Asia Times Online :: Taliban's peace options limited
Excellent article on the future power struggles in
Afghanistan.
ofs
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The Associated Press: Mali coup leader says ex-president 'is safe'
The Associated Press: Mali coup leader says ex-president 'is safe'
"The scene in this normally serene capital was unsettling
to those proud of Mali's history as one of the few mature
democracies in the region. Soldiers smelling of alcohol
ripped flat-screen TVs, computer monitors, printers and
photocopiers out of the presidential palace, carting them
off in plain sight. Others in pickup trucks zoomed across
the broad avenues, holding beer bottles in one hand and
firing automatic weapons with the other."
ofs
"The scene in this normally serene capital was unsettling
to those proud of Mali's history as one of the few mature
democracies in the region. Soldiers smelling of alcohol
ripped flat-screen TVs, computer monitors, printers and
photocopiers out of the presidential palace, carting them
off in plain sight. Others in pickup trucks zoomed across
the broad avenues, holding beer bottles in one hand and
firing automatic weapons with the other."
ofs
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
DoD Buzz | Soviet ghosts in Afghanistan
DoD Buzz | Soviet ghosts in Afghanistan
I don't think things are as bad as projected,
but, still, it's not an improbable outcome.
Hopefully, the remnants of the Northern
Alliance are our friends. The only problem
will be how to get to them to help them.
ofs
I don't think things are as bad as projected,
but, still, it's not an improbable outcome.
Hopefully, the remnants of the Northern
Alliance are our friends. The only problem
will be how to get to them to help them.
ofs
Turkey's foreign policy pivot - latimes.com
Turkey's foreign policy pivot - latimes.com
"Ultimately, Turkey came to realize that its
strategic value to the Middle East is not rooted
in the fact it's a Muslim power — the region
has many such states — but that it is a Muslim
power with strong ties to the U.S., access to NATO
technology and muscle, and the ability to sit at the
table with the Europeans."
ofs
"Ultimately, Turkey came to realize that its
strategic value to the Middle East is not rooted
in the fact it's a Muslim power — the region
has many such states — but that it is a Muslim
power with strong ties to the U.S., access to NATO
technology and muscle, and the ability to sit at the
table with the Europeans."
ofs
Monday, March 19, 2012
Five disasters we’ll face if U.S. retreats from Afghanistan - The Washington Post
Five disasters we’ll face if U.S. retreats from Afghanistan - The Washington Post
This may be overstated, but not entirely
improbable.
ofs
This may be overstated, but not entirely
improbable.
ofs
Brian Stewart: That ticking time bomb is America's exhausted army - World - CBC News
Brian Stewart: That ticking time bomb is America's exhausted army - World - CBC News
A lot of this article is a whiny Canuk whining,
but I liked this line:
"In Iraq, troops called it 360/365, for the stress came
from not knowing from where or when the next firefight
would come — 360 degrees, 365 days a year."
ofs
A lot of this article is a whiny Canuk whining,
but I liked this line:
"In Iraq, troops called it 360/365, for the stress came
from not knowing from where or when the next firefight
would come — 360 degrees, 365 days a year."
ofs
Pimco chief Mohamed El-Erian expects 'second Greece’ in Portugal - Telegraph
Pimco chief Mohamed El-Erian expects 'second Greece’ in Portugal - Telegraph
However, the EU authorities broke their pledges so many
times during the Greek saga that market faith has been
shattered."
ofs
"German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble insists
that Greece is a “completely unique case” and that there
will be no further haircuts for banks, insurers and pension
funds holding eurozone sovereign bonds.
that Greece is a “completely unique case” and that there
will be no further haircuts for banks, insurers and pension
funds holding eurozone sovereign bonds.
However, the EU authorities broke their pledges so many
times during the Greek saga that market faith has been
shattered."
ofs
Articles: Tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Articles: Tapping the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
"Drawing down the SPR in the absence of an emergency is
bad policy. With only enough oil to fuel the country for 36
days, the SPR is barely enough to get us through a short-
term cutoff in supplies. That's why, in his first year in
office, President George W. Bush ordered the SPR to be
filled to maximum capacity. Now Obama wants to drain
it for no other reason than to improve his re-election chances."
ofs
"Drawing down the SPR in the absence of an emergency is
bad policy. With only enough oil to fuel the country for 36
days, the SPR is barely enough to get us through a short-
term cutoff in supplies. That's why, in his first year in
office, President George W. Bush ordered the SPR to be
filled to maximum capacity. Now Obama wants to drain
it for no other reason than to improve his re-election chances."
ofs
Pakistani Islamist warlord Mangal Bagh rumored killed in Khyber
Pakistani Islamist warlord Mangal Bagh rumored killed in Khyber - The Long War Journal
This'll be good news if it pans out.
ofs
This'll be good news if it pans out.
ofs
Sweden moving towards cashless economy
Sweden moving towards cashless economy - CBS News
Interesting... It'll be so much easier
to print non-existent money this way.
ofs
Interesting... It'll be so much easier
to print non-existent money this way.
ofs
Eritrea is an easy target for Ethiopia
Eritrea is an easy target for Ethiopia | Simon Tisdall | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
You keep picking fights and eventually
you get the snot beaten out of you.
ofs
You keep picking fights and eventually
you get the snot beaten out of you.
ofs
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Pork Eating Crusader - Patches - MIL-SPEC MONKEY STORE
This is probably not a good idea,
but it's worth a laugh.
