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Articles by Gary Anderson
U.S. Marine Corps being destroyed from within
OPINION: My first official act as the Marine Corps officer instructor at the Naval ROTC at Vanderbilt University in 1979 was to blow up a classroom. My predecessor had warned me that I would be teaching the evolution of warfare at the death hour (1 p.m.) after lunch, when the students were drowsy.
King David's Confession and the Nature of Biblical Forgiveness
Now With a palace full of classically-trained chefs, Queen Elizabeth could’ve had her pick of lavish dishes. But former royal chef Darren McGrady recently revealed that afternoon tea was the late monarch’s favorite meal—and the kitchens had a very specific, cross-castle ritual that ensured her tea time …
Lessons Not Learned
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Military service did not cause recent New Orleans attacks
When we learned the New Orleans attack was committed by a veteran, the usual mainstream media speculation surfaced. It always does when a veteran commits a violent crime. Was Shamsud-Din Jabbar radicalized while in the Army? Did he have special weapons skills that enabled him to build the IEDs found near Bourbon Street? Are vets more prone to lashing out violently?
11/12/24 National Security News and Commentary
Quotes of the Day: "Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value." – Albert Einstein "You should not honor men more than the truth." – Plato "It takes a great deal of courage to see the world in all its tainted glory, and still to love it." – Oscar Wilde 1. Waltz as US national security adviser would fit Trump’s tough line on China: analysts 2. Trump is likely to name a loyalist as Pentagon chief after tumultuous first term 3.
8/16/24 National Security News and Commentary
Happy National Airborne Day – August 16th Quotes of the Day: "The trooper who jumps into the night and goes into battle by parachute… is not only an elite soldier, but he is a special breed of man who must fight beyond the ordinary physical and mental pressures of combat." – General Matthew B. Ridgway "Show me a man who will jump out of an airplane, and I’ll show you a man who’ll fight." – General James M.
5/5/24 National Security News and Commentary
Quotes of the Day: "The time will come when diligent research over long periods will bring to light things which now lie hidden… Many discoveries are reserved for ages still to come, when memory of us will have been effaced." – Seneca "They follow the Hitler line - no matter how big the lie; repeat it often enough and the masses will regard it as truth." – John F. Kennedy "I’m telling you a lie in a vicious effort that you will repeat my lie over and over until it becomes true." – Lady Gaga 1.
4/25/24 National Security News and Commentary
Quotes of the Day: "We fail to learn the lesson implied by Marshall’s admonition in 1939. To paraphrase, “Before we had time and no money. Now we have money and no time.” We are wasting time and money now. Infuriatingly, thinking is relatively inexpensive except perhaps to one’s career. Buying is easy but expensive. Thinking is hard but cheap.
Is the U.S. Marine Corp In Need of a Course Correction?
We support our Publishers and Content Creators. You can view this story on their website by CLICKING HERE. Where does the Marine Corps go from here? This critical question has pitted retired Marines and the existing senior leadership for the last four years. Force Design (FD) 2030, the brainchild of the former commandant General David Berger, has been loudly and persistently challenged by many senior retired general officers, former defense officials, and friends of the Corps.
An Alternative Way of Dealing with Human Shields
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Those of us who fought in Somalia in 1993 were the first Americans to experience firsthand the barbaric tactic of using civilians as human shields in combat. We came away shaken, but we also realized that the tactic worked.
How to End the US Marine Corps’ Intellectual Civil War
When the former Commandant of the Marine Corps introduced his new strategic approach, dubbed Force Design (FD) 2030, many in the administration and Congress applauded it as a forward-thinking, innovation-based approach based on emerging technologies. They were subsequently puzzled when many senior retired marines, including virtually all the living former commandants, expressed dismay. The resulting intellectual civil war has been unprecedented in the history of the corps.
5/28/24 National Security News and Commentary
Quotes of the Day: "Another voice, Mercy Otis Warren, a philosopher and historian during our revolution put it this way, "The study of the human character at once opens a beautiful and a deformed picture of the soul. We there find a noble principle implanted in the nature of people, but when the checks of conscience are thrown aside, humanity is obscured." I have had the privilege for nearly half a century of making films about the US, but I have also made films about us.
Strategic Lessons from the Hamas Attack that Surprised the Israeli Military Original
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Last Saturday's attack by Hamas out of Gaza has led many to wonder at the failure by the vaunted Israeli intelligence services to anticipate the violence. Successful strategic attacks do not just happen. They generally involve three key elements.
Why Our Generals Can't Think Original
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Having read Franklin Foer's account in the October issue of The Atlantic describing the disastrous evacuation of Afghanistan, I was struck by what it did not contain.
