tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931522657870613412024-03-08T06:33:52.342-05:00Wings Over Iraq<b><i>"The nation that will insist upon drawing a broad line of demarcation between the fighting man and the thinking man is liable to find its fighting done by fools and its thinking by cowards."</i><br><br>
Sir William Francis Butler</b>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.comBlogger1239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-90483356913704931642011-03-02T14:57:00.000-05:002011-03-02T14:57:07.030-05:00Moving...Wings Over Iraq is closing up shop at Blogger. Continue the fun over at <a href="http://www.wingsoveriraq.com/">www.wingsoveriraq.com</a>. Update your bookmarks and your <a href="http://wingsoveriraq.com/feed/">RSS feeds</a>.Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-64699086787297573522011-02-25T15:10:00.002-05:002011-02-25T15:10:36.899-05:00Still hard at work...Should have the new site up and running by next week. Includes several years' worth of posts, for your viewing pleasure. (Which means I need to start sanitizing some old stuff)Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com64tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-3153625334488007232011-02-22T03:31:00.000-05:002011-02-22T03:31:31.926-05:00Upcoming ChangesIn the next few days, I'll be making some big changes here at Wings Over Iraq,including a <a href="http://wingsoveriraq.com/">Tumblr account</a>, migration to Wordpress, and my very own .com domain, <a href="http://www.wingsoveriraq.com/">http://www.wingsoveriraq.com/</a>. Gotta <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/technology/internet/21blog.html?_r=1">keep with the times</a>, baby!<br />
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Not to mention, there's talk of yet another issue of <a href="http://armchairgeneralist.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/06/where-do-we-get-this-magazine.html">Future Foreign Policy</a>, courtesy of the <a href="http://greatsatansgirlfriend.blogspot.com/">Great Satan's Girlfriend</a>. I can hardly wait. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpkQVx406wuIxlk6W5AJk1q96AbPF_m3C-NC4a4zD-c4xb-PASCksn5JxOn8_aVdsb0-KQgjencbOZeZQZj8RWEF7fS3qARkrEGlCUmF10Mg-I8SCTmFUjhuc1yAXMh9fkwriYrGZWlQ/s1600/ffp.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpkQVx406wuIxlk6W5AJk1q96AbPF_m3C-NC4a4zD-c4xb-PASCksn5JxOn8_aVdsb0-KQgjencbOZeZQZj8RWEF7fS3qARkrEGlCUmF10Mg-I8SCTmFUjhuc1yAXMh9fkwriYrGZWlQ/s320/ffp.bmp" width="236" /></a></div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-62818527505042243882011-02-20T09:32:00.001-05:002011-02-20T09:33:11.861-05:00Meanwhile, at Fort Drum...in April.From <a href="http://pptranger.us/blizzard-run/">PowerPoint Ranger</a>:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pptranger.us/comics/2011-02-20-Blizzard%20Run.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://pptranger.us/comics/2011-02-20-Blizzard%20Run.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br />
</div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-44107842432675714822011-02-20T03:31:00.001-05:002011-02-20T06:33:29.630-05:00Viva la Revolucion de Twitter!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.memegenerator.net/Angry-Muslim-Guy/File/18564/Angry-Muslim-Guy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://images.memegenerator.net/Angry-Muslim-Guy/File/18564/Angry-Muslim-Guy.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We need to give this guy a position.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">My <a href="http://wingsoveriraq.blogspot.com/2011/02/twitter-revolution-whos-in.html">Twitter Revolution</a> has succeeded! After tireless hours of tweeting--during which I was gravely wounded with Blackberry thumb--I have finally achieved a breakthrough with the government of Liechtenstein. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My friends, we can now <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/08/world/liechtenstein-is-up-for-rent-but-ask-if-heating-s-included.html">rent the entire nation of Liechtenstein for a day</a> (or more), should we desire. For a small fee, we can declare ourselves rulers, establish a dictatorship, and wear funny hats. Liechtenstein's "rent-a-nation" program is managed by Xnet AG, which has sponsored similar "rent-a-village" programs in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But I don't think the program goes far enough. Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) organizations on local military bases throughout Germany are perennially short on money, and always seem to be taking part in some fund raiser or another. Thus, I propose a "rent-a-military-base" program throughout all of US Army Europe. Should I raise enough money to run a base for a day, I would ban reflective belts and institute autobahn speeds across the entire garrison. I would announce the change in policy through signs at the access gates, which would read, "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qItugh-fFgg">All your base are belong to us</a>".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For great justice.