tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.comments2010-01-07T17:56:49.756-05:00Smart InfluenceRobin J. Walkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18192038071298609079noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-38946724602032668752010-01-07T17:56:49.756-05:002010-01-07T17:56:49.756-05:00It's hard to argue with the role that alert tr...It's hard to argue with the role that alert travelers played in the cases of the shoe bomber and underwear bomber, and such public vigilance is clearly a help to public security. But there's a potential downside, too, in the form of increased general paranoia and racial tensions in public and the rending of the social fabric than can come from having everyone around you be a potential informer. I'd hate to see a rash of false reports for personal vendettas, and brown-skinned passengers with traveler's diarrhea getting regularly tackled by fellow passengers.Tedd Juddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396815655028435271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-75950192807844519982009-11-30T10:12:50.999-05:002009-11-30T10:12:50.999-05:00Robin,
I would treat Scahill's article with ...Robin, <br /><br />I would treat Scahill's article with the same kind of withering analysis that you use for Sy Hersh's. <br /><br />Just a thought, <br />TimTim Hoytnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-67034719022623730112009-11-21T13:44:03.754-05:002009-11-21T13:44:03.754-05:00I commend your realistic approach. If Hersh and ma...I commend your realistic approach. If Hersh and many other like him have picked up the references you made, they should feel sham for their biased approach about Pakistan. I would appreciate if people realistic enough like you should actually write about Pakistan efforts made for non-proliferation and safety and security. Once again I appreciate your efforts, keep it up.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-65728277338548348012009-11-10T23:39:12.320-05:002009-11-10T23:39:12.320-05:00Thanks for the link, Robin. Incredible speech.Thanks for the link, Robin. Incredible speech.Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00240654719021271668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-16614639756416206782009-10-01T13:14:07.929-04:002009-10-01T13:14:07.929-04:00Another link for Natural Security: http://www.cnas...Another link for Natural Security: http://www.cnas.org/blogs/naturalsecurity<br /><br />Thanks for flagging this news Robin! <br /><br />Christine Parthemore, CNASAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-12703542868885406232009-09-19T02:35:30.929-04:002009-09-19T02:35:30.929-04:00The story of this show is very interesting. Its no...The story of this show is very interesting. Its not like other police shows in which cases are closed in one episodes, but in <a rel="nofollow">The Wire tv show</a> a single case investigation is done among many episodes.Spiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04548987976307568785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-78144658486123050522009-08-23T00:49:38.975-04:002009-08-23T00:49:38.975-04:00Hi Robin,
Nice Post.I am in total sync with your ...Hi Robin,<br /><br />Nice Post.I am in total sync with your second wish of having actual metrics to determine the development and stable administration in Afghanistan.<br /><br />Though, America is playing a very active role in Middle East and APAC Regions in order to stabilize and bring peace, but somehow this message is either not reached to the general public or is misinterpretated.The reason i feel for this is lack of clear agenda and objectives.As you mentioned in your post, clear and realistic metrics should be laid down to measure the progress and help the war torn countries return to normalization.<br /><br />Thank you! <br /><br />Warm Regards,Varun<br />Citizen of Republic of IndiaVarunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12152064888223641197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-11011395425305769002009-08-14T18:31:30.325-04:002009-08-14T18:31:30.325-04:00I cringe at the thought of a Peace Corps with guns...I cringe at the thought of a Peace Corps with guns. That would negate its very purpose. The impetus behind the Peace Corps is that it is non-military and solely humanitarian. If O’Hanlon is indeed proposing the idea of a militarized Peace Corps, then this will certainly pose undue threats to non-combatants in the countries and communities in which volunteers live and work. Furthermore, dumping funding into a new entity of the armed forces is a waste of resources and frankly redundant. <br /> <br />While the U.S. is the number one provider of assessed contributions to the UN Peacekeeping budget, comprising 25.6% of it in 2008/2009, it is not even listed