tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42153851826632944542012-02-12T05:21:21.927-07:00Politics; U.S. National Security; Economics; Foreign Affairs; International Relations; International Conflict; War & Peace.SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.comBlogger541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-31209170260782410372011-06-12T19:27:00.000-06:002011-06-12T19:27:56.817-06:00

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-85672135803496867642011-06-11T19:40:00.008-06:002011-06-11T20:01:53.586-06:00

DPRK – The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) desires “Reward for Action” in its negotiations with the U.S. on nuclear non-proliferation. It seeks the lifting of sanctions and blockade of its territory as well as substantial energy subsidies and no doubt other benefits directly from the U.S. if it is to halt its nuclear program (DPRK). It has persistently pursued bilateral negotiations

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-16809695632559132142011-06-11T19:34:00.001-06:002011-06-11T19:34:57.607-06:00

The rational actor model is largely based on assumptions about uncertainties. In the realm of international relations and how states relate to one another, there are few certainties. The very nature of uncertainties makes it somewhat irrational to make assumptions about them. Therefore, the rational actor model, while making assumptions about said uncertainties, is irrational by nature. There are

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-10485354418114538492011-06-10T20:39:00.005-06:002011-06-10T21:30:03.265-06:00

Introduction Opposition, resistance, and specifically in recent times (the past few thousand years) warfare, have produced tremendous capability and innovation in the human race, and a necessary drive to develop further and faster. This state of perpetual opposition is vital element in the ability of mankind to progress and without which it would have utterly failed to survive. War is a crucial

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-66952984650861842011-06-10T19:53:00.006-06:002011-06-10T20:25:02.486-06:00

February 10, 2011 0951 GMTBy Scott StewartFor several years now, STRATFOR has been closely watching developments in Mexico that relate to what we consider the three wars being waged there. Those three wars are the war between the various drug cartels, the war between the government and the cartels and the war being waged against citizens and businesses by criminals.In addition to watching

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-40506400790841004152011-06-10T18:48:00.000-06:002011-06-10T18:48:34.611-06:00

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-27822761040711005062011-06-10T18:34:00.000-06:002011-06-10T18:34:39.475-06:00

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-81779267798623704252010-02-08T22:02:00.009-07:002011-01-17T00:02:16.908-07:00

The realist's view of grand strategy is a consequence of their perception of the dog-eat-dog nature of power. Their view of the world coincides with the obvious hostility that exists in the world. In realist politics, those with the gold (or power, or both) make the rules. When it comes to national security policy and American grand strategy, it is assumed that since America has the gold and the

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-15543285932035439482010-02-08T21:58:00.004-07:002010-02-08T22:01:44.569-07:00

In the policy debate over potential U.S. grand strategies, there are four basic competing visions. The four competing visions include neo-isolationism, selective engagement, cooperative security, and primacy. Each of the four falls along a spectrum with varying degrees of unilateralism and multilateralism, and differs gradually in their objectives, premises, and instruments for applying U.S.

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-71943813610371983792010-02-08T21:51:00.010-07:002010-02-08T21:57:46.942-07:00

When considering the priority of national security decisions through the scope of various national security strategies, the U.S. considers four basic elements. Those elements in order of importance seem to be; first, feasibility; second, need; third, cost; forth, value. A final element, which seems to be overarching of all these elements, and yet, not particularly belonging to the group is that

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-58631410847685851022010-02-06T18:47:00.017-07:002011-01-17T00:05:03.949-07:00

History suggests that no matter the scenario, every nation will fall eventually. Who knows the reasons but nothing lasts forever. I believe the best scenario is to establish a grand strategy which leads us into the future with the assumption that eventually the United States will no longer be the powerhouse it is now. The best thing would be to establish lasting relationships with other great

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-92062624027993223862010-02-06T18:43:00.002-07:002010-02-06T18:46:48.911-07:00

Arguably the most important national security interest of the United States is to preserve the continuity of the homeland. Preservation of this element alone is probably sufficient to sustain the existence of the United States as an entity indefinitely. The importance of a unipolar American influence on this aspect of U.S. national security is minimal. Assuming the United States doesn't lose so

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-65629143272372476222010-02-06T18:39:00.002-07:002010-02-06T18:42:57.539-07:00

Collective security entails a theory of everyone against the aggressor. It comes into play when there is an aggressive action on the part of a state against another state and includes action by all other states to mitigate the aggression of the aggressor. The theory of collective security covers a range of potential options along the continuum ranging from a true collective security arrangement

