Chuck Spinney: The United States of Confusion and Disorder

The United States of Confusion and Disorder Descent into Chaos by FRANKLIN C. SPINNEY COUNTERPUNCH, WEEKEND EDITION NOVEMBER 1-3, 2013 The US exit strategy from Afghanistan is emerging …. and the picture is not pretty. Nevertheless, it is a revealing microcosm of what now passes for governance in the United States of Confusion and Disorder. …

Marcus Aurelius: Gala for CINCSOC Brings Out Many Failures

Without comment.  PBI should assign appropriate headline. Washington’s Intelligence Community Comes Out For a Gala “Spy” Prom The annual OSS Society Donovan Award dinner honored Adm. William H. McRaven By Carol Ross Joynt Washingtonian “Capital Comment,” 28 October 2013 No one in the ballroom came right out and shouted, “William McRaven for elected office!” but …

4th Media: Putin Trying to Build & Secure Rail Link through DPRK + High-Speed Rail RECAP

Putin Trying to Build & Secure Rail Link through DPRK(aka, “North Korea”) for Moving Goods between Asia and Europe Putin is inching closer to his goal of turning Russia into a major transit route for trade between eastern Asia and Europe by prying open North Korea, a nuclear-capable dictatorship isolated for half a century. Russia last …

Sreeram Chaulia: Russia-China-India “Strategic Triangle”

A new power triangle The relative decline of America’s military, economy and soft power has led to new possibilities for restructuring leadership. Russia, India and China have been grasping at these new horizons. The Asian Age, 22 October 2013 Two back-to-back diplomatic summits this week between India and Russia, followed by India and China, are …

‘A study of how do you know anything in Afghanistan’: An Interview with Weston Prize-winner Graeme Smith

‘A study of how do you know anything in Afghanistan’: An Interview with Weston Prize-winner Graeme Smith Hannah Moscovitch Random House, October 21, 2013 The author of The Dogs Are Eating Them Now talks with playwright Hannah Moscovitch. EXTRACTS: Partly, it’s just that in any war—but especially a place as alien as Afghanistan—you have to …

LtCol X: CSA Sends – Strategic Priorities for the Army – with Phi Beta Iota Comments

Please note Army Chief of Staff General Raymond T. Odierno‘s updated strategic priorities for the US Army, arranged in five (5) categories. PDF Slide Show: CSA Strategic Priorities vFinal 16Oct13 From those, here is an extract . EXTRACTS: [DOWNSIZED ARMY; EXPEDITIONARY] – Downsize, transition, and then sustain a smaller, but ready and capable Total Army …

4th Media: US and Saudi Responsible for Chemical Weapons in Syria?

Top US and Saudi Officials Responsible for Chemical Weapons in Syria Evidence leads directly to the White House, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey, CIA Director John Brennan, Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Bandar, and Saudi Arabia´s Interior Ministry. The Strategic Situation, leading up to the Use of Chemical Substances in the Eastern …