PUBLICATIONS BY Mackenzie Eaglen
Research
Commentary
Media Appearances
2008 Research
August 11, 2008
Congress Should Pass a 2009 Defense Authorization Bill This Year
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(WebMemo #2018)
The legislative calendar is quickly running out on the 110th Congress, and many competing priorities await the U.S. Senate upon return from recess. However, the 2009 defense authorization bill should be given due time on the floor for debate—and approval—of many essential defense policies. Congress should seek to conference this important defense policy bill quickly so that it may be signed into law by the end of the year.
July 11, 2008
A Glorious Mess: EPA Notice Would Have Dramatic Impact on U.S. Military
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(WebMemo #1988)
The EPA's proposed new rules could put more obligations on our already-burdened military.
June 17, 2008
Paying for America's All-Volunteer Military: Reform Is Not a Dirty Word
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2144)
Military compensation reform should not be treated as a "third rail" of annual budget submissions or as an effort to cut benefits. A serious discussion should precede a necessary exercise that is vital to the future health of the all-volunteer force. Congress must act now to initiate the first steps toward constructing a viable military compensation system for the 21st century.
June 02, 2008
U.S. Air Force Guard and Reserves Are Force Multipliers that Deserve Support
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and Samuel C. Mahaney
(WebMemo #1942)
While Congress continues debate on the fiscal year (FY) 2009 defense bills, the services continue their work on the Pentagon’s 2010 budget proposal in consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). As is typical during the annual process, the services were told to cut their budgets and programs from their original estimations.
April 02, 2008
SOS: Congress Must Save the Aircraft Carrier Fleet
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and Jim Dolbow
(WebMemo #1880)
Congress should reject the Navy's request to temporarily reduce its fleet of 11 aircraft carriers to 10.
March 21, 2008
U.S. Africa Command: Challenges and Opportunities
By Brett D. Schaefer and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2118)
The decision to create the U.S. Africa Command reflects the increasing strategic importance of Africa to the U.S. and recognizes that a single independent command can better address Africa's unique security concerns. To succeed, AFRICOM must receive sufficient funding, must be adequately staffed by military and interagency personnel, and must enhance its relationships with African governments and militaries.
March 12, 2008
Securing the High Seas: America's Global Maritime Constabulary Power
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen, James Dolbow, Martin Edwin Andersen, and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(Special Report #20)
To meet 21st century threats to freedom and world commerce, greater emphasis needs to be placed on bolstering the Navy’s core warfighting mission while expanding the role of the Coast Guard to include its leading participation in the creation of a global constabulary that is equipped to carry out a growing range of both traditional and non-traditional missions and requirements.
February 19, 2008
Providing for the Common Defense: What 10 Years of Progress Would Look Like
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Baker Spring, and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2108)
The U.S. military must cap manpower costs, adapt Reserve Component forces, maintain access to cutting-edge technologies, deploy a robust missile defense system, obtain military space capabilities, and modernize the nuclear weapons force to address post–Cold War requirements. Congress should fund national defense at no less than 4 percent of GDP for the next 10 years and reform entitlement spending.
February 19, 2008
Executive Summary: Providing for the Common Defense: What 10 Years of Progress Would Look Like
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Baker Spring, and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Executive Summary #2108)
The U.S. military must cap manpower costs, adapt Reserve Component forces, maintain access to cutting-edge technologies, deploy a robust missile defense system, obtain military space capabilities, and modernize the nuclear weapons force to address post–Cold War requirements. Congress should fund national defense at no less than 4 percent of GDP for the next 10 years and reform entitlement spending.
February 04, 2008
The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves: Reforming the Reserve Component
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(WebMemo #1793)
Congress should pass legislation to transform America's military—specifically, its Reserve component.
2007 Research
December 13, 2007
Providing for the Common Defense: Four Percent for Freedom
By The Honorable Jim Talent and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Executive Memorandum #1028)
U.S. foreign policy needs a strong military. Allocating a minimum of 4 percent of GDP to defense spending would be a first step toward meeting both current and future national security requirements and would help to protect the military from a post-Iraq "peace dividend" similar to the "procurement holiday" that ravaged the military after the end of the Cold War.
