Barackface

Sunday, March 05, 2006

Long War

This terminology is more accurate, it rhymes with the Cold War. It even has its own wall like the Berlin Wall, and that would be the Israeli Wall. There are going to be many facets to this war.

Ultimately it is about peace and democracy.
This war will only end after every country in the Arab world has become a democracy.
There is a clear military aspect to it. The Al Qaeda is well and alive. And it intends hurt, physical hurt. But this is not a traditional army. They are more like guerrillas than soldiers and have to be similarly fought. You can not really reason with them. You can only defeat them. And human intel might be the missing link in the US defense apparatus. Satellites just will not do.
But the primary challenge is not military.
Spreading democracy the progressive way, the non violent way has got to be at the center of all efforts. Instead of demonizing the Arabs in the west, it behooves to see them as the frontline soldiers for democracy for their respective home countries.
It is not just about spreading democracy in the Arab world. It is equally about expanding democracy in Europe and America to make the west more inclusive than it has been.

World War II, Cold War and now the Long War. Each have had clear military components in the lead. This Long War might give an opportunity to instead master a war with communications technology. Because if you don't, you are practically gearing for a hot war with China. I would think that is a total no no. It is America's blessing or curse - depends on how you look at it - that the oldest democracy will have to take the lead on spreading democracy across the planet. And it just might learn to do it the peaceful way.

Obama, Ethics Reform, And White Dems
blac
The Jyllands Posten Muhammad Cartoons Controversy
7 Video Clips: Reinvent The Democratic Party
Pat Robertson Is Sick, Anti-Faith
Race, Gender, Progressive, Conservative Divides
The Spectrum On Gender
Pan American Desi Caucus: Brown Is Beautiful
Nepal Message To Top Democrats
Pentagon, Hexagon
The Israeli Wall Is Wrong, Hillary
Blacks, Hispanics At The Core Of The Democrat Rainbow Coalition
3 Bomb Blasts Each: London, Delhi, Jordan
French Society: No Easy Solutions
Riots In France
Dick Cheney, Nelson Mandela, Howard Dean
The Saudi Royal Family Has Got To Go
Bloomberg: No Mr. Security

The Democratic Party has not yet come around to seeing this war as being of the same magnitude as the Cold War. Heck, even the country at large is only grappling with it. And the anti war wing of the party has not really channelled all that energy into the idea of spreading democracy the progressive way.

The Republican party's mistake is that it overemphasizes the military aspect of the conflict, has failed to restructure the army to better face a non traditional enemy, and has been otherwise poor in terms of executing the decisions it has taken. You could call it sheer incompetence. The Democratic party's mistake is it is not cashing sufficiently on its strength of the tools of grassroots democracy. The anti war wing sounds isolationist. That will not carry the day.

On The Web

"Who Won the Cold War?" by Arnold Beichman
The Claremont Institute: Balancing Act: How We Won the Cold War
Townhall.com :: Columns :: Would Kerry have won the Cold War? by ...

In The News

Is US 'Long War' to replace war on terror? Sify, India
'Long war' is breaking down into tedium Chicago Sun-Times, United States
Pentagon: Washington faces ‘long war’ The Militant, NY
A Leaner, Meaner Military Washington Post Ending the practice of heedlessly moving individual soldiers in and out of units ..... Army has shifted from 11 unwieldy World War II-type divisions to 77 rapidly deployable brigades designed for modern war. ........ The mistake in Iraq was not keeping the Iraqi regular army intact to assume the responsibility of policing in June 2003. ....... a period of dramatic change in which the United States has been simultaneously fighting a global war against Islamic extremists, conducting campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, making preparations to preempt North Korea and Iran if necessary, undertaking strategies to contain China over the next two decades, dramatically changing the structure and rhythm of the Army
A Defense Budget Strategy for Winning the Long War Heritage.org, DC
War on Terror Now the 'Long War' Epoch Times, NY
Reflections on 'the long war' and the resolve required to win it Town Hall, DC
The psychology of The Long War Vermont Guardian, VT
Al-Qaeda's Insurgency Doctrine: Aiming for a "Long War" Global Terrorism Analysis, DC America and the West have not sufficiently appreciated that al-Qaeda, too, is fighting the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan according to a doctrine of its own .... lessons they have learned from Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, Mao, General Giap, and even Ahmed Shah Masood, as well from the training manuals of the U.S. and UK Marines and Special Forces ...... al-Qaeda strategists have discussed all of these matters for years in their Internet journals, but this discussion has garnered little interest in Western essays...... writings discuss the need to conduct the political and military facets of an insurgency in tandem ...... the success al-Qaeda is having in using its doctrine against U.S.-led forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, a success that has prompted U.S. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld to rename the Global War on Terror as the "Long War" and to publicly lament that al-Qaeda is beating the U.S. in the political war being fought in the media........ the "First Axis of Jihad," the axis that requires complete victory over the infidels, a goal that "is not subject to discussion" and which permits "no half-solutions" and "no-bargaining." ...... striving for well-planned actions emanating from a position of collective activity ...... jihad military doctrine is constantly changing, thus denying America the chance to know it well or train its troops on how to confront it decisively and permanently ......... a fundamental working knowledge of planning, administration, security, psychology, sociology, history, geography, politics, strategy, law, education, preaching, and military science, not to mention religious knowledge ...... Islamist forces must be prepared to fight a "long war of attrition," a struggle in which "the enemy of God will feel that it is impossible to finish off the mujahideen's military power." ....... database on each target, as well as every change in enemy movements in all regions ....... "the 1,000-wound" policy of guerrilla war with the goal of prolonging the war to "exhaust" the enemies' patience and resources, and to avoid set-piece battles and attacks on "hardened targets" that would be too costly in terms of mujahideen casualties ...... The Americans love "fixed bases," al-Qurashi argued, and even in the field their combat forces are awkward, with troops who are "highly paid and overloaded with comfort facilities that often restrict their movements."......... American bases are "known and immovable," while those of the mujahideen are "light and movable." ....... the essential interconnectedness of the military and media dimensions of insurgency. ...... "jihad eats up enormous funds" and those funds are "the nerves of the jihad." ...... The insurgency doctrine used by al-Qaeda has been evolving for more than a quarter-century, and is designed to defeat conventional Western military forces. It calls for the group's fighters to be able to fight in the mountains, in desert regions, in maritime conditions, and to be able conduct what Muqrin refers to as "covert action" in urban areas. These multifaceted military operations must be matched by the mujahideen "excelling in their organized media action."
Winning the long war Enter Stage Right, Canada
General Explains Why Iraq is the 'Long War' Human Events

