Gary J. Schmitt, a contributing editor of American Purpose, is resident scholar in strategic studies and American institutions at the American Enterprise Institute. He is editor of the recent publication, A Hard Look at Hard Power: Assessing the Defense Capabilities of Key U.S. Allies and Security Partners (2020).
The Primary Problem
How does our electoral system hand us an unfit candidate like Donald J. Trump?
Darkening of the Strategic Skies
Josef Joffe speaks to Iulia-Sabina Joja and Gary J. Schmitt about a wobbly alliance and Chinese, Russian, and Iranian ambitions.
Defining Defense Down
Contributing editor Gary J. Schmitt has read the Biden budget, and updates his assessment of our defense needs and gaps.
The View from Prague
Czech Deputy Defense Minister Jan Havránek recently spoke with Gary J. Schmitt and Craig Kennedy about threats to democracy, to EU defense, and to transatlantic security.
A Deal with Three-fifths of a Devil
Was the U.S. Constitution’s “three-fifths” clause a treacherous accommodation of evil or a ploy to end slavery? The truth lies in between.
China’s Transatlantic Wedge Strategy
European Parliamentarian and former co-chairman of the German Green Party Reinhard Bütikofer speaks with American Purpose about Beijing’s Europe strategy and how the EU isn’t even close to getting over Trump’s offenses.
Pardon Power, Abused
Donald Trump’s dead-of-night pardons stray from the Constitution’s intent for the presidential power, and are just another blow to trust in government.
Trump’s Exit: The Options
No matter which of the four ways he goes, there won’t be any free lunch.
