Gold Transformer: Post-US world born in Phnom Penh — But See Also CELAC Etcetera

Post-US world born in Phnom Penh By Spengler Asia Times, Nov 27, 2012 It is symptomatic of the national condition of the United States that the worst humiliation ever suffered by it as a nation, and by a US president personally, passed almost without comment last week. I refer to the November 20 announcement at …

NIGHTWATCH: Analytic Overview of Eight Day Gaza Scuffle

Phi Beta Iota:  NIGHTWATCH is the gold standard for political-military analytics.  We doubt anyone now serving at CIA or DIA could have drafted this in one sitting without references.  Here is the key finding brought forward: This eight-day war is, thus, a turning point because Hamas, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, has proven it can strike …

SchwartzReport: Big Sugar Does a Big Tobacco — True Cost of Sugar to Society

Does Sugar Kill? How the Sugar Industry Hid the Toxic Truth For decades, the industry kept scientists from asking: Does sugar kill? GARY TAUBES and CRISTIN KEARNS COUZENS – AlterNet (U.S.) November 15, 2012 | This article first appeared in Mother Jones Magazine. Get your magazine  subscription here. ON A BRISK SPRING Tuesday in 1976, a pair …

Mini-Me: Jane Harman at CIA? Over Many Dead Bodies + CIA RECAP

Huh? Jane Harman and Israeli Spying Possible New CIA Director Already Politically Compromised by ALISON WEIR CounterPunch, November 14, 2012 It is astounding to find that one of the handful of prospects being floated to become CIA director following the fall of General David Petraeus is a person reportedly implicated in a 2005 Israeli spy …

Marcus Aurelius: Thomas Ricks on Generals “Casual Arrogance”

Combine this with the reporting on toxic leadership (e.g. by LTG(R) Walter Ulmer) and you have the whole picture.  Emphasis added below. Questioning The Brass By Thomas E. Ricks New York Times, November 12, 2012 Pg. 29 Washington–OVER the last 11 years, as we fought an unnecessary war in Iraq and an unnecessarily long one …

DefDog: The 350-Ship Navy (if Mitt Romney Wins)

Came across these references — John F. Lehman, the 600-ship SecNav under Reagan, is one of Romney’s advisors. 2012-11-02  Both Obama and Romney Proposals Don’t Meet Navy Requirements (USNI Proceedings) 2012-10-22  When It Comes To The U.S. Navy, Numbers Matter (John Lehman at MittRomney.com) A strong Navy is not a drain on our economy, it …

James A. Lyons: Admiral, Former PACFLT, Calls for Obama to “Come Clean” on Benghazi

Retired Pacific Fleet commander calls for Obama to “come clean” on Benghazi John Hayward Human Events, 30 October 2012 Retired Admiral James A. Lyons, former commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, published a tough editorial in the Washington Times on Sunday, calling for President Obama to “come clean on what happened in Benghazi.”  Lyons describes …