http://www.govexec.comen-usThu, 16 May 2013 16:45:03 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/how-afghan-conflict-will-be-decided/63228/More U.S. casualties reaffirm Obama’s rush to rely on the Afghan army. Can they handle it?Michael Hirsh, National JournalThu, 16 May 2013 16:45:03 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/how-afghan-conflict-will-be-decided/63228/DefenseAn Afghan National Police officer watches over a checkpointAnja Niedringhaus/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/natos-plan-afghanistan-post-2014-stable-instability/63123/U.S., allies are talking about commitments through 2018 and beyond, says top commander.Michael Hirsh, National JournalMon, 13 May 2013 09:22:06 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/natos-plan-afghanistan-post-2014-stable-instability/63123/DefenseAfghan Army soldiers rest between training sessions at a military training facility on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan. Anja Niedringhaus/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/analysis-incompetence-no-cover-benghazi/63057/The hearings deepen the tragedy, but not the scandal.Michael Hirsh, National JournalWed, 08 May 2013 17:46:30 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/05/analysis-incompetence-no-cover-benghazi/63057/DefenseGlass, debris and overturned furniture are strewn inside a room in the gutted U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, after an attack that killed four Americans.Ibrahim Alaguri/APhttp://www.govexec.com/management/cutting-costs/2013/03/its-obamas-economy-last/61777/We only seem to be back. It’s a far less equal economy--and big dangers loom for the president’s legacy.Michael HirshFri, 08 Mar 2013 16:57:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/management/cutting-costs/2013/03/its-obamas-economy-last/61777/Management - Cutting CostsWhite Househttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/03/analysis-how-obama-fumbled-afghanistan/61699/A new account by Richard Holbrooke's deputy hits the president hard on foreign policy.Michael Hirsh, National JournalWed, 06 Mar 2013 11:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/03/analysis-how-obama-fumbled-afghanistan/61699/DefenseThe sun rises over a CH-53E Super Stallion in Afghanistan in 2010Defense Department file photohttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/02/analysis-rehabilitation-chuck-hagel/61594/Beyond the sequester, the new Pentagon chief plans a fast trip, and a focus on veterans.Michael Hirsh, National JournalThu, 28 Feb 2013 15:42:34 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/02/analysis-rehabilitation-chuck-hagel/61594/DefenseDefense Departmenthttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/02/analysis-chuck-hagel-strategic-thinker/61361/Why aren’t more pundits defending the Defense nominee for foreseeing today’s budget problems? Probably because they were wrong themselves.Michael Hirsh, National JournalTue, 19 Feb 2013 11:33:20 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/02/analysis-chuck-hagel-strategic-thinker/61361/DefenseDefense Departmenthttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/01/why-obama-thanked-hillary/60922/The president's former political rival journeyed a long, hard road to loyalty.Michael Hirsh, National JournalMon, 28 Jan 2013 12:43:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2013/01/why-obama-thanked-hillary/60922/Management - Promising PracticesAP Photo/CBShttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/01/analysis-what-obamas-missing-afghanistan/60636/More than troops, the president needs a strategy in the region -- and a diplomat.Michael Hirsh, National JournalMon, 14 Jan 2013 09:20:35 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2013/01/analysis-what-obamas-missing-afghanistan/60636/DefensePresident Barack Obama listens to Afgan President Hamid Karzai Charles Dharapak/APhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/01/joe-biden-most-influential-vice-president-history/60416/From the fiscal cliff to gun control to Afghanistan, Scranton's favorite son has transformed himself from affable gaffer to West Wing powerhouse.Michael Hirsh, National JournalWed, 02 Jan 2013 12:25:57 -0500http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/01/joe-biden-most-influential-vice-president-history/60416/OversightCarolyn Kaster/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/analysis-chuck-hagel-being-punished-stance-iraq/60370/For too many lawmakers, a Defense Secretary Hagel would be a nagging reminder of what they got wrong.Michael Hirsh, National JournalFri, 28 Dec 2012 10:43:17 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/analysis-chuck-hagel-being-punished-stance-iraq/60370/DefenseDave Weaver/APhttp://www.govexec.com/management/2012/12/white-house-wavers-hagel-considers-others-defense/60343/Nebraska Republican’s Pentagon nomination appears to be failing because of his blunt advocacy of unpopular positions.Michael Hirsh, National JournalMon, 24 Dec 2012 11:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/management/2012/12/white-house-wavers-hagel-considers-others-defense/60343/ManagementNati