American EntropyAmerican EntropyA progressive political blog with a focus on foreign affairs. Articles
Links for 2007-11-07 [del.icio.us]
2007-11-08 07:00:00 US focus on 'terror war' sinks image to all-time low: report "The terrorist attacks on 9/11 caused America to become a frightened and angry nation," [the CSIS report] said. "We reacted in ways that alarmed people the world over ... we relied excessively on hard military power to fight the war against terrorists and More About: Links
al Maliki on political reconciliation and benchmarks
2007-11-07 16:34:00 Over the past week or so I've written about the supposed success of Bush's surge strategy. In reality the strategy to facilitate political reconciliation has largely failed, while the tactic of placing more troops between a civil war has been moderately successful. Wow! Who would have thought that? The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) knows this and has said as much recently (.pdf):U.S. efforts lack strategies with clear purpose, scope, roles, and performance measures. The U.S. strategy for victory in Iraq partially identifies the agencies responsible for implementing key aspects of the strategy and does not fully address how the United States would integrate its goals with those of the Iraqis and the international community. U.S. efforts to develop Iraqi ministry capability lack an overall strategy... The weaknesses in U.S. strategic planning are compounded by the Iraqi government’s lack of integrated strategic planning in its critical energy sector. (p.2) ...T... More About: Political , Maliki , Reconciliation , Benchmarks , Al-Maliki
Brown (R-SC) condones Limbaugh's "phony soldiers" remark
2007-11-07 02:29:00 I get letters, I write letters back. Here's a snippet of todays:Dear Congressman Henry Brown , Jr.I've just received and read your defense of shock-jock Rush Limb augh -- a man with "strong ideological leanings" -- regarding his labeling of anti-war soldiers as "phony." Your defense of the pundit is weak and, frankly, embarrassing (at least for your supporters). You claim Rush was speaking of Jesse MacBeth and not any number of soldiers who would question the policies of your party, our president and people who share "strong ideological leanings" such as your own. Well, that's what Fox News 'reported' (possibly stretching the meaning of that word past the max). When Rush first used the name Jesse MacBeth on the 26 September 2007 show, it was nearly 2 minutes after he used the phrase "phony soldiers." In several calls in subsequent minutes and days he continued to use his new attack rhetoric numerous times. For example, in a 28 September 2007 broadcast, Rush expanded his gr... More About: Soldiers , Phony , Done
Links for 2007-11-05 [del.icio.us]
2007-11-06 07:00:00 What is the President's Strategy for Iraq? Iraq still does not have a functional central government. Half of the cabinet has quit and the national government has essentially given up on reconciliation. Moreover, the Iraqi government opposes the Administration’s “bottom up” approach in Anbar Rice Says U.S. Will Review Aid To Pakistan The Bush administration seemed to still be reeling from Musharraf's announcement Saturday and waiting for the rapidly shifting events to settle before making any move beyond expressing strong disapproval. U.S. military aid to Pakistan misses its Al Qaeda target Pakistan has spent the bulk of [the more than $7 billion in U.S. military aid] on heavy arms, aircraft and equipment that U.S. officials say are far more suited for conventional warfare with India, its regional rival. 2.3 Million Flee to Elsewhere in Iraq [Violence goes down when population are segregated. Reconciliation less likely.] Experts: No firm evidence of Iranian nuclear weapons &... More About: Links
"Waterboarding is a torture technique – period"
2007-11-02 00:17:00 Malcolm Nance, an adviser on terrorism to the Department of Homeland Security, Special Operations and Intelligence, was a witness and supervisor to "hundreds" of waterboarding training exercises at the US Navy's Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School. The practice of waterboarding, he concludes, "is a torture technique – period" noting that the practice does not simulate drowning but actually introduces water into the lungs.The practice involves strapping the person being interrogated on to a board as pints of water are forced into his lungs through a cloth covering his face while the victim's mouth is forced open. Its effect, according to Mr Nance, is a process of slow-motion suffocation.The practice Bush administration officials refuse to take responsibility for, despite praising its effects in the field, is thought of by Nance as "controlled death."Posted by Geoff More About: Technique , Torture , Waterboarding , Period
Senator Graham's pea-soup-colored glasses
2007-11-01 15:51:00 Nearly two months ago South Carolina Senat or Lindsey Graham made the presumptuous projection that "[w]ithin the next weeks, not months, there will be a major breakthrough on the benchmarks regarding political reconciliation." Unfortunately Graham's prediction was incorrect.Fast-forward seven weeks to the recently released Government Accountability Office report which notes that legislation promoting political reconciliation between disparate Iraqi sects still has not been passed. Additionally, the report concludes the Iraqi government has not taken advantage of the lull in violence and that hope was dwindling "for achieving current U.S. security, political and economic goals in Iraq."While US politicians and pundits make wild predictions and the US military works hard to make them come reality, senior Iraqi politicians are scoffing at the very idea of political reconciliation. Iraqi press observer Marc Lynch notes that Prime Minister al-Maliki recently "mocked calls for national... More About: Soup , Glasses
Speaking of political reconciliation in Iraq...
