Category: Strategy/Policy

The Guardian (UK) November 10, 2012 DeM Banter: the bigger strategic issues...not to mention the obvious act of war... Analysis A mid-air incident in which Iranian warplanes fired at a US surveillance drone has brought home how nuclear tensions and increased military hardware in a confined area can lead to a clash that could escalate …

Continue reading "Strike On US Drone Suggests Some In Tehran Are Spoiling For A Fight By Julian Borger"

ForeignPolicy.com November 8, 2012 DeM Banter: Amazing how much traction the "horses and bayonets" comment is still receiving...and, I agree with Sharon's comment/thoughts below....but we also need a vision and strategy to act as a framework to all the issues mentioned...still waiting... If the Pentagon cuts R&D, the U.S. military will take a huge step …

Continue reading "Fix Bayonets! By Sharon Weinberger"

DeM Banter: Let the games...continue? Begin? Anyone see resolutions? I'm still struggling with the pivot.... Christian Science Monitor (csmonitor.com) November 9, 2012 By the time President Obama renews his oath of office at the United States Capitol next January, he may have only a few short months to avoid another war in the Middle East …

Continue reading "War With Iran? 5 Ways Events Overseas Could Shape Obama’s Second Term By Howard LaFranchi"

DeM Banter: some thoughts from our British brethren, are we that far behind? Sad indeed to take the ferry from Portsmouth England to Calais France and pass the Royal Naval Academy and base where the historic HMS Victory sits near a Royal Navy Aircraft carrier without the aircraft on board...because the Brits have none to …

Continue reading "Farewell To A Warrior Nation by Max Hastings"

DeM Banter: this is going to be sporty.... Bloomberg Businessweek November 12, 2012 Pg. 27 Congress supported Obama's plan. Now they may try to unravel it.; Cuts 'would result in the loss of thousands of ... jobs' a union warns. “Gentlemen, we have run out of money. Now we must think.” Winston Churchill said that. …

Continue reading "A Smaller, Cheaper, Stronger Military By Paul M. Barrett"

Washington Post November 8, 2012 Pg. 12 Even before his election victory is officially certified, President Obama faces a gantlet of foreign policy challenges that will test his administration while it seeks to focus attention on the economy and a looming budget showdown with Congress. Administration officials and policy analysts say Obama will almost certainly …

Continue reading "Challenges Overseas Won’t Wait For The Second Term Syria’s civil war, Iran’s nuclear program, E.U.’s fiscal crisis loom By Joby Warrick, Karen DeYoung and Anne Gearan"

DeM Banter: More on the pivot that does not seem to be, but there are second and third order effects and impacts even in the concept. Tag onto that the shrinking military budget and ponder what do we do about Europe? Who have we turned to time and time again and who turns to us …

Continue reading "IN PENTAGON’S ‘PIVOT’ TOWARD ASIA, HAS EUROPE BEEN FORGOTTEN? By Anna Mulrine"

DeM Banter: MORE DRONES! Washington Post November 2, 2012 Pg. 16 Drone War The covert campaign against U.S. enemies should be brought out of the shadows. IT'S BEEN 10 years since the first strike by an armed U.S. drone killed an al-Qaeda leader and five associates in Yemen. Since then, according to unofficial counts, there …

Continue reading "Drone War: Washington Post Editorial"