History After “the End of History”

by Andrew Bacevich The fall of the Berlin Wall in October 1989 abruptly ended one historical era and inaugurated another. So, too, did the outcome of last year’s U.S. presidential election. What are we to make of the interval between… Continue Reading

Donald Trump and the Swamp of War

by Andrew J. Bacevich President-elect Donald Trump’s message for the nation’s senior military leadership is ambiguously unambiguous. Here is he on 60 Minutes just days after winning the election. Trump: “We have some great generals. We have great generals.” Lesley… Continue Reading

2016 Elections: The National Security Void

by Andrew Bacevich You may have missed it. Perhaps you dozed off. Or wandered into the kitchen to grab a snack. Or by that point in the proceedings were checking out Seinfeld reruns. During the latter part of the much hyped… Continue Reading

U.S. Special Operations Command Details Dismal U.S. Military Record

by Nick Turse Winning: it’s written into the DNA of the U.S.A.  After all, what’s more American than football legend Vince Lombardi’s famous (if purloined) maxim: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”? Americans expect to be number one.  First Lady Michelle… Continue Reading

The Pentagon’s Real $trategy

by Andrew Cockburn These days, lamenting the apparently aimless character of Washington’s military operations in the Greater Middle East has become conventional wisdom among administration critics of every sort. Senator John McCain thunders that “this president has no strategy to successfully… Continue Reading