Articles by Brian Slattery

 News

Obama Already Banking on Sequestration?

Brian Slattery | October 26, 2012

When the topic of sequestration arose during the final presidential debate Monday, President Obama declared, “It will not happen.” Considering that Obama has also previously… Read More

Security

Arctic Shield: Coast Guard Looking North

Brian Slattery | October 26, 2012

The Arctic has become a hotbed of interest in recent years. The Coast Guard has recognized this trend and is pursuing more presence in the… Read More

 

“Horses and Bayonets” Remark Is a Disrespectful Oversimplification

Brian Slattery | October 23, 2012

Last night, President Obama generated tremendous Internet buzz with his “horses and bayonets” remark. While the U.S. Armed Forces have of course advanced technologically, the… Read More

Security

The $2 Trillion Question: How to Preserve National Security?

Brian Slattery | October 10, 2012

In the first presidential debate, President Obama criticized Mitt Romney’s proposed defense budget plan as “$2 trillion in additional military spending that the military hasn’t… Read More

Security

Obama 2007: Warn Contractors of Impending Layoffs; Obama 2012: Don’t Bother

Brian Slattery | October 04, 2012

“For too long, employers have failed to notify workers that they’re about to lose their jobs due to mass layoffs or plant closings even though… Read More

 

Defense Cuts Will Cost Us in the Long Run

Brian Slattery | September 26, 2012

As its January 2 deadline draws near, sequestration and the roughly $500 billion it will cut from defense have received increasing attention. While proponents of… Read More

Security

Air Force Celebrates 65th Birthday

Brian Slattery | September 18, 2012

Today marks the 65th birthday of the United States Air Force. Since 1947, the Air Force has served the U.S. as the dominant air power… Read More

 

New Administration Report Gives Few Details on Sequestration’s Military Cuts

Brian Slattery | September 14, 2012

The White House is attempting to use the U.S. military as a bargaining chip to force Congress to raise taxes—the looming “sequestration” budget cuts were… Read More

 

Coast Guard’s Latest Battle: Underwater Drug Trafficking

Brian Slattery | September 11, 2012

The U.S. Coast Guard is facing a growing threat in the Caribbean: undersea drug trafficking. The New York Times recently recounted an incident where the… Read More

Security

Laying the Keel for National Security Cutter: The Framework for Maritime Security

Brian Slattery | September 07, 2012

Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Robert Papp recently oversaw the keel laying ceremony of the newest National Security Cutter (NSC), the Hamilton. Fittingly, this vessel is… Read More

 

Best Way to Address Sequestration: Overturn It

Brian Slattery | July 31, 2012

Tomorrow, the House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on implementing the mandated defense cuts known as sequestration. Instead of implementing the cuts, Congress… Read More

Security

Mandated Cuts Will Create “National Security Nightmare”

Brian Slattery | July 24, 2012

Constituents at a Great Falls, Montana, town hall meeting understand what many in Congress do not seem to understand: Cuts mandated by budget sequestration will… Read More

Security

Sequestration Will Damage an Already Weakened Air Force

Brian Slattery | July 12, 2012

The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness is holding a hearing this week titled “Department of the Air Force Aircraft Force Structure Reductions.” The last… Read More

Security

White House National Security Strategy: Distract from Real Concerns

Brian Slattery | July 12, 2012

While the President has reveled in recent U.S. military accomplishments (even at the expense of classified or sensitive information), his Administration has been guardedly quiet… Read More

Security

Military Madness Matinee

Brian Slattery | June 21, 2012

Whether in Washington, D.C., or Wichita Falls, Texas, people are wondering nervously how the automatic defense cuts of sequestration will impact the U.S. military. While… Read More

Security

Congress Should Follow General Marshall’s Example

Brian Slattery | May 17, 2012

It was a major, who in 1923, gave a talk to a small group here in Washington, D.C., an Army major, who said that America… Read More

 

America’s Political Leaders Cannot Repeat History Again

Brian Slattery | May 07, 2012

“The impact of this decline is no longer invisible. Far too many of the military’s top priority development programs are experiencing schedule delays and development… Read More

Security

An SOS for the Coast Guard

Brian Slattery | April 18, 2012

The Coast Guard needs to call more attention to its undersized fleet, according to Congressional Research Service expert Ron O’Rourke. While the sea service has… Read More

Security

Bomber Milestones: Cause for Celebration or Concern?

Brian Slattery | April 16, 2012

Yesterday marked the 60th anniversary of the B-52 Stratofortress strategic bomber’s first flight. The last B-52 came off the production line 10 years later. Such… Read More

Security

President’s Plan Weakens at Least One Leg of Nuclear Triad

Brian Slattery | April 03, 2012

According to the U.S. Navy, America’s nuclear deterrent triad will be limping on one of its legs for over a decade because of the President’s… Read More

Economy

Red Tape Ties Up Industrial Base

Brian Slattery | March 13, 2012

Defense officials need to rethink the way they award contracts, says Daniel Goure, vice president of the Lexington Institute. Goure argues that, in its effort… Read More

Security

Readiness Concerns Point to a Bleak Future for U.S. Military

Brian Slattery | March 07, 2012

In a recent op-ed, defense expert Mackenzie Eaglen points to the USS Essex as an unfortunate example of concerns about military readiness. Equipment failures prevented… Read More

Security

Reducing National Security Cutter Fleet Threatens U.S. Sovereignty at Sea

Brian Slattery | February 29, 2012

In his recent budget request, President Obama cut funding for two Coast Guard National Security Cutters (NSC) that were slated to round out the fleet… Read More

Security

“Hollow Forces” Discussion Distracts from Consequences of Defense Cuts

Brian Slattery | February 23, 2012

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently issued a report that attempts to explain the usage of the term “hollow forces.” The report argues that given… Read More

 

Defense Cuts Ignore Threats, Increase Risks

Brian Slattery | February 23, 2012

President Obama’s cuts to defense put America’s national security at risk, argues Heritage’s James Carafano. As the U.S. draws out of two foreign wars, the… Read More

Security

Defense Report Gets Failing Grade

Brian Slattery | February 09, 2012

America’s military is witnessing yet another attempt to recast the negative impact of massive defense cuts, this time in a report by the Council on… Read More

Security

Military Maintenance Critical to a Ready Force

Brian Slattery | February 09, 2012

In a recent report titled “A Historical Perspective on ‘Hollow Forces,’” the Congressional Research Service (CRS) surveyed past efforts to keep the military from going… Read More

Security

U.S. Special Forces Will Be Weakened by Defense Budget Cuts

Brian Slattery | January 31, 2012

Since the May 2, 2011, Navy SEAL raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound, President Obama has lauded the mission’s success and championed U.S. Special Forces… Read More

Security

Obama Administration Cannot Continue to “Hollow Out the Force”

Brian Slattery | January 27, 2012

In discussing the Department of Defense’s upcoming budget request, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta stated “our approach was to use this as an opportunity to maintain… Read More

Security

“Reversibility” Concept Could Cause Irreversible Damage to Armed Forces

Brian Slattery | January 24, 2012

The Obama Administration is using a new buzzword when referring to its national security strategy: “reversibility.” In the most recent Defense Strategy Guidance, this term… Read More