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NATO: Lessons Learned in Libya

NATO: Lessons Learned in Libya

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 of the burden for common defense among NATO members. In […]

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Listening To A Dead Hawk

Listening To A Dead Hawk

 “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 crisp break in […]

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GailForce: Iraq Operation New Dawn Update Part II

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 development and our efforts in […]

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GailForce: President Obama and Afghanistan

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 disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda […]

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GailForce: Afghan Comments and Update on Iraqi Operation New Dawn

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 reminded me I have one […]

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GailForce: Afghanistan Update Part III

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 is the former commander, Regional Command Southwest.  […]

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GailForce: Afghanistan Update Part II

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 yet have the capacity to […]

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GailForce: Afghanistan Update

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 that was used in the […]

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GailForce: Enhanced Interrogation Techniques Part II

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 correctly, there was historical precedence as well as […]

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GailForce: Enhanced Interrogation Techniques – A Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

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 press call sponsored by the National […]

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GailForce: Obama Takes Out Osama

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 on April 30, 1945.  Just […]

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GailForce: Afghanistan National Security Forces – Update on Gender Initiatives Part II

On February 9th, I participated in a Department of Defense Bloggers Roundtable with Dr. Jack Kem, who is the Deputy to the Commander, NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A) and Commander, Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan.  As was the case with my blog last week I had intended to put this out during Women’s […]

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GailForce: Afghanistan Update – Female Engagement Teams and Afghan Women

I had planned to blog on the subject topic last month in honor of Women’s History Month but fell behind in my planned schedule because of travel and focus on other issues.  In December I participated in a Department of Defense sponsored Bloggers Roundtable on the role of Female Engagement Teams in Afghanistan; and in […]

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GailForce: Budget Shutdown Wars – Congress Gets Paid But Troops Don’t?

As I write this blog, if Congress cannot agree on a budget in a few hours the U.S. government will be forced to shutdown.  Thought I’d weigh in on what this will mean to the 1.6 men and woman currently serving on active duty.  As someone who was on active duty in the military the […]

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GailForce: Libya – Mission Creep?

Been off the blogosphere for a few days. In Alabama helping my Mom celebrate her 84th birthday. On my little net notebook and still haven’t figured out how to do spell check on it so sorry for any typos. Thursday was a particularly significant day for the Libya crisis. NATO announced it had taken over […]

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