Blog Posts
SWJ Blog is a multi-author blog publishing news and commentary on the various goings on across the broad community of practice. We gladly accept guest posts from serious voices in the community.
2. Russia, a whole country run like The Sopranos only with less charm and public spiritedness.
3. Iran, such manifest dips***s that even their neighbours want them dead.
Much more at Kings of War.
Christmas Boxes in Camp, 1861
Harper's Weekly, January 4th, 1862
Merry Christmas from Small Wars Journal
U.S. Approved Business With Blacklisted Nations - New York Times
U.S. Defends Permits For Deals In Sanctioned Nations - Reuters
Hazaras Gain Clout in Disputed Afghan Elections - Washington Post
Forces in Afghanistan Face New Threat From Iran - FOX News
U.N.: Number of Civilian Casualties in Afghan War Rises 20% - Washington Post
Another Christmas in Kabul - New York Times opinion
As Pak Drone Strikes Increased, So Did Assassinations - Washington Post
Taliban Launch Attacks Along North Pakistan Border - BBC News
Mumbai Manhunt for 'Four Lashkar-e-Taiba Militants' - BBC News
U.S. Makes Yemen Assistance Top Priority - Voice of America
Wide Saudi 'Loopholes' Let Charity Funds Slip to Terrorists - Washington Times
China's North Korea Shift Helps U.S. Relations - New York Times
War Rhetoric Rises Between North and South Korea - Associated Press
2 Injured in Rome Bomb Blasts at Swiss, Chilean Embassies - Los Angeles Times
White House Orders DoD to Cut $78B Over 5 Years - Defense News
Continue on for today's SWJ news and opinion links.
U.N. Envoy Says Taliban Realize They Can't Win - Associated Press
Taliban Insurgents Prepare to Attempt `Spectacular' Attacks - Bloomberg
U.S. Medicines for Afghan Soldiers Disappear - Associated Press
China Seen Defusing Korea - Wall Street Journal
South Korea Begins New Round of Military Drills - New York Times
New Iraqi Cabinet Holds First Meeting - Voice of America
Iraq's North Seen as Next Trouble Spot - Wall Street Journal
Southern Iraqi City Eyes Break From Baghdad - Associated Press
Iran Opposition: 'Dark Future' Awaits the Economy - Associated Press
S. Sudan: A New Nation, to be Born of Scars - Los Angeles Times
Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26 - New York Times
Congress Bars Gitmo Transfers - Wall Street Journal
WikiLeaks Founder Takes the Offensive - New York Times
U.S. Military Pushes U.N. Back Over Manning Treatment - FOX News
Obama Signs 'Don't Ask' Repeal Bill - Washington Times
Continue on for today's SWJ news and opinion links.
Summary conclusion
It is a vital national security task for the United States to maintain a forward presence in the Indo-Pacific region in order to protect freedom of navigation in the region's sea, air, space, and cyber commons and to maintain the credibility of its partner security relationships. Yet the current "protectorate" approach employed by the United States, centered on large military bases in the region, is rapidly becoming obsolete. A major component of the solution to this problem will be a stronger U.S. program to build partner capacity in the region. Such a program would include, but also extend well beyond, security force assistance directed against insurgency and irregular warfare threats.
A "full spectrum" regional security force assistance strategy would buy broader access to the region for U.S. military forces, an improvement on the current vulnerable basing plan. It would create additional capacity with which to share the burden of policing the region's commons. This strategy would help develop positive norms of behavior for all countries in the region which benefit from the commons. Finally, a "full spectrum" regional security force assistance strategy would provide an organizing principle for the U.S. government's overall strategy for the region and would include significant roles for all of the military services, the Department of State, U.S. country teams across the region, and many other agencies of the U.S. government.
Click through to read more ...
Afghan Government Disbands Dozens of Private Security Firms - VOA
Covering Marines at War, Through Facebook - New York Times
NATO Denies U.S. Plans Ground Raids into Pakistan - Los Angeles Times
U.S.: North Korea Must Change Behavior Before Talks Can Resume - VOA
South Korea Begins New Round of Military Drills - New York Times
After Months, Iraqi Lawmakers Approve a Government - New York Times
Iraq's Maliki: Strongman or Merely Strong? - Washington Post
U.S. Tightens Sanctions On Iran - Voice of America
U.N. Chief Warns of Ivory Coast War - BBC News
International Court Rules Against Mexico's Army - Los Angeles Times
GOP Senators Help Arms Pact Clear Hurdle - Washington Times
CIA Launches Task Force to Assess Impact of Cable Leaks - Washington Post
Is Combat Experience Making Ranger School Unnecessary? - Stars and Stripes
Potential Recruits: Nearly 1 in 4 Fails Military Exam - Associated Press
Colleges Rethink ROTC After 'Don't Ask' Repeal - New York Times
Continue on for today's SWJ news and opinion links.
