James Mattis: US Suffers from Strategic Atrophy

Mattis: U.S. Suffering ‘Strategic Atrophy’ By: John Grady USNI News, 14 May 2014 Speaking in Washington, D.C., retired Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis said, “the perception is we’re pulling back” on America’s commitment to its allies and partners, leaving them adrift in a changing world. “We have strategic atrophy.”

Jean Lievens: Can Analytics Save The Earth?

This Earth Day, Let’s Start Using Analytics To Conserve Energy The success of new energy projects relies on one crucial skill: the ability to derive insights from massive amounts of rapidly changing data. That’s why utilities and energy companies are adopting analytics to meet the rising demand for renewable energy from more sophisticated customers.

Chuck Spinney: Maj Paul J. Tremblay, USMC Produces Original Expansion on Ideas of Col John Boyd, USAF — BRAVO ZULU!

EXTRACT from Spinney’s long comment: Attached below is a masters thesis written by Major Paul J. Tremblay,** USMC as part of his study in the Command and Staff College of the U.S. Marine Corps.  In my opinion, Tremblay has produced precisely the kind idea expansion that Colonel Boyd was trying to inspire with his Discourse. …

Owl: TPP A Coup, 23-Count Indictment of TPP as High Crimes and Misdemeanors, UnConstitutional, What’s Not to Like?

TPP: A Bloodless Coup Imposing Tyranny May be Near Upon Us [2015] Richard Martin, an Internet financial radio pundit, sent the text below, written by Joe Firestone, to those on his email list. Note Martin’s key take-away comment on this text: “The governing functions of the TPP regime would not be exercised with the consent …

Chuck Spinney: Stephen Cohen with the Truth on Ukraine — US Government, New York Times, & Think Tanks Cannot Be Trusted to Know or Communicate the Truth…

Part 1 of a two part series — This interview with Professor Stephen Cohen provides a very useful, and I believe largely accurate, portrayal of why our policy toward Russia has gone off the rails and could lead to a 2nd Cold War that is even more dangerous than the first — with one serious omission, IMO.  …

Michael Kearns: Recommended Book “Why Torture Doesn’t Work: The Neuroscience of Interrogation”

Professor Shane O’Mara, Director of the Trinity College – Dublin Neuroscience Lab, is having his new book published. A very powerful message to the Bush OLC Lawyers who looked into SERE technuques… they damage the brain when applied over time. Torture is banned because it is cruel and inhumane. But as Shane O’Mara writes in …