Search

The author criticizes former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates. He states that while Gates was lauded for his work, a review of his performance shows he was not worthy of such acclaim. He describes the duties of a defense secretary, and explains where Gates failed. These include his myopic attention to detail which left no room for future planning, his failure to bridge gaps between military and civilian interests, and poor advice given to the president.

The article argues that the U.S. military should use conventional capabilities instead of adopting the population-centric counterinsurgency (COIN) doctrine. It states that the doctrine limits the strengths of the military force of the country. The author suggests that the national government implement a military strategy that heavily leverages the core capability to break states and at the same time target and destroy fixed assets.

The article weighs the problems in the U.S. defense policy process. It is suggested that the U.S. military needs more ground forces with better training. The U.S. military is cited to be under attack through the use of cyberspace where much trade and information take place. Suggestions that the U.S. should have with other countries and global organizations such as the United Nations Security Council are also discussed.

Reviews the exhibition "Hilary Harkness," at the Mary Boone Gallery in New York from May 1 to June 26, 2004.

Reviews the exhibition "Hybrid: Photographs by Dietmar Busse and Doris Mitsch," at the Clamp Art in New York from March 4 to April 17, 2004.

The article considers the achievements of the U.S. counterterrorism policy based on the annual report of the American Security Project. According to the author, the U.S. was successful in eliminating the terrorist threat in Afghanistan. He explains the significance of the diminishing status of the al-Qaida brand. He adds that defense against transnational terrorism has improved due to better domestic surveillance and drone strikes.

The author argues that the U.S. government needs to incorporate emissions reductions into its trade policy in order to implement a serious international regime to control carbon emissions. He adds that tariffs should be impose against countries that refuse to comply. He explains the cost effect of greenhouse gas emission control compliance to industries. The author further argues that the government should make a distinction between pollution and climate change.

The author argues that neither the political left nor the political right has internalized the key lessons that should have been learned from the events leading to the Iraq War. He praises that U.S. presidential candidates, Illinois Democratic Senator Barack Obama for his opposition to the war in 2002, and Arizona Republican Senator John McCain for his support of the troop surge. He opines that it is a mistake to link American interest to developments in Iraq.

The article looks at issues relating to the global war on terror. The recent decline in violence in Iraq is not synonymous with progress in the war on terror. Instead, the debate over the success of the Iraq surge strategy is considered a distraction. A comprehensive examination of progress in the war on terror by the American Security Project found that the U.S. was succeeding in only two of 10 metrics: a decrease in the number of state sponsors of terrorism and advancements in economic prosperity in the Muslim world.

The author reflects on a concept called 4 Percent for Freedom being promoted by several defense analysts from the Heritage Foundation which sets a floor on U.S. defense expenditures at 4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). He says that linking defense funding with temporary tax increase would do much more to guarantee a balance between political ends and military means. He states that the key issue in the U.S. national security is being missed by the campaign.