Opponents of the Vietnam War--that seemingly endless, inconclusive, increasingly unpopular and ever-more-deadly and costly conflict--called it a "quagmire." They said it was unwinnable and should never have been fought--and that America must avoid similar future wars. Today, our real risk of "quagmire" is Libya.

To defend US interests in the Asia-Pacific region, policymakers must ensure the nation has the necessary air power capabilities to contend with the vast distances, limited basing options, and pronounced threat to assured success.

A modern, balanced air force is a central ingredient in America's defense strategy and is the prerequisite to being able to intervene in the earliest stages of a conflict, and losing our current dominance would change nearly every calculation made by our leaders in trying to keep peace in the world.

Five years ago, a Hezbollah ambush set off the 34-day conflict that has loomed large over the region ever since. The five-year anniversary provides an opportunity to reexamine the conflict, and what others may learn from it, including American officials.

Today's budget restrictions are hitting hard at the American military's air arm. Perhaps the Air Force's lack of pedigree has resulted in fewer champions for it on Capitol Hill.

The stunning success of the "combat portion" of Operation Iraqi Freedom challenges any understanding based upon previous military history.

War is fundamentally a human activity, and attempts to remove humans from its center--as recent trends and current programs do--are likely to lead to disaster.

The Quadrennial Defense Review and budget proposal suggest that the Obama administration wants to limit future American military "adventurism" by limiting our capabilities.