US Military

A black-and-white photo with a mushroom-shaped explosion.

The Best Years of My Country Are Behind Me The Best Years of My Country Are Behind Me

Thirty years ago, I caught a fleeting glimpse out of the corner of my eye of a better future, a better America, a better world. It was not to be.

May 11, 2023 / William Astore

A Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning fighter jet is shown at the Singapore Airshow in 2014

The Military Industrial Complex Is More Powerful Than Ever The Military Industrial Complex Is More Powerful Than Ever

The current war machine isn’t your grandfather’s MIC, not by a country mile.

May 9, 2023 / William D. Hartung and Benjamin Freeman

The Nord Stream Explosions: New Revelations About Motive, Means, and Opportunity

The Nord Stream Explosions: New Revelations About Motive, Means, and Opportunity The Nord Stream Explosions: New Revelations About Motive, Means, and Opportunity

As new details emerge about the pipeline blasts, they also prompt questions: What did US intelligence know about the biggest whodunit of the century, when did they know it, and how...

May 5, 2023 / James Bamford

A car sits in front of a burned apartment building and pile of rubble. A soldier stands in front of the car.

There Is No Winning in Modern Warfare There Is No Winning in Modern Warfare

The US military may have achieved just one success of any significance since 1945—despite becoming the best-funded institution in this country. 

May 2, 2023 / Tom Engelhardt

Hypersonic missile russia

Think the Pentagon Budget Is Too High Now? I’ve Got Bad News. Think the Pentagon Budget Is Too High Now? I’ve Got Bad News.

As today’s emerging technology gets converted into actual combat systems, future spending will only increase.

Apr 27, 2023 / Michael T. Klare

A US Special Forces soldier at a remote village in the Arghandab District in Afghanistan

The Army Is Recruiting—Gen Z Just Isn’t Biting The Army Is Recruiting—Gen Z Just Isn’t Biting

After 20 years of losing wars, who can blame them?

Apr 20, 2023 / Nan Levinson

President Dwight D. Eisenhower

Why Eisenhower’s “Chance for Peace” Address Still Matters Why Eisenhower’s “Chance for Peace” Address Still Matters

The speech was an indictment of nuclear buildup and excessive military spending.

Apr 19, 2023 / William D. Hartung

US and Philippine troops during an exercise

Preparing for War in the South China Sea Preparing for War in the South China Sea

Ahead of massive war games involving US and Filipino troops, the Defense Department announced that it will gain access to four new military sites in the Philippines.

Apr 7, 2023 / Sarah Lazare

Veterans

What Survivors of War Can Tell Us About Our Broken Health Care System What Survivors of War Can Tell Us About Our Broken Health Care System

Policy-makers once so prepared to place veterans in harm’s way are remarkably unprepared to care for them when they are no longer of direct use.

Apr 5, 2023 / Andrea Mazzarino

US soldier Mosul

Get Ready for Yet Another Pentagon Spending Spree Get Ready for Yet Another Pentagon Spending Spree

This year, the budget will be in striking distance of the $1 trillion mark that hawkish officials and pundits could only dream about a few short years ago.

Mar 29, 2023 / William D. Hartung

x