Top Features
Building a Military for the 21st Century
Report from Lawrence J. Korb and others analyzes the state of the military and outlines a plan for rebuilding the military and saving money by reshaping the budget.Other U.S. Military Features
November 10, 2009
Choosing Between Family and the Military
American service members with undocumented spouses live with the added stress of worrying whether their family will face deportation, write Angela M. Kelley and Lawrence J. Korb.
November 10, 2009
Honoring Our Service Members
A by-the-numbers look at the challenges facing American veterans shows problems with mental health, addiction, homelessness, and finances this Veterans Day 2009.
August 31, 2009
Serving America's Veterans
Book from Lawrence J. Korb, Sean Duggan, Peter Juul, and Max Bergmann analyzes the full range of veterans' needs and offers solutions for addressing pressing challenges.
July 27, 2009
It’s Time for Obama to Follow Truman’s Example
On the 61st anniversary of military desegregation, President Obama needs to step up and stop discrimination in the military by ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, write Lawrence Korb and Laura Conley.
July 9, 2009
A Jet Even the Military Doesn't Want
The F-22 isn't useful in Afghanistan or Iraq. Why would Congress order more? Lawrence Korb and Krisila Benson in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
July 8, 2009
Don't Ask, Don't Care
Even before the US secretary of defence, Robert Gates, announced that he wanted to make the law dealing with gays in the military "more humane", supporters of "don't ask, don't tell", or DADT, the regulation that bans gay men and lesbians from openly serving in the US military, began overlooking the facts in order to maintain the policy.
July 7, 2009
How to End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Last year, as a presidential candidate, Barack Obama pledged he would work with military leaders and Congress to repeal the law that bans openly gay men and women from serving in the military. Last week, as the nation's commander in chief, he renewed his stance, declaring that "preventing patriotic Americans from serving our country weakens our national security." Yet the law commonly known as "don't ask, don't tell," or DADT, still remains in effect.
June 24, 2009
Ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Practical steps to repeal the ban on openly gay men and women in the U.S. military from Lawrence J. Korb, Sean Duggan, and Laura Conley.
June 22, 2009
Ask the Expert: Putting an End to "Don't Ask Don't Tell"
Lawrence J. Korb discusses why President Obama and Congress need to repeal "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and how they can accomplish it successfully.
May 22, 2009
Honoring Our Veterans on Memorial Day
This Memorial Day, we take a by-the-numbers look at how our troops have been hit by health problems and the economic crisis, and why we need to restore our social compact with them.
May 12, 2009
Funding War Through the Backdoor
Including programs not directly related to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in the supplemental funding bill perpetuates the broken defense acquisitions process, write Laura Conley and Sean Duggan.
May 4, 2009
The Pentagon’s Papers
Last week, the Department of Defense announced it was preparing to conduct its 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, or QDR, and released its “terms of reference” that set the stage for the larger report. In theory, the QDR is meant to outline the Defense Department’s strategy and priorities. In the past, it has been an unrealistic exercise. This is unlikely to change.
May 4, 2009
Ending Unneeded Weapons Programs
Outmoded and overpriced weapons programs have no place in the supplemental funding bills for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, writes Sean Duggan.
April 30, 2009
Restructuring the Weapon Acquisition System
CAP Action's Rudy deLeon testifies before the House Armed Services Committee on the problems and failures in the military contracting process.
April 22, 2009
Interactive Map: Europe's Role in Afghanistan
NATO countries have pledged more troops and money for Afghanistan, but it remains to be seen whether this will signal improvements, writes Natalie Ondiak.
April 9, 2009
Getting the Defense Budget Under Control
Gates’ budget shows much needed responsibility, and follows recommendations that CAP has been making for the past four years, writes Lawrence J. Korb.
April 9, 2009
Fact Sheet on Proposed Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Budget
A fact sheet from CAP explains how Secretary of Defense Robert Gates's proposed budget for FY2010 will affect defense capabilities, jobs, and servicemembers.
April 8, 2009
Gates’ Weapons Cuts Will Make Us Safer
Finally we have a Defense Secretary who is brave enough to stand down the critics who are already accusing him of weakening America.
March 6, 2009
Weekly Round Up: March 2 - 6, 2009
CAP provided analysis of equal rights events this week, produced an interactive map of air strikes in Pakistan, and continued its analysis of the recession.
March 2, 2009
The Costs of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
The military’s outdated policy excludes qualified service members and cost taxpayers millions of dollars, while public opinion now supports repealing the policy.
February 26, 2009
Obama’s Defense Budget Is on Target
The $534 billion the president proposed for defense spending is adequate to maintain troop quality and infrastructure, and modernize the force, writes Lawrence Korb.
January 12, 2009
Will Barack Obama Unleash Bob Gates?
Keeping Robert Gates as Defense secretary has been widely hailed as a sign of continuity. But are there changes Gates should make once he's not working for George W. Bush and, especially, Donald Rumsfeld's patron, Dick Cheney? Kill the F-22? Shift DoD dollars to State? End the supplemental funding ruse? What changes should he pursue?
December 10, 2008
When Obama Should Go to War
Lawrence J. Korb debates David B. Rivkin, Jr. on the question of under what circumstances the United States should or shouldn't get involved militarily around the globe.
December 10, 2008
Interactive: Design Your Own Defense Budget
Use our new tool to examine key military programs and decide for yourself how the defense budget should be made.
November 11, 2008
Remembering Heroes on Veterans Day 2008
We are honored to commemorate the millions of brave men and women who have served our country defending our freedom and liberty.
