LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Back to basics
(March 2008)
Retired Maj. Gen. Robert Scales has written an excellent analysis of the issues in “Infantry and national priorities” [December]. But he may have missed certain aspects of two...
Retired Maj. Gen. Robert Scales has written an excellent analysis of the issues in “Infantry and national priorities” [December]. But he may have missed certain aspects of two...
A question of tolerance
(March 2008)
Had I not seen the title of Barry Fagin and Lt. Col. James Parco’s “A question of faith” [January], I would have gone through the first two pages wondering what their point...
Had I not seen the title of Barry Fagin and Lt. Col. James Parco’s “A question of faith” [January], I would have gone through the first two pages wondering what their point...
Slow change
(February 2008)
CAPT. JAMES ALDEN’S PERSPECTIVES ARTICLE, WHILE INTERESTING, WAS ALSO DISTURBING ON MANY LEVELS [“Eyes wide shut,” March]. While I concede that the Army’s process of...
CAPT. JAMES ALDEN’S PERSPECTIVES ARTICLE, WHILE INTERESTING, WAS ALSO DISTURBING ON MANY LEVELS [“Eyes wide shut,” March]. While I concede that the Army’s process of...
After-action review
(February 2008)
THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT WHILE THE INITIAL BLITZKRIEG WAS SATISFACTORY, in its post-hostilities phase Iraq was the worst-planned U.S. military operation in American history. Although...
THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT WHILE THE INITIAL BLITZKRIEG WAS SATISFACTORY, in its post-hostilities phase Iraq was the worst-planned U.S. military operation in American history. Although...
Instructor call-up
(October 2007)
I would like to add to Ralph Peters’ proposal [“The Geezer Brigade,” July] by sug¬gesting an additional route for voluntary call up, namely drawing on the...
I would like to add to Ralph Peters’ proposal [“The Geezer Brigade,” July] by sug¬gesting an additional route for voluntary call up, namely drawing on the...
Common-sense approach
(October 2007)
The following thoughts and insights, while probably not original or creative in a sense, are solid enough to start a process of damage control and rebuilding once we get beyond our present...
The following thoughts and insights, while probably not original or creative in a sense, are solid enough to start a process of damage control and rebuilding once we get beyond our present...
Old soldiers
(September 2007)
As a mobilized Army Reserve officer with 34-plus years in uniform, including 21 years active, I’m doing everything I can to stay in uniform. I think in July 2008 I may be looking for...
As a mobilized Army Reserve officer with 34-plus years in uniform, including 21 years active, I’m doing everything I can to stay in uniform. I think in July 2008 I may be looking for...
Making generals
(September 2007)
The military, historically, is a conservative institution, and no more so than in the general officer corps. Conservatism rises through the ranks, and the survivors tend to embody the...
The military, historically, is a conservative institution, and no more so than in the general officer corps. Conservatism rises through the ranks, and the survivors tend to embody the...
Do the right thing
(August 2007)
Flying lessons
(August 2007)
As an Army aviator and avid reader of AFJ, I was excited to see your cover story dedicated to the employment of emerging tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) used to counter the threat...
As an Army aviator and avid reader of AFJ, I was excited to see your cover story dedicated to the employment of emerging tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) used to counter the threat...
Fighting words
(July 2007)
J. Michael Waller’s “Fighting the War of Ideas Like a Real War” is on target [“Word’s worth,” Book Review, May]. To borrow some recent advice in fighting...
J. Michael Waller’s “Fighting the War of Ideas Like a Real War” is on target [“Word’s worth,” Book Review, May]. To borrow some recent advice in fighting...
Illogical logistics
(July 2007)
From those associated with big government and centralized cultures we get top-down solutions. Richard May makes a number of salient points and raises issues that have not been discussed...
From those associated with big government and centralized cultures we get top-down solutions. Richard May makes a number of salient points and raises issues that have not been discussed...
Evolving doctrine
(June 2007)
While I’m reluctant to too forcefully jump on a captain’s good ideas, since Capt. James Alden has taken the time to put his thoughts on paper, I really think he has taken a very...
While I’m reluctant to too forcefully jump on a captain’s good ideas, since Capt. James Alden has taken the time to put his thoughts on paper, I really think he has taken a very...