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Thursday, March 02, 2006

Obama, Ethics Reform, And White Dems

This has been Obama's first major undertaking in the US Senate, this ethics reform business. His fellow Dems prodded him to that end. Take the lead, Barack. And he did. He made an attempt at bipartisanship that got a little complicated. McCain thanked Obama for disabusing him of some illusion, Obama called him "cranky." Then they went back to getting along.

People notice both Obama and Hillary are oustandingly talented people. And they think it is individual achievement. I don't think so. I think it is about race and gender. Because it is so hard for the Obamas and the Hillaries of the world to break up the glass ceilings, only the very best make it into the white male bastions like the US Senate. No wonder they are so outstanding.

I call it the vertical degrees of separation thing. When someone sees me for the first time without knowing nothing about me, that person sees an Indian. And all these images of India flood in that person's mind. For some it is exotic, or things they know or don't know about India, or Indians they have met, known, befriended, read about, to others it is a quick trip to stereotypeland, or their slip into their blind spots on India. And then you say hello, make small talk, the first few sentences are probably about India. Are you from India? I was born in India. And the fog slowly lifts, and you move on to the personal level. You move from the collective to the individual. This is in a casual setting.

Then there is the question of valency, bonding. Say you are in a room with 99 other people that are representative of America, both in terms of race and gender. Nobody knows noone else. And you are locked up for an hour. Who will you gravitate towards? Your valency for people who might share your race and gender might be larger than for those not so.

And then bring in the vertical degrees of separation thingie. Your immediate social circle is level 1. (A Few Diagrams)

Say for Obama the US Senate if floor 4, and the White House floor 5. Unless at least 51% of the American electorate coalesces around Obama for the fifth floor, he is not getting there. That coalescing might be meritocratic. Down the line Obama might successfully sell himself as the person best prepared to take care of your interests. Or it could be a coalescing of people who are actually open minded on race enough to see Obama for who he is and what he has to offer. It might even be a coalescing of people who get to cleanse themselves of their sins from their racist pasts by coming around Obama.

Martin Luther King confronted physical segregation. Obama confronts social segregation, and glass walls and ceilings. So far it is looking good, actually great.

How would you like to barack your world? (Take It Back: Film) So when finally Obama runs for the top job, it will be as much about Obama as America.

In The News

Senate Considers Independent Ethics Office Houston Chronicle, United States
Update 2: Senate Panel Rejects Ethics Office Forbes
Senate Considers Independent Ethics Office Houston Chronicle, United States
2 Top Senators Seek an Agency Policing Ethics at the Capitol New York Times, United States
Lobby reform off to tepid start Monsters and Critics.com, UK
Senate panel moves to lessen lobbyists' role San Francisco Chronicle, USA
Senate panel approves of more disclosure on travel, earmarks Seattle Times, United States
Attempt to eliminate medical coverage stalls Salt Lake Tribune, United States
Panel Calls for Greater Disclosure From Senators Over Lobbying Los Angeles Times, CA
States Offer Grim Look at Curbing Corruption Los Angeles Times, CA
Congress needs bold steps Robertson County Times, TN

Obama takes on ethics reform, and Democrats are watching San Jose Mercury News, USA
Senators take steps toward agreement on ethics reform Chicago Tribune, United States
Illinois lawmakers say 'bribe menu' may fuel reform Peoria Journal Star, IL
A Day After Harsh Letter, McCain and Obama Enjoy Civil Phone Call Los Angeles Times, CA
Prelims: Obama, McCain et al take steps towards lobbying pact Chicago Sun-Times, United States
McCain: Obama is partisan in approach to lobby reform Quad City Times, IA

On The Web

Obama for Illinois
Barack Obama - US Senator for Illinois
Barack Obama - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Profile: Barack Obama

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