Monthly Archives: January 2007

The Coming Crisis

I have maintained for several years that the biggest reason for our failure to pacify Iraq has been that we are operating in the "Iraq of our dreams," rather than the Iraq in which the various kinds of Iraqis live … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 40 Comments

Sgt. York on Petraeus

Sgt. York is one of our regular commenters who has forwarded these comments on; counterinsurgency, Tel Afar, Barry McCaffery, David Petraeus and, I suppose, Juan Cole.  pl ———————————————————————————– "For you Juan Cole fans… he seems to be enamored with Petrauus … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, The Military Art | 32 Comments

Sale on Negroponte Move

"Contrary to the bland stories in The New York Times and Washington Post of Friday, Negroponte did not go voluntarily to State from his job as director of intelligence. In fact, there was tremendous administration pressure to get him out … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 48 Comments

Newshour Transcript – 5 July, 2006

I was on the Newshour last night.  Here is the transcript.  Judy Woodruff was the interviewer.  pl  http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june07/iraq_01-05.html real audio http://media.pbs.org/ramgen/newshour/expansion/2007/01/05/20070105_changes28.rm?altplay=20070105_changes28.rm mp3 download http://www-tc.pbs.org/newshour/rss/media/2007/01/05/20070105_changes28.mp3

Posted in Current Affairs, Transcripts | 28 Comments

Casting for the Play

An intelligence analyst makes judgments based on available data and interprets that data through a mental "filter" made up of experience, contextual knowledge, probabilities and sheer, unmerited, intuitive talent.  Among the most valuable indicators of intentions are the appointments of … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 77 Comments

Makkinejad on the Future.

I have a lot of sympathy for many of Babak’s judgments here, especially on the nature of post-war Mesopotamia.  You can see the similarity in our views if you look at my post, "TNI.ORG"  pl ————————————————————————— "Freeman: I disagree with … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 22 Comments

“Walrus” speaks.

"Walrus" sent me this.  I am not "Walrus."  I agree with much of this, especially the numbered points. pl ————————————————————————————— Reading from Barbara Tuchman’s "March of Folly" Again, I would like to paraphrase what we have seen and can expect … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 53 Comments

More Deluded Foolishness

The Commentariat is in full cry, analyzing the carefully timed "trial balloons" drifting across Washington from the launch pad secreted in the bushes of the Rose Garden. The message is that "Surge and Accelerate" will be the war cry: 1-20,000 … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 31 Comments

A Jeffersonian president

This a statue of Gerald Ford, 38th president of the United States as an Eagle Scout.  It stands at the Boy Scouts’ Headquarters. In many ways this statue typifies the man.  The Boy Scouts of America are a treasured national … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 44 Comments

Sgt York on Lynching

One of my correspondents, who calls himself Sgt.  York sent this.  I found it interesting.  I include this note as to provenance for those of you (several already) who do not seem to understand the meaning of quotation marks.  pl … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 34 Comments