Trump’s Phony Populism on Military Spending

Trump’s Phony Populism on Military Spending

There’s a lot of misdirection going on these days. Anybody whose head hasn’t been spinning over the last couple of weeks has probably been in a nice news blackout somewhere. We’ll all need some strategies if we’re going to stay sane. One is making sure...
The Pentagon’s $125 Billion Cover-up

The Pentagon’s $125 Billion Cover-up

Let’s say you ask somebody a question. They give you an answer you don’t like, so you pretend you didn’t hear it. Probably all of us would cop to something like this at some time in our imperfect pasts. For most of us though, that pretending hasn’t included...
Uncle Sam Needs a Better Handle on Your Money

Uncle Sam Needs a Better Handle on Your Money

A decade ago, thousands of California National Guard troops reenlisted to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. For valiantly responding to a shortage of troops, they were promised a signing bonus. This October, the Pentagon ordered these thousands of veterans to pay back...
Torching the Truth

Torching the Truth

America’s military adventures — and, just as often, its misadventures — have inspired thousands upon thousands of books. But the military isn’t just in the business of inspiring books: Sometimes it bans them, too. The Pentagon recently announced that it was refusing...
The Pentagon’s Pricey Culture of Mediocrity

The Pentagon’s Pricey Culture of Mediocrity

When the tank crew under my command ran into trouble on the battlefield, I never doubted the ultimate success of the mission because the Marines I served with were among the finest people I knew. But if we want to keep it that way, the Pentagon must stop mismanaging...