Why It Matters

Raising my right hand and swearing to tell the truth as I testified before the House Intelligence Committee in the first impeachment of Donald Trump.

Welcome to Why It Matters!

When I was in government I took pride in being known as someone who is efficient, so I’m going to give you the bottom line upfront (BLUF): Many topics in the areas of geopolitics and national security are not getting the attention they warrant and even when they do, thoughtful analysis is often lacking. With the prevalence of disinformation in social media and traditional media struggling to adjust to the habits of viewers and readers, it’s difficult to find reliable sources on the important issues of the day.

Attending the inauguration of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as part of the official White House delegation in May 2019.

Many want to be more informed but are unsure where to go for a reasonable assessment that isn’t a 5,000-word esoteric article that often lacks the context of Why It Matters. I intend to translate complex geopolitical events for those who want to stay informed but don’t have unlimited time or training to sift through sources and details. I will provide my thoughts and views on what’s happening domestically and around the world and—here’s the important part—Why It Matters. My decades of defense and national security work have given me plenty of real-world experience. Additionally, I hold a master’s degree from Harvard and another master’s and doctorate in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins.

I enjoy geopolitics, grand strategy, and national security. I spend my days reading and writing on ideas that I share with The White House, Members of Congress, and the broader national security community. But that isn’t enough; the general public has the right and duty to also be informed. 

It will always be strange to me that I have my own tagline ‘Here, Right Matters’ but I want to shed light on Why It Matters.

What you will be getting here are the same assessments and analysis I provide decision-makers and leaders. 

So, no more long Twitter threads for me (or at least fewer); I will write here and you will receive an email straight to your inbox. The advantage of this is when my wife spots my inevitable grammar and spelling errors, I can edit them. If you become a paid subscriber, you will be supporting the considerable time and effort I devote to this project. You will also receive:

• Access to all posts and my archive.

• The opportunity to comment and ask questions as well as suggest writing assignments. 

• Subscriber-only AMA (ask me anything) sessions.

• Monthly Zoom meetings/podcasts where the format will vary between deep-dive lectures on narrow topics, wider state-of-play overviews, and question and answer sessions. 

Those who opt to become founder-level subscribers will have my sincere gratitude for your support as well as access to small group and one-on-one sessions.

Within a day of submitting my request for retirement, the army sent my official separation paperwork. Here I am reading a two-page summary of 21 years, 6 months, and 10 days of active duty military service.

On the first day of my retirement, I wrote in the Washington Post, “In retirement from the Army, I will continue to defend my nation. I will demand accountability of our leadership and call for leaders of moral courage and public servants of integrity. I will speak about the attacks on our national security. I will advocate for policies and strategies that will keep our nation safe and strong against internal and external threats. I will promote public service and exalt the contribution that service brings to all areas of society.” More than three years later I continue to use this as a touchstone for the projects to which I devote my time. I view this forum as an opportunity to share my expertise and experience with you and I look forward to engaging with your questions and input. 

Thank you for your continued support.

A grateful, 

Alex Vindman

Here, Right Matters​ ⇒ Why It Matters!