Monthly Archives: February 2009

Recycling old nonsense

Toward the end of the war in Vietnam there were a number of odd arguments concerning withdrawal advanced by people suffering from non-combat fatigue. One had to do with the idea that because people had been lost in the war, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 62 Comments

A Farewell to Iraq

President Obama's policy speech at Camp Lejeune today – It was a bravura performance. It would be strange if I had not liked this speech.  The policies involved are ones that I have advocated for years. In straightforward, statesmanlike, dare … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 33 Comments

COIN is a platinum plated axe

"Support for the proposed influx of troops to Afghanistan, however, comes as Americans are about evenly divided about whether the war there has proved to be worth its costs. They also split 50 to 41 percent on whether it is … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, The Military Art | 49 Comments

“Business Cycle” or “Gotterdammerung?”

"The S&P Case-Shiller National Home Price Index reported that prices sank a record 18.2% during the last three months of 2008, compared with the same period in 2007. Case-Shiller's index of 20 major metropolitan areas fell 18.5%, also a record. … Continue reading

Posted in The economy | 56 Comments

“How to win in Afghanistan?” National Journal blog

http://security.nationaljournal.com/2009/02/how-to-win-in-afghanistan.php#1296359 pl

Posted in Uncategorized | 14 Comments

Will Netanyahu kill the US/Israel romance?

"Moreover, Netanyahu will in all likelihood swiftly return to his old habit of alienating Israel's friends. Even Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak once admitted the Israeli nationalist leader made him "very, very, very exasperated." Jordan's King Hussein, who at one point … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 43 Comments

Of course it was racist!

"The cartoon shows a police officer, after his colleague just shot dead a chimpanzee, saying, "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill." Critics said yesterday that the chimpanzee served as a crude interpretation of Obama, … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 27 Comments

National Security Blog – 17 February, 2009

Should the NSC function be strengthened?  pl http://security.nationaljournal.com/2009/02/a-more-powerful-nsc.php#1293128

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

How far down are the banks and real estate headed?

I think these are fair questions: Are we headed for a general collapse of the big banks, the ones that the federal government has shoveled money into? Is the crisis of mortgage foreclosure going to take down the structure of … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 47 Comments

Let’s Talk Talking Heads

I am inspired by listening to Thaddeus (Christopher) Matthews (a member of the Philadelphia "troika" of Smerconish, Shields and Matthews) to invite a general discussion of the personalities and views of the talking heads seen on our present media.  pl

Posted in Media | 23 Comments