Robert Clarke

If we want a country worth handing down, we may need to rediscover the very “strong gods” that bind us together as a people with common goals that we have banished in the last century.

The weakening of strong beliefs hasn’t brought peace or tolerance—it’s brought fragmentation, confusion, and cultural despair. Reno helps you see that what once looked like liberation now looks like unraveling.

What Reno calls for isn’t authoritarianism, but a renewed embrace of patriotism, civic virtue, and the thick commitments of community and family. He jarringly illustrates the cost of what we’ve lost and its impact on our national politics.

We have unmoored ourselves from the very sources of solidarity and moral seriousness that once bound the American people together, and gave our nation the strength of will to uphold our core principals of freedom.

But Reno’s central argument—that the postwar consensus of openness, skepticism, and anti-dogmatism has hollowed out the West’s capacity for shared meaning—is hard to ignore.

As a long-time classical liberal, I didn’t expect to find myself in such strong agreement with a book that openly critiques many of the foundational views I hold.

Another one done and back on the shelf.

R.R. Reno’s Return of the Strong Gods is one of the most bracing reads I’ve come across in recent years.

New from me in tomorrow's @financialtimes.com: the global demand for advanced American-produced munitions is at an all time high, and we just simply can't produce at the speed and scale to respond to every crisis around the globe.

Enough is enough.

You don’t have to agree with every argument he paints to walk away with a deeper respect for his men who operated in our endless wars of choice—not for profit alone, but out of a hard, clear-eyed form of patriotism and duty.

What I appreciated most was how candid Prince is about the moral complexity of his work. He doesn’t ask for sympathy, only clarity and understanding. He makes the case that contractors at Blackwater saved lives and did the work no one else could touch in the DoD and State Department.

You get the sense not of some bloody mercenary, but of a man who saw his government overwhelmed by needs and inefficient bureaucracy and stepped in to fill the gaps—as efficiently and aggressively as possible.

Prince’s story of Blackwater is not the caricature that dominated headlines for much of the 2000s and 2010s. He walks through the chaos of post-9/11 warfighting with clarity, humility, and a deep sense of mission.

Another one done and back on the shelf.

Erik Prince’s Civilian Warriors is an unapologetic account of the private military world in the wake of 9/11 from someone who helped invent it.

Aligning global military posture with U.S. interests - Defense Priorities Key points The Pentagon should revise the U.S. global military posture to be consistent with protecting vital national interests based […]

This realistic strategy strengthens homeland defense, saves resources, and pushes allies to step up. Read the full report:
www.defensepriorities.org/explainers/a...

East Asia needs focus. The report suggests realigning forces to balance China’s power, scaling back troops in South Korea, and shifting defense roles to allies like Japan. This streamlined posture secures U.S. interests efficiently and preserves deterrence.

In the Middle East, the recommendation is to pull back surge forces and end endless post-9/11 wars. With no major threats to American goals, we can redirect assets to protect economic interests and avoid costly entanglements.

Europe’s U.S. military presence is too large. The report calls for reducing thousands of troops and dozens of aircraft, urging NATO allies to take charge of their defense. This shift frees resources for America’s top priorities.

A bold plan from @defpriorities.bsky.social, authored by @jekavanagh.bsky.social & Dan Caldwell, to realign U.S. military posture with core interests: homeland defense, ally burden-sharing, and balancing China. Here’s the strategic direction for a leaner, smarter force. 🧵

No GWOT-Narco - Defense Priorities Key points The violence perpetrated by Mexico’s drug cartels, their persistent export of drugs into the United States, and the […]

Military force against cartels in Mexico isn't the curative that many assume. @dandepetris.bsky.social and Christopher McCallion at @defpriorities.bsky.social dive into why:
www.defensepriorities.org/explainers/n...

China can't dominate the Middle East - Defense Priorities Key points A common argument for the United States to remain in the Middle East is that it needs to […]

We shouldn't think about leaving our endless wars in the Middle East as opening the door for China to control oil reserves. @defpriorities.bsky.social's Rose Kelanic explores why:
www.defensepriorities.org/explainers/c...

Don’t Betray “America First” With a War on Iran Trump should support—but not join—Israel’s fight.

"There is little doubt that the world is better off without a nuclear-armed Iran. And the United States should always support its allies and partners. But those countries’ wars of necessity should not become Washington’s wars of choice." - Reid Smith
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...

Opinion | A U.S. War With Iran Would Be a Catastrophe

The most important opinion piece in the world today.

End the Endless Iraq War Concerned Veterans for America

The United States still has thousands of men and women in risky deployments in Iraq. It's been over two decades since Bush got our nation into this mistake of a war.

Click the link, and send the letter to Congress to tell them to bring our people home.
cv4a.actcentr.com/ContactOffic...

Read the full article at @newsmax.com:
www.newsmax.com/specials/con...

Another excellent piece from my colleague Jay Byrnes at Concerned Veterans for America on the prospect of peace in Ukraine.

Full article in the replies.

Read the full article at @newsmax.com:
www.newsmax.com/specials/con...

My colleague and friend John Byrnes at Concerned Veterans for America is out with an important perspective on the war in Ukraine and the future of NATO.

It's time for Europe to lead on its security. Full article in the replies.

Shared burdens make stronger allies and more stable regions - Foreign Policy Europe’s new defense investments show Trump-era pressure is producing a long-overdue rebalancing of NATO responsibilities

Read the full article at @foreignpolicy.com:
sponsored.foreignpolicy.com/ukraine/shar...

Powerful article by John Vick at Concerned Veterans for America.

He's right - Europe must be doing more to secure itself. Full article in the replies.

Realism and restraint produce better foreign policy - Foreign Policy It’s time to rethink U.S. support for Ukraine and demand Europe shoulder its own security burden.

Read Jimmie's full article:
sponsored.foreignpolicy.com/ukraine/real...