DeM Banter: Interesting piece but seems to ring true... and we are looking at drastic cuts in DoD spending and sequestration....seems like we have a bit of a mixed message out there. Thoughts or inputs? Los Angeles Times July 18, 2012 Pg. 15 Here's an important fact you haven't heard much about in the presidential …
US Refuses To Help Syria’s Rebels Until After Election: London Daily Telegraph
July 17, 2012 Pg. 13 Issue is too sensitive during presidential race, White House tells groups lobbying for arms By Peter Foster Barack Obama's government has warned its western allies and Syria's opposition groups that it can do nothing to intervene in the country's crisis until after November's presidential election, The Daily Telegraph has learnt. …
Continue reading "US Refuses To Help Syria’s Rebels Until After Election: London Daily Telegraph"
Talking A Great Game By Christian Caryl
ForeignPolicy.com July 11, 2012 So far, Washington's pivot to Asia has included a lot of work on security and trade. Democracy, not so much. Hillary Clinton is approaching the final phase of an astonishing 13-day tour of the world. She's spent much of her trip in Asia, including stops in Mongolia, Vietnam, and Laos. And …
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- …
Continue reading "Pentagon’s Second In Charge Has Strategy For Saying ‘No’ By Bryan Bender"
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 …
Continue reading "Our Role In Saving Syria By Charles Dunne, David J. Kramer and William H. Taft IV"
A Proper Pivot: Washington Post
Washington Post July 15, 2012 Pg. 20 DeM Banter: Still having a tough time with the "pivot." This would imply there were excess assets somewhere to shift... wonder where those are? A dramatic shift in national strategy might allow for such allocation... but I am not sure we have seen that either... Secretary of State …
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 …
Continue reading "The world is changing minute by minute By Victor Davis Hanson"
Going To The Brink In The Mideast By David Ignatius
DeM Banter: Not hearing much talk on the real strategic issues this campaign season...but more powder keg data from Dave Ignatius Washington Post July 12, 2012 Pg. 17 Hopefully we won’t see a Middle East replay of “The Guns of August,” as Barbara Tuchman titled her account of the slide toward World War I. But …
Continue reading "Going To The Brink In The Mideast By David Ignatius"
How O Should Start Leading On Syria By Peter Brookes
DeM Banter: agree? Disagree? Man, I don't know...but I'm pretty sure I've seen this movie before, thoughts? New York Post July 11, 2012 Here’s a novel notion: Considering what’s at stake in Syria for US interests, how about Team Obama leading for once from the front, rather than from “behind”? After 16 months and nearly …
Continue reading "How O Should Start Leading On Syria By Peter Brookes"
Mastermind Century Group 