Pork Eating Crusader - Patches - MIL-SPEC MONKEY STORE
ofs
but it's worth a laugh.
Pork Eating Crusader - Patches - MIL-SPEC MONKEY STORE
Friday, March 16, 2012
The Pentagon’s cold feet on Syria should not decide the matter - The Washington Post
The Pentagon’s cold feet on Syria should not decide the matter - The Washington Post
Putting a thumb in Iran's eye is intriguing,
but not sufficient cause to get into Syria.
Sadly, our best bet may be to covertly help
the rebels just enough to allow the war to
go on for a long, long time.
ofs
Putting a thumb in Iran's eye is intriguing,
but not sufficient cause to get into Syria.
Sadly, our best bet may be to covertly help
the rebels just enough to allow the war to
go on for a long, long time.
ofs
The Marketing of al Queda
The bin Laden plot to kill President Obama - The Washington Post
I wonder if he was getting the Harvard Business
Review.
ofs
I wonder if he was getting the Harvard Business
Review.
ofs
Why Iranian Public Opinion Is Turning Against the Nuclear Program - Dina Esfandiary - International - The Atlantic
Why Iranian Public Opinion Is Turning Against the Nuclear Program - Dina Esfandiary - International - The Atlantic
The people polled are not the decision
makers. Poll them and the numbers will
be different.
ofs
The people polled are not the decision
makers. Poll them and the numbers will
be different.
ofs
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
I've Got the Best Edition
The Encyclopaedia Britannica no longer
will have a print edition. That's okay
with me. I've got the great 11th edition
from 1910. And just because it doesn't
have the last 100 years of data doesn't
mean it's missing a whole lot.
ofs
will have a print edition. That's okay
with me. I've got the great 11th edition
from 1910. And just because it doesn't
have the last 100 years of data doesn't
mean it's missing a whole lot.
ofs
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Least Bad Place to Be
Michael Oren: Israel and the Plight of Mideast Christians - WSJ.com
Semi-tolerated in Israel at best. I do not believe
Christians are allowed to proselytize. That's
one of the core things of Christianity.
ofs
Semi-tolerated in Israel at best. I do not believe
Christians are allowed to proselytize. That's
one of the core things of Christianity.
ofs
No Good Options
Victor Davis Hansen on why
getting involved and not getting
involved in the Middle East
never turns to America's
benefit.
ofs
getting involved and not getting
involved in the Middle East
never turns to America's
benefit.
ofs
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Green Berets and the Battle of Shok Valley
No Way Out: A Story of Valor in the Mountains of Afghanistan
by Mitch Weiss and Kevin Maurer
This looks to be a very interesting book. Unfortunately,
the interview one of the authors gives here makes
is seem like it is not well reasoned.
For one, the author says concerning the Green
Berets' Afghan allies:
Just how difficult it was to train the Afghan
commandos. While they were touted as an
elite unit, many of the Afghans were illiterate.
They had little or no basic math or life skills
that we often take for granted. The Special
Forces team not only had to train the Afghans
in the intricacies of modern warfare in a short
time, they also had to become makeshift
elementary school teachers – showing the
Afghans how to draw a circle or a square,
before moving on to more complicated subjects.
John Carter of Hollywood
This is a good pre-review of
John Carter of Mars. [I cleaned
up a couple of typos in the
quotation below.]
Here are the first ten minutes of the
movie:
ofs
John Carter of Mars. [I cleaned
up a couple of typos in the
quotation below.]
So I still have some hope for this film,
but I also know that, in the same way
Jackson could not portray Aragorn and
Faramir in a LOTR film, Disney cannot
portray John Carter. Political Correctness
focuses on two main thoughts: undermining
authority and emasculating masculinity.
The storybook hero, since roughly the
time of Mallory, has always had two
characteristics: he was both humble and
ferocious. That is the paradox of
chivalry: a man obedient to the authority
of country, king, God, and all the noble
principles of fair play, who is also a very
devil in combat, laughing as he slays. There
is no humility in PC, because there is no
authority aside from the ego, and there is
no laughter in PC, except for mocking laughter
such as imps laugh when they see fair and fine
things fail, and they have no joy in battle.