‘Up or out’ folly
(June 2007)
I read my first copy of AFJ while waiting to speak to my Area Support Group commander. The articles “Growing the Army,” “Rightsized Army” and “Transformation...
I read my first copy of AFJ while waiting to speak to my Area Support Group commander. The articles “Growing the Army,” “Rightsized Army” and “Transformation...
I was struck by Capt. Alden’s lack of appreciation...
(June 2007)
I was struck by Capt. Alden’s lack of appreciation for conventional doctrine and force structure. Alden does nothing to explain current Army doctrine, nor does he acknowledge that Army...
I was struck by Capt. Alden’s lack of appreciation for conventional doctrine and force structure. Alden does nothing to explain current Army doctrine, nor does he acknowledge that Army...
Generalship and statesmanship
(June 2007)
Even if everything Lt. Col. Paul Yingling says about America’s generals is true, few, if any, of America’s great military leaders have shown the broad understanding of war and...
Even if everything Lt. Col. Paul Yingling says about America’s generals is true, few, if any, of America’s great military leaders have shown the broad understanding of war and...
Occupation doctrine
(May 2007)
THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DYNAMITE ISSUE OF AFJ. I was particularly interested in how the articles by Joseph J. Collins, Frank Hoffman, Christopher Griffin, Ralph Peters and Maj. Timothy T....
THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER DYNAMITE ISSUE OF AFJ. I was particularly interested in how the articles by Joseph J. Collins, Frank Hoffman, Christopher Griffin, Ralph Peters and Maj. Timothy T....
Numbers game
(May 2007)
AS WE HAVE SEEN, ANY ARGUMENT BASED ON STATISTICS naturally subjects itself to opposition using another set of statistics [“The GDP argument,” Inside the Beltway, March]. Tying...
AS WE HAVE SEEN, ANY ARGUMENT BASED ON STATISTICS naturally subjects itself to opposition using another set of statistics [“The GDP argument,” Inside the Beltway, March]. Tying...
Reality check
(April 2007)
God bless ralph Peters! Agree or no, his thought-provoking reality checks based on common sense and real history spark the discussions needed to get key leadership to actually, well, think.
God bless ralph Peters! Agree or no, his thought-provoking reality checks based on common sense and real history spark the discussions needed to get key leadership to actually, well, think.
(March 2007)
IN READING THE ARTICLE BY RALPH PETERS, “Progress and peril” [February], one is struck by the infantile approach we as a culture are making to the global war on terrorism. We...
IN READING THE ARTICLE BY RALPH PETERS, “Progress and peril” [February], one is struck by the infantile approach we as a culture are making to the global war on terrorism. We...
More infantry
(March 2007)
With the chief of staff of the Army and the commandant of the Marine Corps publicly calling for more troops, here is a solution that sources those troops from within current Defense...
With the chief of staff of the Army and the commandant of the Marine Corps publicly calling for more troops, here is a solution that sources those troops from within current Defense...
(February 2007)
Christopher Griffin and Dan Blumenthal are to be commended for their excellent article on the Littoral Combat Ship [“LCS: A solution for the Asia littoral,” December]. They are...
Christopher Griffin and Dan Blumenthal are to be commended for their excellent article on the Littoral Combat Ship [“LCS: A solution for the Asia littoral,” December]. They are...
Bad borders
(November 2006)
Ralph Peters asserts that while many problems contribute to the “comprehensive failure” that is the Middle East, one of the most important is not addressed: unjust borders...
Ralph Peters asserts that while many problems contribute to the “comprehensive failure” that is the Middle East, one of the most important is not addressed: unjust borders...
Disjointed argument
(November 2006)
While accomplishing the objective of being thought-provoking, Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles J. Dunlap Jr.’s article goes to show just how far our military mind-set has to go to achieve a...
While accomplishing the objective of being thought-provoking, Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles J. Dunlap Jr.’s article goes to show just how far our military mind-set has to go to achieve a...
Ideological threats
(October 2006)
Ralph Peters once again offers a needed perspective on the reality of today’s ideological fight [“The hearts-and-minds myth,” September]. While academia may loathe...
