Col. (Ret) Nate Slate: Iraqi Love Poem or Ode to my ‘Layla’

Col. (Ret) Nate Slate: Iraqi Love Poem or Ode to my ‘Layla’

Thousands of miles from home like sand in the wind, I moved through Iraq’s villages learning the hearts of its people as Majnun once wandered, yet the constant guiding me through rain and dust was my Leila, the radiant beacon calling me home.

Pic of the Day: The REAL Faces of War

Pic of the Day: The REAL Faces of War

War is not glorious; it is the white hot rattle of a MEDEVAC, two blood slick hands locked after an IED blast near Kandahar, and a young sergeant who learns the hard Latin that war is only sweet for those who have not been through it.

Bloated Generals and Bureaucracy Are Weakening America

Bloated Generals and Bureaucracy Are Weakening America

When a televised roll call of admirals replaces a clear mission, you know the brass has swollen, the bureaucracy is smothering the fight, and our rivals are happy to watch us polish our parade skills while they sharpen their knives.