Here are the first ten minutes of the
movie:
ofs
Saturday, March 3, 2012
World News - Report: 5 soldiers involved in Quran burning
World News - Report: 5 soldiers involved in Quran burning
Hmm, the Afghans get upset about burning
the Koran, but we don't bat an eyeball
about burning the Holy Bible.
ofs
Hmm, the Afghans get upset about burning
the Koran, but we don't bat an eyeball
about burning the Holy Bible.
ofs
Truck Meets Super-Blimp
Truck Meets Super-Blimp
If we build it, they will ... come?
Nah, they'll cancel the program. Blimps
sound really cool and I've touted the
idea, but they're still sitting ducks.
ofs
If we build it, they will ... come?
Nah, they'll cancel the program. Blimps
sound really cool and I've touted the
idea, but they're still sitting ducks.
ofs
When was the last al Qaeda operative killed or captured in Afghanistan? - Threat Matrix
When was the last al Qaeda operative killed or captured in Afghanistan? - Threat Matrix
Hmm, I guess it really ain't over.
Still, the ones we are killing now
are not at the same level as the
previous ones. Once the symbolic
head, bin Laden, was killed the game
was pretty much over. Just as
there were still SS baddies around
in 1945, they didn't mean much
after Hitler committed suicide.
ofs
Hmm, I guess it really ain't over.
Still, the ones we are killing now
are not at the same level as the
previous ones. Once the symbolic
head, bin Laden, was killed the game
was pretty much over. Just as
there were still SS baddies around
in 1945, they didn't mean much
after Hitler committed suicide.
ofs
Euroland will pay for this monetary madness - Telegraph
Euroland will pay for this monetary madness - Telegraph
European Central Banking is suicide by
other means.
ofs
European Central Banking is suicide by
other means.
ofs
Crying wolf | Shadow Government
Crying wolf | Shadow Government
Like all good bureaucrats faced with cuts,
the military will axe fundamental, necessary
people and programs rather than the fat,
boondoggles that should get chopped. An
adult needs to step in and make the tough
decisions. Neither the president nor
Congress nor the Defense Department have
the maturity.
ofs
Like all good bureaucrats faced with cuts,
the military will axe fundamental, necessary
people and programs rather than the fat,
boondoggles that should get chopped. An
adult needs to step in and make the tough
decisions. Neither the president nor
Congress nor the Defense Department have
the maturity.
ofs
Syria splits along sectarian lines, shaking Mideast | McClatchy
Syria splits along sectarian lines, shaking Mideast | McClatchy
Neither Assad nor those who seek to
overthrow him are friends of America
or freedom. The longer that civil
war persists, the fewer of our enemies
will remain. Our best option as a
country would be to provide asylum
for Syrian Christians and leave
the others alone to do what they
wish to each other.
ofs
Neither Assad nor those who seek to
overthrow him are friends of America
or freedom. The longer that civil
war persists, the fewer of our enemies
will remain. Our best option as a
country would be to provide asylum
for Syrian Christians and leave
the others alone to do what they
wish to each other.
ofs
My Drone War - By Pir Zubair Shah | Foreign Policy
My Drone War - By Pir Zubair Shah | Foreign Policy
Excellent article by a Pakistani on
the history and nature of the drone
attacks within Pakistan.
ofs
Excellent article by a Pakistani on
the history and nature of the drone
attacks within Pakistan.
ofs
Friday, March 2, 2012
Git Outta My Way
The West’s undignified scramble for the exit is a gift to the Taliban - Telegraph
That's one perspective. The War News Updates
editor says,
"What's my take .... there is no political support
for a continued U.S./NATO presence in Afghanistan
.... as well as no support among a good percentage
of the Afghan people themselves for our continued
presence. Couple this lack of political and Afghan
support with the realization that there are probably
no longer any Al Qaeda cells in the country, the
military justifications start to not make any sense
either. In the end, the Afghan conflict will have
to be settled by the Afghans themselves, and our
continued presence is only exacerbating and making
this situation worse."
ofs
That's one perspective. The War News Updates
editor says,
"What's my take .... there is no political support
for a continued U.S./NATO presence in Afghanistan
.... as well as no support among a good percentage
of the Afghan people themselves for our continued
presence. Couple this lack of political and Afghan
support with the realization that there are probably
no longer any Al Qaeda cells in the country, the
military justifications start to not make any sense
either. In the end, the Afghan conflict will have
to be settled by the Afghans themselves, and our
continued presence is only exacerbating and making
this situation worse."
ofs
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Releasing the Blind Sheikh? - Andrew C. McCarthy - National Review Online
Releasing the Blind Sheikh? - Andrew C. McCarthy - National Review Online
Somebody in all this is willfully blind.
We should never make a prisoner exchange.
ofs
Somebody in all this is willfully blind.
We should never make a prisoner exchange.
ofs
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