24 August 2015

WEEKEND READING: AUGUST 21–23 EDITION

AUGUST 21, 2015
http://warontherocks.com/2015/08/weekend-reading-august-21-23-edition/

It’s that time of the week again — time to shift into weekend mode. Lucky for you, we’re here to help. Here are some of our recommendations for what you should be reading as you kick back this weekend.

7 things to think about before America’s post-9/11 wars end. That’s what we get from retired Army Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik in the latest issue of Army Magazine. One of those things is that all these wars are actually one war. Another is that our strategy sucks (which won’t surprise WOTR readers). See what else the good general has to say, including his call for boots on the ground.

What’s on the Chief’s Mind? Janine Davidson breaks down Gen. Milley’s inaugural remarks as Army chief over at her blog, Defense in Depth (which you should totally be following). His key themes? Families, warfare as a human endeavor, the size of the Army (shocker), and ground combat as the Army’s raison d’etre.

So, Mr. President, about that war you want to launch… Over at The Bridge, retired military officer Jason Howk offers some thoughts on military advice to civilian leaders aimed at “elected, appointed, and commissioned senior leaders and those who will stand in their shoes one day.” Lots of great stuff in here on civ–mil relations and a few historical nuggets.

Certified badass of the month. This veteran of our beloved Marine Corps, with a crucial assist by his Yorkshire Terrier, went head to head with a bear and lived to tell about it. Check it out!


Experience the WWII in the Pacific. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative over at CSIS has a great feature on the war in the Pacific, complete with videos and maps.

Want more? Mira Rapp-Hooper of CSIS wrote great piece for us this week on how the post-WWII peace settlement set the stage for today’s territorial disputes in the South China Sea and elsewhere.

The “Special Relationship” may not extend to Syria. Over at Cicero Magazine, Peter Storey explains why the Royal Air Force planes are not striking the Islamic State from the skies over Syria alongside their U.S. counterparts. In short, the United Kingdom doesn’t see itself as having a dog in this fight, despite the perceived threat from the Islamic State.

No comments: