Forget the criminal this is lethal

This Rolling stone article by Michael Hastings shows the abuse of power and misappropriation of resources by a Lt Gen William Caldwell, a high ranking US military officer. This article should cause outrage not at Hastings as Abu Muqawama has deemed appropriate nor the lightening of significance of Lt Gen Caldwells actions as Ricks has done. It should send shivers, sweats, outrage, through the military community operating in Afghanistan. It also should lead to investigation and/or immediate removal of the Gen from a command position.

Where I'm from the military is supposed to fight and win wars. The military does not like that it is loosing this war to what was once viewed to be a far inferior enemy, and in many way such as access to technology and size of force is unquestionably inferior to this day. That however does not give it the rig
 ht to its own facts nor permission to conduct illegal activities. H
 ow they view the difference between “its working give me more" and "we need more to make it work" as profound enough to conduct illegal activity to hammer this point home causes me confusion. That said what I do know is when a commander decides that it is appropriate to use psy-ops (regardless of what they want to call them today) to manipulate and skew the facts to leaders of the coalition it destroys those leaders ability to make informed decisions. Whether it was done for personal gain or because the commander believes he can achieve his mission with more

2006 Hezbollah Israel war unclassified examination

We were caught unprepared. That is putting it lightly.

Just a rant

It seem to me that American control over the main stream media has no bounds. The original self censorship of the Egyptian uprising should be a serious cause for concern. However disconcerted that was it seems trivial to what has become a call for an uprising in Iran.

The Iranian green movement is a far cry from a domestically created organization. It is more or less a creation of ex patriots (many left with the Shah), special interests, and covert interference. Support and financing come primarily from the US and UK governments and their friendly “NGOs”.

This movement has all the trademarks of an organization that can be appealing to mass audiences. The green of the green movement is a color. The color has significance to the people of Iran however it is still   color. Colors don’t hold a great deal of significance thus they don’t alienate anyone.  

The call for change is wildly un-descriptive. Yes we here democracy but there are no democracies in the world, nor will there be one in Iran. There are democratic forms of government but the notion of democracy as a system of government would mean that all the leaders of government and every institution would be selected by the people. It is unfathomable that any state could operate under those conditions.

American Allies

FP’s list of “Americas most embarrassing allies”

Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen
King Abdullah II of Jordan
Yoweri Museveni of Uganda
Nursultan Nazarbayev  Of Kazikstan
Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam

Alternet list if the more pointedly phrased “Worst Dictators the US is backing".
Paul Biya of Cameroon
Gurbanguly Berdymuhammedov, Turkmenistan
Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Equatorial Guinea
Idriss Deby, Chad

These they argee on, presumably making them “the worst and most embarrassing dictators the US is allied with and backing”
King Abdullah of saudi Arabia
Meles Zenawi of  Ethiopia
Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan

McCain on Tehran Times?

Strange;

While Tehran is making it quite clear it wants Mubarak gone seeing a Fox interview with john McCain in the Tehran Times took me by surprise. This is a guy who started to sing "Bomb Iran" (link to Dark humor clip caused by his speech). His take on this seems more distinguished stating "The US has to come down on the right side of history" on this.

Article run-down;

1, Mubarak has to go (There doesn’t seem to be any other course of action.)
2, ME most dangerous time since US involvement (The area is in a great transition. US has dominated region with autocratic governments and the people are fighting for self determination..... Capitol flight from gains made in the recent economic neo-liberal period is in the hands of a very few and is a huge risk. This risk, almost certain to materialize, could further exasperate the economic problems of the region. etc etc etc
3, He worries the Muslim Brotherhood would "hijack the elections." (There is some legitimate risk of a political coup to form a theocracy, unlikely to happen. Mostly just code for the Egyptian people will vote for people he doesn't want them to. US image is terrible in ME and is it going to find its relationship change with a democratic government, many Egyptians despise the US. Geo politics will continue to play an important role and is likely to be a moderator of emotion. However if allegiance were to decisively switch to another

Legitimacy in Palestine

With legitimacy related unrest in the region the Palestinian Authority, ruled by Fatah, has announced plans to hold elections very soon. Protests had spread into the territories only as “solidarity protests” with the anti mubarak protestors in egypt. In Gaza Hamas allowed the “solidarity protests” to take place while in the PA controlled West bank Fatah led security forces cracked down. Hamas has many reasons to allow these protests to take place legitimacy being the most profound of them.  The Palestinian authority has moved to bolster its legitimacy, having already served long past its elected term, by calling for elections. The legitimacy of these elections being "fair" will depend on a number of issues.

