Covid-19 Response Update: December 8-January 10
A roundup of the recent developments in the military’s response to Covid-19 by the CSIS International Security Program.
Archive
Bad Idea: The Officer-Enlisted Divide
The officer-enlisted divide stymies the effectiveness of today’s armed forces, writes Nicholas Wood. Merging officers and enlisted into one hierarchical pyramid will unleash untapped leadership potential, remove redundancies, and put people in the positions for which they are best suited.
Bad Idea: Assuming Trade Depends on the Navy
Navy and shipbuilding advocates tell us that global patrols of U.S. warships constantly protect sea-borne commerce. But this myth places demands for presence on the Navy that degrades its readiness.
Bad Idea: Turning A2/AD against China with “Archipelagic Defense”
The strategy of archipelagic defense puts a premium on fortifying relevant islands in the Indo-Pacific region with anti-ship missiles, and air and missile defense systems. But political, economic, environmental, and military reasons make it a bad idea for the U.S. military.
Bad Idea: Conflating Chinese Military Modernization Goals with a Timeline for Compelling Taiwan
Leaders in Washington and allied capitals must not allow their military and diplomatic plans for the Indo-Pacific region to be colored by misinformation about China’s goals. There are a bevy of factors that could lead China to make a move against Taiwan at any time. Assuming that PLA capabilities are the sole variable in Beijing’s calculus would be a costly and dangerous mistake.
Bad Idea: Relying on Government Software
If strategic competition is much about analyzing information for decisions faster than an adversary, software will be at the heart of that competition. The national security enterprise should engage the flywheel of innovation and free-market competition in the commercial software sector for national defense.
Bad Idea: Expecting Olympic Boycotts to be a Useful Diplomatic Tool
The Biden administration recently announced that no official U.S. delegation will attend the Olympic games in Beijing this winter. But a boycott of any form from the United States and partners will have little to no impact on shaping China’s behavior and may in fact distract from real levers capable of curbing how the games serve Chinese leadership.
U.S. Military Forces in FY 2022: Space, SOF, Civilians, and Contractors
In the latest paper of the FY 2022 Military Forces series, Mark Cancian discusses the newly-formed U.S. Space Force as it struggles to find an identity, special operations forces as they adjust from irregular warfare to great power conflict, and debates on the role of DOD civilians and contractors.
Bad Idea: Declaring a “Sputnik Moment” (Unless You Really Mean It)
Every few years, an event will happen that various pundits and commentators declare to be a “Sputnik Moment.” But calling something a “Sputnik Moment” without understanding what really happened during the original Sputnik crisis is a bad idea.
Bad Idea: Overpaying for Cocaine
The Department of Defense, alongside the U.S. Coast Guard, seizes enormous quantities of cocaine in transit to the United States each year. But DoD needs better metrics to capture exactly how much over-market value it “pays” for the cocaine it seizes.