Policies and politics affecting military programs

Running to stand still

By Philip Ewing on Friday, February 3rd, 2012

Running to stand still

Another day, another proposal to protect DoD’s budget, another round of deadlock.

HASC Chairman on BRAC: ‘Kill it’

By Michael Hoffman on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

HASC Chairman on BRAC: ‘Kill it’

U.S. Rep. Buck McKeon tells the Pentagon he has no plans of standing up another Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission.

The hometown backlash gambit

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

The hometown backlash gambit

SecDef’s worry about base closures is getting through to towns across the U.S. Can DoD and Congress use that groundswell to protect tomorrow’s budgets?

Your piece of the sequestration pie

By Philip Ewing on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012

Your piece of the sequestration pie

A report hopes to broaden the resistance to DoD budget reductions by warning that cuts would affect the whole country.

An altered landscape

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, January 26th, 2012

An altered landscape

The waiting and debating is over. Now there’s an actual roadmap for DoD’s planned build-down.

Judgment day

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Judgment day

SecDef and Gen. Dempsey unveil the long-dreaded program cuts in this year’s budget submission.

HASC Vice Chair dismisses proposed base closures

By Michael Hoffman on Thursday, January 26th, 2012

HASC Vice Chair dismisses proposed base closures

Rep. Mac Thornberry, House Armed Services Committee vice chair, expects his colleagues to push back against any Pentagon recommendation for an additional round of base closures.

CSBA: Our weapons mix is ‘out of whack’

By John Reed on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012

CSBA: Our weapons mix is ‘out of whack’

The Pentagon must continue to tweak its weapons mix if it wants to meet the military challenges of this century, a study concludes.

Could Boeing give LCS more punch?

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Could Boeing give LCS more punch?

An advanced new missile could potentially mean big changes for the littoral combat ship.

Another year of living dangerously

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, January 17th, 2012

Another year of living dangerously

Lawmakers want to try again to save DoD from sequestration, but it’ll be months, if ever, before anything happens.

The defense industry’s new favorite buzzword

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, January 5th, 2012

The defense industry’s new favorite buzzword

DoD has a hot new doctrine, “reversibility,” and it could become a key weapon for defenders of budgets and programs.

Obama telegraphs the big punch

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Obama telegraphs the big punch

The announcement of a new “strategy” at the Pentagon was the prelude to what looks like a tough defense budget year.

DoD’s “21st century priorities”

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, January 5th, 2012

DoD’s “21st century priorities”

President Obama and Secretary Panetta set the table for America’s coming defense build-down.

2012: The year ahead

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

2012: The year ahead

The outline for the big crunch and a major election are two key events already on the calendar for the new year.

2011: The year that was

By Philip Ewing on Friday, December 30th, 2011

2011: The year that was

Looking back at the Washington saga that left the U.S. military worrying it would become a “paper tiger.”

The year of the chopping block

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 29th, 2011

The year of the chopping block

There’s no telling just how many programs are in the crosshairs as DoD tries to deal with the prospect of reduced budget growth.

The coming defense ‘train wreck’

By Philip Ewing on Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

The coming defense ‘train wreck’

A year-ahead forecast paints a bleak picture of another year of dysfunction for the military-industrial-congressional complex.

The Pentagon’s ‘savings’ illusions

By Philip Ewing on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

The Pentagon’s ‘savings’ illusions

A commentator argues that politicians’ short-term priorities get in the way of the military’s true, big-picture needs.

Weekend wrap: Expeditionary links

By Philip Ewing on Friday, December 16th, 2011

Weekend wrap: Expeditionary links

The week that was. The links that were.

Boeing: F-35 hasn’t yet won in Japan

By John Reed on Friday, December 16th, 2011

Boeing: F-35 hasn’t yet won in Japan

Big B says, hey, hold on, this thing ain’t over yet: Its Super Hornet could still be Japan’s new fighter.