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-22817978063348891502010-02-06T18:33:00.003-07:002010-02-06T18:38:49.132-07:00

The national security strategy of Preponderance has been at play for the duration of the Cold War and has carried over as a remnant of the containment doctrine since the conclusion of the Cold War. Preponderance is the belief that American interests are best served by a unipolar world. Components of Preponderance include three major elements; first, American preeminence must be maintained; second

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-3152593381596811112010-02-06T18:27:00.002-07:002010-02-06T18:33:10.383-07:00

In terms of National Security Strategy, restraint and selective engagement are by no means polar opposites. On a scale between total isolationism and total engagement, each has found a means of moderation. On the one hand, restraint considers itself a rational means of taking advantage of the benefits of isolationism, yet without the irrationality of it. On the other hand, engagement is just that

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-90363131841201486242010-02-04T20:46:00.007-07:002011-01-17T00:06:36.232-07:00

The difference between the two threats of communism and terrorism is largely a matter of perception. Communism appeared to the untrained eye to be a monstrous, evil, tyrannical machine capable of annihilating its opposition. Terrorism on the other hand is to the objective viewer a mere anathema, as already noted, a nuisance.While it is impossible to know exactly what outcomes other strategies

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-38628642508454038932010-02-04T20:39:00.003-07:002010-02-04T20:44:57.430-07:00

Islamic extremism constitutes a real and persistent threat to the national security of the United States, both at home and abroad. The level of the threat is debatable, however, and its interpretation will vary from one entity to another. For example, a liberal activist in San Francisco probably interprets the threat of Islamic extremism differently than does a Marine stationed in Kandahar,

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-34652218027308311282010-02-04T20:34:00.002-07:002010-02-04T20:49:30.987-07:00

In current international law, the basis for use of military force by one state against another is found in article two and article 51 of the United Nations Charter. Although these articles reference state to state use of force the ultimate authority when it comes to an assessment of whether a state's use of force against another is justified is the UN Security Council. The Security Council is

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-69730735369437418362010-02-04T20:30:00.005-07:002011-01-17T00:03:58.047-07:00

America's style of national security policy is founded in the long entrenched philosophy that America itself is morally superior to its compatriot states. The style of American national security policy is one of assumed moral clarity and justification. It is understood that America's national security is a matter vital importance to the whole of the human race, not only to Americans, because the

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-34578361263282799412010-02-04T20:22:00.005-07:002010-02-04T20:28:25.259-07:00

The most obvious competitor presently capable of challenging U.S. primacy is the European Union. The E.U., although not hostile toward the U.S. or its interests, is capable on multiple levels of challenging the strength of the American monolith. More so than all other potential competitors, and possibly those competitors combined, the E.U. has wealth. Wealth is a necessity if a state or group of

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-33405624029073484622009-12-05T22:15:00.010-07:002009-12-05T22:30:57.536-07:00

To try to define terrorism as either strictly a law enforcement or a military issue seems to me to be an unwise attempt to make black and white a very grey issue. Terrorism has no widely accepted definition and, as the recent shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, demonstrated, isn’t likely to get one anytime soon. For this reason I believe it important to answer this question based on the specifics of

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-54105421028200891312009-12-02T21:56:00.005-07:002009-12-02T22:02:04.410-07:00

Approval of any major action taken by the United Nations must be given by the UN Security Council. Unfortunately, any of the five permanent members of the Security Council have the ability to veto any course of action voted upon by the council. As a result, the bureaucracy within the council virtually neuters its ability to take quick, decisive action. Article II basically states that no member

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-5767374811792839022009-12-02T21:53:00.003-07:002009-12-02T21:56:23.423-07:00

As a nation which prides itself on the “rule of law” in the social fabric of society; and one which supposedly respects and admires morality, justice, equality under the law, ethics – in short “traditional Judeo-Christian values” – in that society; and as a nation which ultimately values peace in order that one may freely go about life without the interference of war or crime, the United States

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-45251772354709591702009-12-02T21:43:00.008-07:002009-12-02T21:53:17.760-07:00

Use of American military forces abroad has always been a contentious issue. In question more broadly has been the conflict between two ideologies, Isolationism and Globalism (or internationalism; or interventionism). The debate between the two in America goes back to its genesis; the debate over whether America should keep to its own borders, or if its interests require, that it exert its

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-27756167154819153542009-12-01T21:00:00.005-07:002009-12-01T21:06:12.644-07:00