2007-10-31 17:28:00 Marc Lynch passes along this discouraging, though not surprising, snippet from the Iraq i press:Speaking of exposed nerves, the Iraqi newspaper al-Zaman reported yesterday that Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki mocked calls for national reconciliation and dismissed those calling for such reconciliation as conspirators. Yes, I anticipate rapid progress on the national reconciliation front. What could possibly go wrong?Indeed...Posted by Geoff More About: Political , Reconciliation , Politic
Death is down in Iraq but the surge is still failing
2007-10-30 23:57:00 It's truelly painful to witness.Our conservative politicians, desperate for something to distract the public from the horrendous reality that is the Republican party, have recoalesced into the shortsighted idiots that caused the occupation of Iraq back in 2002-2003... and the media in large part is right there with them. We have a few months of below average violence and we're on the cusp of victory in Iraq? What planet are you people on? Truth is we've done little there since January and the Iraqis have done less. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released today frames this truism nicely. We've surged and therefore there should be less violence (check!) and political reconciliation (ehhhh!). Who in their right mind would begin arguing that the surge has been a success at this point. To me, it's pretty obvious that we're stuck back in January at the latest. I've heard some conservatives claim that the Democrats will "change their minds" about Iraq. The... More About: Death , Surge , Urge
Cheney joining Colbert as president of SC?
2007-10-30 15:48:00 The Confederate flag issue. Not a big deal to me. I understand the historical and cultural context in which it exists. I'm fine with South Carolinians looking intolerant with that flag on their trucks. I'm fine with the South in general doing the same. It's a free country. I see it as a necessary reminder of who won the Civil War rather than a historical and cultural relic. But for a man who hails from Union territory (Nebraska and Wyoming) to hunt at club in upstate New York (a union state) to that actively embraces that symbol is pretty appalling. And it's probably good politics here in the South. Maybe he's planning to be Colbert 's running mate. Posted by Geoff More About: President , Cheney , Resident
Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week at the CofC
2007-10-23 20:20:00 In you case you didn't know, this week-- the 22 through 26 of October--is Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week here at the College of Charleston and nationwide. This effort is being pushed by none other than David Horowitz, Ann Coulter and others, will crawl out to spew there venom.According to the main site for this project, College of Charleston is on the list of hundreds of schools taking part. So be on the lookout for throngs of college students on the streets in what has been billed as the "biggest conservative campus protest ever." Biggest ever? I guess conservatives don't protest much, but that makes sense. I mean who has time to protest when your engaging in a sodomy session with you frat brothers on your $6,000 leather couch. Or when your already running late for your rat-dogs nail appointment due to the 30 minutes it took to fill your ginourmous SUV with petrol (thanks mommy!). The only reason I've heard of this is because I get a kick out of wing-nuttery. Of course thi... More About: Waren , Rene
The Return of the X-Article and the 'War on Terror'
2007-10-18 16:17:00 Back in August I highlighted an op-ed that explored a strategy meant for the Cold War that could be applied usefully to our current War on Terror ism. The op-ed author was Nick Thompson from Wired's Danger Room and the Cold war strategy (featured in the popular X-Article ) is now known tho be the work of George 'X' Kennan. I should reiterate here once again that this this op-ed, the article I'm going to mention briefly, this post or the post from August is advocating a "wait them out" strategy but rather a strategy that uses inherent weaknesses of extremist ideology against them rather than using policies that strengthen their ranks and confirm their propaganda.This brings us to the 'return' of this policy prescription; this time in next months Foreign Affairs journal (via the WSJ). The author, the centrist Brookings Institutions senior US foreign policy wonk, Philip H. Gordon argues (much like Thompson and Kennan; summarized by WSJ's Robin Moroney)...Islamic extremists will... More About: War On Terror , Return , The Return
Move Over Arctic, Greenland is Melting at a Record Pace
