Summary: In this second chapter of “On Counterinsurgency” Martin van Creveld describes the two methods of crushing insurgencies. We have tried neither; we might lack the capacity to use either method. Note that both successes were, like almost all defeats of insurgencies, done by governments fighting domestic insurgencies. As the first phase (Iraq, Af-Pak) of …
Summary: Today Tom Hayden briefs us on the situation in Syria, about what’s happening — and what might happen soon. Civil wars are the worst type of warfare. However, we are not implying that there is such a thing as “good warfare.” There are only good causes. In Syria we have a situation much like …
Summary: This news story might be important. Or fake. Either way, it illustrates hidden dynamics in the Middle East and provides a useful lesson — how the Internet can help us sift through the morass of information to find the useful gems of information. “When I was sixteen, I went to work for a newspaper …
Some excerpts from “Intelligence Guidance: Week of 27 July 2008”, Stratfor, 25 July 2008 — This is one of the things Stratfor does best, so attention should be paid. (1) U.S.-Iranian talks: The United States has given Iran until August 2 to respond to the latest – and most serious – offer of cooperation. Iran is holding out …
I strongly recommend reading these articles, especially the first one. This story remains a mystery to me, and the US government’s assertions do not make sense (imo). Contents I. “More on Syrian Reactor Bombing“, posted at Informed Comment (27 April 2008) — The author is anonymous, but the reasoning appears valid. II. “Syrian Nukes: the …
