Monthly Archives: August 2009

This and that—

There are some strange things in the air: Cheney – I think you have to go back to the problems that Andrew Jackson had with Calhoun to find an example of a former vice-president who chooses to wage war against a … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 26 Comments

“Rough Terrain” by Vanessa Genzer

"That started him thinking: What if soldiers provided real, dependable security to even one Afghan village? If the village were actually safe, development and jobs could follow. In counterinsurgency circles, this is called the "oil spot" strategy. The term was … Continue reading

Posted in Afghanistan, The Military Art | 24 Comments

“Study: Oil speculators dominate open interest in oil futures” Ruth

"Using data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the authors state that the previous claims by the commission that speculation wasn't influencing oil futures markets were based on inappropriate analysis. The authors present new evidence that speculative trading is … Continue reading

Posted in Oil | 21 Comments

In Memoriam – Edward Kennedy

I knew him slightly.  I briefed him several times in the eighties.  I would go over to his office in the forenoon.  He was usually so hung over that it was difficult to know how much he actually heard or … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 46 Comments

“RED ALERT :: Obama Planning Israel Ambush at Next UN Opening!”

RED ALERT :: Obama Planning Israel Ambush at Next UN Opening! Several sources have informed One Jerusalem that the Obama Administration is planning to significantly step up the pressure on Israel by announcing a comprehensive plan for Israel and the … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | 25 Comments

Ignatius on the Obvious in Iraq

"Iran's links with Maliki are so close, said this Iraqi intelligence source, that the prime minister uses an Iranian jet with an Iranian crew for his official travel. The Iranians are said to have sent Maliki an offer to help … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 26 Comments

A Reply – By Richard Sale

I will be brief and be gone. Someone who commented on my piece, basically said that while I condemned the vitriolic partisanship that refuses to accept President Obama’s election as a legitimate national decision, the hatred and loathing of President George … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | 54 Comments

Announcement

I chose to post today on "The Athenaeum."  pl

Posted in Ukraine Crisis | Comments Off on Announcement

JINSA, SOCOM and the “Grateful Nation” Awards.

This requires no comment from me.  pl Download Jinsaaward Download Socomjinsa

Posted in Current Affairs | 38 Comments

Batondor on Moby Dick in Iraq

Batondor wrote to me with this.   —————————————————————————-   "Pat, On "economic determinism", all I will add to the argument is that I remember recently hearing someone put it most succinctly when it was suggested that saying that the Iraq … Continue reading

Posted in Current Affairs | 25 Comments