BLUF: "In recent weeks, many American writers, such as former Washington Post correspondent Tom Ricks, have advocated some form of national service program, whether military, or a combination of military and civil service. While a national service program is beyond the scope of this document, it's safe to say that America's All-Volunteer Force serves the US best, based on America's social, political, strategic, and military policy. Though the All-Volunteer Force is not without significant flaws, it's the best choice for the United States. Nevertheless, we would be wise to take notes of the limitations of such a force. It's a smaller military, and can be prone to overstretch. It also requires a significant investiture of money and time to grow a well-trained force. Finally, and most importantly, an All-Volunteer Force is often "out of sight and out of mind" for many Americans. Taking steps to rectify this particular issue won't be easy. But it's safe to say that a draft isn't the proper way about it. For now, America's All-Volunteer Force, despite drawbacks and the stress of two wars, is the right force for America's defense."
Cohen is also cunning in arguing that gays should join a Marine Corps that, in his judgment, should dismiss its own leaders. His column is a clarion call to incite the very divisiveness the legislation was intended to expunge. That is a sure way to cause chaos and anger -- and increase readership by slyly encouraging controversy of the Jerry Springer style. Cohen's screed has already rocketed around the military-related web sites.
The best way to treat a bigot is to ignore his opportunistic self-promotion. Let the Washington Post correspondents who risk their lives alongside Marines deal with Cohen and his warped journalistic ethics.
(Richard Cohen, Marine Corps commandant has to go, Washington Post, Dec 21, 2010)
Continue on for the executive summary with individual article links.
Life and Death Decisions Weigh on Junior Officers - New York Times
Gauging the Price Tag for Afghanistan's Security - Washington Post
Waste In U.S. Afghan Aid Seen At Billions Of Dollars - Reuters
NATO Fails to Deliver Half of Trainers Promised for Afghanistan - Globe and Mail
AF Gov.: West Hasn't Adequately Armed Afghan Forces - Los Angeles Times
Afghanistan's Belated, Muted Criticism of War Review - Washington Post
Pentagon, State Blasted on Kyrgyz Jet Fuel Deals - Washington Post
U.S. Military Seeks to Expand Raids in Pakistan - New York Times
ISAF Denies News Report Of Raids Into Pakistan - Reuters
Iraqi Prime Minister Announces Cabinet Choices - Voice of America
Maliki Postpones Iraq Government Plans - Washington Post
North Withholds Fire After South Korean Drills - New York Times
North Korea Makes Some Gestures Toward Calm - Washington Post
Russia Warns Senate Not to Amend Arms Control Treaty - New York Times
Jane's: Economy Squeezes Armies Worldwide - United Press International
Continue on for today's SWJ news and opinion links.
Read the entire paper here.
South Korea called the North's bluff and the North folded its hand, at least for now. The South boosted its leverage in several ways. First, it evacuated civilians on the island and in other forward locations. Second, it waited for clear weather and put F-15 fighter-bombers in the air, presumably in preparation for counter-battery strikes against North Korean artillery positions. Finally, about 20 U.S. soldiers participated in the exercise as observers, or more accurately as "trip-wires" for a U.S. retaliatory response against the North. The North's leaders likely concluded that in this case they did not possess escalation dominance. The North has exposed itself as a bluffer and will have to run much greater risks in the future to reestablish its reputation for ferocity.
This weekend's drama was a breakthrough for the South Korean government.
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Militants Kill Afghan Soldiers in 2 Attacks - New York Times
Taliban Show Reach, Kill 13 Afghan Troops - Associated Press
Allawi Comments Boost Iraq Government Prospects - Washington Post
Infighting Delays New Iraq Government - Reuters
Cleric's Anti-U.S. Forces Poised for Gains in Iraq - New York Times
U.N. Security Council in Emergency Talks on Korean Tensions - VOA
U.N. Fails to Take Action on Korea Tensions - Associated Press
Seoul Undertakes Effort to Measure North Korea's Longevity - Washington Post
South Korea Conducts Live-Fire Drills Near the North - New York Times
Iranian Police on Alert as Government Cutbacks Begin - Voice of America
Islamic Sudan Envisioned if South Secedes - New York Times
U.N. Refuses to Pull Troops from Ivory Coast - Washington Post
12 Men Arrested in U.K. Anti-terror Raids - BBC News
'Hundreds of Protesters Arrested' in Belarus - BBC News
New Details Reveal More About Problems Assange Faces - Wall Street Journal
Continue on for today's SWJ news and opinion links.
