Posted on

Journal: Bribes from US Okay, from Venezuela Not OK

Nicaragua Government Took Bribes From Drug Traffickers, Cable Says December 9, 2010 Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega’s government accepts bribes from drug traffickers, harbors terrorists and attempts to endear itself to Iran, according to leaked U.S. diplomatic cables. By Samuel Rubenfeld U.S. diplomats accused Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s government of taking bribes from drug traffickers in …

Continue reading “Journal: Bribes from US Okay, from Venezuela Not OK”

Posted on

NIGHTWATCH Extract: US, Venezuela, Libya…

Venezuela- US: For the record. The Caracas government seized two factories owned by U.S.-based glass maker Owens Illinois, because it caused “environmental damage and exploited workers,” Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on 25 October. Today Venezuelan soldiers took possession of the factories. Venezuela-Middle East: President Chavez said his government and Libya are creating a $1 …

Continue reading “NIGHTWATCH Extract: US, Venezuela, Libya…”

Posted on

Review: Operation Dark Heart–Spycraft and Special Ops on the Frontlines of Afghanistan — and the Path to Victory

USG Blows It, Makes This a Best-Seller October 5, 2010 Anthony Shaffer EDIT of 7 October 2010 to address the negatives. I can see I need to spell this out more clearly. 1) Let’s distinguish between the book and the heavy-handed (late) censorsorship. The book is an earnest personal effort by an experienced officer who …

Continue reading “Review: Operation Dark Heart–Spycraft and Special Ops on the Frontlines of Afghanistan — and the Path to Victory”

Posted on

Review (DVD): Restrepo

Strong Recommendation from MajGen Robert Scales, USA (Ret) September 27, 2010 Actors: Dan Kearney, Lamonta Caldwell, Kevin Rice, Misha C. Pemble-Belkin, Kyle Steiner Directors: Sebastian Junger;Tim Hetherington General (and PhD) Robert Scales strongly recommended this movie to an audience at the Brookings Institute today. He used it as a backdrop to his official remarks on …

Continue reading “Review (DVD): Restrepo”

Posted on

Review: Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements

Excellent Primer Lacking in Some Substantive Respects July 7, 2010 James DeFronzo There is no question but that this book would be an excellent undergraduate primer, but it is lacking in a number of substantive respects. The shortfalls first: 1. Needs to add understanding and summary of “secret war” and covert action dimensions underlying each …

Continue reading “Review: Revolutions and Revolutionary Movements”

Posted on

Journal: William Polk on Afghanistan Non-Strategy Plus Consolidated Journal, Review, and Reference Links for Afghanistan

William R. Polk recently sent out the attached letter to his distribution list.  It is a very comprehensive and I believe important review of Afghanistan.  I urge you to take the time to read it.  Appended to the end are a series of notes he used in the construction of his letter.   Polk know …

Continue reading “Journal: William Polk on Afghanistan Non-Strategy Plus Consolidated Journal, Review, and Reference Links for Afghanistan”

Posted on

Review (DVD): Unthinkable

Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Sheen Director: Gregor Jordan And Carrie-Anne Moss (Amazon stinks at listing all authors and actors) 5.0 out of 5 stars Astonishing–Riveting–Thought Provoking–Beyond Five Stars May 28, 2010 EDIT of 27 August 2010: The Intelligence Science Board, the top advisory board to the Director of National Intelligence, has just come out …

Continue reading “Review (DVD): Unthinkable”