Author Archive

George C. Wilson

Defense

Forward Observer: Costs of War

The total tally for the war on terrorism through the Pentagon's fiscal 2010 supplemental comes to $1.12 trillion, with no end in sight.

Defense

Forward Observer: The True Cost Of Assassinations

Lawmakers should look into the cause-and-effect relationship between White House-approved assassinations abroad and retaliatory attacks at home.

Defense

Forward Observer: Just Do It

The Pentagon is moving too slowly on repealing "don't ask, don't tell."

Defense

Forward Observer: Have Guns, Will Travel

Is Congress willing to keep financing wars like the ongoing one in Afghanistan in perpetuity?

Defense

Forward Observer: Unmarked Exit

The question of how to leave Afghanistan is weighing on the Obama administration and dividing lawmakers.

Defense

Forward Observer: Nuclear Time Bomb

Strategy document identifies nuclear terrorism threat as urgent.

Defense

Forward Observer: Gates' Swan Song?

Pentagon chief is clearly fed up with the status quo in the military-industrial-political complex.

Defense

Forward Observer: Rational Defense

The country is spending more than $1 trillion a year on national defense despite fighting only two little wars against enemies with no ships, warplanes or tanks.

Defense

Forward Observer: Kill The F-35?

A defense expert predicts the government will keep the fighter jet alive no matter what, to show taxpayers they got something for their money.

Defense

Forward Observer: QDR is a Quite Disappointing Report

Goal of the strategy document seems to be to avoid ruffling feathers.

Defense

Forward Observer: Weyand's Message

Vietnam general believed that the psychological support of the American people for hard-to-explain wars is far more important than troops, guns, bombers and tanks.

Defense

Forward Observer: F-35 Challenges Gates

Briefing shows it will cost almost twice as much to fly the fighter jets for one hour as it does the existing F/A-18A through D models and AV-8.

Defense

Forward Observer: Back To Tit For Tat

Al-Qaeda and the Taliban will respond sooner or later to Obama's surge, much like the Vietcong did during the escalation of the Vietnam War.

Defense

Forward Observer: Another Looming Disaster

Retired officer says the all-volunteer military "has priced itself out of the market."

Defense

Forward Observer: Atonement

Congressman's book will outline his regrets about voting to let former President George W. Bush invade Iraq.

Defense

Forward Observer: Through Iran's Eyes

Mutually assured destruction might not be enough to keep Iran and Israel at bay if Iran develops a nuclear bomb.

Defense

Forward Observer: Obama the Pragmatist

The president is unlikely to give his generals in Afghanistan everything they want.

Defense

Forward Observer: A Second Chance

Congress needs to reassert its war-making authority and ask the administration's top officials the tough questions on Afghanistan.

Defense

Forward Observer: Lessons Not Learned

Obama will face decisions in Afghanistan similar to those that confronted Nixon in Vietnam.

Defense

Forward Observer: Obama's Defense Reckoning

The president is facing a tough fight over the Pentagon budget.