Person of the Year: SSGT Salvatore Giunta - New York Times
Twin Attacks Target Afghan Security Forces - Los Angeles Times
In Arghandab, Standing Guard While Government Takes Root - Stars and Stripes
Reassuring Hands: Crew's Urgent Flight Into the Afghan Desert - New York Times
Naming of CIA Agent to Cause U.S.-Pakistan Friction - Los Angeles Times
U.N. Security Council Emergency Meeting to Discuss Korea - Wall Street Journal
South Korea Plans to Proceed with Military Drill - New York Times
Politics in Iraq Casts Doubt on a U.S. Presence After 2011 - New York Times
Iraqi PM to Name New Cabinet Monday - Voice of America
Iraq's Main Sunni Bloc to Participate in Government - Washington Post
Mexican Drug Cartels Find Youths to be Easy Prey - Los Angeles Times
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez is Granted Decree Powers - Washington Post
Swedish Police Report Details Case Against Assange - New York Times
Obama Promises START Treaty Won't Limit Missile Defense - Washington Post
Senate Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' - New York Times
Continue on for today's SWJ news and opinion links.
BLUF: "...the recollection of the 'easier' operations of the 1990s, and of the principles derived from these experiences, is deeply flawed and that the requirements for effective third-party engagement in war-to-peace transitions will, whatever we call them, reproduce many of the challenges and requirements encountered in Afghanistan and Iraq. Problematically, these requirements and challenges tend to exceed the ambition and desire to intervene of most European nations."
The post is an offshoot of a recent article, Peace-building after Afghanistan: Between Promise and Peril, by Dr. Ucko that was published in Contemporary Security Policy.
Pakistani Role Is Suspected in Revealing U.S. Spy's Name - New York Times
Top U.S. Spy in Pakistan is Removed after Threats - Washington Post
CIA Recalls Pakistan Station Chief After Named Publically - Los Angeles Times
U.S. Official Expresses Confidence in Pakistan - New York Times
Mullen: Eliminating Pakistani Safe Havens is Key - Washington Post
2011 to 2014: What a Difference Momentum Makes - National Review opinion
5 Ways to Win the War in Afghanistan - Foreign Policy opinion
Mexican Leader's Crime Effort Fails to Advance - New York Times
U.S. Will Take Part in South Korea Live-fire Drill - Stars and Stripes
U.S.: 'No Justification' for N. Korean Response to S. Korean Exercises - VOA
Ivory Coast Tense Amid Political Showdown - Voice of America
Global Pressure Grows to End Ivory Coast Impasse - Associated Press
Iraq: Maliki to Name Iraq Government Monday - Reuters
From WikiLeaks Founder, a Barrage of Interviews - New York Times
Pentagon Denies Mistreating WikiLeaks Suspect - Associated Press
Continue on for today's SWJ news and opinion links.
Here is the latest edition of my column at Foreign Policy:
Topics include:
1) A different kind of small war in Korea?
2) Two intelligence reports mean more Afghan headaches for Obama
A different kind of small war in Korea?
This week, South Korea's government took steps to prepare the country for a military confrontation with North Korea. Artillery batteries practiced their gunnery and the country had its first serious civil defense drill in decades. Within the next few days, the South promised another artillery exercise from Yeonpyeong Island, the island the North shelled for an hour on Nov. 23. Should the South carry through with this exercise, Pyongyang made its own promise, a riposte "deadlier than what was made on Nov. 23." The mood in the South has hardened -- another round of six-party talks is out, military preparation and air raid drills are in.
After two unanswered provocations by the North -- the attack on Yeonpyeong and the sinking of the warship Cheonan -- the South's political leaders have concluded that it now pays to be tough and have promised retaliatory airstrikes for future Northern attacks. This change in attitude has consequences for Obama administration officials, who would surely prefer not to be drawn into an armed skirmish. U.S. officials likely agree in principle with a tougher policy toward the North. Much less agreeable to them is letting the South Korean government determine by itself how to retaliate after the next provocation. The United States will want to demonstrate that it is a reliable ally, while also maintaining control over its own fate. How the U.S. government manages this dilemma during a fast-moving crisis remains to be seen.
On Dec. 13, the South Korean army sent its artillery forces into the field for a workout, conducting gunnery exercises at 27 sites. Much more important was a nation-wide civil defense drill on Dec. 15, the first such serious drill in decades. 300,000 police and Civil Defense Corps members mobilized for the 20-minute exercise, herding pedestrians and schoolchildren into bombs shelters and subway stations while South Korean fighter jets buzzed overhead. Eleven million South Koreans participated in the exercise. In addition, the government plans to spend $45 million next year on new bomb shelters. Given Seoul's vulnerability to North Korean artillery fire, a South Korean threat of retaliation previously lacked credibility. Seoul's renewed commitment to civil defense has bolstered the credibility of its new retaliatory policy.
