Journal ISSN 1078-1935 – Page 2038 – Public Intelligence Blog

FA is normally pap but this one stands out.

Generation Kill: A Conversation with (General) Stanley McChrystal

Foreign Affairs, March/April 2013

Read full article online (requires registration)

FA: What lessons did you learn in your Iraq and Afghanistan tours?

SM: In Iraq, when we first started, the question was, “Where is the enemy?” That was the intelligence question. As we got smarter, we started to ask, “Who is the enemy?” And we thought we were pretty clever. And then we realized that wasn't the right question, and we asked, “What's the enemy doing or trying to do?” And it wans't until we got further along that we said, “Why are they the enemy?”

On drones:

SM: And although to the United States, a drone strike seems to have very little risk and very little pain, at the receiving end, it feels like war. Americans have got to understand that. If we were to use our technological capabilities carelessly–I don't think we do, but there's always the danger that you will–then we should not be upset when someon responds with their equivalent, which is a suicide bomb in Central Park, because that's what they can respond with.

And further on:

SM: The whole point of war is to take care of people, not just to kill them. You have to have a positive reason that protects people or it's wrong.

And also:

SM: But if you go back in history, I can't find a covert fix that solved a problem long term.

Continue reading “DefDog: General McCrystal Shows His Mind…”

2013/02/242013/02/24

Anthony Judge: Scrutinizing the Cardinals by Educational Disciplines

Civil Society

Social Science and Natural Science Disciplines of Catholic Cardinals

Analysis of the educational background of those engaged in the selection of the new Pope

Explanation

The election of a successor to Pope Benedict XVI in March 2013 raises the question as to the range of “disciplines” which might be called upon (or valued) by the members of the College of Cardinals, namely by those cardinals recognized as being allowed to engage in the selection process.

The following table is an extract from that presented in Wikipedia (Sortable list of living cardinals). For this purpose, the list has been sorted by ascending age in order to enable exclusion of those members of the College of Cardinals who cannot engage in the electoral process of the Papal Conclave.

Read full overview and see complete table.

Below the line: Cardinals of interest to Phi Beta Iota.

Continue reading “Anthony Judge: Scrutinizing the Cardinals by Educational Disciplines”

2013/02/242013/02/24

Marcus Aurelius: Sequester Primer

Corruption, Government, Ineptitude

Rough summary of sequester. From numbers, does not appear equally split between defense and non-defense. W/R/T federal employee pay cuts, approx 791,000 DoD civil servants are facing an approximately 8.33 percent pay cut (like a fine for doing absolutely nothing wrong) by way of 22 furlough days off between mid-April and 30 Sep. IMHO, both Congress and White House have failed to do their jobs.

Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Sequester Primer

By Dylan Matthews

Washington Post, February 24, 2013, Pg. 7

EXTRACT (Remix Alpha Sort Added)

Will any programs actually end?

Nope. The sequester cuts discretionary spending across the board by 9.4 percent for defense and 8.2 percent for everything else. But no programs are actually eliminated. The effect is to reduce the scale and scope of existing programs rather than to zero out any of them.

What notable programs get cut?

Continue reading “Marcus Aurelius: Sequester Primer”

2013/02/242013/02/24

Berto Jongman: Endocenes as Ground Zero in Anthropocene Impact on BioSphere

01 Agriculture, 06 Family, 07 Health, 09 Justice, 11 Society

Global assessment of the state-of-the-science of endocrine disruptors

Detailed Table of Contents and Preface

Book is Free Online

1.1 Purpose and Scope of Document

The last two decades have witnessed growing scientific concerns and public debate over the potential adverse effects that may result from exposure to a group of chemicals that have the potential to alter the normal functioning of the endocrine system in wildlife and humans. Concerns regarding exposure to these EDCs are due primarily to 1) adverse effects observed in certain wildlife, fish, and ecosystems; 2) the increased incidence of certain endocrine-related human diseases; and 3) endocrine disruption resulting from exposure to certain environmental chemicals observed in laboratory experimental animals. These concerns have stimulated many national governments, international organizations, scientific societies, the chemical industry, and public interest groups to establish research programs, organize conferences and workshops, and form expert groups and committees to address and evaluate EDC-related issues.

