Would President Obama’s new security strategy, a plan for a “leaner” U.S. military, unveiled earlier this month, have prevented the Iraq War were it adopted a decade sooner? Sarwar Kashmeri, a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council and the Foreign Policy Association, makes just this point in his analysis of …
On New Year’s Eve, President Barack Obama signed into law the post-9/11 practice of detaining terrorist suspects indefinitely without charge. Shock and awe waves rippled through the blogosphere in response to the move, not least because Obama had threatened to veto an earlier version of the bill. Other grumbles included …
The end of 2011 is fast approaching and with it the departure of U.S. forces and equipment from Iraq by December 31st so thought I’d pass on some of my thoughts. In November, I participated in two Department of Defense sponsored Bloggers Roundtables on our …
Over the last month I’ve participated in two Department of Defense sponsored Bloggers roundtable on Afghanistan and one sponsored by the Army on the role and importance of our forces in Europe to our National Security policy. What I like about these forums is it …
Operation Unified Protector, NATO’s mission in Libya, is winding down. Claiming victory, the Obama administration is chiding those who opposed U.S. involvement. While NATO has succeeded in preventing Muammar Qadhafi from further targeting civilians, the mission has exposed a significant alliance weakness: the unfair sharing …
“The only thing we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.”
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
One hundred years hence, when historians study the factors that led to the economic decline of the United States, it is likely that they will mark the first week of August, 2011 as a …
I woke today to media reports that 15 American soldiers had been killed this June marking the highest monthly fatality totals since June 2008, when there were a total of 23 fatalities. The tone of the reports was one of surprise and an underlying view that this was a new …
I just watched President Obama’s talk on Afghanistan and thought I’d share my first thoughts. At this point it might be useful to review the President’s goals and objectives for Afghanistan as outlined in his December 2009 speech at West Point.
“ Our overarching goal remains the same: to …
Been consumed by family related errands in Alabama this week so in addition to having to deal with 100 plus degree heat, have not had time to blog. The heat gave me flash backs to my times in the Mideast desert during my military active duty days which in turn …
Here’s the conclusion to my series on Afghanistan based on several Department of Defense sponsored Bloggers Roundtables I participated in over the last several weeks. On May 3rd, Major General Richard Mills, United States Marine Corp, spoke on the topic The Evolving Security Situation in Afghanistan. General Mills …
As promised, here’s some more information on Afghanistan I received while participating in recent Department of Defense sponsored Blogger’s roundtables. At the end of April, Major General Stuart Beare spoke on the topic Growth and Professionalization of the Afghan National Police Force. According to General Beare, the Afghan police don’t …
I’ve been off the blogging sphere for a while and consequently am playing catch up. Been training for a 25 bicycle race. Every Memorial Day weekend people come from all over the country to my small town in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and race through the mountains against the train …
As mentioned yesterday, thought I’d do a follow up on the enhanced interrogation technique blog I wrote yesterday. I asked the following question during the May 5th press call sponsored by the National Security Network and the Center for American Progress:
…if I’m understanding and hearing …
In the aftermath of the take down of Osama Bin Laden, there has been much debate and speculation on the nature of the intelligence used to finally track him down. Front and center has been the role played using controversial interrogation techniques. On 5 May I participated in a
Just heard a news flash that DNA results have confirmed that the man Navy Seals killed last night in Pakistan is indeed Osama Bin Laden. That should cover any lingering doubts for most people. I say most because there are still some people who don’t believe Adolf Hitler committed suicide …