Ralph Peters once again offers a needed perspective on the reality of today’s ideological fight [“The hearts-and-minds myth,” September]. While academia may loathe...
The fallacy behind Ralph Peters’ new Middle East map
(September 2006)
The fallacy behind Ralph Peters’ new Middle East map is the presumption that there is something the U.S. can do to make the Middle East accept U.S. domination [“Blood borders:...
The fallacy behind Ralph Peters’ new Middle East map is the presumption that there is something the U.S. can do to make the Middle East accept U.S. domination [“Blood borders:...
Go to the source: Civilian supremacy run amok
(July 2006)
I would like to add a few comments to Tom Donnelly’s well-thought-out and well-articulated editorial, “Won’t get fooled again” [May].
I would like to add a few comments to Tom Donnelly’s well-thought-out and well-articulated editorial, “Won’t get fooled again” [May].
Rumsfeld and the Generals
(July 2006)
It surprises and alarms me that ongoing criticism of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from several retired generals has not elicited deeper introspection by our president and Congress...
It surprises and alarms me that ongoing criticism of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from several retired generals has not elicited deeper introspection by our president and Congress...
Transformation bashing
(March 2006)
As part of the media fuss over the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), critics of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have taken the opportunity to once again snipe at the concept of...
As part of the media fuss over the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), critics of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have taken the opportunity to once again snipe at the concept of...
The ‘who’ question
(February 2006)
Tom Donnelly’s editorial “The ‘who’ question” in the December issue leaves me with more questions than answers. The thrust of the article is that the Bush...
Tom Donnelly’s editorial “The ‘who’ question” in the December issue leaves me with more questions than answers. The thrust of the article is that the Bush...
Don’t blame Air Force
(February 2006)
I wish to rebut the statement made by Loren Thompson in “Finesse trumps firepower” in the December issue. Mr. Thompson asserted that “America still suffered the greatest...
I wish to rebut the statement made by Loren Thompson in “Finesse trumps firepower” in the December issue. Mr. Thompson asserted that “America still suffered the greatest...
This theory won’t fly
(January 2006)
I take issue with retired Maj. Gen. Scales’ article, “The shape of brigades to come” [October]. Scales claims that Special Forces operations in Afghanistan and Northern...
I take issue with retired Maj. Gen. Scales’ article, “The shape of brigades to come” [October]. Scales claims that Special Forces operations in Afghanistan and Northern...
Standing Army not needed
(January 2006)
The biggest mission creep the Regular Army faces is its continued existence.
The biggest mission creep the Regular Army faces is its continued existence.
Land power revisionism
(December 2005)
Readers who wonder why the joint force remains handcuffed by parochialism and a chronic shortage of trust need only read “The shape of brigades to come” in the October issue to...
Readers who wonder why the joint force remains handcuffed by parochialism and a chronic shortage of trust need only read “The shape of brigades to come” in the October issue to...
Write at your own risk
(December 2005)
Ralph Peters believes that senior Army leadership encourages written criticism from its junior leaders (“Fighting and writing,” October). I wonder what Army he served in. The...
Ralph Peters believes that senior Army leadership encourages written criticism from its junior leaders (“Fighting and writing,” October). I wonder what Army he served in. The...
Unfortunate parallels
(December 2005)
While reading “Occupation 101” by Ralph Peters in the September issue, I was struck by the sad parallels between planning for the occupation of Iraq and planning for Hurricane...
While reading “Occupation 101” by Ralph Peters in the September issue, I was struck by the sad parallels between planning for the occupation of Iraq and planning for Hurricane...
Recruiting overseas
I’m not sure launching recruiting campaigns in foreign countries would be a good idea, but who in their right mind would be against using foreign-born nationals who want to become U.S....
Medal mania
I JUST READ “A BETRAYAL OF OUR HERITAGE” [February] by Chaplain (Lt. Cmdr.) John Owen, about the idiocy of medals.
JOIN THE DEBATE
Take part in discussions about the articles in the current issue of Armed Forces Journal, or other defense-related topics, in AFJ Forums.
From our online discussion boards
Posted 5/14/2008 by Administrator
Posted 5/14/2008 by Administrator
The nonlinear future
Posted 5/5/2008 by Administrator
Posted 5/5/2008 by Administrator