Continue reading “Berto Jongman: Endocenes as Ground Zero in Anthropocene Impact on BioSphere”

2013/02/242013/02/24

1 March 2013 Geoergetown University, Washington, DC Colloquium on Genocides and War Crimes

06 Genocide

Colloquium on Genocides and War Crimes, Georgetown University

Posted by Eze Eluchie on February 20, 2013 at 10:00pm
View Blog

Join us for the 1st International Colloquium on Genocides and War Crimes scheduled for McDonough Hall, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington DC. on Friday, 1st March 2013. From 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Diplomatic representatives of countries impacted by these crimes, Survivors of mass atrocities from diverse countries across the world and globally renowned experts in the field of Genocides, War Crimes and Health Law will converge to analyze the consequences of denial of genocides and mass atrocities; the impact of these global scourge on humanity; means of identifying where a repeat is likely to occur and what can be done to prevent such re-occurrence. The Colloquium will further explore into the health consequences of mass atrocities on the victims and their descendants. Confirmed Speakers at the event include: the Ambassadors of Armenia, Rwanda, and Montenegro, Genocide Survivors from the Jewish Holocaust, Biafran and Cambodian genocides and internationally renowned experts in the fields of genocides, Health Law such as Prof’s. Herbert Ekwe-Ekwe, Greg Bloche and Gregory Statnton.

This will mark the very first time [sic, not correct] survivors of genocides and like atrocities, experts in the relevant field and repr4esentatives of governments across the world directly impacted by Genocides and war crimes and crimes against humanity will be converging to chart a path towards early identification and management of situations which might metamorphose into genocidal attacks.

Continue reading “1 March 2013 Geoergetown University, Washington, DC Colloquium on Genocides and War Crimes”

2013/02/242013/02/24

Marcus Aurelius: Utah Sheriff’s to White House – Our Loyalty Belongs to Those Who Elected Us

09 Justice, 10 Security, 11 Society, Ethics, Law Enforcement, Officers Call

Download Single Page Slide: 2013-02-24 Utah Sheriff Letter

Phi Beta Iota: BRAVO ZULU Huazzaah to the Utah Sheriff's. Oath Keepers is doing its job. This is law enforcement ethics at its best. We must all transfer our money to local credit unions and community banks, and being by-passing the federal government's corruption (as well as state and local corruption), and work to reassert the sovereignty of the individual citizen and the security and prosperity of the individual neighborhoods. Resilience is the goal, intelligence with integrity is the method.

2013/02/24

SchwartzReport: Corrupt and Inept US Government Allows Rampant Food Substitution and Mislabeling — As High as 52% — California and New York City the Worst

03 Economy, 06 Family, 07 Health, 09 Justice, 10 Security, 11 Society

Today's issue is a selection of the many stories I have found showing the results arising from the efforts of the Theocratic Right to shape the world as they wish it. I want to be clear that this is only a selection. I could have picked 10 other stories.

Because many of these efforts are either esoteric assaults on regulatory agencies, or programs at the state level, and they get little national discussion, I don't think most people quite realize how pervasive these efforts have been.

This all gets down to voting. All of us who want our country to choose a compassionate and life-affirming course must not only vote, we must take on the responsibility of counseling and assisting others of like mind to vote.

We have to take this very seriously.

— Stephan

ONE STORY ONLY:

Seafood Fraud Study By Oceana Reveals Widespread Mislabeling Nationwide

Oceana, an international ocean advocacy group, has released a report on national seafood fraud [pdf], and the results are disconcerting. The report, which is one of the largest on seafood fraud to date, found that one-third of fish was mislabeled.

Oceana performed DNA testing from 2010 to 2012 on 1,215 fish samples from 674 retail outlets in 21 states. In this study, Oceana found seafood fraud everywhere it tested, with rates hitting as high as 52 percent in Southern California. Here are the full results:

Continue reading “SchwartzReport: Corrupt and Inept US Government Allows Rampant Food Substitution and Mislabeling — As High as 52% — California and New York City the Worst”