as one of the top 20 contributors of uniformed personnel to actual peace keeping missions. South Asia dominates in the number of personnel that it contributes (Pakistan, Bangladesh and India together commit nearly 28,500). Rather than argue for a militarized Peace Corps, O’Hanlon should make a stronger pitch to increase U.S. contributions of uniformed personnel to UN PKOs. <br /> <br />There needs to be a clear distinction between the carrier of the mission and its intended purpose and outcome. While PKOs and humanitarian aid activities are somewhat similar, it’s the service provider who needs to be perceived or protected differently. Rather than argue for a new initiative, we should push for higher contributions to existing institutions. As per O’Hanlon’s suggestion, I disagree and argue that the U.S. doesn’t need a “new type of military unit.”Haley Gallaghernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-85221735122438126422009-08-14T15:17:32.103-04:002009-08-14T15:17:32.103-04:00I think his analysis of the risks is shockingly na...I think his analysis of the risks is shockingly naïve. To wit:<br /><br />"First, those volunteering would understand the risks and accept them."<br /><br />Would they really understand the risks? A brief training stint on some U.S. military base is hardly going to prepare them psychologically for the rigors of potential armed conflict against irregular forces in some remote African jungle. And is the fact that they accept the risk going to mitigate the danger, or placate their families and the American public when some of them are killed?<br /><br />"Second, in most civil conflicts such as Congo's, possible adversarial forces are not sophisticated."<br /><br />It doesn't sound like the personnel we would be sending would be all that sophisticated either. Besides, how sophisticated would the adversary need to be in order to use their own home turf to stage ambushes and then fade back into the jungle? An African firing an AK-47 can kill Americans just as well as any Taliban fighter.<br /><br />"They would largely monitor villages and refugee camps, inspect individuals to make sure they did not have illicit weapons, and call for help if they came under concerted attack."<br /><br />From Neil Sheehan's account in "A Bright Shining Lie" it seems like our troops in Vietnam spent a lot of time trying to monitor villages, and that wasn't always too easy. What if these individuals they're inspecting do have illicit weapons? Are they likely to tamely submit, or fight back? And who are these troops going to call for help when under attack? Isn't the point that we're sending them instead of the regular Army? If they can't stand up in a firefight, what are they even doing there?<br /><br />I don't think this idea has really been thought through, and I concur with Robin that we're better off modifying the training of our current forces than creating a whole new one.Joe Longanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-2622239836768505532009-07-30T09:21:35.387-04:002009-07-30T09:21:35.387-04:00An arms race is just not needed, but the launching...An arms race is just not needed, but the launching of this sub does not help much. Indeed India has shown restraint over the Mumbai attacks, but this restraint only followed extensive U.S. diplomacy and, I believe, an understanding that Pakistan will retailate to whatever surgical strikes were suggested. India Pakistan escalation does not help keep the eye on the ball either.<br />-A.Z., PakistanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-6372091443016912082009-07-29T11:17:22.123-04:002009-07-29T11:17:22.123-04:00Another usual Friedman literary device, the nub, s...Another usual Friedman literary device, the nub, snubbed by The Snarky Republic. <br /><br />http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2009/07/15/the-collected-wit-and-wisdom-of-thomas-l.-friedman_2E00_.aspxMichael Rohrsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-57033839188876884842009-07-28T13:17:40.083-04:002009-07-28T13:17:40.083-04:00Typically myopic article from a westerner(american...Typically myopic article from a westerner(american?). India needs nuclear submarines to give it a good enough second strike capability, more so since India has declared a "no first use" policy w.r.t nukes. India does not need nuclear subs to target Pakistan, it is actually directed at China which is hell bent on encircling India militarily.Chintunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-69933849079985461952009-07-18T19:09:58.328-04:002009-07-18T19:09:58.328-04:00126 is likely to be a mirage for the US for sever...126 is likely to be a mirage for the US for several reasons. France's Dassault already has a contract to upgrade India's Mirage aircraft giving them an inside track. Secondly, India's