Category: Strategy/Policy

DeM Banter: I'm just not sure it all adds up to success. Washington Post September 4, 2013 Pg. 18 President Obama's Middle East policy remains vague and contradictory. In arguing Tuesday for military action against Syria, President Obama asserted that strikes in response to the use of chemical weapons would fit into "a broader strategy" …

Continue reading "‘A Broader Strategy’?: Washington Post"

DeM Banter: not sure I am buying Friedman's theory. Agree we need a plan and this might look good on paper...but let's ponder execution. Who do you arm? Who are you empowering? Who are the rebels? Can this organization sustain the country and the rule of law? Or do we help create another vacuum to …

Continue reading "Arm And Shame By Thomas L. Friedman"

DeM Banter:  Very true... and one of many editorials this AM on Syria, The POTUS, and Congress.  The conflict in Syria has morphed several times over the past 2-3 years.  Now the rebels are heavily backed by al Qaeda and in some cases...there are not rebels...only al Qaeda.  So if Assad is hit are we simply opening …

Continue reading "AL QAEDA MUST BE CONFRONTED IN SYRIA By Joel Brinkley (and Ogres: DeM Banter)"

DeM Banter:  One (of many) holes in this logic...why would anyone sign up?  Recall the Brits are facing issues with not being able to meet their recruiting goals as they switched to a heavier reserve component. If you are working 40-60 hours a week to feed the family...would folks take on an additional reserve job--when …

Continue reading "ADVISORY BOARD TO SUGGEST MILITARY HEAVY ON RESERVES By Andrew Tilghman"

DeM Banter:  Well thought out piece...and this is indeed a leadership test for not only the US, but the global community as well. It's tough if we believe the military is the only option..if it is....can we offer only a limited option...or does a full scale option have to be on the table as well? …

Continue reading "THE RISK OF DOING NOTHING: Washington Post"

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 …

Continue reading "A Serious Bombing Strategy: WSJ"

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, …

Continue reading "Obama Weighing Limited Strike On Syria By Karen DeYoung and Anne Gearan (and a little history)"

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 …

Continue reading "Downrange Dreams ‘Therapeutic bombing’ of Syria would accomplish little By Eliot A. Cohen"