December 11, 2007
Future Combat Systems: A Congressional Guide to Army Modernization
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and Oliver L. Horn
(Backgrounder #2091)
Having gone to war in Iraq in 2003 with equipment based on 30-year-old technologies that has deteriorated even more in harsh operating environments, the Army needs to field its "future force" now. Congress should continue robust oversight of the Future Combat Systems program while fully funding Army modernization and FCS this year and into the future to achieve program stability.
September 27, 2007
Clarifying the Future of AFRICOM
By Brett D. Schaefer and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1644)
To dispel regional concerns, the U.S. must clarify how the new command will partner with African nations and supplement existing U.S. government activities and policies in the region.
September 25, 2007
Four Percent for Freedom: The Need to Invest More in Defense - Selected Writings
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Special Report #18)
Four Percent for Freedom: The Need to Invest More in Defense provides the rationale for sensible spending on defense; illustrates the dire consequences of inadequate funding for supporting our troops and promoting America’s national interests; and lays out the policy challenges that have to be overcome to achieve the bipartisan consensus that will be needed in the next decade. It is a call to action to Congress and future administrations that they must heed to help keep America safe, free, and prosperous in the 21st century.
September 20, 2007
The Air Force's Cyber Command: Combating Electronic and Network Threats
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1629)
Congress and the President must fully support the effort to thwart America's adversaries in the cyber domain.
September 18, 2007
Follow the Leader: The House and Senate Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Appropriations Bills
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1621)
To alleviate equipment shortfalls and enable the military to fulfill current and future missions, Congress must fully fund the Army's Future Combat Systems program and the addition of an eighth Stryker brigade.
July 17, 2007
New Handguns: The Wrong Priority for the U.S. Air Force
By Mackenzie Eaglen and Oliver Horn
(WebMemo #1560)
Instead of spending more than $100 million on an unnecessary handgun replacement program, the Air Force should devote resources to more urgent priorities such as recapitalization and modernization.
May 23, 2007
Making Progress on National Guard "Empowerment"
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(WebMemo #1467)
As Secretary Gates acts on the recommendations of the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, Congress must do its part to ensure that those services have the resources they need.
May 21, 2007
Building on the House's National Defense Authorization Act To Ensure Long-Term Readiness
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1462)
Congress should restore funding for Army modernization and missile defense while supporting funding for many other important defense programs and initiatives that will help provide the right equipment, weapons systems, and solder benefits to the U.S. military.
May 18, 2007
Airmen vs. Modernization: The Air Force Budget Dilemma
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2037)
Current operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere have strained the Air Force's ability to man, operate, maintain, and modernize simultaneously, all of which are essential to avoiding a "hollow force." Congress needs to broaden its strategic focus beyond the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and take a long-term approach to security while fully funding Air Force modernization efforts and endstrength.
April 10, 2007
Four Percent for Freedom: Maintaining Robust National Security Spending
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Baker Spring, and Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Executive Memorandum #1023)
Congress and the President should commit to spending 4 percent of GDP on national defense even after any drawdown of U.S. forces in Afghanistan or Iraq, both to prevent a recurrence of the “hollow force” and to meet immediate modernization needs, and reform the major entitlement programs that threaten the budget and the economy over the long term.
March 27, 2007
Delayed Emergency Appropriations Put U.S. Forces at Risk
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1410)
Further delay by Congress will have serious real-world consequences for U.S. military operations and U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
March 08, 2007
The DHS Budget for FY 2008: Time for a Comprehensive Approach to Homeland Security
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2013)
Congress should follow a set of strategic principles to create a comprehensive approach to homeland security spending instead of funding piecemeal programs. It should also consider increased funding to ensure that agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services can be fully capable partners in implementing immigration and border control programs.
March 01, 2007
Expanded Missions of the National Guard Demand Expanded Authorities
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1379)
The Commission on the National Guard and Reserves's new report should serve as a starting point when Congress drafts and debates this year's defense bills.
February 06, 2007
U.S. Navy: Maintaining Maritime Supremacy in the 21st Century
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #2005)
The U.S. Navy should increase shipbuilding by finding efficiencies within the current shipbuilding budget, continuing to invest in modernization programs, strengthening and codifying the National Fleet Policy, and focusing on its primary blue-water missions and leaving the littoral and riverine missions on the other end of the maritime security spectrum to the U.S. Coast Guard.
January 31, 2007
The President's New Military Strategy in Iraq
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and James Phillips
(WebMemo #1333)
The President's new Iraq strategy, while risky, presents the best chance for moving forward in Iraq and should be given the chance to prove its mettle.
