The War
A top U.S. commander is seeking authority to expand clandestine operations against militants and insurgencies around the globe, a sign of shifting Pentagon tactics and priorities after a grueling decade of large-scale wars. – Los Angeles Times
The Sept. 11, 2001, conspiracy case began at Guantanamo Bay on Saturday as a battle of wills between a military judge and the five defendants, thwarting government efforts to quickly get the prosecution under way. – Wall Street Journal
The behavior during their arraignment Saturday of the five defendants charged with orchestrating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was a form of “peaceful resistance to an unjust system,” according to one of their attorneys who spoke at a news conference Sunday. – Washington Post
By setting the start of trial a year from now, Col. James Pohl, the presiding military judge, signaled that resolution of the conspiracy case is years away. – Wall Street Journal
As the defendants repeatedly and persistently disrupted the courtroom, some of the [9/11] relatives [viewing the proceedings] said they had to keep their emotions in check. – New York Times
It is 44’s decision to treat the war on terror as an actual war rather than reverting to a pre-9/11 law enforcement mentality—that is, his continuation of the policy initiated by 43—that may prove strategically decisive. – TWS
Defense
The Pentagon’s civilian workforce, which expanded dramatically during President Obama’s first three years, is not facing any significant reductions even as the Defense Department is slashing ground troops by more than 10 percent, retiring ships and combat planes, and putting off the purchases of some new weapons. – Washington Times
A bipartisan group of six senators has pledged support for an effort to buy an extra submarine and destroyer in 2014 — cuts the U.S. Navy said were made for budgetary reasons, but would work with Congress to find ways to restore. – Defense News
Uncut Commentary
Modern democracies understandably don’t demand that their leaders come from military backgrounds, let alone have shown valor in battle. So we use a different standard to assess their martial toughness. “44, his minions, and his admirers have loudly told us he stakes his claim on two accomplishments: the raid to kill ObL and the aggressive use of drones gone wild. So let’s look…” – TWS
