“Ideas that matter,
since 1965.”
by LOU ZICKAR After the worst year for military recruiting since the start of the all-volunteer force in 1973, the latest edition of The Ripon Forum focuses on U.S. military readiness at a time of rising tensions around the globe.
The Ultimate Weapon is in Short Supply
The Army only made 75 percent of its recruiting quota in fiscal year 2022, and other services have also been strapped to meet their targets. Why the shortfall, and what can be done to reverse it?
Saving Ukraine: The Evolution of Aid and What the Future May Hold
Without the rapid delivery of weapons and munitions from the United States, NATO, and others, Ukraine would have been overwhelmed in two or three weeks. What comes next?
The National Defense Stockpile is Small but Important — and Should Be Bigger
Today, the stockpile is but a fraction of its former self; its cache of materials is valued at less than $1 billion. Corrected for inflation, that’s less than 1/40th of its value in 1952.
Reagan’s Vision and the State of U.S. Missile Defense Today
The missile threat environment is far more perilous than at any other time in history. China, Russia, North Korea, and potentially Iran are deliberately developing strategies to threaten the U.S. homeland.
Ensuring Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century
At a time when Vladimir Putin is making irresponsible threats to use nuclear weapons in its conflict with Ukraine, the U.S. nuclear arsenal is currently supported by last century’s equipment.
Debate
Back to the Future for Defense
Republicans ought to take a page from the Reagan playbook and insist that we can defeat inflation and control federal spending without weakening our military.
Debate
After Failing Five Straight Audits, the Pentagon Should Not Get a Funding Boost
You don’t need to be a budget hawk to recognize it is past time to end budget increases for the Department of Defense and impose some fiscal discipline on the agency.
With the U.S. Space Force marking its third anniversary, now is a good time to examine not only some of its key accomplishments, but some of the key challenges it faces in the years ahead.
Viewing Border Security as an Ecosystem
If the number of individuals arrested along our southern border were to form their own city, it would be the fifth largest city in the United States.
The Representative of Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District discusses her background in education and which federal agency she believes is in most need of reform.
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In this edition
by LOU ZICKAR After the worst year for military recruiting since the start of the all-volunteer force in 1973, the latest edition of The Ripon Forum focuses on U.S. military readiness at a time of rising tensions around the globe.
-
The Ultimate Weapon is in Short Supply
The Army only made 75 percent of its recruiting quota in fiscal year 2022, and other services have also been strapped to meet their targets. Why the shortfall, and what can be done to reverse it?
-
Saving Ukraine: The Evolution of Aid and What the Future May Hold
Without the rapid delivery of weapons and munitions from the United States, NATO, and others, Ukraine would have been overwhelmed in two or three weeks. What comes next?
-
The National Defense Stockpile is Small but Important — and Should Be Bigger
Today, the stockpile is but a fraction of its former self; its cache of materials is valued at less than $1 billion. Corrected for inflation, that’s less than 1/40th of its value in 1952.
-
Reagan’s Vision and the State of U.S. Missile Defense Today
The missile threat environment is far more perilous than at any other time in history. China, Russia, North Korea, and potentially Iran are deliberately developing strategies to threaten the U.S. homeland.
-
Ensuring Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century
At a time when Vladimir Putin is making irresponsible threats to use nuclear weapons in its conflict with Ukraine, the U.S. nuclear arsenal is currently supported by last century’s equipment.
-
Back to the Future for Defense
Republicans ought to take a page from the Reagan playbook and insist that we can defeat inflation and control federal spending without weakening our military.
-
After Failing Five Straight Audits, the Pentagon Should Not Get a Funding Boost
You don’t need to be a budget hawk to recognize it is past time to end budget increases for the Department of Defense and impose some fiscal discipline on the agency.
-
The Space Force Turns Three
With the U.S. Space Force marking its third anniversary, now is a good time to examine not only some of its key accomplishments, but some of the key challenges it faces in the years ahead.
-
Viewing Border Security as an Ecosystem
If the number of individuals arrested along our southern border were to form their own city, it would be the fifth largest city in the United States.
-
Ripon Profile of Julia Letlow
The Representative of Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District discusses her background in education and which federal agency she believes is in most need of reform.
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