RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Peter W. Singer, February 28, 2007, Opportunity 08
Although the next U.S. President will become Commander-in-Chief of a military unmatched in its power and capability, this excellence is under siege. The U.S. military has been stretched thin and worn down by the combination of extensive deployments over the last six years and a deferral of the hard questions of how a nation supports a military at war. Downward trends in recruiting and retention show a force under great stress. More than a simple matter of raw numbers, this has a long-term effect on the quality of our military forces. And, while defense budgeting remains focused on acquiring major new weapons systems that will not be available until many years hence, a looming equipment gap harms our security in the here and now. The war in Iraq has created many of these challenges, but they will continue years after operations there end. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Frederick W. Kagan and Michael E. O'Hanlon, February 28, 2007, Opportunity 08
Facing the dangerous world of the 21st century, the U.S. military is too small to meet current needs or expected contingencies. After opposing force increases for many years, the Administration, through the new Secretary of Defense, proposed in January 2007 a combined increase in active-duty soldiers and Marines of some 65,000 above current levels. Even greater increases in the size of the ground forces may be prudent. Highly plausible scenarios involving Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other large countries (such as Indonesia, Congo, and Nigeria) illustrate the need to provide the next President with the capacity to muster large new forces without delay. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Peter W. Singer, October 20, 2009, The Washington Examiner
While the United States faces budget deficits and economic challenge of a scale not seen in decades, earmarks and wasteful "pork" continue to be built into defense policy bills. Peter Singer explains why, especially during a time of war and economic crisis, this wasteful behavior can hurt defense priorities while funding unneeded projects. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Peter W. Singer, August 25, 2009, The Washington Examiner
Peter Singer believes the issue of energy security has too long been looked at through only the environmental lens. He argues that it is also a national security issue, noting the U.S. military spends roughly $20 billion a year for petroleum alone, that diverts funds which would be better served elsewhere. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, July 07, 2009, The Washington Examiner
For all its virtues, the new plan in Afghanistan may still lowball requirements for the mission to succeed, writes Michael O'Hanlon. He believes that, at the very least, the Obama administration should leave the option of upping the troop commitment on the table should the need arise. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Peter W. Singer, June 30, 2009, The Washington Examiner
Peter Singer writes that the United States is a nation of thinking big, but he cautions against continuing to translate this interest to national security and defense policy. Singer believes the Pentagon should encourage more competition to create leaner, cheaper and less time-draining weapons systems and vehicles. Read More
VIDEO
Kenneth M. Pollack, June 29, 2009
As U.S. troops withdraw back to their bases in Iraq, questions remain about Iraq’s ability to maintain security and stability in the country. Iraq’s leadership, military, and police force face a number of challenges ahead as they assume control, but as Kenneth Pollack explains, Iraqis are eager to end the so-called U.S. occupation and establish their sovereignty.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, June 10, 2009, The Washington Post
The Obama administration recently announced a defense budget that accounts for nearly zero real growth in the "base budget" over the next five years. Michael O’Hanlon explores the shortfalls of this plan and points to the lack of viability of the proposed budget. O'Hanlon outlines critical changes that must be made in order to best guarantee U.S. national security objectives. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Janine Davidson, June 08, 2009, The Brookings Institution
The United States has a long but convoluted history of counterinsurgency, or COIN. Janine Davidson outlines the American experience with insurgency, describes the basic principles of successful COIN operations, and provides a glossary of the often confusing and controversial terminology used by the U.S. military and government in the context of non-traditional military operations. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Peter W. Singer, June 02, 2009, The Washington Examiner
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" forces soldiers to lie about or hide their sexual orientation to keep from being discharged. Peter Singer believes it is time for President Obama to fulfill his campaign pledge to end the policy so that patriotic and capable military members can focus on national security instead social politics. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Washington, DC
On May 27, the Brookings Institution hosted former Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric S. Edelman for a discussion of the book, Presidential Command: Power, Leadership, and the Making of Foreign Policy from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush (Knopf), written by the late Peter W. Rodman, a Brookings senior fellow. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, May 18, 2009
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Washington, DC
On May 18, the 21st Century Defense Initiative at Brookings hosted Admiral Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Admiral Mullen discussed the nature of global military engagements over the next decade and how our national security institutions should assess the future spectrum of threats in order to properly organize, resource and respond. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Michael E. O'Hanlon, May 11, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Michael O'Hanlon reacts to the announcement by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that General David McKiernan is being relieved of command in Afghanistan. O'Hanlon believes McKiernan can leave Kabul knowing he improved the dynamics on the ground during his tenure and that the region is far better off now than when he took over. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Noam Unger and Frederick Barton, April 21, 2009, The Brookings Institution
Critical stabilization and reconstruction missions abroad must not only be viewed through the lenses of short-term goals or military operations, but as a key step in supporting sustainable economic development. In a workshop report, Noam Unger and Frederick Barton explore ways to rebalance American statecraft by strengthening civilian stabilization and development capacity within the U.S. government. Read More
BOOK
Michael E. O'Hanlon, April 01, 2009
This timely book is the worthy successor to previous Brookings volumes on defense spending, including most recently O'Hanlon's Defense Strategy for the Post-Saddam Era (2005) and Defense Policy Choices for the Bush Administration (2001 and 2002). It continues our
proud tradition of nonpartisan empirical analysis of defense issues. Read More