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View Original / Financial Times / Condoleezza Rice In this young century, the 9/11 attacks, the global financial crisis and the unrest in the Arab world have struck at the heart of vital US interests. If Americans want the tectonic plates of the international system to settle in a way that makes the world safer, …
Continue reading "US must recall it is not just any country By Condoleezza Rice"
DeM Banter: We need to know what the boss is thinking, no matter where you are at in your career...agree or disagree, these are issues we all face...this is an important piece. National Journal July 28, 2012 Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, on how to cut nearly $500 billion and still keep …
Continue reading "The View From The E Ring By James Kitfield"
DeM Banter: tragic situation but without a clear, crisp, concise, strategy this could rapidly escalate to what Friedman mentioned in his article. Also interesting that The London Telegraph reported the US would not engage until after the election. Curious where the funding will come from as well...clearly there are no easy answers here...there is risk …
Continue reading "U.S. May Widen Its Syria Role By Bradley Klapper"
DeM Banter: "In the Middle East, the alternative to bad is not always good. It can be worse." - Thomas Friedman. A million assumptions here...not sure I am buying it and I sure wish I knew who wrote it. Libya is in free fall....and are we defining success off what? American lives lost? Money sunk? …
Continue reading "US Intervention In Libya: A Model Of What Can Go Right: Boston Globe"
DeM Banter: always enjoy Friedman...I tend to agree with the assessment, but always interested in a contrarian view. It is a tragedy to be sure and very difficult to watch... NATO and US (of course the US is part of NATO) forces are exhausted, blood and treasure are both low...choices of the past may indeed …
DeM Banter: N/A at this time... TheAtlantic.com July 23, 2012 Big-city campuses once produced superstars like Colin Powell. Today, those programs are dwindling -- which may lead to a whiter, more rural military. When cadet Kevin Poon arrives at St. John's University in the dark of early morning for physical training, he stands among about …
DeM Banter: Sure, I hear ya... of course... but think 10 years from now...given the budget, the lack of forethought and strategy...there is a good bit said in this very short article, that is perhaps not said... not the least of which is..."However, pilots for manned aircraft won’t necessarily make up the majority of the …
Continue reading "Schwartz: AF Needs Manned Aircraft Despite UAVs By Jeff Schogol"
DeM Banter: Interesting thoughts along the same lines we have been screaming about...the pivot does not really seem possible given the lack of strategy, current global events and funding...but note the bias from the two authors...they are "advisors" to Mr Romney...always good to know where the author is coming from... Politico.com July 22, 2012 President Barack …
Continue reading "Obama’s Defense ‘Pivot’ Masks Shrinkage By Eric Edelman and Dov S. Zakheim"
DeM Banter: love VDH, not sure what to make of this, but it did cause me to pause and think, so that is something. Thoughts? Tribune Media Services, Victor Davis Hanson Posted 07/17/2012 at 4:00 pm EST In the Arabic media, there are reports that Muslim clerics -- energized by the sudden emergence of Egypt's …
Continue reading "Blowing up history By Victor Davis Hanson"
DeM Banter: There is SO much going on here... we miss it when we focus purely on Defense cuts. What does America want to do? What do we stand for? What do we want our future to look like (5 year plan, 25 year plan, 50 year)? These are questions our politicians are not necessarily …
Continue reading "Getting Real On Defense Cuts By Michael O’Hanlon"
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