1, Many of Hamas supporters in WB have been detained and subject to tribunals that prescribe little or no rights to defendants (recently 289 have been detained). If political detainees are not released it may have implications on how the legitimacy of the elections.

2, The Palestinian Commission on Human Rights stated in relation to the PA crack down on Egyptian solidarity demonstrators that "The Palestinian Authority should immediately make clear that its ‘state-building’ training of security forces does not include beating peaceful demonstrators," Without freedom to associate

Instead of "Frank" convos who ever Frank is

"We've been asking for reforms" Aparently we've always been the good guys according to Hillary. It might be a tough sell to protestors when we have and continue to support their enemy. They had the internet until a couple days ago, they might be briefed on the matter.


FP Tom Ricks posts this from this Blogger.
1, Support the protestors (Hearts & Minds)
2, Suspend aid to rulers (might not want to leave a vacume)
3, Ask Egyptians for friendship. Offer economic aid (Pro; include new market, it will build bonds to have assets there to help rebuild (hearts & minds), corps are great for intel and influence... Con; it'll be hard to do, there is risk involved in trying, for those risk averse force protection folks at home it's a tough sell )
4, Food aid, they will need it (They would be less inclined to "Bite the hand that feeds them". I'd be patient and take a few hits before committing to over throwing them (see Iran 1941).
5, Warn their neighbors about interfering (Protect them)

From my last post;
5,  The real 1^st in this case and critical in any;  Prevent outside backing Interference (not that they would get much anyways); Islamic forces will take over scare, better the devil you know (US), if I  they go down

Egypt puts a glove on the fist

High Speed Counter Insurrection

1, Scare them by dominant position "meet the fist with a club". Show of force ”We have organization and weapons, you don't”. “Take the square" for a physiological and territorial conquest.
2, Give them no sanctuary; Put security forces in civilian cloths, use mercenaries, and use gangs. (The who’s
 who problem with the insurrectionists and it gives diplomatic cover internationally), disperse/displace, cut off food/water/communication lines, and remove every element of safety/hope (looting, riots, lethargic army, no police, and a general feeling of vulnerability).
3, Split them; Pro government forces are already using anti US and Islamic slogans. (Whose protest is this?)
4, Kill and jail those who won't quit and the rest get apathy.

Then the many are reoccupied by the few. The most brutal get metals, money, and don’t go to jail for these

Domino

Following on the news that President Mubarak will reform Egypt King Abdullah of decrees himself Jordans reformer, after sacking cabinet (sound familiar?).

Yemeni President won't seek new term.

Calls for protests in Syria.

2 cents; Well the domino theory has gained some prestiege.

Out comes unclear.

Info Monopoly

Must read

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/tunisia-egypt-miami-the-importance-of-internet-choke-points/70415/

Pretty brief summery so my only comment is; "If Egyptians can overcome their apathy with monopoly can we not do the same."

See previous post on the "military technology congressional complex” here.

Egypt 2-1-2011

Freedom of the press is gone. Freedom of speech highest ever.
Freedom to communicate with the outside world gone. Freedom to assemble highest ever.

Control over security forces, both Gov and Military.
Control over military, neither Gov nor Civilian.

Government is paralyzed fading autocracy leaning toward military junta? Future unclear.

Why We Flattened Afghanistan?

Flynn is flyin high! http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/02/i-flattened-afghan-villages/#more-39714

Is 49,200 pounds of bombs an apropriate method for IED disposal. The US military says the answer is yes. Force protection at its finest? They have no idea how to fight this war? This is so far lost that are troops are loosing their minds?

(LT Col Flynn called together Tarok Kolache’s malek and the other area residents to let them know that he was planning, essentially, large-scale demolitions. (((however)))“We didn’t show them a plan and say, ‘We’re going to destroy everything in the village, is everyone OK with that?’” he says.) Hmmm wonder why not?