U.S. Department of Defense

On Topic

The Department of Defense is responsible for the security of the United States and oversees all branches of the armed forces; the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, along with all special forces and weapons systems. Within the DoD are the secretary of defense—the chief defense policy advisor; and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—the chief military advisor.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel speaks at his news conference at the Pentagon in Washington March 15, 2013 (REUTERS/Yuri Gripas).

Opinion

Which Military Opinions To Listen To

April 11, 2013, Paul R. Pillar

Following a recent CNAS study on the impact of public statements by senior military officers, Paul Pillar writes Americans should weigh these statements carefully, and only consider opinions that fall within the officers’ areas of expertise. Pillar writes that this is particularly true for topics such as political and diplomatic impact, national priorities and overall U.S. national interest.

Recent Activity

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Haunting Legacy
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Defending America
The Case for Limited National Missile Defense

2001, James M. Lindsay and Michael E. O'Hanlon