The law requires the DNI to have "extensive national security expertise." Bill Pulte has none. Former intelligence official and FISA expert George Croner on why the appointment is legally dubious and dangerous. open.substack.com/pub/nsl4a/p/...

Voting is one of the most important things Americans do together. So why does it feel like a battleground? Veterans, lawyers & faith leaders launched Project HALO — placing trusted community members near polls to make elections feel welcoming & grounded in civic pride. 🗳️ halovote.org

"They did not ask for lower standards. They asked for the opportunity to meet them." 22 Navy captains were just nominated for admiral. Not one was a woman. Retired Army officer Martha Duncan explains how we got here — and what's at stake. nsl4a.substack.com/p/afafdc20-3...

"I don't know how I could instruct and advise about respect for human rights and rule of law while defending the current SOUTHCOM boat strikes." — Fmr. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. & Counterterrorism Strategy Instructor Greg Smith Read this piece on our Substack here: open.substack.com/pub/nsl4a/p/...

"The country proceeds at our own peril if those with the most relevant experience are afraid to speak." Retired BG Ed Burley attended the full D.C. Circuit hearing in Kelly v. Hegseth and spoke with NSL4A afterward. Read his full thoughts here: nsl4a.substack.com/p/80be27e4-0...

"If we don't make substantive changes soon, America, we can expect more hatred, extremism, and, yes, more senseless violence ahead." Retired BG Greg Smith surveys the rise in politically motivated attacks and offers recommendations to reduce violent extremism. nsl4a.substack.com/p/39db0872-9...

Their rank was earned. Their expertise is real. Their right to speak must be protected. When retired military leaders face administrative action over lawful speech, the message to everyone who served is clear: stay silent. That silence has consequences. Learn more: www.nsl4a.org/we-served-we...

How do you grade power? In an early April assessment, Brigadier General Paul “Greg” Smith, USA (Ret.) discusses the elements of national power through the DIME paradigm and where the US is succeeding, and falling short, in the war on Iran. Read to learn the grade. open.substack.com/pub/nsl4a/p/...

Why won’t the Pentagon release the video of the September 2nd second boat strike? Eugene R. Fidell, co-founder and President Emeritus of the National Institute of Military Justice, examines the growing controversy surrounding the classified footage. open.substack.com/pub/nsl4a/p/...

As the war in Iran fuels regional instability and global economic disruption, Brig. Gen. Paul “Greg” Smith, USA (Ret.), examines what a “winning” outcome really looks like—and who stands to gain the most strategically. Read more: nsl4a.substack.com/p/who-wins-i...

Military success on the battlefield does not guarantee success in war. Retired Army officer Tom Davis draws on conflicts from Vietnam to today to show how unclear political objectives can leave military operations without a coherent strategy. nsl4a.substack.com/p/fa0708dc-b...

“Diplomacy is based around ‘ships.’ … partnerships, relationships and friendships.” Rear Adm. Tom Jurkowsky, USN (Ret.) examines how treating allies with contempt undermines U.S. foreign policy and why strong relationships remain essential to effective diplomacy. open.substack.com/pub/nsl4a/p/...

"The campaign, called “We Served. We Can Speak,” will feature short videos created by military retirees from varied backgrounds and services." www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ... @nslforamerica.bsky.social

Retired Navy Commander Dave Petri examines calls for “patriotic” framing of wartime coverage and the risks of press alignment with official messaging. He argues that a free press must report both success and failure to serve the public interest. open.substack.com/pub/nsl4a/p/...

Strategy matters. Neal Urwitz writes that without clear objectives, military success alone cannot secure U.S. interests. Read here: www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/ap...

NSL4A member Brig. Gen. Paul “Greg” Smith, USA (Ret.), raises concerns about efforts to align the Department of Defense with a single religious creed—warning it could impact readiness, strain alliances, and conflict with constitutional principles. open.substack.com/pub/nsl4a/p/...

CDR Dave Petri, USN, (Ret.), calls on Congress to do its job as an Article I check on executive power. Continued silence is no longer defensible, especially when such rhetoric puts American servicemembers at risk of carrying out unlawful orders. Read article here: nsl4a.substack.com/p/when-war-c...

NSL4A member Martha Duncan writes that “once force is unleashed, the logic of war begins to take hold.” History suggests that conflicts announced as “limited” rarely remain so. Read the article here: nsl4a.substack.com/p/when-war-i...

NSL4A member Tom Jurkowsky highlights the urgent evacuation of Navy and Marine Corps families from Bahrain, many leaving with minutes’ notice and arriving in the U.S. with almost nothing. As he notes, “they, too, are often placed in harm’s way.” nsl4a.substack.com/p/repatriati...

Clarity and trust are essential for those who serve and their families. Col. Dave Lapan, USMC (Ret.), calls for clearer communication from the Marine Corps and DHS as concerns grow over potential ICE presence at graduation ceremonies.

78 years ago today, the Marshall Plan became law—helping rebuild Europe and strengthen America’s alliance with Western Europe. Though that alliance has recently been tested, National Security Leaders for America remains committed to the unified world Marshall helped build.

NSL4A raises concerns about reported intervention in a vetted Army promotion list. Political interference undermines merit-based advancement, trust, and military integrity. Read our full statement here: www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

National security depends on a strong, merit-based civilian intelligence workforce—professionals who bring expertise, continuity, and deep regional knowledge. While NSL4A supports U.S. service members, the loss of civilian intelligence capacity undermines that mission.