</div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-60128031588643646852011-02-19T14:32:00.003-05:002011-02-20T02:45:56.612-05:00Facepalm<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://pic.phyrefile.com/n/na/narf/2010/06/14/facepalm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="http://pic.phyrefile.com/n/na/narf/2010/06/14/facepalm.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>For those of you who don't feel like reading Ralph Peters' latest article in full, here's the summary: Liberals, "elitist" academics, atheists, and most of all, the bike helmet generation are behind America's current strategic stalemate in Afghanistan. Sadly, a <a href="http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/showthread.php?t=4201">Small Wars Council discussion thread from 2007</a> could just as easily apply to Peters' most recent missive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Bonus:</b> If you love <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law">Godwin's Law</a>, you'll love this article; chock-full of more unnecessary allusions to the Third Reich than an episode of Glenn Beck!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-86582440085537586412011-02-19T10:38:00.000-05:002011-02-19T10:38:13.555-05:00Ex reports from CairoAndrew Exum, better known as "<a href="http://www.cnas.org/blogs/abumuqawama">Abu Muqawama</a>", just posted <a href="http://www.cnas.org/blogs/abumuqawama/2011/02/egypt-trip-report-part-i.html">a dispatch from Cairo</a>. From what I gather, Cairo post-Mubarak must look something like this:<br />
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<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="293" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YhBIPZCVj84" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-81257686405160064342011-02-18T15:29:00.001-05:002011-02-18T15:30:56.795-05:00Send up the PowerPoint signal: PowerPoint Rangers, rally on me!<div style="text-align: justify;">From today's <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=189252354441257&set=a.169913026375190.35223.110598432306650&theater">Doctrine Man</a>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BnWd1QqvIB_Kw8jjiDf8X7dBu8ELN6OJrDmWnpmL3yfumdjXBzi276Ao71G27llaYWPbfTXdufxadU5vKlw5GxD83nFag7sDoL7bAtH0CkizpaPf1E_eNI4lokpvTnqKtI6pCmWY8eM/s1600/171199_189252354441257_110598432306650_499194_3373173_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BnWd1QqvIB_Kw8jjiDf8X7dBu8ELN6OJrDmWnpmL3yfumdjXBzi276Ao71G27llaYWPbfTXdufxadU5vKlw5GxD83nFag7sDoL7bAtH0CkizpaPf1E_eNI4lokpvTnqKtI6pCmWY8eM/s400/171199_189252354441257_110598432306650_499194_3373173_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Doctrine Man asks: "Do you blame the tool (PowerPoint) or the tool behind the tool"?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">I decidedly blame the tool behind the tool. Those who blame PowerPoint for poor communication might as well <a href="http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2009/07/draft-draft-draftpowerpoint-1/">blame Outlook for Nigerian e-mail spammers</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is, of course, a better way to use PowerPoint. And Dave Karle of Microsoft is here to help.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dave's been collecting feedback from the field for quite some time, documenting some of PowerPoint's most notorious transgressions. (Note the infamous "<a href="http://modernpresenter.com/2011/02/16/slide-karaoke-stop-the-madness/">PowerPoint Karaoke</a>", wonderfully parodied by the gang at <a href="http://onviolence.com/?e=84">On Violence</a>) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The "<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/ModernPresenter/147874921925904">Modern Presentation Method</a>" is looking for PowerPoint Rangers far and wide to help stop the madness. Let Dave know about your worst PowerPoint transgressions; but don't forget to share some of your best PowerPoint "TTPs", as we call them in <a href="http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wired.com%2Fdangerroom%2F2011%2F02%2Fpentagonese-a-primer%2F&ei=N9ZeTa-KFsnDhAfCqtmDDg&usg=AFQjCNHRHyE0qJjyJBR-S8h9CoGPaTfXiw&sig2=QqnrQWQVbbG1z3c--JHWKg">Pentagon-ese</a>. (Personally, my favorite "best practice" is the late Captain Travis Patraquin's "<a href="http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2Fimages%2Fus%2Fhow_to_win_in_anbar_v4.pdf&ei=ZdZeTc6ZCMqq8AOKyOTNCw&usg=AFQjCNEoJzYDv7CJhrG9vQoGzMVSUJjuiQ&sig2=87SA17MHmAXYinF8KdUS7Q">How to Win in Anbar</a>") </div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-9281274987905424212011-02-17T23:44:00.001-05:002011-02-18T04:11:45.073-05:00Did you ever know that you're my hero?<div style="text-align: justify;">I've made a new Twitter friend. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My new friend might actually be my soul mate, if said friend were a female. Sadly, my new friend is not a female. Nor is it really a male, either. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a <a href="http://twitter.com/drunkenpredator">drunken Predator drone</a>. A bona-fide Unmanned Alcoholic Vehicle, baby.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1246714039/JD_predator.