Congress maintains oversight of the intelligence community by the means of congressional committees. The intelligence oversight committee in the House of Representatives is the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the corresponding committee in the Senate is the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (Sarkesian 2008, 145-146).Through these committees, Congress has the ability to

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-83010504949664077282009-12-01T20:50:00.002-07:002009-12-01T20:57:32.662-07:00

As President Bill Clinton took office the principle adversary of the United States for nearly half a century crumbled. Clinton stated soon thereafter that the United States found itself in a unique position, suggesting that with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, America would be able to put aside the rivalry of the cold war and focus on the betterment of the general human condition. His

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-13507251513457166922009-12-01T20:27:00.008-07:002009-12-01T20:58:40.762-07:00

The CIA has been the cause of a ruckus over the past several years regarding the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) to target and kill the leadership of America’s enemies in the Middle East. These UAVs are equipped with highly developed surveillance, tracking and targeting equipment, and armed with either Hellfire air to ground missiles, or Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) smart bombs. The

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-39644864937486278852007-03-12T15:27:00.000-06:002008-01-10T16:39:48.945-07:00

A few weeks ago I noticed a trend which I thought a little remarkable in who was visiting my blog. At various times the visitors to my blog from the People’s Republic of China (PRC) outnumber the visitors from the United States, and sometimes quite dramatically. This may not have been a big deal if I was getting only a couple dozen visitors per day but my visitors have been pretty consistently

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-12484495443795040842007-02-22T15:24:00.002-07:002010-02-14T15:44:38.275-07:00

In May and September 1997, Alexander Lebed, a former Soviet army general who served in the Soviet war in Afghanistan, made several statements regarding the loss of many, possibly more than 100, briefcase sized nuclear weapons. He said the nukes were built to be transported like a large briefcase or a suitcase and could be armed by a single individual given only thirty minutes time. The nukes

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-91258763965453904842007-02-19T11:12:00.000-07:002007-02-22T19:39:05.877-07:00

The arsenal of nuclear weapons belonging to the Russian Federation has been a topic of concern to the United States and the west since the fall of the Soviet empire. The economic collapse that took place in the 1990s is largely to blame for the deteriorating and perceived unreliability of the systems and facilities used to house and protect this vast arsenal. The economic element accounts for

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-70977757182709506392007-02-16T15:13:00.000-07:002007-02-19T10:56:24.207-07:00

Little Kim Jong-il uses bribery and tantrums to maintain his hold on North Korea. His recent outbursts may have been a very deliberate attempt to bolster his waning grasp on power by guaranteeing his minuscule self a further supply of gifts for his inner elite. By the United States and the others providing the agreed upon subsidies, his insignificant autocracy will persist and the problem of

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-46822727936413710152007-02-14T14:19:00.000-07:002007-03-16T16:37:51.646-06:00

At the dregs of the Hindu caste system is the social class known as Dalit, or sometimes called the “Untouchables” (because people of upper castes cannot even touch them without becoming defiled themselves). Considered untouchable by the remainder of society, the Dalits are unclean and incapable of becoming clean. They are regarded as impure and are prohibited from participating in any sort of

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-87668874384922339132007-02-09T13:03:00.000-07:002007-02-15T18:11:14.281-07:00

Occasionally the western media will bring up the word “Caliphate” and suggest that the War on Terror is ultimately necessary to prevent the Islamic world from establishing a global, fundamentalist, Islamic state. The notion of a Caliphate as understood by westerners generally (although I suspect many don’t understand it at all) is an Islamic state where Shari’a, or Islamic Law, would be the sole

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-39521339999297107452007-02-05T13:18:00.000-07:002007-02-14T10:58:33.877-07:00

Foreign Policy: Energy is key to our foreign policy. Focus more on Africa. Enlarge NATO.Iraq: Sectarian civil war. First favored, now opposes OIF. Keep Iraq unified. Withdraw most U.S. troops by end of 2007. Propose a plan for each sector (Shia, Sunni, Kurd) to share in oil revenues. Give incentives to permit Sunnis, Shias and Kurds to pursue their interests peacefully. Deal with unemployment in

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-22993255208526253162007-02-03T19:41:00.000-07:002007-02-07T06:19:47.599-07:00

Foreign Policy: Broaden our global reach in combating terror. Iran and nuclear terror are issues of paramount importance. Favors regime change in Iran. Information warfare on Iran (radio, television, internet). Support pro-Western governments with financing, arms and trade. U.S. military is overextended. Take the lead in information. Bolster and utilize U.S. intelligence assets abroad. Opposes

