Monthly Archives: June 2007

CNN Tomorrow

5 PM hour with Wolf Blitzer.  pl Here is the video of the interview, thanks to one of you.  pl Download the_situation_room_cnn_15_06_2007_14_58_01.wmv

Posted in Ukraine Crisis | 61 Comments

John in the Boro on dogs, and tails.

John in the Boro wrote this to comment on “Temporary Friends” and one of Jonst’s thoughts on that piece. I think this comment conveys something that is key to the discussion. pl ————————————————————————– ““jonst, Methinks the dog hath caught his … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, The Military Art | 26 Comments

Temporary Friends

With the four-month-old "surge" in U.S. troops showing only modest success in curbing insurgent attacks, American commanders are turning to another strategy they acknowledge is fraught with risk: arming Sunni Arab groups that have promised to fight Al Qaeda-linked militants … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 38 Comments

“Show Russia More Respect”

An oped today in the "Christian Science Monitor."  pl http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0611/p09s01-coop.html

Posted in Current Affairs | 30 Comments

I want it, so it must be so..

"officials here (Baghdad) are increasingly envisioning a "post-occupation" troop presence in Iraq that neither maintains current levels nor leads to a complete pullout, but aims for a smaller, longer-term force that would remain in the country for years. This goal, … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 19 Comments

A Bad Idea

"The plan for permanent bases in Iraq must have been long in the making. The president ignored a recommendation of the Baker-Hamilton Commission that he state that America seeks no permanent bases in Iraq. At one point last year, the … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 67 Comments

Turkey, the Kurds and the U.S.

US policy in the Middle East seems to presume that Washington has the ability to re-arrange national and group attitudes and fears at will in the pursuit of a better world.  This is ambition on a scale that brings to … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 48 Comments

“Poor Scooter!”

Cries of compassion and calls for pardon arise now across the land.  "Poor Scooter!"  "His children, his poor wife!"  The cable news shows are all reverberating with "inside the beltway’ outrage over Libby’s stiff sentence.  Pay no attention, folks. Republicans … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 60 Comments

The “surge” is not doing well.

"In an interview, he (BG Brooks) said that while military planners had expected to make greater gains by now, that has not been possible in large part because Iraqi police and army units, which were expected to handle basic security … Continue reading

Posted in The Military Art | 46 Comments

Evolving Tactics in Iraq

"The overall percentage of U.S. military fatalities caused by roadside bombs had dipped from more than 60 percent late last year to 35 percent in February. It then rose again to 70.9 percent in May, according to research by the … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs, The Military Art | 57 Comments