Recently read and enjoyed as I cap off a year at the Army War College

Flight of the Avenger, George Bush at War, by Joe Hyams

This one reminded me of a time when we didn't try to tear everyone down- or maybe a time when I just wasn't aware of the tendency to criticize and vilify those with different political opinions. While the future President surely had faults as all do, the author clearly was weaving a tale of an honorable man serving in the military during WWII. I am thankful for all those who chose to serve then, as I am thankful for all those who choose to serve now and consider it an honor and blessing to serve alongside them. We mourn those who gave the final full measure of devotion and we work to honor them with our continued service.

As I finished up at the Army War College over the past few months, I got to do quite a bit of work with a research team looking at the INDOPACOM region and proposing some arguments for how the Army should be postured in 2028 and beyond. As part of that, got to study the potential threats- what should we be postured to do and why. With that, got to learn quite a bit more than I had previously about China. Earlier War College material introduced me to the Thucydides trap argument, and I more recently worked through one of the more aggressive U.S. perspectives about the CCP's plans and intentions which gave me much to think about:

The Hundred-Year Marathon, China's Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower, by Michael Pillsbury, a paperback edition, 2016 with a new afterword.

The question I have in my head is whether the U.S. as a whole will feel a need to compete and try to retain as much power as possible, and if so, exactly how the U.S. will go about it relative to the DIME- instruments of national power- diplomatic, information, military and economic. We made some recommendations for the Army relative to what it should be ready to do in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility, but I don't at this point see an overall strategy, like there was relative to Russia after NSC 68, albeit an "M" heavy strategy.

It was an honor and pleasure to learn at the Army War College over the past year. Great to make acquaintance and build friendships with wonderful peer students, faculty, staff and beyond. Great to have the opportunity to slow down and focus on learning, and I fully recognize that not many are afforded such a blessing. I feel for those who are having to complete the same military education requirement in the distance education format.W