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="181" src="http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/1246714039/JD_predator.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My, what a large bottle of Jack Daniels you have there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I can't tell if I've met the most awesome person in the entire universe (besides me), or if I got drunk one night and accidentally registered another Twitter account. Either way, this new account should make up for the recent lack of amusement on Twitter. Sadly, ever since the revolts in Egypt, Twitter's gone legit: more social unrest and fewer panda hats. Le sigh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzqYrrfxVktr7534r5L2dzRGN_ipTB-52reah2j9NhEiDI9cm8buxNgQMTJAw0eC4M7JjkC8UD0xuvo0vbtl8f9l3qWybHKcpfZQo-UR0XFRfJ4uhlMATzLivpYPyNeNzx6mzd3oVC5c/s1600/drunkenpredator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzqYrrfxVktr7534r5L2dzRGN_ipTB-52reah2j9NhEiDI9cm8buxNgQMTJAw0eC4M7JjkC8UD0xuvo0vbtl8f9l3qWybHKcpfZQo-UR0XFRfJ4uhlMATzLivpYPyNeNzx6mzd3oVC5c/s400/drunkenpredator.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKV23ORtmVPSyyONRF6bnFiQTZDJewrcS-EDHmohec40_62p8dGQW_ck-JpVS0MCk2xPHKzSzA2BbbpKXp2sbjSEsCddFBDzlrePZUo7GSPGbAdQyavfoTgMNWKd8kaAjfLcfVURBebbQ/s1600/battery+operated+friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKV23ORtmVPSyyONRF6bnFiQTZDJewrcS-EDHmohec40_62p8dGQW_ck-JpVS0MCk2xPHKzSzA2BbbpKXp2sbjSEsCddFBDzlrePZUo7GSPGbAdQyavfoTgMNWKd8kaAjfLcfVURBebbQ/s400/battery+operated+friends.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7EY3XzauY76WH60YAj1n6SJghM3SD3djNtpav7woqu_a9Oe-xMk7IR_btMK91Vz5IubQPj97D-hRbhVCWCfzhwqGbvvlWk4lhIxc8bEqEzaOT3BcO9d1QUPlnalwCrbxwEHCgGEVUWE/s1600/laurenist+drones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7EY3XzauY76WH60YAj1n6SJghM3SD3djNtpav7woqu_a9Oe-xMk7IR_btMK91Vz5IubQPj97D-hRbhVCWCfzhwqGbvvlWk4lhIxc8bEqEzaOT3BcO9d1QUPlnalwCrbxwEHCgGEVUWE/s400/laurenist+drones.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-70544138020818526482011-02-16T14:54:00.001-05:002011-02-17T01:07:34.334-05:00Didn't get your DOD FLIPs this month? There's an app for that.<a href="http://a3.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/040/Purple/76/0a/ff/mzl.degjuonk.480x480-75.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a3.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/040/Purple/76/0a/ff/mzl.degjuonk.480x480-75.jpg" width="240" /></a><span id="goog_802853942"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">I've often complained about the Army's <a href="http://peosoldier.armylive.dodlive.mil/2011/01/13/edm/">Electronic Data Manager</a> (EDM), a digital "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kneeboard_(flight)">kneeboard</a>" the size of a brick. Running on Windows XP and featuring a 133 mHz processor, the device is heavy, slow, counter-intuitive, and must stay tethered to the aircraft to receive GPS data.</div><span id="goog_802853943"></span><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've <a href="http://wingsoveriraq.blogspot.com/2010/08/now-if-there-were-only-application-to.html">often argued</a> that an iPad could outperform the EDM, which is based on technology some ten years old. That's why I was pleased to learn that Jeppesen, the world's leading manufacturer of aeronautical charts, has created a <a href="http://www.jeppesen.com/main/corporate/microsites/jeppesen-mobile-tc/">flight information application</a> which includes approach diagrams, maps, departure procedures, and airfield diagrams. And unlike those that rely on paper charts, there's no need to purchase new maps and approach diagrams every few weeks.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'm going to give the free trial a test over the next week or so. More to follow.</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8bFkUGYhYnc" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-40059169129288172862011-02-14T14:50:00.000-05:002011-02-14T14:50:39.540-05:00Happy VD, Everyone!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nFZEG0KxnxEXEtHy1D1l64YgzhLNWMiErqlujp-dC7oCeTyZSou9ylhQY3RCV3tMxZy5ZDctxqJKwTuZPdvfp11q_e9WphDtxVP-ydO4D9ZUnZ-hCzL5lsVehISCUJcxlTvAXcv-_Rc/s1600/han+solo+valentines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nFZEG0KxnxEXEtHy1D1l64YgzhLNWMiErqlujp-dC7oCeTyZSou9ylhQY3RCV3tMxZy5ZDctxqJKwTuZPdvfp11q_e9WphDtxVP-ydO4D9ZUnZ-hCzL5lsVehISCUJcxlTvAXcv-_Rc/s400/han+solo+valentines.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-2111560092399747472011-02-13T15:18:00.001-05:002011-02-13T15:27:22.189-05:00Public Relations Tip<div style="text-align: justify;">You shouldn't act surprised if a critical article seems "<a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/letters/s_722504.html">one-sided</a>". Especially if you declined to answer questions to begin with. </div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-76404639065015028332011-02-13T11:37:00.001-05:002011-02-13T12:15:46.818-05:00A Captain Saying "I Have an Idea"...