Why Our Generals Don't Win
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Operation Desert Storm was the last major conflict that the United States clearly won.
9/8/23 National Security News and Commentary
Quotes of the Day: “Don’t join the book burners. Don’t think you are going to conceal faults by concealing the evidence that they ever existed. Don’t be afraid to go into your library and read every book.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower “Those who speak in the language of truth, in fact, or attacked as liars, traders, and purveyors of fake news.” - Chris Hedges. The mind's true work lies in the power to choose, reject, desire, repel, prepare, intend, and affirm.
How the Strong Commandant System Caught Up with the Marine Corps Original
Loading your audio article The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Forty years ago, I was the speech writer for the commandant of the Marine Corps.
The Games the Marine Corps Plays
Loading your audio article The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. In the years between the two world wars, the Navy and Marine Corps conducted literally hundreds of Orange War Games playing out an expected war with Japan.
Biden's Fine-Tuning of the Ukraine War Is a Terrible Idea
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Since the time of Harry Truman, Democratic presidents have loved limited wars. Some critics -- this one included -- say that is the reason we haven't won any wars with them in charge.
We Walk Away from Counterinsurgency Capabilities at Our Own Risk
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Generals are often accused of wanting to fight the last war. That is only partly true. The winning side in any war is likely to want to repeat its successes.
Gary B. Anderson: Litigating the war in Ukraine
Virtually every aspect of Putin’s “Special Military Operation” has been a war crime. The invasion itself is a defined war crime of aggression. The sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines is an act of terrorism possibly perpetrated by the U.S. and Norway. Whether it’s a war crime is even less clear-cut.
Maine Voices: Ukraine continues to prove that war is indeed hell
It’s said that nothing brings people together like a common enemy. If that was true then the world would actually be united in saving this planet. Sadly, the truth is that we still refuse to see our common existential enemy: ourselves. If we could do that, we would end our divisive competition for unsustainable consumption and enlist in a war against mutual self-destruction. That would be our only war. All others would be recognized as inane rearrangements of the deck chairs of denial.
Maine Voices: Ukraine continues to prove that war is indeed hell
It’s said that nothing brings people together like a common enemy. If that was true then the world would actually be united in saving this planet. Sadly, the truth is that we still refuse to see our common existential enemy: ourselves. If we could do that, we would end our divisive competition for unsustainable consumption and enlist in a war against mutual self-destruction. That would be our only war. All others would be recognized as inane rearrangements of the deck chairs of denial.
Deterring China's Designs on Taiwan
Deterrence is the art of convincing the other side that starting a war would not be worth the cost. The United States wants to deter China from invading Taiwan, but it would desire to do so without starting a new Cold War. However, amazingly little thought seems to have been given to that problem by American military or civilian strategic thinkers.
Like War, Peace Is Too Important to Be Left to the Generals
Loading your audio article Gary Anderson is a retired Marine Corps colonel who was an adviser to the deputy secretary of defense. He lectures on wargaming and alternative analysis at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
A Tale of Two Failed Armies
Gary Anderson is a retired Marine Corps colonel who served as a civilian adviser In Iraq and Afghanistan. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Sinophobia Can Be a Dangerous Disease for the Marine Corps
Sinophobia has recently gripped much of Washington and the Pentagon in particular. While strategic planning must consider all scenarios, an overemphasis on China — while potentially giving short shrift to other threats — is not healthy for a world power. China’s military capability is growing proportionate with its economic rise.
Putin Is Grasping for a Wonder Weapon, but Hypersonic Missiles Won't Help Russia
Gary Anderson lectures on wargaming and red teaming at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to use hypersonic missiles against Ukraine.
Putin Should Study Lyndon Johnson's Folly
Gary Anderson lectures on Alternative Analysis (Red Teaming) at the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. A president elected by a record-setting margin stumbles into an ill-advised war.
Is War Too Important to Be Left to Robots?
Gary Anderson was the founding director of the Marine Corps' Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Too Sino-Centric? US Marine Corps Needs Bottom-Up Reform
Noted defense analyst Loren Thompson criticizes the Marine Corps’ Force Design 2030 (FD 2030) strategy as being too Sino-Centric. He joins many retired Marines and surprising numbers of active-duty ones — albeit quietly — in denouncing the approach for ignoring the Marine Corps’ traditional “force in readiness” role while it specializes in addressing the Chinese threat.
Force Design 2030: How to Know if the Marines' Big Plan Will Work
In a recent speech to the Marine Corps Association, the current commandant, Gen. David Berger, congratulated his Marines on having an open and honest debate concerning his Force Design (FD) 2030 initiative, which eliminated all the service’s tanks, much of its tubed artillery, many helicopters and its heavy engineering capability, and drastically reduced Marine Corps infantry strength. My question is: What ?
