Pentagon’s Second In Charge Has Strategy For Saying ‘No’ By Bryan Bender

Boston Globe July 16, 2012 Pg. 5 Carter oversees downsizing of US military WASHINGTON -- Neat piles of briefing books and red folders stamped "top secret'' blanket the large oak desk that once belonged to General George S. Patton. The national monuments are visible through blast-resistant windows. Steps away, in the custody of a one- …

Our Role In Saving Syria By Charles Dunne, David J. Kramer and William H. Taft IV

DeM Banter:  Not sure there is much of a stomach for this (not to mention funding).  Also...note the authors' comments, "Lessons of things not to do when we intervene have been learned the hard way in Iraq and Afghanistan."  What would we have been done differently?  I understand the banter, but really...what would the US …

Never Mind: Military Doesn’t Think Iran’s Missiles Will Reach U.S. After All By Robert Beckhusen

wired.com / view original / Robert Beckhusen Another year, another Pentagon report on Iran’s military power. Which means another round of imprecise predictions about when Iran may first test an intercontinental ballistic missile. But this time, the Pentagon no longer believes a future Iranian missile will be able to strike America. And another reason not to worry: even if …

The world is changing minute by minute By Victor Davis Hanson

DeM Banter: good to hear something positive and optimistic...plus you just have to love VDH! Tribune Media Services, Victor Davis Hanson Posted 07/11/2012 at 09:30 am EST We are witnessing a seismic shift in global affairs. The shake-up is a perfect storm of political, demographic and technological change that will soon make the world as …

Afghan Conflict Losing Air Power As U.S. Pulls Out By C. J. Chivers

Blogger's Note:  Interesting to ponder...although it would seem airpower will be in the theater for a long, long time...after all we have been there since 1990...what's a few more decades? New York Times July 7, 2012 Pg. 1 Death stopped Abdul Qayum, a Taliban commander in Afghanistan’s Zabul Province, in a fiery flash and roar. …