“Your children and your grandchildren will ask you, what did you do in 2026? Were you silent or did you speak up? Did you stand up for what was right?” — Major General Randy Manner, USA (Ret.), on the duty to stand up for our nation and the values our Armed Forces defend.

"It seems like someone Googled 'Top 10 reasons to strike Iran' and they threw them up on the wall like spaghetti to see what would stick."

“That is not the advice and counsel and direction any Secretary of Defense should be giving.” — Major General Randy Manner, USA (Ret.), NSL4A member

23 years after Iraq, the lesson is clear: transparency is essential to public trust. Col. David Lapan, USMC, (Ret.), who helped develop the media embed program during the Iraq War, explains why restricting press access today undermines credibility in the mission. nsl4a.substack.com/p/the-pentag...

NSL4A is urging election officials in every state and U.S. territory to safeguard ballot access for military, diplomatic, intelligence, and other overseas Americans covered under UOCAVA. Read our full statement here: www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

On International Women’s Day, NSL4A celebrates the women who serve, lead, and help build a stronger and more secure nation.

NSL4A expresses unwavering support for U.S. service members carrying out Operation Epic Fury while remaining deeply concerned about the operation’s legal, political, and strategic implications. Read out full statement: www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

Our continuing coverage follows Ret. Maj. Gen. Randy Manner, former Deputy Commanding General of the Third U.S. Army in Kuwait, who is stranded in Dubai with thousands of travelers. Watch the full interview here: youtu.be/uJ8BC1nIrlU?...

Speaking to CNN yesterday from Dubai, Retired Major General Randy Manner recounts what he witnessed as missile strikes unfold across the region. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.

To mark the end of Black History Month, we honor the service and leadership of Black men and women in uniform who have strengthened the United States military and reinforced our national security.

Trump’s push to take Greenland alarms allies and undermines decades of transatlantic trust. Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Donald Stanton, calls the effort “shallow” and says it is “not in our national interest.” Read more here: nsl4a.substack.com/p/taking-gre...

VA doctors, nurses, and social workers speak out in memory of Alex Pretti — honoring his life, his service, and the truth about who he was.

President Trump’s threats over Greenland, including punitive tariffs, rattled allies worldwide. NSL4A member Tom Jurkowsky called them “needless and senseless” — strategic malpractice. Diplomacy, not threats, is the path forward. Read more of his op-ed here: www.nsl4a.org/in-the-news/...

Veterans know what service looks like. They’re defending the name and honor of Alex Pretti — a VA nurse and caregiver to those who served. ‪ @saveamericamvmt.bsky.social is amplifying their voices.

Though MLK Jr. Day has passed, the lessons he shared about humility and moral leadership remain critical. In this op-ed, Lt. Col. Bishop Garrison, USA (Ret.) examines the dangers of arrogance in U.S. national security, foreign policy, and domestic governance. www.justsecurity.org/129045/mlk-j...

“Any order by President Trump to launch an attack on Greenland necessarily triggers the automatic cutoff of authorized or appropriated funds that would be required to execute the assault.” - Alberto J. Mora, Former General Counsel of the Department of the Navy www.justsecurity.org/128930/prese...

NSL4A warns against threatened use of the Insurrection Act in Minnesota and the potential deployment of active-duty troops for domestic operations. Such actions risk constitutional rights and civil-military trust. Read our full statement here: www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

NSL4A affirms its support for Senator Mark Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy Captain and sitting Member of Congress, who filed suit over DoD actions threatening his retired rank and pay for his public statements and legislative activity. Read our full statement here: www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

Americans serving overseas deserve to have their votes counted. NSL4A filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold state laws that protect timely-cast ballots delayed by overseas service. Read our full statement and amicus brief here: www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

NSL4A raises serious legal and constitutional concerns over U.S. military action in Venezuela and calls for full transparency on its authority, objectives, and scope. Read our full statement here: www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

In the Army-Navy game, we root for different teams, but the oath to the Constitution is the same. Join NSL4A in honoring our shared values and mission to serve. ⬇️ share.protectdemocracy.org/s/gIiDRO4e

NSL4A member, retired Navy Captain Thomas Beall, Ph.D., breaks down why dismissing Rules of Engagement as “stupid” or “PC” is reckless. ROE protect civilians, the mission, and the service members carrying out orders. Read his full analysis on our Substack: open.substack.com/pub/nsl4a/p/...

Former U.S. Ambassador to Panama, John Feeley, discusses the legal framework for U.S. military action and the role of Congress in authorizing operations. Watch the full interview here: www.nsl4a.org/in-the-news/...

Maj. Gen. Steve Lepper, USAF (Ret.), breaks down the legal and moral questions surrounding the U.S. boat strikes in the Caribbean and what they reveal about military rules of engagement. Listen to the interview here: www.npr.org/2025/12/03/n...

NSL4A is alarmed that recent reports of actions against defenseless survivors may violate U.S. and international law. Congress must investigate and ensure accountability. Read the full press release here: www.nsl4a.org/nsl4a-announ...

Happy Thanksgiving from NSL4A! Today we’re grateful for the service members, veterans, diplomats, and civil servants who work every day to keep our nation safe. Wishing you a peaceful holiday.

Service ends, the oath doesn’t. See why NSL4A members are speaking out to protect our democracy. Watch the full video here: youtu.be/6AN6fAfvz2I?...