air force personnel continue to view the US as an unreliable supplier who likely will turn off the spare parts pipeline for policy reasons. Thirdly, the French are better equipped to navigate India's notoriously corrupt defense deals. <br /><br />Also, progress in Indo-US relations is always going to be a slow process spread over years as evidenced by 123 which almost never came to fruition. PSI, climate change etc are issues which often reflexively provoke nationalistic hackles and will also take years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-16052843395456952842009-07-17T17:47:33.969-04:002009-07-17T17:47:33.969-04:00What a great rebuttal to Mr. Riedel's fantasti...What a great rebuttal to Mr. Riedel's fantastic predictions. <br /><br />Mr. Walker, you need to go farther in your analysis and ask the question: Why is Mr. Riedel willing to go to ridiculous lengths on the subject of Pakistan? The article that Mr. Walker referred to ('Armageddon in Islamabad') is not the only piece written by Mr. Riedel on Pakistan that stretches credibility. <br /><br />This is my answer and Mr. Walker I urge you to think about it: There is a concerted and organized effort to demonize Pakistan and whip up a global hysteria over Pakistan. This effort is being played out in the US media, and I suspect that it has the blessing of some quarters of the US government.<br /><br />This hype over Pakistan is coupled with actions on the ground. I am referring to direct terrorism sponsored and organized on the US-controlled Afghan soil and unbleashed inside Pakistan, especially inside the two Pakistani provinces adjoining Afghanistna: Balochistan and the NWFP.<br /><br />Pakistani military officials are reported to have directly approached the US military leadership and specifically Adm. Mike Mullen to complain about recurring and accumulating evidence that shows the involvment of CIA and two Indian spy outfits (R@AW, DIA) in recruiting Pakistanis to lead a separatist insurgency in Balochistan, while recruiting others in the name of jihad, trainging them in Afghanistan and then sending them to kill Pakistanis. <br /><br />You see many reports on Pakistan in the US media based on deliberate leaks. One such report appeared in Pakistan last August in the country's largest English language newspaper. It described a private meeting between American and Pakistani military and intelligence officials, where the Pakistanis accused CIA of fomenting trouble inside Pakistan.<br /><br />It is amazing how the American media completely ignored the story, even though the report mentioned names and places and dates and was reported by a famous Pakistani investigative reporter. <br /><br />You can read the story at this link: <br /><br />http://www.ahmedquraishi.com/article_detail.php?id=694Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466803764718766825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-3585967985305020222009-07-16T15:39:46.966-04:002009-07-16T15:39:46.966-04:00But, but . . . They might be gay!!
And it might im...But, but . . . They might be gay!!<br />And it might imply coming to understand people from more than a "realist" military power perspective!Teddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-91298231715206445992009-07-14T11:49:14.057-04:002009-07-14T11:49:14.057-04:00Why not create an independent PashtunistanWhy not create an independent PashtunistanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-57479753863502198002009-06-26T20:45:04.964-04:002009-06-26T20:45:04.964-04:00Author and Historian Steven Pressfield also writes...Author and Historian Steven Pressfield also writes about Captain Harrison, and the Captain who came before him, and helped develop the relationships with the tribes in Konar Province today.<br /><br />Article is titled: "Gifts of Honor: A Tale of Two Captains"<br />http://blog.stevenpressfield.com/2009/06/gifts-of-honor-a-tale-of-two-captains/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-30304786342596348342009-05-12T11:45:00.000-04:002009-05-12T11:45:00.000-04:00I read all the Ender's Game series as a teenager. ...I read all the Ender's Game series as a teenager. Great stuff. I haven't read any of the Ender's Shadow series that came out later.Robin J. Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18192038071298609079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-26222306502380478122009-05-12T11:00:00.000-04:002009-05-12T11:00:00.000-04:00Have you read Ender's Game or any of the Orson Sco...Have you read Ender's Game or any of the Orson Scott Card sci-fi books?Natalie Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15335443688394663728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-56536669277083580412009-05-12T10:58:00.000-04:002009-05-12T10:58:00.000-04:00Nice analogy to Gumby - quite clever.