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://by1.storage.msn.com/x1plYhXOAq5AuwvAzE0nYpVOrfJ0GIlacqXjC5TU7HRTMlDYMykWitM-mwHA-XsAkqWsZ9TuuB3eonAY2DJK8V4I-T3oTtmHxoMquHl-XrhtLgsyVA5eL4-qXXUis7XiP2xFUKOs00yNaE8EAcDI_pkn66KywU5m8Qc" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://by1.storage.msn.com/x1plYhXOAq5AuwvAzE0nYpVOrfJ0GIlacqXjC5TU7HRTMlDYMykWitM-mwHA-XsAkqWsZ9TuuB3eonAY2DJK8V4I-T3oTtmHxoMquHl-XrhtLgsyVA5eL4-qXXUis7XiP2xFUKOs00yNaE8EAcDI_pkn66KywU5m8Qc" width="256" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Good Idea Fairy struck me with her wand today. I'm looking at doing a piece on micromanagement. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Question for the experts in Napoleonic warfare: Are there any good references regarding Napoleon's decentralized leadership style during his early years, versus his centralized control methods later in his career?</div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-82479914398811237922011-02-12T14:06:00.000-05:002011-02-12T14:06:39.648-05:00Lamebook: US Defense Policy EditionThis would be a great entry on <a href="http://www.lamebook.com/">Lamebook</a>. Alas, few people get defense policy humor.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpkYk-8xIwj0PbmVRcZG_0s69y6WXRhAApVPppBeB-g25Oeub7Xbqjl36tGpLeoIhV9QUqdEFXXjc1z8Uh3JuZyb9Xnimcb7rR1-6JDQPGCqemm-hYtg6Qlv4PrGjeawo6aU_ePjJFDU/s1600/laurenist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpkYk-8xIwj0PbmVRcZG_0s69y6WXRhAApVPppBeB-g25Oeub7Xbqjl36tGpLeoIhV9QUqdEFXXjc1z8Uh3JuZyb9Xnimcb7rR1-6JDQPGCqemm-hYtg6Qlv4PrGjeawo6aU_ePjJFDU/s1600/laurenist.jpg" /></a></div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-30105689582750354852011-02-12T12:24:00.000-05:002011-02-12T12:24:43.329-05:00Viva la COIN?<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5266156318_461be589db.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5126/5266156318_461be589db.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Mark "Zenpundit" Safranski muses on the recent dearth of counterinsurgency writing in major journals, as well as General Petraeus' recent heavy-handed tactics in Afghanistan:</div><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><i>[Is COIN dead?] By that, I mean contemporary, mid-2000’s ”pop-centric” COIN theory as expressed in FM 3-24 - is it de facto dead as USG policy or is COIN theory formally evolved to officially embrace strong elements of CT, targeted assassinations, FID, “open-source counterinsurgency” and even bare-knuckled conventional warfare tactics?</i></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><i>Mind you, I have nothing against pragmatic flexibility and think that, for example, moves to arm more Afghan villagers for self-defense are realistic efforts to deal with the Taliban insurgency, and I prefer USG officials speaking frankly about military conditions as they actually exist. Doctrinal concepts should not be used to create a ”paint-by-numbers” military strategy - it is a starting point that should be expected to evolve to fit conditions. </i></blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><i>But having evolved operations and policy as far as the USG military and USG national security agencies have, with the current draconian budgetary restraints looming - are we still “doing COIN”? Or is it dead?</i></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">It's a question asked by counterinsurgency experts such as <a href="http://kingsofwar.org.uk/2010/07/counterinsurgency-and-its-discontents/">Dr. David Ucko</a>. Even <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/25/nation/la-na-airborne-20100926">Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and other DOD insiders</a> seem hesitant to partake in future counterinsurgency endeavors. There's merit to their case. Simply having a counterinsurgency doctrine doesn't mean that we should be eager to rush off and implement it in the far-flung corners of the globe. As events in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown us, counterinsurgency is time-consuming, expensive, and subject to powers far beyond the counterinsurgent's control.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But while nations should attempt to avoid such conflicts when possible, even the greatest strategists stumble upon rebellions, insurrections, and insurgencies. In fact, the word <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerrilla_warfare#Etymology">guerrilla</a></i>--of Spanish origin--reminds us that no less a genius than Napoleon Bonaparte inadvertently found himself embroiled in an insurgency during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peninsular_War#Guerrilla_war">Peninsular War</a>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yet, the world of counterinsurgency has grown quiet as of late. What accounts for its seeming decline? I've come up with a few factors. </div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Time.</b> Counterinsurgency is a long-term endeavor. According to <a href="http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG965.html">a recent RAND study</a>, successful campaigns in the post-Cold War era last around a decade. Unfortunately, time is running out in Afghanistan: despite years of neglect, the NATO-led coalition is expected to hand over responsibility to the Afghan government by July, with a full withdrawal by 2014. The compressed timeline doesn't allow for the "full-blown" counterinsurgency campaign many generals advocated in the summer of 2009. