Military News
Coverage of the armed forces, defense spending, and global security challenges. The Daily Signal offers news, analysis, and conservative commentary.
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opinion
Q&A: How the Military Can Help Secure the Border
With a so-called “caravan” of several thousand individuals trekking through Mexico and bound for the U.S., President Donald Trump is considering the option of sending U.S. troops to help close the southern border. Here are the basics of how the military can and can’t be used at the border. What laws govern the use of… -
news
In Defense of Price Gouging During a Natural Disaster
Thirteen states–Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia–have enacted laws to combat what is seen as price gouging in the wake of natural disasters. Price gouging is legally defined as charging 10 to 25 percent more for something than you charged for it during… -
opinion
What’s at Stake in Rebuilding the Military
We place a lot of demands on our fine military, and the good news is—at home and in many places around the world—it’s meeting those demands. Now the bad news: We’re wearing it out. After 17 years of continuous combat operations, it’s in desperate need of a rebuild. To be sure, Congress recently provided some… -
news
Rating of US Military Strength as ‘Marginal’ Is Worrisome, Sen. Joni Ernst Says
The military strength of the United States is rated as only marginal in a new report from The Heritage Foundation, and the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate finds that disturbing. “As the index indicates, the United States is facing increasing global threats in all domains of warfare,” Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa,… -
opinion
As Congress Rebuilds the Military, Tracking Progress Is Vital
In recent years, perhaps no one has felt the pinch of budget cuts more than the U.S. military. Though Congress must remain responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, injudicious cuts to defense did unnecessary damage to our armed forces. Thanks to recent action from Congress, however, the military has cause for optimism. Congress took the first… -
opinion
Existing Law Didn’t Protect Victims From the Jacksonville Shooter. It Left Them Defenseless.
This past weekend, a competitor at a video game competition in Jacksonville, Florida, allegedly opened fire on fellow gamers, killing two and wounding 10 before taking his own life. It appears that, like so many mass public shooters before him, current gun laws should have been enough to prevent him from possessing firearms. And once… -
opinion
The Earliest Signing of the NDAA in 40 Years Is a Giant Step in Rebuilding the Military
With President Donald Trump’s signature Monday at Fort Drum, New York, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2019 will be the earliest a defense authorization bill has become law since 1978. Forty years ago, the bill was 16 pages long and was called the “Department of Defense Appropriation Authorization Act,… -
news
Media Misses: Op-Ed Suggests Being in Media Similar to Serving in Military
We break down the top media moments this week—and plenty of misses. This week, the conspiracy website Infowars, which is run by Alex Jones, was either “banned” or had content stripped from most social media platforms. Infowars is hardly a conservative website, but some fear that the social media “deplatforming” of its content will bleed… -
opinion
NDAA Will Give Military Critical Boost in 2019
The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, as approved in conference and passed by the House on July 26, will continue the progress begun in fiscal year 2018 in rebuilding the capacity, capabilities, and readiness of the U.S. military services. In so doing, it will enable them to regain their competitive… -
opinion
The 2019 NDAA Provides Some Important New Authorities to Modernize the US Military
The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, which is the reconciliation of earlier House and Senate versions, is good news for the military. It grants the Defense Department and the military services some significant new authorities to assist in rebuilding the armed forces. Additionally, on several issues, Congress wisely chose to… -
opinion
Remembering Frank Carlucci, Reagan’s Secretary of Defense
Frank Carlucci III, who served under every president from Richard Nixon to Ronald Reagan, died June 3 at his home in McLean, Virginia. He was 87. Carlucci, who dedicated much of his adult life to serving the American people and became well-known for his bravery, conservatism, and problem-solving approach, served as the 15th national security… -
opinion
Pentagon’s New Transgender Policy Strikes Right Balance for Military
More than 100 lawmakers have signed a letter calling on Defense Secretary James Mattis to rescind his recently announced transgender policy for the military, as USA Today reports. Mattis’ policy largely returns the military to the transgender policy in effect prior to 2016, when President Barack Obama enacted sweeping changes based on political considerations and… -
news
Suspect Charged in Connection With Suspicious Packages Sent to Military Bases
A man is in custody in connection with suspicious packages found at military bases in the metropolitan Washington area. Thanh Cong Phan, 43, appeared in court in Washington state Tuesday, a little more than 24 hours after 11 packages arrived at the bases, CBS News reported. Phan previously had written crank letters to the military, CBS reported,… -
opinion
35 Years On, Reagan’s Strategic Defense Initiative Pays Dividends
Thirty-five years ago, on March 23, 1983, President Ronald Reagan declared, “Isn’t it worth every investment necessary to free the world from the threat of nuclear war? We know it is.” Thus the president introduced the Strategic Defense Initiative, “a comprehensive, layered ballistic missile defense program,” to the world. Thirty-five years later, the United States,… -
opinion
Podcast: The Week in Review, Plus a New Hope for Military Families
On our week-in-review show, Editor-in-Chief Rob Bluey and Managing Editor Katrina Trinko recap the top stories making news. They cover President Donald Trump’s meeting with North Korea, legislative activity on school safety, tariffs, judicial nominees, and country music’s political controversy. Plus, Bluey talks to Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., about his plan to give military families… -
opinion
Why Congress Should Modernize Impact Aid for Children of Military Families
Kathleen Jones and her family were “trying to figure out the next chapter in their lives.” Her husband spent 28 years in the military, so the Jones family was making adjustments in Arizona for life after military service. Doctors diagnosed both of their boys as being on the autism spectrum, so finding the best services… -
opinion
America’s Long History of Military Parades
Sometimes it’s good to have a little historical perspective when reacting to the news of the day. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that President Donald Trump was working with the Pentagon to host a military parade in the District of Columbia after he was so impressed by France’s Bastille Day parade, which he witnessed… -
opinion
Continuing Resolutions Impose Considerable Cost on Military
The continuing resolution recently passed by the House of Representatives includes a full fiscal year of appropriations for the Department of Defense. That’s good news for anyone that cares about our nation’s defense. Assuming the Senate passes the bill, it will be the fifth continuing resolution for fiscal year 2018, which began on Oct. 1…. -
opinion
The Government Shutdown Will Further Weaken Our Military
Congress faced a number of bad options on Friday, when government funding expired for the third time this fiscal year. But lawmakers picked the worst option of all for our military and national security: they decided to let the government shut down. This decision will be incredibly damaging to our national security and to the… -
opinion
Pentagon’s Decision to Keep Cluster Bombs Preserves Military Readiness, Lethality
The Pentagon drew sharp but unwarranted criticism earlier this month following its decision to indefinitely delay compliance with a ban on certain kinds of legacy cluster bombs. Cluster bombs remain an important tool in the arsenal for U.S. forces, as they are effective at targeting light armor, massed infantry, and parked aircraft. We should not…