U.S. Army paratroopers move toward an objective after an airborne operation from a C-130 Hercules aircraft during Exercise Rock Klescman 21 at Cerklje Drop Zone in Slovenia, Sept. 8, 2021. U.S. Army / Paolo Bovo
The Army Brief: Review of Afghan war; Disinformation attacks; Pandemic costs; and more...
Welcome to The Army Brief, a weekly look at the news and ideas shaping the service’s future.
Afghanistan review. Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville wants a review of lessons learned from the Afghan war and the fall of Kabul, Defense One reports. While he’s proud of the service of soldiers in the war, he said a hard look is still needed into the conflict’s outcome.
No indoctrination. Gen. McConville also dismissed claims that the military is trying to “indoctrinate” service members on critical race theory, Defense One reports. “What we’re trying to build is teams where everyone treats everyone with respect,” he said.
Pandemics are expensive. The coronavirus pandemic has already cost the Pentagon at least $13.6 billion and is expected to grow as the military increases the testing of civilian employees, Defense One reports. About $7.1 billion has gone to reimburse defense companies for their pandemic-related expenses.
Sign up to get The Army Brief every Friday morning from Caitlin M. Kenney, Defense One’s military services reporter. On Sept. 11, 1941, construction of the Pentagon began. Decades later, renovations that were happening in the building in 2001 are believed to have saved lives in the attack, as some of the offices impacted were empty and the walls and windows had been upgraded.
From Defense One
‘Dear America’: Gold Star Families Want ‘Archaic’ Support Systems Fixed // The Pentagon team that manages them “have not protected us, and they have refused to listen."
Failed U.S. Afghanistan Withdrawal Is Ammo For Disinformation Attacks // Jacqueline Feldscher: Adversaries are trying to make Lithuania doubt America’s commitment to its NATO partner.
This May Be First Step In Curing PTSD With A Pill // Patrick Tucker: A start-up, funded in part by the U.S. Army, could be on track to revolutionizing what we know about PTSD.
After 9/11, the U.S. Got Almost Everything Wrong // Garrett M. Graff: A mission to rid the world of “terror” and “evil” led America in tragic directions.