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Karzai Government.</b> Most COIN literature, such as the US military's <a href="http://usacac.army.mil/cac2/coin/repository/FM_3-24.pdf">Counterinsurgency Field Manual</a>, stresses the importance of host-nation legitimacy. Yet, Hamid Karzai remains in power only after a massively fraudulent election, and runs a government sometimes referred to as a "<a href="http://www.worldaffairsjournal.org/new/blogs/marlowe/Broken_Windows_and_Insurgency">kleptocracy</a>". Tell me how this ends? </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Role of "Our Valuable Ally".</b> Not even a fiction writer could have conceived of the ridiculous "Catch-22" surrounding Pakistan's role in the Afghanistan War. Our "valuable ally" permits the US to hunt Taliban and al-Qaeda figures with Predator drones, and controls many of the key logistical supply routes into Afghanistan. Yet, the role of Pakistan's ISI in supporting the Taliban insurgency is painfully evident <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/30/pakistan-blocks-nato-route-afghanistan">time</a> and <a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_248758470"></span>time again<span id="goog_248758471"></span></a>. The US sends billions of dollars in humanitarian and military aid to the Pakistani government, only to see it used against itself. Okay, to be fair, a good chunk of that money doesn't get used against us. Rather, it's simply <a href="http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CDUQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworldnews%2Fasia%2Fpakistan%2F7960923%2FPakistan-in-political-crisis-amid-allegations-of-flooding-aid-corruption.html&ei=C8BWTd3YF8HNswb5zK2mCw&usg=AFQjCNGmgF3LM5BlYmNqc8yA9gAXazzH6A&sig2=ZAjRMjtC841VXhqFBuis7Q">imbezzled by corrupt Pakistani officials</a>. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Taliban Insurgency vs. Al-Qaeda.</b> You might remember that the War in Afghanistan was originally designed to root out elements of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, then harbored by the Taliban. However, after the Battle of Tora Bora, the core leadership of both al Qaeda and the Taliban escaped into Pakistan, where they are presumed to remain to this day. In the past decade, however, both groups have mutated. Many believe there is <a href="http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&sqi=2&ved=0CCUQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2011%2F02%2F07%2Fworld%2Fasia%2F07afghan.html&ei=z8FWTbKGFYbFswaBh6ylCw&usg=AFQjCNE2hTEzCmfWySBQWv0mZeGvoxDhdA&sig2=WYMo8VjymL17X0zIH1yLKw">little to no correlation or collaboration</a> between al-Qaeda, an international movement, primarily Arab; and the Taliban, a Pashtun movement with more localized goals. Moreover, al-Qaeda acts through "franchise" movements in Yemen, Africa, and Somalia, though these groups tend to have more localized ideologies as well. Counterinsurgency's inability to deal with the al-Qaeda problem blights its reputation. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Operational vs. Strategic.</b> Counterinsurgency was a "bottom-up", tactical and operational innovation, designed to compensate for strategic ambivalence, particularly in Iraq. However, counterinsurgency is but a means to an end. Counterinsurgency is useless if it does not coincide with larger strategic objectives.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>A Focus on Democracy.</b> The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were conceived within the rubric of neoconservative rhetoric, which placed a premium on democracy-building. Yet, democracy tends to take hold only after certain economic, social, and cultural benchmarks are met: benchmarks largely absent in Afghanistan. With massive ethnic strife, and little history of a strong, central government in Kabul, America's attempts at installing its own style of democracy are a Herculean task. Would counterinsurgency work better if a dictatorship enjoyed more legitimacy?</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>The Underdog Syndrome.</b> Being a COINdinista was fun when it was a "fringe" activity. Now that it's "in" (and misapplied at that) it's lost a lot of its allure. Hey, it's not hip being a square. </li>
</ul>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-12574541526606430712011-02-11T01:59:00.001-05:002011-02-11T13:53:58.853-05:00Feature Film Friday<div style="text-align: justify;">First, check out the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAlBbpH94Fc">latest flick</a> from Doctrine Man (who just now registered a <a href="http://twitter.com/doctrine_man">Twitter account</a>)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MAlBbpH94Fc" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And don't miss <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UZeLhQ5HFk">my latest Xtranormal video</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="195" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3UZeLhQ5HFk" title="YouTube video player" width="320"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Suffice