During the cold war, it was easy for the Pentagon to justify its budget, as the Soviets essentially sized our forces for us. We simply counted up their stuff and either bought more of the same or upgraded our technology. Thomas P.M. Barnett budgetbuycold share on social
So long as the global economy continues to recover, that remains Obama's No. 1 claim to successful leadership. Nothing else even comes close. Thomas P.M. Barnett claimclosecontinue Change image and share on social
Washington has a tendency to hold other powers to standards that it routinely flaunts - plain and simple. Thomas P.M. Barnett flauntholdplain Change image and share on social
Transnational terrorism, in the form of the Salafi Jihadist movement, is fundamentally a function of globalization. Thomas P.M. Barnett formfunctionfundamentally Change image and share on social
Every U.S. president enters office promising stronger ties with our southern neighbors, only to thereupon largely ignore them. Thomas P.M. Barnett enterignorelargely Change image and share on social
Most Americans have little idea of how far our nation's worldwide standing had fallen by the end of the Bush administration; no matter how bad you thought it had gotten, it was worse. Thomas P.M. Barnett administrationamericanbad Change image and share on social
I don't think, post 9/11, we're going to wait for real obvious things like Country A attacking Country B - because Country A doesn't attack Country B any more. Thomas P.M. Barnett attackcountryobvious Change image and share on social
The Air Force has it far worse than the Navy in terms of existential fears, primarily due to the rapid rise and unbelievable dissemination of drones, where seemingly now every military unit has their own miniature air wing of what would have recently passed as toys. Thomas P.M. Barnett airbadlydissemination share on social
Some Western demographers have posited, due to the female shortage created by the one-child policy, that China will be forced to field a vast force - as in tens of millions strong - of wifeless men who'll gladly wage wars around the planet to burn off all those unrequited hormones. Thomas P.M. Barnett childchinacreate share on social
To ask a country with 750 million people living on less than a dollar a day to optimize their development for the environment as opposed to getting food in the mouths of these people and giving them a decent lifestyle, that's just a little bit too much to ask. Thomas P.M. Barnett bitecountryday share on social