This Week in National Insecurity

DOD photo / <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:US_soldiers_stuck_in_sand_in_southern_Afghanistan.jpg">Wikimedia Commons</a>

Fight disinformation: Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily newsletter and follow the news that matters.


Whichever side of the fence you land on, chances are you agree that America’s not a very secure nation these days: economically, electorally, and of course, physically. So we grabbed our lensatic compass, rucksack, and canteen, then mounted out across the global media landscape for a quick recon. Whether you’re scared because our military isn’t good enough—or you’re scared because it’s too good—here’s all the ammunition you need, in a handy debrief.

In this installment: the crusade to protect Texas from fertile evildoers; Iranians keep digging that hole; dude, who’s my Caucasian emir?; Afghanistan oops; damned Army wives; damned bad ships’ captains; damned badass West Point cadets; and damned sad/funny DADT news.

The sitrep:

The United States government’s national threat level is Elevated, or Yellow. You’re welcome.

  • If I’ve said it once, sailors, I’ve said it a thousand times: When you get command of a ship, you have to carefully guard against the natural and totally understandable temptation to commit sexual harassment, maltreatment of a subordinate, simple assault, conduct unbecoming an officer, drunk and disorderly conduct, and use of indecent language, or you might lose your job. Just sayin’. (Navy Times)

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate