CSIS’s Anthony Cordesman returns from a fact finding trip to Israel and concludes in a lessons learned report that the IDF displayed impressive tactical improvements since missteps of the 2006 Lebanon war. But the Israeli leadership continues to suffer from an inability to grasp the serious strategic and political damages that result from its wielding of the country’s impressive military might.

The Associated Press reported last Thursday that Army armor plates had failed recent tests. The Army’s PEO Soldier says, not so. His letter to us follows.

UPDATED: With comments by Naval War College piracy expert
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Adm. Mike Mullen, said today is concerned the global financial crisis may “result in increased instability” around the globe. “At a time when resources are drying up… what does that mean for security,” Mullen asked, making it clear he is worried.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has given his imprimatur to “hybrid enemies” as the new OpFor. These enemies come equipped with high-end, precision guided weapons, but fight in distributed networks of small units and cells more akin to guerrillas.