10/11/2011 During a recent visit to Paris, Second Line of Defense sat down with Vice Admiral (Retired) Richard Wilmot-Roussel, now the naval advisor to the head of Dassault Aviation. The Vice Admiral has had a wide-ranging naval career, including being the first Commander of the French Aircraft carrier, the Charles…
10/11/2011 - by Dr. Robbin Laird During my current visit to Europe, I have had the chance to talk with French military decision makers about the Libyan operation. I have also talked with USMC officers involved in the operation. I will first look at the French experience, then at the…
By Dr. Richard Weitz 10/09/2011 - Using public data, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington DC think tank, analyzed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) federal prime contracts from 2004 to 2010. The analysts note that the quality of this data has improved consistently over time, especially…
10/04/2011 - During an interview at Cherry Point Air Station, the Commanding General of the 2nd MAW continued an earlier conversation on the evolution of the Amphibious Ready Group. We had discussed earlier the emergence of the “newly enabled ARG” and its impact on the nation. Here the CG discussed…
10/04/2011 - by Robbin Laird In the rush towards an election, a withdrawal from Afghanistan and budget cuts, which would undercut the ability of the US to replace its “geriatric forces, ” a key consideration is to ensure that the US can defend its economic interest in the period ahead. …
10/04/2011 By:Ed Timperlake (Yuma, Az) Today, October 3, 2011 was the first day of the next 100 years for the Navy Marine team in the air and on the sea. The F-35 Joint Program Office just announced the future. ABOARD USS WASP, At sea – The Navy and Marine Corps Team made…
By Dr. Robbin Laird 10/03/2011 - The Administration has issued a thoughtful new military space policy. At the heart of the new national security strategy is a stated objective of providing for improved U.S. space capabilities. Although articulate, looking for achievements, which actually implement the new strategy, are a bit…
By Dr. Waldron 10/02/2011 As the late Ambassador James Lilley was fond of pointing out, "The Chinese telegraph their punches"—if you listen to what they are saying, they will tell you what they are going to do A few weeks ago I wrote about the scare I had when the…
