Air Guard Reminds Us, The A-10 Is Still Flying

The Air National Guard loves the A-10 Warthog, that’s no secret. After all, the Guard and Reserve fly more than 150 of the 340-plus aircraft in the Air Force’s inventory. Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced something we all knew was coming: The Air Force wants to retire the entire A-10 fleet of…

Harry Reid’s ‘Nuclear’ Agitation Began During Fight Over Chuck Hagel

Senate Republicans went to great lengths in February to prevent Chuck Hagel, once one of their own, from becoming defense secretary. The fight was among the nastiest Washington has ever seen over an executive nomination. But Hagel eventually was confirmed, and relations between Hagel and his former GOP mates seemed to be warming. Some of…

As Domestic Agenda Crumbles, Obama’s National Security Team Is Under Fire

ESSAY Second terms for U.S. presidents are tough. One’s domestic political capital quickly burns off after his Election Day mandate is forgotten by political friends and foes. So presidents often become “foreign-policy presidents” in their final years in the Oval Office. Things were heading in that familiar direction for Barack Obama. But there are signs…

Chiefs’ Equation: More Sequester Equals More Casualties. Lawmakers Don’t Check Their Arithmetic.

The Pentagon’s top generals continue sending mixed messages about the impacts of pending military spending cuts. The latest instance of the service chiefs’ uneven talking points came during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last Thursday. The chiefs at times said changing the schedule of the cuts would make them mostly manageable. At other times,…