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-76299338542728952302007-02-02T13:57:00.000-07:002007-02-06T22:12:28.769-07:00

Affirmative Action: Actions taken by the government or some private entity to counteract the results of past discrimination in social, economic and educational arenas. For example, If a person owns a business in a largely minority town and everyone that works for that person is caucasian, he/she could be prosecuted for not having a balance of employees at least somewhat reflective of the local

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-26240098303747813752007-02-01T16:32:00.000-07:002007-02-05T20:07:25.594-07:00

Foreign Policy: Fight for human rights globally. Protect innocent life at home and abroad. U.N. = lofty ideals + poor execution. U.S forces under U.S. command in U.N. Bear less of the U.N. burden. Expand NATO.Iraq: Favored OIF. Situation in Iraq is precarious. Turn Iraq over to its people. Voted “No” on redeploying troops out of Iraq by mid 2007.War on Terror: Islam is not terrorism.Taxes: Reform

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-8816363405789225062007-02-01T06:09:00.000-07:002007-02-05T20:07:37.613-07:00

Foreign Policy: Restore world respect and U.S. reputation abroad. Tough/smart foreign policy. Strong military. Promote freedom, alleviate poverty and stop global warming.Iraq: Get us out of Iraq. Our presence in Iraq is no longer helping. Iraqis should be responsible for their own security. Engage neighbors and allies in Iraq. Rebuild Iraq. Create jobs for Iraqis (40% unemployment).War on Terror:

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-5274099751801898332007-01-31T06:59:00.000-07:002007-02-07T13:09:21.420-07:00

Foreign Policy: Encouraged MA to assist tsunami relief efforts. Do what is in the country’s collective best interests – not what people want to hear for political points. Wishful thinking is an irrational strategy. Favors strong but rational foreign policy.Iraq: Must win in Iraq. George W. Bush offered too little too late. Strategy flawed. Continue in Iraq as long as there is a “reasonable

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-7644539126096981192007-01-30T10:34:00.000-07:002007-03-31T08:09:53.292-06:00

Foreign Policy: Expand NATO. Favors multilateralism. Lead world by hand, not fist. AIDS/Africa should be a priority. Keep U.S. forces under U.S. command in U.N. Favors sanctions on Iran.Iraq: Voted for invasion – later said it was a mistake. Preemption unwise. Wrong strategy, not wrong war. Saddam Hussein wasn’t an imminent threat. Engage allies/U.N. in Iraq. Halliburton – bad. Engage NATO.

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-31733677612780093472007-01-30T06:58:00.000-07:002007-02-05T20:08:14.363-07:00

Foreign Policy: Favors NATO. Don’t deal with Cuba. U.N. needs reform. Favors removal of rogue governments. China needs cautious encouragement. Europe needs more focus on defense.Iraq: Finish the job in Iraq. Dramatically increase troop levels, don’t redeploy them. Increase funding. Iraq war is just, necessary, noble.War on Terror: Good vs. Evil. More emphasis on counter-terrorism. Spend more on

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-39175731085341153512007-01-29T14:47:00.000-07:002007-02-05T20:08:25.763-07:00

Foreign Policy: Human rights should be key in U.S. foreign policy. Broker Israel-Palestine peace.Iraq: Iraq is a mess. Supported the war but criticizes strategy. Favors gradual redeployment of troops from Iraq. Criticizes civilian contract awards in OIF and OEF campaigns.War on Terror: Anti-terror not anti-Islam.Taxes: Cut taxes if budget permits. Companies should be taxed for on- and off-shore

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-37288976085619937632007-01-27T06:21:00.000-07:002007-02-05T20:08:37.120-07:00

Foreign Policy: Favors promotion of human rights, democracy. U.S. Should lead wisely and use its influence prudently to promote liberty and security. Present foreign policy full of missteps and mistakes. Corrective action is gravely needed. U.S. is too friendly with Israel.Iraq: Strongly criticizes Iraq war. A serious strategic blunder. Important to stabilize Iraq now that we have made the

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-61132291803864655972007-01-26T07:54:00.000-07:002007-02-05T20:08:48.133-07:00

Foreign Policy: Wants to integrate drug war into foreign policy.War on Terror: Terrorists can’t be appeased. Supports the war on terror. Said he would personally execute Osama bin Laden for what he did to NYC. The war on terror is a black and white cause, i.e. you either support George W. Bush or you support the terrorists. We don’t need to understand them, just stop them.Iraq: Supports war in

