DeM Banter: WARNING: CULTURE CHANGER...Always tough for the military to face a culture change, but this is huge! Many more benefits than drawbacks... so now let's sit back and observe who fights it, where, when, and why...Wonder if it will work? Note which service is the most resistant? Why do you think that is? Army …
The Dark Side Of Energy Independence By Benjamin Alter and Edward Fishman
DeM Banter: as mentioned in Wondering Where the Lions Are and Quantum Look...energy independence is huge! Granted...there are issues to face...but are they worthy of not pursuing it? China will need energy for a long time to come....what do you think? Stay dependent on the mid-east? New York Times April 28, 2013 Pg. SR5 JUST …
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THE SECOND AMERICAN CENTURY? IT’S ALREADY HERE by Richard N. Haass
DeM Banter: Haass is the uber guru on policy, but I am left looking for the "edge" here. I honestly try to optimistic but all the pluses Dr Haass mentions below have trend lines headed south not north and we have heard this boilerplate data for years...we need to reverse the trend... Haass notes: "A …
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Obama’s Syria Dilemma By Aaron David Miller
DeM Banter: there are no good options when it comes to Syria...but if anyone can think of any...I'm sure the White House is interested. ForeignPolicy.com April 26, 2013 Damned if he does; damned if he doesn't. Barack Obama has a real problem. It's self-inflicted, really -- and it's a cautionary tale against articulating public positions …
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THE REGRETS OF U.S. ISOLATIONISM By Joseph I. Lieberman and Jon Kyl
DeM Banter: "Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too." -Marcus Aurelius So happy to see this dialog ongoing... I fear we have time and time again believed that we (as a nation) were smarter than history...honestly... I don't think we can be. …
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The Greatest Job in the World (and the news): DeMarco Banter
DeM Banter: I honestly believe serving in the US Military is the greatest job and honor in the world. It is indeed a life of service, working with some of the greatest people in the world, serving what is the greatest nation in history. That is why issues like those below just hurt. There are …
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The 3 Shapes of Leadership: DeMarco Banter
Years ago while studying at The School of Advanced Air and Space Studies (SAASS)-- every Friday a student would bring lunch for the class. This started out simple; pizza, sub sandwiches, but over time things began to escalate. I think it all started with lasagna, followed with tri-tip steak, and finally we were eating beef …
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Compare and Contrast: East/China and West/NATO…
DeM Banter: Never wanting to be one of those "decline of the West" type bloggers... I just could not help put ponder the "rise of the East" in reading through some of the news this AM. Interesting times for sure... one can not help ponder what the conversations will be in 2023. Reuters.com April 23, …
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DRONES INSTILL HATRED OF U.S., SENATE PANEL IS TOLD By Ernesto Londono
DeM Banter: I don't think one could call me a "dove" by any stretch...but there are so many effects that are coming from the drone policy that it is utterly impossible to even imagine them all at this point in history. One can't help but ponder what this will look like when China and Russia …
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You Don’t Know The Power of The Dark Side and Horrible Bosses: DeMarco Banter
I've been doing some light reading this week...light reading usually means pointless reading in usual DeMarco Fashion...books like Death Star by Michael Reeves and Steve Perry (don't think it is the same Perry of Journey fame...but you never know). The book chronicles the building of the Death Star and career of Grand Moff Willhuff Tarkin. …
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Mastermind Century Group 