General Interest




1 October 2019 – A Striking New Vision for the Marines, and a Wakeup Call for the Other Services

https://warontherocks.com/2019/10/a-striking-new-vision-for-the-marines-and-a-wakeup-call-for-the-other-services/?utm_source=WOTR+Newsletter&utm_campaign=9761da972d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_10_30_2018_11_23_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8375be81e9-9761da972d-83039793 https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/Portals/142/Docs/%2038th%20Commandant%27s%20Planning%20Guidance_2019.pdf?ver=2019-07-16-200152-700 So What’s New for the Marine Corps? The Marines Will Focus on Naval Operations Once Again The Marines Will Focus Primarily on the Pacific The Marines Will Fight Differently The Marines Need Fewer Amphibs, More Unmanned Systems, and Possibly Fewer Marines Marines Should Have More Freedom to Do…



29 April 2019 – Congress Should Defund Hostilities in Yemen

https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/files/9360-yemen-policy-note-final-2pdf To maximize impact and reaffirm its war powers, as well as to end American complicity in a serious human rights catastrophe in Yemen, Congress must exercise its “power of the purse” and withhold appropriations for any military action in Yemen that is not related to defeating al- Qaeda. Defunding…


30 March 2019 – “Tweeting Trump injects White House into SEAL war crimes case”

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/03/30/tweeting-trump-injects-white-house-into-seal-war-crimes-case/ With a Saturday morning Twitter message, President Donald J. Trump ordered the Navy to modify the detention of Special Warfare Operator Chief Edward “Eddie” Gallagher, who is behind bars awaiting a court-martial trial in San Diego for allegedly stabbing to death an Islamic State prisoner. “In honor of his…


26 November 2018 – “Was Tear Gas Use at US-Mexico Border a Violation of Conventions on Chemical Weapons?”

https://freebeacon.com/national-security/dem-senator-tear-gas-use-at-us-mexico-border-a-violation-of-conventions-on-chemical-weapons/  NO. NOTE: The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, “Article II. Definitions and Criteria.” at Paragraph 9,“Purposes Not Prohibited Under this Convention”, subparagraph (d) specified “Law enforcement including domestic riot control purposes.” https://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/articles/article-ii-definitions-and-criteria Aside from this being a defense support to civil authorities (DSCA) mission in support of…


21 – 26 November 2018 – White House approves use of force, some law enforcement roles for border troops

  https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2018/11/21/white-house-approves-use-of-force-some-law-enforcement-roles-for-border-troops/ and see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gej9FfbSAi4 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Instruction 3121.01B, Standing Rules of Engagement (SROE)/Standing Rules for the Use of Force (SRUF) for U.S. Forces, dated 13 June 2005 are the result of a review and revision of the previous 2000 and 1994 editions. They provide…