Can Congress Save the Marine Corps from Itself?
Gary Anderson was the director of Marine Corps Wargaming and chief of staff of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. He lectures on Wargaming and Alternative Analysis (Red Teaming) at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Putin's Bad Options
Gary Anderson is a retired Marine Corps colonel who lectures on Alternative Analysis and Wargaming at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
An Argument for Staying the Course in Iraq
MICHELE NORRIS, host: In the next couple of days we'll be hearing a variety of opinions on the way the US should proceed in Iraq. We hear today from commentator Gary Anderson, a retired Marine Corps colonel. He argues that the United States needs to continue its strong presence in Iraq. GARY ANDERSON: The conventional wisdom in the developing world is that when the going gets tough, the Americans get out. We know Saddam Hussein believes that because he's said it.
How Navy Decoy Drones Could Thwart China's War Strategy in the Pacific
Gary Anderson lectures on Wargaming and Red Teaming at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Creating a Real Deterrent to Defend Taiwan
Gary Anderson lectures of Wargaming and Alternative Analysis at the George Washington University’' Elliott School of International Affairs The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Marine Corps Commandant Gen.
Is the Marine Corps Becoming Irrelevant?
Gary Anderson was chief of staff of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory and the first director of the Marine Corps' Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Ukraine Should Beware of the Bear at the Back Door
Gary Anderson lectures on Red Teaming and Alternative Analysis at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs and was a special adviser to the deputy secretary of defense during the George W. Bush administration. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Using Robots to 'Grab the Russians by the Belt'
Gary Anderson was the chief of staff of the Marine Corps' Warfighting Lab. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Having failed at a blitzkrieg throughout Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin's army is trying attrition warfare in the east and is having some plodding success.
The Navy Doesn't Let Junior Officers Command Early in Their Careers. It's a Problem.
Gary Anderson is a retired Marine Corps colonel with considerable command experience, and is the author of "Beyond Mahan: A Proposal for a U.S. Naval Strategy in the Twenty-First Century." The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Can America Deter China's Anti-Navy?
Gary Anderson was the director of Marine Corps Wargaming and is the author of "Beyond Mahan: A Proposal for a U.S. Naval Strategy in the Twenty-First Century." The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Why Putin's Eastern Blitz Is Failing
Gary Anderson retired as chief of staff of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. From 2003 to 2005, he served as a special adviser to the deputy secretary of defense. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Technology Spotlight: Hard turning system
Tungsten carbide tooling is used by the mold and die industry, as well as in punching, drawing, and extrusion applications. This tooling is extremely wear-resistant and often characterized by complex contours, which are subject to the highest shape and surface finish requirements. Because of the difficult machinability of these workpieces, they traditionally have been formed by grinding using diamond wheels.
The Marine Corps' Intellectual Civil War
Gary Anderson is a retired colonel who served as the director of Marine Corps Wargaming. He retired as the chief of staff of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
CMP Smallbore Rifle Rules Update
By Gary Anderson, DCM Emeritus An updated version of the 2022 CMP Smallbore Rifle Competition Rules is now posted at https://thecmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2022SmallboreRifleRulebook.pdf. When the 2022 CMP Smallbore Rifle Competition Rules were released at the beginning of January, we reported that the final version of some Smallbore Rifle three-position rules would be delayed until after ISSF (International Shooting Sports Federation) 50m rifle rules were finalized.
We Should Help the Ukrainians Go for a Decisive Win
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Gary Anderson lectures on Alternative Analysis (Red Teaming) at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. He served as a special adviser to the deputy secretary of defense during the George W. Bush administration.
Russia Doesn't Train Troops for Urban Warfare. It's About to Learn the Consequences in Ukraine.
The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Gary Anderson served in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 and directed several urban war games in 1994-95.
Dr. Strangefauci or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the COVID
I was taking my daily trot along Highway A1A in Florida the other day when I ran into a walking instance of the utter insanity that has overtaken pandemic-ridden America since the winter of 2020. I passed a guy with a full beard wearing the CDC-approved N95 mask. Adolph Hitler had many well-documented faults as a human being, but he understood the value of having a tight seal on a gas mask.
Putin Will Back Down — Unless He’s Gone Mad - The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator | USA News and Politics
I do not think Russia will invade Ukraine. That does not mean that President Joe Biden’s lily-livered attempt at deterrence has succeeded; it is more a result of a cost-benefit analysis on the part of Russian President Vladimir Putin. I am making this prediction based on the assumption that Putin is still a rational actor. If that assumption is incorrect, all bets are off. Putin sees himself as a new Joseph Stalin.
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