2007-10-09 19:09:00 Numerous climatic events have come to our attention over the last several months in the Northern Polar Regions. The Arctic ice cap is melting at a rate that could make it disappear by the end of this century, or earlier. Late last year an island, once covered in ice, emerged off the coast of Greenland. While the Arctic ice cap will have little if any impact on sea level rise since it's full volume currently floats in the ocean and its displacement is already present, these melting trends may not be limited to the Arctic. That is why the emergence of a previously unknown island due to ice melt is alarming. The melting of the Greenland ice sheet would cause "catastrophic consequences for low-lying countries like Bangladesh and the Maldives" and cities such as London, New Orleans and Los Angeles. In addition to sea level rise, the melting of the ice sheet could affect ocean circulation, global heat transfer and atmospheric circulation. Late last month NASA released a study rep... More About: Move , Pace , Record , Cord
Links for 2007-10-03 [del.icio.us]
2007-10-04 07:00:00 House Passes Bill on Pullout The House, with overwhelming, bipartisan support [377 to 46], voted yesterday to give the Bush administration two months to present to Congress its planning for the withdrawal of combat forces in Iraq. Mac Computers Increase Share Online a new study shows that its Mac computers are gaining market share among Web users. ... According to a report issued Monday by market researcher Net Applications, the Mac's worldwide market share among Web users increased to 6.6 percent in September, compa More About: Links
Links for 2007-10-01 [del.icio.us]
2007-10-02 07:00:00 A job well done By passing with 75 votes a meaningless, non-binding symbolic Senate resolution in favor of the partition of Iraq, Biden managed to simultaneously: infuriate nearly all Iraqis ... ; let Senate Republicans off the hook by allowing them to say that they vote Amendment No. 3017 - A step toward war with Iran Bush/Cheney and the Flatheads can now justify any action against Iran, and they can do it without further resort to Congress. How is this effectively different from the resolutions passed in 2002 which gave Bush the authorities which he is still using? More About: Links
Links for 2007-09-28 [del.icio.us]
2007-09-29 07:00:00 Russia is far from oil's peak "Crude oil and natural petroleum gas have no intrinsic connection with biological matter originating near the surface of the Earth. They are primordial materials which have been erupted from great depths." Addicted to Blackwater the difference between ... a military escort and with guards PMCs. While the soldiers kept her safe, they also did such things as playing cards and drinking tea with local Iraqis. The contractors, by contrast, focused only on the contract. “What they to The man behind the madness Myanmar's monk-led struggle for political change has made global headlines, but the dictator who rules the country with an iron fist, General Than Shwe, 74, is still obscure, often grimly hidden behind dark sunglasses and a military uniform decorated with More About: Links
Lindsey Graham's crystal ball... not so clear
2007-09-29 00:14:00 On 7 September, South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) predicted that "[w]ithin the next weeks, not months, there will be a major breakthrough on the benchmarks regarding political reconciliation" in Iraq. This encouraging pronouncement was made at a friendly gathering at the American Enterprise Institute.Days later while questioning General Petraeus, Senator Graham laid out sobering reality in American blood and treasure the stay the course strategy would cost.So you're saying to the Congress that you know that at least 60 soldiers, airmen and Marines are likely to be killed every month from now to July, that we're going to spend $9 billion a month of American taxpayer dollars, and when it's all said and done, we'll still have 100,000 people there.In the wake of the Petraeus testimony earlier this month, Senator Graham backtracked from "weeks, not months" to multiple months declaring that if the Iraqis "can't do it in 90 days ... it means the major players don't want t... More About: Crystal , Clear , Ball
Links for 2007-09-27 [del.icio.us]
2007-09-28 07:00:00 Somalia: Better Off under Islamic Courts? Somalia's problems? A lot like Iraq's, in fact: a growing Islamic insurgency and a government that lacks consensus. With Mogadishu still wracked by violence 10 months after the fall of the hardline Islamic Courts regime, some observers wonder if the count The bin Laden needle in a haystack the US-led coalition's military and intelligence forces are too over-tasked and spread far too thin to have more than a slim chance of capturing or killing bin Laden and his senior lieutenants. Documents show Israel lobbying to import nuclear material Israel is looking to a U.S.-India nuclear deal to expand its own ties to suppliers, quietly lobbying for an exemption from nonproliferation rules so it can legally import atomic material More About: Links
