Dov Zakheim admits that his own appointment as coordinator for Afghanistan reconstruction – on top of his day job as Pentagon comptroller–in 2002 was a reflection of the Bush administration's lack of a serious policy. His concluding confession is notable for its mature humility, both about the need for American power and on the part of those who wield it.

In recent years, the U.S. military has grown increasingly dependent on private contractors. From servicing equipment to training indigenous forces to providing security, contractors are now deeply woven into the fabric of American warfare. In Iraq, there are now more private contractors than non-U.S. foreign forces.

How did contractors become...

Faced with mounting costs for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention a growing federal deficit, the Pentagon is bracing for billions of dollars in budget cuts for the first time since 9/11. Although the Defense Department's 2006 budget will not be formally released until February, some of...