For anyone unfamiliar with the patois of politics, the term “lame duck” may seem like a bit of an odd duck, rhetorically speaking. As defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the more common understanding of this phrase is “an elected official or group continuing to hold political office during the period between the election and the […]
SIGAR: U.S. Facilitated Afghan Corruption, Reacted Slowly
The first in a series of “lessons learned” reports released in September 2016 by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko has indicated that the U.S. introduced billions of dollars of aid into a corrupt system, sometimes benefiting militia members and warlords. According to the report, in some instances, U.S. aid […]
Movement to Audit the Pentagon Gains Traction
Consensus in the nation’s capital is rare. Agreement between Republicans and Democrats is typically confined to a belief that Washington, D.C. is miserably hot this time of year, and therefore the summer recess should last as long as possible. However, the release of the official party platforms for 2016 has revealed another area of solidarity: auditing the Pentagon.
Movement to Audit the Pentagon Gaining Speed
Consensus in the nation’s capital is rare. Agreement between Republicans and Democrats is typically confined to a belief that Washington, D.C. is miserably hot this time of year, and therefore the summer Congressional recess should last as long as possible. With the release of the official party platforms for 2016, another area of consensus has […]
Weapons of Mass Waste
The Department of Defense (DOD) maintains approximately $70 billion worth of conventional ammunition in case of unexpected contingencies. From this reserve, the DOD routinely removes ammunition that it deems excessive, damaged, unusable, or otherwise obsolete. This surplus is transferred to various Army facilities for storage, or eventual destruction. In fiscal year (FY) 2012, the DOD transferred 44 million items, including bullets, detonation cords, fuses, and grenades. The stockpile awaiting destruction is valued at $16 billion.
Boeing on the Hook for Failures of New Air Force Tanker
Pegasus, the mythological white winged horse that sprang forth from the neck of Medusa, never had any problem taking off; however, the same is not true for the horse’s namesake aircraft, the KC-46 tanker.
Questionable Justification for Noncompetitive Huey Replacement
The Air Force currently operates 62 Bell UH-1N Twin Huey helicopters, which serve two purposes: they provide security for the country’s nuclear missile fields, and perform the continuity of government mission, whereby designated senior officials would be transported out of the nation’s capital in the event of an emergency.
Status Quo for Obama’s Last Budget
The record-setting $4 trillion budget proposed by President Obama for fiscal year (FY) 2017, released on February 9, 2016 contains the usual suspect spending suggestions that he has made for the past seven years, along with a list of proposed cuts.
Single-Payer VA Healthcare Fails America’s Veterans
By any measure, those that serve in America’s military are the best of the nation. They sacrifice life and limb to defend the United States. They deserve the best medical care when they return home. However, numerous investigations over the past several years have exposed a systemic cancer of mismanagement and neglect in the federal department tasked with that care.
This is What Ash Carter’s Reform Looks Like
Upon assuming the office of Secretary of Defense in February 2015, Ashton Carter prioritized recruiting private sector companies – especially those in technology industries – to bid on contracts awarded by the Department of Defense (DOD). Carter, who holds a PhD in theoretical physics and lectured at Stanford, had the chops to appeal to Silicon Valley tech mavens.