NNice analogy to Gumby - quite clever.<br />NNatalie Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15335443688394663728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-7853850839854128592009-04-20T10:52:00.000-04:002009-04-20T10:52:00.000-04:00"the Middle East is a complicated place; the world..."the Middle East is a complicated place; the world is flat/globalization is good; green energy is good/let me tell you about this cool invention I saw; buy my latest book"<br /><br />and don't forget "the airport in Dubai/Hong Kong/Beijing is much worse than the airport in Newark/Chicago/Atlanta"Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01362927653359383540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-62275789953192811122009-04-20T10:46:00.000-04:002009-04-20T10:46:00.000-04:00"The suspected pirates ships stopped and then turn..."The suspected pirates ships stopped and then turned away. The pirates could only lament their littleness befor the vast number of dolphins. The spectacular scene continued for a while."<br /><br />Now that is some objective reporting.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01362927653359383540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-12817507825118811852009-04-15T23:47:00.000-04:002009-04-15T23:47:00.000-04:00“Laugh and refute”: The American mindset
Thanks, ...“Laugh and refute”: The American mindset <br />Thanks, first. <br />While your comment on my article is titled “the Pakistani mindset”, it very much represents “the American mindset” – I must say. Just in the second sentence you share your impulse “to laugh and refute” – what better example we need for it to be anything but “the American mindset”. <br />Sad that laughter and refutation continues even when hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed. And scholars like you call this laughter and refutation as “perspective”. It is “power madness”, in the simplest of the words. <br />While one can feel comfortable even to stop here – thinking what really is the need to respond when the mood on that side of the table is such (“laugh and refute”) whatever criticism comes your way – just a few more words……..!<br />Is it logical to gauge US “aid” to Pakistan in comparison with its defense budget? Pakistan’s GDP is close to 150 bn $, perhaps more, my dear, and that is where the ‘war on terror’ has hit hard – not the defense budget. The ‘defense’ forces in this part of the world are too strong to claim their share even from a teetering economy, same as in the US itself. <br />Yes, Pakistan has WMDs, so does US, and the only example of use of WMDs recorded in history is by the US – no need to mention that. And a country next door to Pakistan named India too has WMDs with which your country has signed the notorious nuclear deal – making a mockery of the non-proliferation, dear “south Asia and proliferation expert”. <br />About the Al-Qaeda, you say that “The leaders of that group are now based just inside the Pakistani border.” First, I must repeat, it is the “intelligence” of the same CIA – so not the word of bible, of course. Even if some of them have managed to escape Afghanistan, the question is whether over 50 thousand US/NATO troops in Afghanistan were “unable” to stop them from doing so or were “not willing” to do the same? The same two conditions Obama set for an attack/operation inside Pakistani territory in his presidential campaign, and you declare him a ‘non war mongering president’. Good. <br />Well, just consider a scenario that US/NATO troops are given free hand to hunt Al-Qaeda in Pakistani territory. Well, on which stone it is carved that after a few weeks, or months, they will not start shouting that “al-Qaeda” has now slipped into Tajikistan, or China next door, and are planning an attack on US from there……!Irfan Shahzadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05142962173581325389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-282792717435741622009-04-13T10:56:00.000-04:002009-04-13T10:56:00.000-04:00The last time there were peace negotiations going ...The last time there were peace negotiations going on between the two countries they were highly classified and only became public years after the fact. What leads you to believe it would be any different this time around? As far as we know they are bunkered up in hotel rooms abroad already. If you need ultimate players hit me up slevin886@gmail.com. <BR/><BR/>ScottScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09519664487286005873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4311597677177027680.post-65514613758314690512009-04-04T22:46:00.000-04:002009-04-04T22:46:00.000-04:00When you're trying to drive the political conversa...When you're trying to drive the political conversation especially as a talking head on TV the easiest thing in the world is to repeat an unsubstantiated rumor and attribute it to "some people." Some people say it's a stupid way to debate real ideas in politics.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01362927653359383540noreply@blogger.com