Links for 2007-09-26 [del.icio.us]
2007-09-27 07:00:00 Iraq suicide bomber kills 25 at Shiite-Sunni meeting As top Shiite and Sunni Muslim leaders broke their fast together in a symbolic show of unity Monday, a suicide bomber struck in their midst... What Defines a Killing as Sectarian? Apparent contradictions are relatively easy to find in the flood of bar charts and trend lines the military produces. Civilian casualty numbers in the Pentagon's latest quarterly report on Iraq last week, for example, differ significantly from those prese More About: Links
Links for 2007-09-25 [del.icio.us]
2007-09-26 07:00:00 Exclusive: Petraeus' Sectarian Death Count Methodology Iran, Israel ratchet up tensions One must wonder about the closed universe that White House officials inhabit, since even a cursory look at the nearly daily threat of attacks on Iran by Israeli officials and pundits leaves no doubt that Iran's reaction has, indeed, been provoked by such The year of unmitigated gloom [D]uring 2007, the US suffered a loss of international authority as a result of the failure to impose order in Iraq. Leaders and groups around the world sought to take advantage or to protect themselves from the consequences of this loss of prestige. Alterman: Iraq Refugees (and my thoughts) The Iraqi refugee problem isn't just about American moral obligations - it needs to be understood as a deep strategic problem shaping both internal Iraqi and regional political outcomes. I don't think there's been enough thought given to the complex ways Israeli air strike did not hit nuclear facility, intelligence official... More About: Links
Bush talks to world leaders
2007-09-25 19:32:00 Blake Hounshell provides the narative:Over the audio system here at U.N. headquarters, I just heard U.S. President George W. Bush greeting Ban Ki-moon, the secretary general of the U.N. This brief encounter, I have to say, confirmed all of my preconceived notions of how Bush interacts with other world leaders. Secretary Ban thanked Bush for attending last night's dinner, to which Bush responded brusquely, "My pleasure." U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.N. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad were a little more gracious, warmly thanking Ban for his hospitality. Perhaps realizing his goof, Bush chimed in with his own word of thanks, then blurted out, "The red snapper was delicious." He then went on to explain why he didn't stay for the whole event, citing an important meeting he had with his daughter, Jenna, who is getting married soon.January 2009, this all changes....Posted by Geoff More About: World , Leaders , Leader
Links for 2007-09-24 [del.icio.us]
2007-09-25 07:00:00 Tzipi Livni Aboutface: Now Against Terrorism [T]he daughter of Eitan Livni, the chief operations officer of the Irgun terrorist organization. Among Irgun's most spectacular operations was the blowing up of the King David tourist hotel in Jerusalem, which killed dozens of innocents (also some British Pentagon Report Gives Lie to Surge Success The report also has two graphics that should make us very suspicious about all the declarations that the troop escalation or 'surge' has significantly reduced violence in Iraq. All mercenaries in Iraq should be subject to UCMJ According to US Code, Chapter 10, Section 805, persons in the following categories are subject to US military law. Yemen to consult investors on nuclear project Yemen will hold talks with US and Canadian investors on funding construction of a nuclear reactor More About: Links
And now we have our own re-education camps
2007-09-19 19:09:00 In front of the VFW, our President bush said:one unmistakable legacy of Vietnam is that the price of America's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens whose agonies would add to our vocabulary new terms like "boat people," "re-education camps," and "killing fields."We'll we've seen the killing fields of Fallujah, Baghdad and Kurdistan.We've seen 21st century version of boat people in the 2 million displaced Iraqis.And now we have our very own re-education camps:The U.S. military has introduced "religious enlightenment" and other education programs for Iraqi detainees, some of whom are as young as 11, Marine Maj. Gen. Douglas M. Stone, the commander of U.S. detention facilities in Iraq, said yesterday.Stone said such efforts, aimed mainly at Iraqis who have been held for more than a year, are intended to "bend them back to our will" and are part of waging war in what he called "the battlefield of the mind." Most of the younger detainees are held in a facility that th... More About: Education , Duca
