A Curator of Strategy, Leadership, Spirituality, and Rock and Roll…. "Changing the world…one "contact" at a time…."
DeM Banter: Here's a thought...maybe it's more a movie plot...but: Assad did not use chemical weapons, but AQ did. The US laid out some red lines and AQ (or their friends and various partners) knew that unleashing chemical weapons in Syria would draw the US into the conflict. UBL made it clear that his plan …
Continue reading "NATO Chief: No Plans For Alliance Action In Syria By Jan M. Olsen"
DeM Banter: not bad...destroy the Air Force...and then? Wall Street Journal August 30, 2013 Pg. 12 The Syrian air force is 'this close to being defeated.' President Obama said Thursday he hasn't decided whether to attack Syria, adding that any strike would be a brief "shot across the bow" in response to the Assad regime's …
I am a firm believer in leadership. With strong leadership, everything moves forward. Leaders are advancers. They advance and push the thinking of their teammates right out of the box--smashing the status quo and advancing creativity. Leaders elevate others' performances--making those they work with (and for) better than anyone every thought possible. Leaders improve the …
Continue reading "Advancing Leadership will Change the World…DeMarco Banter"
DeM Banter: When there is no strategy to fall back on... and that pesky thing called history points in a different direction...things don't resonate too well. Washington Post August 28, 2013 Pg. 1 Washington has had mixed success with limited intervention An imminent U.S. strike on Syrian government targets in response to the alleged gassing …
DeM Banter...A little history...."Nevertheless, the administration believed that something had to be done. If the United States allowed itself to be humiliated by the regime, then its military credibility would be seriously undermined. The regional alliance that the United States led might dissolve as the area's countries lost faith in American protection. Across the world, …
Is it a mistake to believe that leaders must treat all team members the same or equal? Leaders are hired or promoted to win--not make everyone happy or give everyone equal time, equal money, or equal resources. Even though every team member must be given support and encouragement, to believe that all must receive the …
DeM Banter: strategic piece from Eliot Cohen...historically can we show where this option has provided the outcome sought? I understand we keep talking Kosovo as THE example, but there were many other issues at play there that are not at play here. Obviously Cohen has his own biases as well...but it is important to examine …
DeM Banter: Some very good points here and it could be a book...but we have tried the "smack down" approach and we have tried the "hug it out" approach and we still have issues in the Mid East. What worked in the Cold War simply will not work in this Info Age world we live …
Continue reading "FOREIGN POLICY BY WHISPER AND NUDGE By Thomas L. Friedman"
DeM Banter: Back when the USAF had money to travel... I was fortunate enough to attend a conference on The Hill where Aaron David Miller spoke. What impressed me about Dr Miller was he appeared to be very non-biased and very much a realist... I am sure some will disagree with his thoughts on "national interest," …
Continue reading "A REPORT CARD FOR U.S. POLICY IN THE MIDEAST By Aaron David Miller"
DeM Banter: However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results. -Sir Winston Churchill Wall Street Journal August 24, 2013 Pg. C1 The Saturday Essay In the beginning, the Hebrew Bible tells us, the universe was all "tohu wabohu," chaos and tumult. This month the Middle East seems to be reverting to that …
Continue reading "THE FAILED GRAND STRATEGY IN THE MIDDLE EAST By Walter Russell Mead"