to say, the US Army is filled with inspiring leadership. The fact that it usually just inspires me to make Xtranormal videos and drink to excess is completely irrelevant. </div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-33677213779055980212011-02-11T01:31:00.001-05:002011-02-12T03:58:08.689-05:00Critical Acclaim<div style="text-align: justify;">If I ever write a book, I'm putting this review on the back cover. From Ian Elliot of the <a href="http://www.thewhig.com/">Kingston Whig Standard</a> (and <a href="http://www.fark.com/">Fark.com</a>) on my latest piece for <a href="http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/09/what_can_ike_and_lawrence_of_arabia_teach_us_about_army_personnel_policy">The Best Defense</a>:</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Your paper on integrrated retention of career soldiers was interesting, factual and suprisingly well done when looked at in the context of your educational continuum, but the conclusion fell flat and the romantic subplot felt tacked on, almost an afterthought, really. Characters as shallow as the donald duck paper you wrote this on.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">C-</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">And, of course, I got plenty love from my fellow O/Cs:</div><blockquote style="text-align: justify;">>Should a commissioned officer be using the word 'crunk' in a professional paper? Or is professional a little bit over the top?</blockquote><blockquote style="text-align: justify;">>Oh, Tom Ricks addded the word 'crunk'. It's a hallmark of the aforementioned 'Great Satan's Girlfriend'. Check out her website, just not from your US Army computer. Might cause trouble with DOIM.</blockquote><a href="http://greatsatansgirlfriend.blogspot.com/">Great Satan's Girlfriend</a> is like the Matrix; you can't really explain it. You just have to let people experience it for themselves.Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-84238036523731541152011-02-09T15:11:00.001-05:002011-02-10T02:01:45.810-05:00I got people skillz...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCq9AYJmhgLtVyvL8cDfuxhQoLhgLBFnpK_XZhyphenhyphen_MQs571rjSH1cfA1jAAkFa_SQl-soaA7BTnUDCuTOkhzuks7d0sNGj_W4nXgWQQ7NQs-2nHFVwhK2I0-oKofX9dLOF8FB51yNJFyYs/s1600/sttravel-lawrence58_312702a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCq9AYJmhgLtVyvL8cDfuxhQoLhgLBFnpK_XZhyphenhyphen_MQs571rjSH1cfA1jAAkFa_SQl-soaA7BTnUDCuTOkhzuks7d0sNGj_W4nXgWQQ7NQs-2nHFVwhK2I0-oKofX9dLOF8FB51yNJFyYs/s320/sttravel-lawrence58_312702a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Don't miss <a href="http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/02/09/what_can_ike_and_lawrence_of_arabia_teach_us_about_army_personnel_policy">my latest</a> at Tom Ricks' "The Best Defense". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I guess I'm officially part of The Best Defense's "Personnel Policy Bureau" now. Sounds like an <a href="http://www.kiowapilots.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8681">OER bullet</a> to me...</div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-52829656256465101062011-02-08T15:23:00.001-05:002011-02-09T00:18:23.697-05:00A Twitter Revolution: Who's in?<div style="text-align: justify;">If you haven't been inspired by the cry for equality, justice, and dignity coming from Egypt, you should be. Social networking has empowered common Egyptians--oppressed, frustrated, and disenchanted with the Mubarak regime--to rise up against their master and take charge of their own fate.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Indeed, social media appears to be doing the same throughout the Middle East. In nations like Jordan, Yemen, even Saudi Arabia, ordinary men and women are rising up against the<i> ancien regime</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Who is to say that I can't do the same?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While the proletariat in Jordan and Saudia Arabia are rising up against their kings, I've committed myself to doing the same. With Twitter, I can lead a revolt against another so-called "benevolent" dictator in my own corner of the world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's right, I'm starting a Twitter Revolution in Liechtenstein. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl6aKNi2voqFobBoM9eEJ7-GICKCesdx5disPA9zkLp7EHgHYMlYd1XcmgWMG9KT6CpOMMj1m1QJFtAyEKxaVBpWOv7n79bgyw29KhCveA3DyKEbpiUw8DAUiVZcio4osIC1HnyFiihE/s1600/iran-twitter-revolution1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLl6aKNi2voqFobBoM9eEJ7-GICKCesdx5disPA9zkLp7EHgHYMlYd1XcmgWMG9KT6CpOMMj1m1QJFtAyEKxaVBpWOv7n79bgyw29KhCveA3DyKEbpiUw8DAUiVZcio4osIC1HnyFiihE/s320/iran-twitter-revolution1.jpg" width="320" /></a>It's time we settled this "<a href="http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CCAQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fadam-elkus%2Freflecting-on-iran-social_b_355448.html&ei=vpRRTfzEGMTEswaal4DiBg&usg=AFQjCNFkOVRfH9-uizUCIdvngHtWGlsEeg&sig2=KkZlgIomTtFIHcJx8GQANg">Twitter Revolution</a>" debate once and for all. And it looks as if Liechtenstein is ripe for revolution. Like Egypt and Tunisia, <a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/social-media-oppression/">it has a high rate of Internet and cell phone penetration</a>. It also has a population that's ready to be rallied around a grievance. After all, let's face it, Liechtenstein's soccer team does suck. And it's not like wars haven't been fought over soccer matches, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_War">right</a>?<br />