By Bush's definition, the "surge" has failed
2007-09-14 16:29:00 In George Bush's prime time address to the nation Thursday night he laid out the basic premise of of his escalation strategy in Iraq.The premise of our strategy is that securing the Iraqi population is the foundation for all other progress. For Iraqis to bridge sectarian divides, they need to feel safe in their homes and neighborhoods. For lasting reconciliation to take root, Iraqis must feel confident that they do not need sectarian gangs for security. The goal of the surge is to provide that security and to help prepare Iraqi forces to maintain it.So that's it, the Iraqis need to feel safe. And he's right. But he misses the point that the escalation has not made people feel safer. A recent poll points this out, Marc Lynch summarizes the findings:...The BBC/ABC/NHK survey, conducted in all 19 provinces during August, finds that 70% of Iraqis believe that security has deteriorated in the areas covered by the US "surge", and 11% say it has had no effect. Only 11% say that sec... More About: Definition , Surge , Urge
Architect of "Anbar Awakening" killed in Ramadi
2007-09-13 20:14:00 The big international news this morning was the murder of Sheik Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, leader of the Anbar Salvation Council (a.k.a. the Anbar Awake ning) and a very shady figure (one I wouldn't have placed as much hope as President Bush did in saving Western Iraq and salvaging his Middle East fiasco). This is a obvious inconvenience for the progress made in al Anbar province by Iraqis but hopefully not a death blow. Sure, some will say that this will unite Sunnis against al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) just like the mass killing of hundreds of Yazidi Kurds was to do back in August. It probably wont. Some, led by General Petraeus, will insist that this was AQI. But there is no evidence yet. Similarly, although the culprit of the mass killing of the Yazidis is said to have been killed and was claimed to be a member of AQI, the complexities of Iraq play host to numerous other scenarios. The same goes for todays news. As unpopular as AQI is currently in al Anbar, so is cooperation with... More About: Killed , Architect , Awakening
Ignoring bin Laden equals ignoring a "dangerous terrorist threat"
2007-09-12 14:13:00 On Sunday President Bush's homeland security adviser Frances Fragos Townsend claimed that Osama bin Laden was "virtually impotent," on the run and in a cave. Similar conclusions have been made by Ann Coulter and president Bush. Despite these assertions, highly placed government officials reaffirmed Monday that "Osama bin Laden remained the most dangerous terrorist threat to the United States." Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell told a Senate committee that eliminating the threat of bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders as well as their sanctuary on the Afghan-Pakistan border the United States "number one priority."Furthermore, the US focus on Iraq and the inability of Pakistan to confront al Qaeda and its allies has given bin Laden several advantages. According to U.S., Afghan and Pakistani officials and experts, bin Laden has been able "to secure safe harbor in the tribal area of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan, rebuild al Qaida's inner circle, train a new ge... More About: Equals , Terrorist , Bin Laden , Threat , Dangerous
Republicans move the goal posts again
2007-09-10 15:11:00 We've seen so many goals promoted in regards to the occupation of Iraq. The mission has changed constantly from when it first entered the public conscience to today as we watch the Republicans reset there Iraqi agenda to fit their domestic agenda once again. We know now that president Bush's sole goal is to maneuver into "a position where the presidential candidates will be comfortable about sustaining a presence" so that we "stay longer" in Iraq. He doesn't care about the public will or the soldiers sacrifice. As long as we don't make changes to his failed policies, well that's good enough for him. In order to do this some reality--just enough really and selected conveniently--must be injected at opportune times. This is a long-standing trend with this administration. It began as the disarmament of Iraq. Then when they accepted the--once stated by the opposition--fact that there was nothing to disarm, it was expanded to regime change and freedom. Sensing that this was... More About: Goal , Move , Posts , The Goal
Republicans: Don't listen to Gen. Petraeus!
