by Peter W. Galbraith Published by the New York Review of Books (October 23, 2008 edition) 1. We hear again and again from Washington that we have turned a corner in Iraq and are on the path to victory. If so, it is a strange victory. Shiite religious parties that are Iran’s closest allies in […]
Analysis of FY2009 Defense Appropriations in the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act (CR) for FY2009
by Travis Sharp SUMMARY With members of Congress eager to leave town for the campaign trail, and Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 starting on October 1, Congress slapped together a consolidated appropriations package that includes several appropriations bills and a continuing resolution (known as a ‘CR’) all rolled into one. A CR is designed to fund […]
Analysis of House-Senate Agreement on the FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill (S.3001)
by Travis Sharp and John Isaacs SUMMARY Facing both a full workload before leaving town for the campaign trail and ongoing member objections to earmarks, Congress decided to skip the normal conference procedure for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Defense Authorization bill (S.3001). Working together, the House and Senate produced a joint bill that now must […]
Not Another (Cold) War: The Importance of Maintaining Positive Engagement with Russia
by John Isaacs The conflict between Russia and Georgia has brought the diplomatic and political relationship between the United States and Russia to a standstill. The Bush Administration has chosen a foreign policy stance that unconditionally supports Georgia while simultaneously condemning Russia. This policy approach has been described as adhering to a long-standing U.S. policy […]
Amidst Major Buildup, Iraq Now Seeks 36 F-16 Fighter Jets
by Travis Sharp In early September, several news outlets reported that Iraq is interested in buying 36 F-16 fighter jets from the United States. This proposed sale is the latest development in an intense push by the United States and Iraq to transform the Iraqi military into a legitimate fighting force. Recent weapons acquisition proposals […]