<br />
You see, the problem with Neocon doctrine--well, aside from it being strategically inept, morally dubious, and atrociously managed--is that it proposes spreading democracy by force through some of the world's worst regions. Why the hell can't we fight a war in a nation with one of the highest GDPs per capita? Ghost of Leo Strauss, I'm looking at you. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thus, I propose Tweeting ourselves into power in Liechtenstein. We'll put Primoris Era on the throne, too. (Her ancestors were part of the Russian royal family, so it's a good way for us Yanks to get back at the Bolsheviks.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyone wishing to join me can be a high-ranking official in my new government, all for the price of being my crony. Hey, we pay Hamid Karzai to do worse, right?</div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-84313578167406061442011-02-07T02:15:00.002-05:002011-02-07T03:19:16.051-05:00A Twitter Revolution? Not so fast...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lipmantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/mideast-egypt-protest-2010-4-13-14-48-46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://www.lipmantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/mideast-egypt-protest-2010-4-13-14-48-46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Twitter? <i>We don't need no stinkin' Twitter!</i> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In days of yore, dissidents <a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/social-media-oppression/">organized the Tiannanmen Square protest</a> through fax machines. And though <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/opinions/view/opinion/The-Twitter-Revolution-Debate-The-Egyptian-Test-Case-6784">much has been written</a> about the Facebook-organized protests, <a href="http://gigaom.com/2011/01/29/twitter-facebook-egypt-tunisia/">some might even argue</a> that by shutting off the Internet, Mubarak <i>fueled</i> the protests. Lacking up-to-date coverage of events, Egyptian activists had little choice but to leave their homes to join the turmoil on the streets. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">(I was going to entitle this, "The Primary Networks are Social, not Electronic", but <a href="http://www.wired.com/politics/security/magazine/15-12/ff_futurewar">someone apparently beat me to it</a>. Curse you, Danger Room!)</div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-1670791247979436362011-02-07T01:01:00.010-05:002011-02-07T07:35:25.083-05:00Warrior Transition Units don't do wounded vets justice? Who could have forseen this? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKFPEVbayKIfuVD3mcgTbBBG-D67qyERxgV0XNsU_uSVRyaVPnSB2zfARYAjC869E9J0weie1OkL5Di_i8S1ZWNIJHLQEUNzKv2P0sw3lhdkxmg1XExLm-ry42wTpwY-o3sYKNCqTv6s/s400/wounded+warrior.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">(Photo courtesy US Army Public Affairs on Flickr)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Carl Prine has compiled extensive--and damning--<a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_721603.html">research</a> on the <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_721600.html">Army's Warrior Transition Units</a> (WTUs). According to Prine, these organizations, instituted in the wake of the Walter Reed scandal, have merely given rise to over thirty mini-Walter Reeds, in which drug addicts, malingerers and "<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Slick%20Sleeve">slicksleeves</a>" outnumber Purple Heart recipients. In <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_721600.html">a related article</a>, Prine explains that the Army's lax recruiting standards have only compounded the WTU's woes.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: justify;">(But don't just take Carl's word for it. A <a href="http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/06/17/here_s_how_screwed_up_the_army_s_warrior_transition_units_are_genuinely_sick_soldie">certain someone's</a> been <a href="http://www.offiziere.ch/?p=5382">saying this for a while</a>.) </div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Shame on us. We can do better. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-75914975589164927812011-02-06T01:34:00.000-05:002011-02-06T01:34:48.090-05:00100 Years of the GipperBusy writing a piece for Tom Ricks' <a href="http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/">The Best Defense</a>, so posting will be light. I'd be remiss, however, if I didn't at least acknowledge Ronald Reagan's centennial.