2007-09-07 18:57:00 I agree, we should give his testimony and the accompanying White house report on the escalation as much credit as the various other reports out currently.But this is really getting confusing for the pro-war crowd. Petraeus is offering the possibility of a symbolic withdrawal (which will never happen) early next year.Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, has told President Bush that he wants to maintain heightened troop levels in Iraq well into next year to reduce the risk of military setbacks, but could accept the pullback of roughly 4,000 troops beginning in January, in part to assuage critics in Congress, according to senior administration and military officials.The response of the Republic an leadership in Congress to the Generals offer?House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio: "It should be off the table." So even if the top General suggests it, it should not be considered. This, to Republicans , is purely political (as well as heartless, dangerous and... More About: Listen
The UBL video and US Politics
2007-09-07 04:06:00 If your browser is open right now then you likely have at least one headline on your homepage or favorite website hinting at an alleged video from the still free Usama bin Laden (UBL). This video, if it comes out, will coincide with the 6th anniversary of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on NY, DC and a failed attack which ended in a deadly plane crash in rural PA. Here are some thoughts on the rational of this event--if it does indeed happen, but still relevant if it doesn't--from the point of view of a man like UBL and his al Qaeda movement at two levels.+ This is at one level, a propaganda ploy for the global jihadist movement.+ For western audiences it has a very different motive. UBL benefits from our occupation of Iraq despite the lack of popularity of al Qaeda in Iraq. Our continued presence there validates his statements and fills his ranks. Therefore UBL's intent is to maintain the status quo there (much like US war supporters, but for different reasons). U... More About: Video , Politics , Politic
Turning military statements into incorrect political rhetoric
2007-09-06 18:12:00 NPRs Guy Raz woke we up this morning with this sobering piece of reporting. I'd highly recommend readers listen to or read this and consider it as we draw closer to Bush's report and Petraeus and Crocker's testimony on the "progress" of Bush's escalation in Iraq.Here's a sample:Here's a few statistics that military officials have cited in the past few days.From Gen. Richard Sherlock: "Overall violence in Iraq has continued to decline and is at the lowest level since June 2006."From Gen. Kevin Bergner: "On a national level, sectarian deaths are about half of what they where in December of 2006."And from Gen. Ray Odierno: "Total attacks are on a monthlong decline and are at their lowest levels since August of 2006."And here's how those statistic translate into political rhetoric.From South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham: "Well, the surge has worked; it's provided a level of security I haven't seen."And from President Bush: "Anbar is a huge province. It was written off as lost.... More About: Military , Political , Statement , Politic , Temen
Moving Goal Posts: The Surge to Anywhere
More articles from this author:2007-09-05 18:26:00 The White House noise machine and their military puppets are really putting the moves on now. As Kevin Drum points out, you can tell when a PR campaign is in process by the "sudden appearance of a raft of articles all telling a remarkably similar story." But the progress we hear is troubling. There's been no political progress at a national level, as we were promised. The security situation is fractionally better and not facilitating reconciliation but working against it. Senior counterinsurgency adviser to Gen. Petraeus Dave Kilcullen admitted as much in one of the first "news" stories of the current PR campaign:The other implication is that, to be perfectly honest, the pattern we are seeing runs somewhat counter to what we expected in the “surge”, and therefore lies well outside the “benchmarks”. The original concept was that we (the Coalition and the Iraqi government) would create security, which would in turn create space for a “grand bargain” at the national l... More About: Moving , Goal , Surge , Posts , Urge 1, 2, 3 |
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