Editorials

Calls for action, change and accountability, written by the Military Times editorial board.

An MV-22 Osprey from the “Ugly Angels” of Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 362 flies by the aircraft carrier Nimitz in the South China Sea, Feb. 11, 2023.

Is America postured for a fight in the Indo-Pacific?

To achieve the transformative effect needed to bolster deterrence against China, the Biden administration needs to keep its foot on the gas.

16 months ago

The commander who oversaw ISIS defeat is ‘disappointed’ by Syria withdrawal

Retired Gen. Joseph Votel, the former commander of U.S. Central Command, spoke bluntly about Trump's decision reduce support for Kurdish allies.

5 years ago

Editorials

Military aid for Ukraine is good for the US

And it's bad for the Russians. Why is it taking so long?

Fraternizing women in infantry units should be treated fairly

The Army and Marine Corps resonded differently when confronted with improper relationships in new gender-integrated combat units.

6 years ago

Editorial: Rise in aviation mishaps signals serious readiness, manning challenges

A recent Military Times investigation found that at least 133 service members died in aviation mishaps during the five-year period from 2013 through 2017.

6 years ago

Editorial: Military kids should not be penalized for seeking behavioral health help

The promise of good, reliable health care for service members and their families is one of the most important things the nation promises to provide to the small fraction of Americans who volunteer to serve.

6 years ago

EDITORIAL: Instead of parading tanks, let's honor our post-9/11 veterans instead

How about a grand parade that honors combat veterans who have served in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria since Sept. 11, 2001?

7 years ago

The Navy's dicey decision to pursue homicide charges

It’s a move that will have a potentially far-reaching impact on all services and service members up and down the chain of command.

7 years ago

EDITORIAL: How about a military tax?

A military tax would be clearly labeled on everyone’s pay stub. And the money would go directly to the Defense Department. No need for any annual budget battles on Capitol Hill.

7 years ago

Smoked, vaped or in a brownie, marijuana deserves more study

Veterans groups are pushing for further study into the benefits of marijuana, touting it as a safer alternative to opioid therapy, often used to treat chronic pain. The VA should heed that call.

7 years ago

MEDAL: Mattis vs Petraeus and the new Rules of Engagement

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis loosens the Rules of Engagement in Afghanistan. That's good news -- and a big change after years of counterinsurgency doctrine that tightened up those rules too much.

7 years ago

EDITORIAL: Will Trump’s Afghanistan strategy actually make a difference?

It’s still hard to see how Trump’s plan for ending America’s longest war is substantially different than the one Obama rolled out in 2009.

7 years ago

The Army handgun: A new poster child for acquisition malpractice?

Companies want fairness, but they also want predictability. And excessive bureaucracy in the name of fair competition, where contracting officers treat all competitions with kid gloves in fear of getting reprimanded if something goes awry, is counterproductive.

8 years ago

Women in Special Forces: What the US Can Learn From the Afghans

The number of women serving in the Afghan Special Security Forces is small, but they play an important part in the counterterrorism and counternarcotic capabilities of these forces.

8 years ago

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