Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 16: U.S. President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters during a news conference announcing Alexander Acosta as the new Labor Secretary nominee in the East Room at the White House on February 16, 2017 in Washington, DC. The announcement comes a day after Andrew Puzder withdrew his nomination. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Jordan's Prince Faisal (L), Army's head of operations and training Major General Awni Adwan (C) and deputy commander of US Central Command, US Navy Vice Admiral Robert S. Harward (R) attend the "Eager Lion" joint military exercise at the King Abdullah Special Operations Training Centre in Amman on May 27, 2012. The exercise conducted by the U.S. and Jordan includes more than 19 countries from five different continents and more than 12,000 participants, according to the United States Central Command. AFP PHOTO/KHALIL MAZRAAWI (Photo credit should read KHALIL MAZRAAWI/AFP/GettyImages)
SANGIN, Helmand province, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers and Marines with 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, patrol down route 611 during a clearing operation, known as outlaw wrath, in the Sangin District, Dec. 4, 2010. Marines with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division (Forward), partnered with companies India and Kilo of 3/5 to clear the route of improvised explosive devices. The Companies provided security for Marines on the road by conducting foot patrols in the surrounding area. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. John M. McCall)
Spcs. Dino Torres, foreground, and Anthony Alfaro, assigned to Baker Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska, fire the Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle system at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 1, 2016. The Carl Gustaf is a man-portable, breach-loading, 84mm recoilless rifle capable of destroying armored targets from up to 700 meters away. Torres and Alfaro are natives of Los Angeles, Calif., and Fayetteville, N.C., respectively. (U.S. Air Force photo/Alejandro Pena)
