“I served with General McMaster. He is perfect for National Security Adviser.… • General McMaster is a force of nature. He is an intellectual and physical powerhouse, and a folk hero to the average men and women serving in the military. ◦ When the Army passed him over for promotion to Brigadier General back in 2005, there was such a groundswell of protest from current and former soldiers that the Army held a special board to rectify that mistake. ◦ He is a more rough and tumble commander than the average general - less smooth and corporate. But that is perfect for Trump. • I served in Afghanistan with General McMaster when he commanded Task Force Shafafiyat, which was tasked with eliminating corruption in the Afghan government. ◦ It was a nearly impossible task, but he brough unprecedented pressure to bear on both the Afghan air force and the Attorney General's office, both of which were deeply penetrated by narcotics traffickers and worse. ◦ McMaster forced real change - eventually - on those institutions. ◦ He was so passionate in his advocacy of clean government we nicknamed him "the right Reverend H.R. McMaster. Andrew L. Peek was a foreign affairs advisor to the Trump campaign and transition. He is also a former US Army intelligence officer and served with General McMaster in Afghanistan.”
“…The authors recommend supporting U.S allies through both active diplomacy and the stationing of military forces in or near potential conflict zones. America’s global network of alliances fulfills “the main imperative of U.S. grand strategy,” as the authors describe it: “to prevent the emergence of a power or combination of powers within the Eurasian landmass that could invade or economically dominate the United States.” Alliances are an inexpensive alternative to direct containment through the maintenance of large U.S. forces overseas or to a retreat from such commitments that could result in a costly re-entry if a rival becomes a grave threat. The authors remind us that “strengthening American military competitiveness against a large power in its own region has been the organizing purpose for the United States to form defensive alliances….”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/probing-for-weakness-1458775212
“…The authors recommend supporting U.S allies through both active diplomacy and the stationing of military forces in or near potential conflict zones. America’s global network of alliances fulfills “the main imperative of U.S. grand strategy,” as the authors describe it: “to prevent the emergence of a power or combination of powers within the Eurasian landmass that could invade or economically dominate the United States.” Alliances are an inexpensive alternative to direct containment through the maintenance of large U.S. forces overseas or to a retreat from such commitments that could result in a costly re-entry if a rival becomes a grave threat. The authors remind us that “strengthening American military competitiveness against a large power in its own region has been the organizing purpose for the United States to form defensive alliances….”
https://www.wsj.com/articles/probing-for-weakness-1458775212
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