Defense One
Wednesday, June 8, 2016 - 06:33
The new commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, Gen. John Nicholson, will soon complete an assessment that is expected to call for more U.S. troops than the Obama Administration has planned. Current policy calls for reducing the U.S. presence in Afghanistan from today’s 9,800 troops to 5,500 by the end of this year. Security has deteriorated sharply since the U.S. ended its official combat role in 2014, however, and Nicholson is expected to favor slower U.S. drawdowns. If so, the general is right. But what’s needed isn’t a slower timetable for withdrawals – it’s the end of timetables altogether.
Friday, May 27, 2016 - 06:16
Somalia's most effective institution and its biggest driver of stability, AMISOM is the only force that can counter al-Shabab and hold territory.
Friday, April 1, 2016 - 06:31
The U.S. has been sending military forces to Poland and other nations in the region for more frequent training as part of the European Reassurance Initiative, the Obama administration’s attempt to ease NATO’s elevated fears. This week, Pentagon officials announced plans to send more tanks and armored vehicles to Europe and rotate troops as part of the initiative. Poland will host some of the equipment.
Friday, February 26, 2016 - 06:43
Dividing Middle Easterners along ethno-religious lines has a deeply troubled history. There's little reason to believe similar 'last-ditch' plans for Syria would be any different.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016 - 06:19
Behind the president’s directive to ‘accelerate’ the counter-ISIS campaign came a surge in the number of contractors assisting in the campaign against ISIS.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016 - 08:57
The Pentagon says new warplanes will help Islamabad fight al Qaeda, but U.S. lawmakers don’t want taxpayers footing the bill.
Tuesday, February 2, 2016 - 06:40
In December, the U.S. Army proposed cutting the combat pay bonus that soldiers earn while deployed to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula
Tuesday, February 2, 2016 - 06:36
The Islamic State offers a false choice between dictatorship and extremism. Tunisia proves there’s a better way.
Wednesday, January 27, 2016 - 08:47
A wide range of global threats posed by Islamic State militants and nations like Iran are continuing to fuel the sale of American-made arms around the world.
Thursday, January 21, 2016 - 06:32
U.S. Special Operations Command is spending more time and attention on Libya, trying to keep the Islamic State from growing more powerful there, its commander said Wednesday.