Category Archives: War

The Great Game – All New Mega-Multiplayer 21st Century Edition!

Everyone agrees that events are fluid in General Petraeus’ broad domain, from Pakistan to Iraq, from Uzbekistan to the Horn of Africa.  Wouldn’t you love to hear how his intelligence briefings are going these days?  Come to think of it, there was an item about a raid on Wahhabists in Bosnia this week, too… so [...]

Who Says Liberals Are Weak on Homeland Security?

Kvetch, kvetch, kvetch — that’s all we conservatives ever do when it comes to discussions of how effective liberals are at protecting the homeland.Why, back shortly after 9/11, when the distinguished journalist Phil Donahue appeared on FOX News Channel to decry “Cowboy” George Bush’s plans to invade Afghanistan rather than simply [...]

The Buck Stops Here? What Buck?

First Barack Obama wanted to be seen as an incarnation of Abraham Lincoln and FDR rolled into one. Now he is channeling Harry Truman, having lifted one of Truman’s most notable lines in his latest speech on the botched Christmas Day terrorist attack, proclaiming that “the buck stops here.”
Presumably, the comment was supposed to make [...]

Where I refrain from waving the bloody shirt over the Qazali release…

In a popular post at the HotAir Green Room, John Hayward – writing as Doctor Zero – refers to the freeing of Iran-backed Iraqi Shia insurgent Qais Qazali and numerous associates, apparently in exchange for British journalist Peter Moore and the remains of his murdered bodyguards, as an “outrage,” and demands an explanation (emphases in [...]

Ockham’s Razor

The simplest explanation for a phenomenon, ceteris paribus, is to be preferred. Here is my candidate for understanding current American policy regarding Iran:  Barack Obama wants Iran to acquire a a nuclear weapon, indeed several or even many nuclear weapons.  Why?  To teach Israel a lesson and put the fear of God into Israelis.  The President [...]

Who’s for waterboarding Abdulmutallab? – Update: Poll Added

Michael Goldfarb points to a question posed by an e-mailer that I suspect has occurred to many observers: Given the capture of an apparent Al Qaeda operative who claims knowledge of a planned campaign of attacks, how many people would be in favor of waterboarding him rather than letting him watch cable TV in [...]

Alternative CONTENTION OF THE DAY – gifts by air mail

Incentives and sanctions will not work, but air strikes could degrade and deter Iran’s bomb program at relatively little cost or risk, and therefore are worth a try. They should be precision attacks, aimed only at nuclear facilities, to remind Iran of the many other valuable sites that could be bombed if it were foolish [...]

Zombie Solstice Suite – by Sully (edited by the Web Czar)

(suggested musical accompaniment)

[prologue and invocation]
Rise, rise, cold Solstice Sun
There’s scarcely time in day for fun,
And tooth of wind is frightful keen,
As heatless Sun is briefly seen.
Now HopeyChangeys roam the land,
Devouring brains at every hand,
While Demons hatch an evil plan,
To smother granny when they can,
By barring meds when she gets frail,
And her general health begins to [...]

Tales from the Geopolitical Crypt: Seven Deadly Scenarios by Andrew Krepinevich

Seven Deadly Scenarios can be read and enjoyed almost as a collection of near future science fiction stories, though unlike sci-fi writers, who typically unveil the imagined course of future events elliptically, piece by piece, thus to keep the reader puzzling, author Andrew Krepinevich attacks the shape of things to come straight on, and the [...]

CONTENTION OF THE DAY – what the Obami believe

Advocates of a containment policy suggest that in the absence of effective diplomacy or sanctions that deliver results, the stark U.S. options are acquiescence or military action. Privately, Obama administration officials confess that they believe Israeli action will preempt our policy debate, as Israel’s tolerance for an Iranian nuke is significantly lower than our own. [...]

On the Surge to the Exits (To the President’s Right on Afghanistan #5)

Anyone who’s been interested in American military adventures and misadventures over the last couple of decades has probably seen Anthony Cordesman on TV at some point offering his highly professional, well-researched, crisply presented, carefully hedged, and almost invariably pessimistic assessments on whatever invasion, intervention, expedition, arms negotiation, or other military matter happens to be in [...]

DOUBLE CONTENTION OF THE DAY – losing is the only thing

…[W]e can thank goodness that the buck really does stop somewhere, and that the people we elect to the presidency, whatever their failings, do not want to be the ones who presided over American defeat in battle. No doubt they have a keen understanding that, while they might be applauded for losing in the salons [...]

The longer view on American strategy: Obama vs Nixon; Afghanistan vs Vietnam

Back on the main topic of the day:  As usual, George Friedman of STRATFOR takes a different perspective – broader, longer-term, less politicized around current issues and personalities – than almost anyone else does (at least in public).  His conclusion:
Every war has its center of gravity, and Obama has made clear that the center of [...]

OK, Here’s the Plan: There Isn’t One

What a brilliant military strategist Barack Obama is! Who woulda thunk it? The “plan” he outlined last night is sure to go down in the annals of military history, alongside the Schlieffen Plan and the Battle of the Cowpens. Goes sorta like this: You send 75% of the troops your commander on the ground asks [...]

Maybe words don’t matter…

[T]he Afghan war will be won or lost on the ground and Obama has given McChrystal the basic tools he needs. About that we should be very glad.
“The Test” – Rich Lowry – The Corner on National Review Online.

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