October 23, 2008
Think Again: The Invisible Battle Over Posse Comitatus
A battle raged in 2006 over the president’s ability to deploy troops in the United States, yet it went completely uncovered by the mainstream media, writes Eric Alterman.
October 10, 2008
Restructuring the Military
After more than five years of war in Iraq and almost seven in Afghanistan, the U.S. military is facing a crisis not seen since the end of the Vietnam War.
September 9, 2008
Bush Makes Mountains Out of Molehills
Bush’s speech hides the reality of still high troop levels and a deteriorating situation in Iraq, write Lawrence J. Korb and Sean Duggan.
July 31, 2008
Aid for the Future
CAPAF's Reuben Brigety testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on the military's role in development assistance.
July 29, 2008
Moving Beyond the Carter Doctrine: The U.S. Military Presence in the Persian Gulf
In the nearly three decades since the United States declared its vital interests required U.S. military forces to maintain security in the Persian Gulf, the American military footprint—and engagements—in this volatile region have multiplied. As military planners and political decision-makers look beyond the region’s current crises, what will America’s longer-term security posture be in the Gulf? Lawrence Korb, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and former assistant secretary of Defense, makes recommendations in "Moving Beyond the Carter Doctrine: The U.S. Military Presence in the Persian Gulf," a new report for The Century Foundation.
June 30, 2008
Humanity as a Weapon of War
The second in a series of reports on sustainable security outlines critical elements of a successful civil-military approach to development.
June 4, 2008
Support the Troops?
Scott Lilly on how the Bush administration has consistently neglected and opposed supporting the troops, despite its rhetoric.
June 2, 2008
Remembering General William E. Odom
Lawrence Korb on the passing of Lt. Gen. William Odom, who for years spoke out against the Bush administration's Iraq and Iran policies.
May 30, 2008
Three Progressive Foreign Policy Proposals That Respond to the Challenges of Our Time
William Galston, John Irons, and Lawrence Korb discuss progressive foreign policy proposals for post-Cold War America.
May 23, 2008
Honoring Our Veterans on Memorial Day
A by-the-numbers look at the men and women who have served our country and are still in need of services to improve their quality of life.
May 22, 2008
Think Again: There They Go Again: The “Pro-Military” Conservatives
Conservatives claim to be pro-military, but how has President Bush's conservative administration treated those in the military?
May 21, 2008
Congress Must Ask General Petraeus Tough Questions
There are several key questions that lawmakers should ask General Petraeus so that the American people can be assured that General Petraeus’ CENTCOM appointment will serve their interests.
May 20, 2008
Embracing New Role
Quietly, and perhaps without fully realizing it, the U.S. military has begun embracing a new, wide-ranging international role that will compel it to intervene in many countries throughout the world. Yet this is a role that virtually every country would support and one that should be widely embraced here as well: the role of global first responder.
May 13, 2008
Interactive Map: What Are You Paying for the War?
See how much taxpayers in each state could now be paying based on the president's new request to fund operations in Iraq through the end of the year.
May 9, 2008
These Aren't Reagan's Ground Forces
Lawrence J. Korb responds to a recent op-ed in the Washington Times that gives a misleading portrayal of the quality of our ground forces.
April 23, 2008
Petraeus Appointment Raises Questions
General Petraeus’ prospective appointment as the head of the U.S. central command raises concerns of objectivity and the future, writes Lawrence Korb.
April 16, 2008
No Bang for the Buck
Lack of contracting oversight, epitomized by contracts to Efraim Diveroli's AEY, is hurting the mission in Afghanistan, write Lawrence Korb and Colin Cookman.
April 16, 2008
The State of America's Ground Forces
Lawrence J. Korb testifies before the House Armed Forces Subcommittee on Readiness and Air Land Forces.
April 9, 2008
Homeless Veterans by the Numbers
CAP examines the problem of homelessness among veterans and what can be done as House Veterans Affairs Committee gathers for hearing on the issue.
April 7, 2008
Veterans' Mental Health by the Numbers
CAP takes a by the numbers look at the mental health toll on our veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan and why improvements are needed.
April 2, 2008
The Creation of a Home Guard for Domestic Preparedness
March 24, 2008
Share the Burden: Making Economic and Patriotic Sacrifices
President George W. Bush's recent budget request to Congress proposes that more than $2 trillion of tax cuts in 2001 and 2003 be made permanent - and it requests almost $200 billion in new funding for continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. When Congress considers these requests, it should also consider the sacrifices being asked of the men and women of our armed forces and their families, all of whom are carrying a disproportionate burden of waging a war with deficit spending.
March 20, 2008
Buying American: Congress Should Keep Contracts Fair
Carter and Korb debate whether Congress should safeguard U.S. manufacturing by ensuring military contracts go to domestic firms, or leave it up to the military. Earlier this week, they discussed the legality of evidence gleaned from torture, asked to what extent Congress should intervene in military affairs, and wondered whether Adm. William J. Fallon was right to disagree publicly with his civilian commander. On Friday, they'll conclude their Dust-Up by discussing how the military should prepare itself for future war and conflict.
March 19, 2008
An Easy Answer Muddled by this Administration
Phil is correct to say that torture in any way, shape or form by any agent of the U.S. government -- including private contractors -- is not only wrong but counterproductive and should not be admissible as evidence against a defendant. In theory, every political, military and diplomatic agent of the U.S. government would agree with that. The real issue is agreeing on what constitutes torture.
March 14, 2008