Monthly Archives: March 2006

Eschatology? – Wow!

As you know, I love "intellectual" arguments.  I particularly like them if there is not a real war to fight somewhere. Nevertheless, I find this "briefing" now circulating in the armed forces to be worrisome.  In the "bad old days" … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 26 Comments

“Arab Cultural Awareness” by TRADOC

This little book has recently been published by the US Army. This is a "pocket" guide for junior soldiers.  It is intended that small groups of soldiers should use this as a reference and in conducting small unit (squad/platoon) training. … Continue reading

Posted in Books | 5 Comments

The Gate of Ijtihad

""The practice of ijtihad," stresses the report compiled with the participation of several respected Muslim scholars, "must be revived."     Ijtihad — or hermeneutics — refers to the institutionalized practice of interpreting Islamic law (sharia) to take into account … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 18 Comments

Iraq and Genocide

This interesting comment was made by one of our regular correspondents who asked for my opinion on this subject. ———————————————————————————————– "Given the many reports describing the discovery of groups of Sunni men found dead with execution-style wounds and torture wounds … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 6 Comments

“Blinded by the Light.”

"And some kidnapped handicap was complainin’ that he caught the clap from some mousetrap he bought last night, Well I unsnapped his skull cap and between his ears I saw a gap but figured he’d be all rightHe was just … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 8 Comments

Decline toward a fall?

Michael Singer is a friend who lives in the "deep north."  He and I come from different places politically.   We share a mutual interest in the events of the ’60s and early ’70s.  I am glad we met after all … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, Politics | 12 Comments

AK-47

Download ak-47.wmv Wish I had one of these in what some might call my "weapons cache."  In Virginia, it is called "Pat’s guns" or "Marguerite’s guns" depending on which ones we are talking about. Some woman once asked me if … Continue reading

Posted in Humor | 7 Comments

Clausewitz on the Intelligence Process

Few people have ever really read Clausewitz masterpiece "On War," but a lot of people like to speak of him in a dismissive way.  He is often referred to as an advocate of the use of brute force involving mass … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 18 Comments

“Contemplating the Ifs….”

The "National Interest" asked Johnson and me to write this. Pat Lang Download lang_johnson_tni_83.pdf

Posted in Current Affairs | 45 Comments

No Compromise, No Way…

"The moment of reckoning has arrived in post-Ba’athist Iraq and none of the major players shows a trace of the will to compromise that would be necessary to construct a genuine nation-state, in which diverse social groups have an overriding … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 17 Comments