable of destroying armored targets from up to 700 meters away. Torres and Alfaro are natives of Los Angeles, Calif., and Fayetteville, N.C., respectively. (U.S. Air Force photo/Alejandro Pena) Best Defense question of the day: Does the recoilless rifle get enough respect?
This photo surprised me because in two decades of covering the U.S. military, I don’t think I ever saw U.S. forces with them.
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1024px-f5_tornado_elie_manitoba_2007 Flynn at the center of the whirlwind, and thoughts about possible successors
I keep hearing that General Michael Flynn’s days at national security advisor are numbered.
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170130-m-qh615-197c Sure the Marine Corps has problems, but Waddell has more courage than answers
A disconnect has long existed between the Pentagon and operating forces, which is why Pentagon tours are invaluable to mid-grade officers.
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1000w_q95 After action: Some thoughts about friends inspired in part by the Yemen raid and the reactions to it in political Washington
Was the raid a success? I don’t know. Was my war?
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akula_class_submarine Is the Russian navy as bad as you think? Also, why sailors should read Melville!
No, the Russian navy is not a paper tiger.
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screen-shot-2017-02-10-at-9-37-25-am ‘Soldier’ magazine does dogs of war
And about time I say!