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-78129303455984988722007-01-24T07:21:00.000-07:002007-01-24T10:42:04.500-07:00

Since the early 1980s, when China implemented its “One-child Policy”, an estimated 300 million births have been prevented in China. With the cultural phenomenon of ultimate male child supremacy, however, China’s sex imbalance has become a problem of national security concern.When a couple reaches its retirement years, it is the son who is responsible to take care of and provide for the aging

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-59789928146837747882007-01-23T11:11:00.000-07:002007-01-23T15:51:47.092-07:00

I served 14 months in Iraq back when the Iraqis had visions of sugar-plumbs dancing in their heads, back then they were actually glad we were there. I never had anyone give me flowers but men would come up to me on the street and kiss me, kids followed us around wanting to take a picture with us or get a treat. The women would wave as we went by and we would wave back. Only twice in the hundred

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-86133663331353185212007-01-22T12:02:00.000-07:002007-01-22T12:09:58.664-07:00

Propaganda was a critical element of the Nazis’ rise to power. Without the emotional aspect of the Nazi campaign, either working crowds into a tizzy of emotional hysteria or just tweaking a person’s psyche as he/she noticed a stark placard while walking down the street, the success of the Nazi party would have been much less extreme if not for the efficient use of propaganda.The German

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-16055568738716409802007-01-22T08:20:00.000-07:002007-02-04T10:24:07.244-07:00

I had a talk with a good friend about my thinking concerning what I wrote on my last post, “Hugo Chavez?”. I thought I ought to clarify some of my thoughts lest I appear to be a REAL WACKO. No, I don’t endorse or condone Chavez’s behavior toward the United States. My most crucial point was that IF the United States were in the condition of economic and political distress that Venezuela has been

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-64120769161588943172007-01-19T07:34:00.001-07:002008-11-11T10:54:44.831-07:00

Hugo Chavez is so detested in America because he doesn’t pay obeisance to the American ego (already I demonstrate my American ego by naming the United States – America. Some Latino friends of mine would correct me by saying they too are Americans, inasmuch as they originated in the Americas). Any time someone gives the United States a derogatory gesture, the American public immediately feels

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-45257478883120407562007-01-18T06:48:00.000-07:002007-01-18T13:58:32.781-07:00

This guy named Plutarch said, “An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.” We’ve all seen or heard the statistics, the richest 20 percent of Americans account for 50.4 percent of America’s annual income, a little more than what it was just prior to the stock market crash of 1929. The poorest 20 percent account for only 4.2 percent of the nation’s

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-6084215358641740482007-01-17T10:45:00.000-07:002007-01-17T20:30:21.942-07:00

Two weeks ago the Ethiopian Army invaded Somalia on the eastern coast of Africa (who knew where either of these two places were?). Certainly when one mentions Somalia the immediate thought will be of the Hollywood production “Blackhawk Down”. Of course, who knew that for the last few decades Somalia has been without a functional government and has basically been in a prolonged state of anarchy?

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-25236894454184144532006-12-19T08:52:00.000-07:002007-03-29T11:13:13.184-06:00

Someone like Sean Hannity would wet himself that I am anti-American for what I am about to publish. I think Americans are very ego/ethno-centric and have no clue what is going on in the rest of the world. Nor do they care. Many would say, "Why should I care?" The answer seems obvious.While I was in Baghdad I had opportunity to work in very close proximity to, in total, about 70 Iraqis. The Army

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-73672539131471508192006-12-18T10:55:00.000-07:002006-12-18T11:00:38.169-07:00

In the past decade, numerous states have acquired nuclear weapons capability, most recently of course, North Korea, Pakistan and India. Others remain at the forefront of international attention for their efforts to obtain Nuclear Weapons. Iran, for example persistently defies international pressure to abandon its pursuit of Nuclear weapons, and indeed, provokes the west with bellicose talk of

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4215385182663294454.post-16748752934028294962006-12-14T12:19:00.000-07:002006-12-19T08:51:23.983-07:00

Not long ago I received an email from a well intentioned brother which read something like this: “location of Babylon – Iraq; location of Ur (city of Abraham’s birth) – Iraq; Location of Nineveh – Iraq; location of Babylonian captivity – Iraq;” etc. for about 3 full pages. At the end of the propaganda there was a blurb something like this: “There is a verse in the Koran that says: The Lion (

SRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16181106488017109231noreply@blogger.com0