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YtYdjbpBk6A" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-52136951394471115072011-02-05T00:55:00.000-05:002011-02-05T00:55:55.759-05:00And before I forget, Happy 70th Birthday to the USO<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fjK_TysDwK8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-90808043947427718872011-02-03T14:50:00.004-05:002011-02-03T15:02:05.813-05:00First the Bloodninja, now this?<div style="text-align: justify;">Years ago, I was falsely--I dare say maliciously--accused of being the notorious "<a href="http://wingsoveriraq.blogspot.com/2010/05/chronicles-of-bloodninja-woi-classic.html">Bloodninja</a>". Today, I was accused of something far worse. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You see, gentle reader, I like to post cartoons from the legendary "Doctrine Man" all over my meager cubicle. And when I say "all over", I really do mean just that:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5YWqoT9gXslQ7Gn2TJvXbJHzbZHyayFG8SdU4gOCEZlKQYM-N8aPqSqXOM2m2A8E97skTnfggT-sMUcRd1AZKcKjuMz66GXHpbcXnZALZ3zL5eWf-UFnFRZRMwL_eQF6KgdP1JYBjwg/s1600/doctrine+man+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5YWqoT9gXslQ7Gn2TJvXbJHzbZHyayFG8SdU4gOCEZlKQYM-N8aPqSqXOM2m2A8E97skTnfggT-sMUcRd1AZKcKjuMz66GXHpbcXnZALZ3zL5eWf-UFnFRZRMwL_eQF6KgdP1JYBjwg/s320/doctrine+man+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Truly, this must look like a cry for help from the Army's mental health services.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Upon seeing the menagerie of warped humor adorning my work space, another soldier remarked, "That 'Doctrine Man' guy is hilarious. Did you ever see the video about the FRAGO?"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBYrQVr0_X0">What video about the FRAGO?</a>"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Check this out. You'd like this", he said, typing a few words into Google.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My stomach turned as the video loaded. Like Poe's veritable telltale heart, my Youtube username pulsed and blinked at the bottom left hand corner of the screen.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Hey, uh, this guy has the same name as you. And he says 'FML', just like you."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">My pallor intensified.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Sir, are you the Doctrine Man?"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">"I just make Doctrine Man <i>fan films!</i> I'm no more the Doctrine Man than the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPPj6viIBmU">Star Wars Kid</a> is Mark Hamill. Deal with it!"<br />
<br />
Author's note: For the record, I am not the Doctrine Man. I...just have issues. </div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3293152265787061341.post-63683620567379723902011-02-02T14:45:00.000-05:002011-02-02T14:45:53.758-05:00In defense of realpolitik...<div style="text-align: justify;">I had a number of issues with Dr. Robert J. Bunker's <a href="http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2011/02/realism-idealism-and-us-foreig/">latest piece in Small Wars Journal</a>, in which he proposes that the United States abandon its <i>realpolitik</i> policies, and unequivocally advocate democratic revolution. I won't recount all of my concerns--that's what the SWJ message board is for--but I was somewhat dismayed by Dr. Bunker's misuse of historical anecdote:</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Support of the despotic status quo in the Islamic World is not only morally unacceptable but, more importantly for many of the Small Wars Journal readership, no longer rational from the perspective of realpolitik and purely selfish U.S. interests at home and abroad...</i></div></blockquote><blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>...If nascent and fledgling democracies attempt to arise and, rather than giving them our helping hand, we turn our back on them or worse crush their efforts by backing the corrupt despots they seek to replace, it would set a dangerous precedent for the future. Those democracies will owe us nothing, potentially harbor very strong feelings of animosity, and ultimately may turn their back upon us in our future times of need. Just deeds often reap future dividends—as an American Army officer serving in France during World War I imparted in his utterance, “La Fayette, we are here!”</i></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">An interesting story, but grossly misleading. France did <i>not</i> assist the fledgling colonies during the American Revolution out of shared democratic ideals--the French Revolution was still a few decades away. Rather, the French aided one of the greatest democratic revolutions in history as a result of precisely the very realpolitik Dr. Bunker decries. By fueling a large-scale guerrilla war far from the British mainland, as well as by judiciously allying herself with Britain's strategic rivals, France was able to tie up tens of thousands of troops in the American colonies for over a decade. Thus, a fortune was siphoned off from the British treasury, eventually resulting in the humiliating loss of the American colonies. One can hardly call Louis XVI a champion of democracy.</div>Starbuckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02013102906896853767noreply@blogger.com2