January 23, 2007
State of the Union 2007: Increasing the Size Of The Army And Marine Corps
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1321)
Congress should continue its support for growing America's ground forces by funding the President’s proposal to do so.
2006 Research
December 27, 2006
Grow America's Ground Forces and Don't Forget the Reserve Component
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1293)
Increasing endstrength is prudent, and the Reserve component must be a substantial part of any plan to add troops. For Congress, more troops need more funding, not budgetary slights of hand.
December 15, 2006
Evaluating Emergency Supplemental Spending: Advice for Congress
By James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., Mackenzie M. Eaglen, and Baker Spring
(WebMemo #1288)
Congress should use emergency supplemental spending to provide our armed forces in the field with the support they need while being a good steward of tax dollars and providing appropriate oversight of federal programs.
December 13, 2006
Giving the National Guard What It Needs for the Future
By Mackenzie Eaglen
(Executive Memorandum #1016)
Congress should carefully consider the National Guard’s needs when deciding policy and provide adequate funding for equipment, personnel, and training. Specifically, Congress should promote the National Guard Chief to the rank of general, designate the Deputy of Northern Command as a National Guardsman stationed in Washington, and permanently establish a separate procurement account for National Guard equipment.
December 05, 2006
Gates Confirmation Hearing Focuses on Right Issues
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.
(WebMemo #1277)
The confirmation hearing of Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense focused on the war in Iraq and the broader war on terrorism, equipment modernization, the size of the military, and defense spending.
November 13, 2006
Equipping the Army National Guard for the 21st Century
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(Backgrounder #1983)
The Army National Guard currently faces a severe shortage of available equipment within the United States and needs its own modernization program to buy the equipment that meets its unique low-end and high-end mission needs. The common-sense solution to, and only affordable option available for, this equipment modernization program is the Army’s Stryker Brigade Combat Team model.
October 25, 2006
Homeland Security Authorization Key to DHS Performance, Oversight
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen and Laura P. Keith
(WebMemo #1240)
Piecemeal legislation isn't enough; Congress needs to pass a broad homeland security authorization bill.
October 05, 2006
Unfinished Business: Congress Must Address Intelligence Oversight, CFIUS Reform
By Mackenzie M. Eaglen
(WebMemo #1231)
Before the session ends, Congress needs to address intelligence authorization and CFIUS reform for the sake of national security.
2008 Commentary
August 01, 2008
Aircraft Carriers Are Crucial
By Mackenzie Eaglen
On May 22, a serious fire broke out on the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier George Washington as it sailed to relieve the forward-deployed Kitty Hawk in the western Pacific Ocean.
February 12, 2008
Future Combat Systems: Dispelling Widespread Myths of the US Army's Primary Modernization Program
By Mackenzie Eaglen and Oliver Horn
A year into the invasion of Iraq, then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld visited Iraq-bound soldiers in a remote desert camp somewhere in Kuwait. With the holiday season in full swing, the Secretary may have expected a quick meet-and-greet to reiterate that the well being of the troops remained a priority. The soldiers, however, had other plans in mind.
2007 Commentary
December 28, 2007
Military chiefs sound warnings of a hollow force
By Kim Holmes and Mackenzie Eaglen
Like a foghorn's deep, loud warning to mariners who can't see the lighthouse or shoals ahead, the need to spend more on America's military forces is breaking through Washington's haze of misguided thinking.
July 27, 2007
National Guard, Reserves Get Help, But Need More
By Mackenzie Eaglen
It has been widely recognized that the National Guard is overcommitted and under-equipped. Many members of Congress also acknowledge that the challenges facing the National Guard go beyond equipment and personnel to include a lack of institutional power within the Pentagon and antiquated processes for organizing, training and compensating troops.
2006 Commentary
December 06, 2006
'Go Guard' ... with what?
By Mackenzie Eaglen
Imagine your employer gave you to a critical and difficult new assignment. Before you could start your duties, the company took away your computer, your Blackberry and your cell phone.
November 09, 2006
No Atheists in a Foxhole? No Idiots, Either
By Tim Kane and Mackenzie Eaglen
The Pentagon’s announcement that all military branches reached or exceeded their active-duty recruiting goals for fiscal year 2006 grabbed plenty of headlines. Small wonder.