Harnik/AP file photohttp://www.govexec.com/management/2012/12/analysis-ambition-and-anguish-drive-john-kerry/60332/He will likely pursue an activist agenda as secretary of State.Michael Hirsh, National JournalFri, 21 Dec 2012 14:49:30 -0500http://www.govexec.com/management/2012/12/analysis-ambition-and-anguish-drive-john-kerry/60332/ManagementObama introduced John Kerry as the nominee at a press conference Friday.Carolyn Kaster/APhttp://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/12/team-mentors-biden-kerry-and-hagel-are-obamas-senate-mafia/60260/The president's emerging second-term national-security team will likely include a longstanding cabal in place before Obama reached Washington.Michael Hirsh, The AtlanticWed, 19 Dec 2012 13:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2012/12/team-mentors-biden-kerry-and-hagel-are-obamas-senate-mafia/60260/Management - Promising PracticesImage via Orhan Cam/Shutterstock.com http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/chuck-hagel-pacifist/60207/The former GOP senator, a possible Obama nominee to run the Pentagon, is haunted by Vietnam.Michael Hirsh, The AtlanticMon, 17 Dec 2012 10:14:01 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/chuck-hagel-pacifist/60207/DefenseDave Weaver/AP file photohttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/how-main-candidates-defense-chief-differ/60182/Chuck Hagel and Michelle Flournoy, both haunted by the ghosts of Vietnam, represent a stark choice for Obama.Michael Hirsh, National JournalFri, 14 Dec 2012 15:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/how-main-candidates-defense-chief-differ/60182/DefenseMichèle Flournoy is the former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP file photohttp://www.govexec.com/management/2012/12/analysis-obama-gets-solution-his-susan-rice-problem/60163/Leading secretary of State candidate allows him to dump her without seeming to.Michael Hirsh, National JournalFri, 14 Dec 2012 09:13:24 -0500http://www.govexec.com/management/2012/12/analysis-obama-gets-solution-his-susan-rice-problem/60163/ManagementJason DeCrow/AP http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/aides-obama-genuinely-conflicted-between-rice-and-kerry-secretary-state/59943/Decision could come as early as next week.Michael Hirsh, National JournalTue, 04 Dec 2012 14:20:35 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/12/aides-obama-genuinely-conflicted-between-rice-and-kerry-secretary-state/59943/DefenseCharles Dharapak/AP file photohttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/11/benghazi-may-be-least-susan-rices-problems/59580/Rights activists say she's been dancing with African dictators since the '90s.Michael Hirsh, National JournalFri, 16 Nov 2012 11:00:00 -0500http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/11/benghazi-may-be-least-susan-rices-problems/59580/DefenseCraig Ruttle/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/09/obamas-quagmire-syria-and-islamist-arc/58285/Hammered on leadership, the president struggles for a Middle East policy.Michael Hirsh, National JournalFri, 21 Sep 2012 16:24:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/09/obamas-quagmire-syria-and-islamist-arc/58285/DefenseSmoke billows over Damascus.APhttp://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/07/can-romney-really-lead/56684/Questions crop up about how the GOP candidate would run the government.Michael Hirsh, National JournalTue, 10 Jul 2012 00:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/oversight/on-politics/2012/07/can-romney-really-lead/56684/Oversight - On Politicshttp://www.govexec.com/management/2012/06/smart-regulation-not/56289/Obama says he’s revolutionizing government; Romney says the president just wants more government.Michael Hirsh, National JournalFri, 15 Jun 2012 07:37:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/management/2012/06/smart-regulation-not/56289/Management“Smart regulations save lives and dollars,” University of Chicago scholar Cass Sunstein wrote in a White House blog recently.AP photohttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/05/afghanistan-commander-my-sound-bite-were-being-successful/55613/Gen. Allen counters suggestions of Taliban strength.Michael Hirsh, National JournalMon, 07 May 2012 17:00:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/05/afghanistan-commander-my-sound-bite-were-being-successful/55613/DefenseGen. John AllenCharles Dharapak/AP file photohttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/05/mission-accomplished-last/55532/Obama acknowledges the conflict in Afghanistan may never be completely over.Michael Hirsh, National JournalWed, 02 May 2012 08:47:08 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/05/mission-accomplished-last/55532/DefenseMusadeq Sadeq/APhttp://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/04/analysis-one-year-after-bin-ladens-death-new-world/55448/Even U.S. conservatives are battling over how to handle the 'post-al Qaeda era.'Michael Hirsh, National JournalFri, 27 Apr 2012 16:03:00 -0400http://www.govexec.com/defense/2012/04/analysis-one-year-after-bin-ladens-death-new-world/55448/DefenseAP file photo