Click through to read more ...
Afghanistan and Pakistan Review Roundup - Small Wars Journal
Japan Announces Defense Policy to Counter China - New York Times
Japan Defence Review Warns of China's Military Might - BBC News
Beijing Says Japan Making Irresponsible Remarks - Associated Press
South Korea Practices for Worst-case Attack - Washington Post
As Richardson Visits, North Korea Assails South - New York Times
Mexico Summoning Interpol's Aid to Catch Outlaw Lawmaker - Washington Post
More than 12,000 Killed in Mexican Drug War This Year - Los Angeles Times
Ivory Coast Protests Turn Deadly - Voice of America
Assange Free From Prison, Back to Leaking Secrets - Associated Press
Continue on for today's SWJ news and opinion links.
From the opening:
"Specific components of our strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan are working well and there are notable operational gains. Most important, al-Qa'ida's senior leadership in Pakistan is weaker and under more sustained pressure than at any other point since it fled Afghanistan in 2001. In Pakistan, we are laying the foundation for a strategic partnership based on mutual respect and trust, through increased dialogue, improved cooperation, and enhanced exchange and assistance programs. And in Afghanistan, the momentum achieved by the Taliban in recent years has been arrested in much of the country and reversed in some key areas, although these gains remain fragile and reversible.""While the strategy is showing progress across all three assessed areas of al-Qa'ida, Pakistan and Afghanistan, the challenge remains to make our gains durable and sustainable. With regard to al-Qa'ida's Pakistan-based leadership and cadre, we must remain focused on making further progress toward our ultimate end state, the eventual strategic defeat of al-Qa'ida in the region, which will require the sustained denial of the group's safe haven in the tribal areas of western Pakistan, among other factors. And in Afghanistan, we are confronting the inherent challenges of a war-torn nation working to restore basic stability and security in the face of a resilient insurgency that finds shelter in a neighboring sanctuary. More broadly, we must continue to place the Afghanistan and Pakistan challenges in larger and better integrated political and regional contexts."Read the entire overview here.
Update
Obama: Significant Progress In Fighting al-Qaida, Taliban - Voice of America
Obama Says U.S. 'On Track' to Achieve Goals in Afghanistan - Washington Post
Obama Cites Afghan Gains as Report Says Exit Is on Track - New York Times
Uncertainty Marks Review on Afghanistan, Pakistan - Los Angeles Times
Obama Vows to be More Relentless than Taliban, al Qaeda - Washington Times
Pacifying Afghanistan 'a Very Difficult Endeavour,' Obama Says - Globe and Mail
Afghan War: Obama Says Mission Difficult But On Track - BBC News
Afghanistan Review: Obama Announces 'Significant Progress' - Daily Telegraph
Obama: U.S. on Track in Afghanistan, Issues Remain - Associated Press
U.S. War 'Review' Leaves Decisions for Later - Agence France-Presse
Afghan Report Exposes a Split Over Pullout Timelines - New York Times
U.S. Struggles to Root Out Militants in Pakistani Madrassa - Washington Post
'Ratlines' Threaten White House Afghan War Plans - Associated Press
Mullen: Taliban Hideouts Can Be Shut Down - Associated Press
U.S. Wants Pakistan Tribal Invasion, But Will Wait - Reuters
Taliban Reject Obama War Strategy Review - Associated Press
Germany Will Begin Afghan Exit Next Year - New York Times
Netherlands: Gov. to Seek Approval for New Afghan Mission - Associated Press
Afghanistan in Progress - Wall Street Journal
Review Analysis: Fighting is the Easiest Part of the War - Daily Telegraph
Analysis: White House Struggles for Silver Lining in Afghanistan - Toronto Star
5 Things The Afghan War Review Didn't Say - NPR
Chairman Says Afghanistan Strategy, Resources Now Match - AFPS
Pentagon Spokesman Addresses Strategy Review, Budget - AFPS
Petraeus: All Strategy Aspects Contribute to Progress - AFPS
U.S. Official Expresses Confidence in Pakistan - New York Times
Flournoy: U.S.-Pakistan Relations 'Central' to Fight - AFPS
Pakistani Role Is Suspected in Revealing U.S. Spy's Name - New York Times
Top U.S. Spy in Pakistan is Removed after Threats - Washington Post
Obama's Remarks on the Strategy in Afghanistan - New York Times
The Afghanistan Review - New York Times editorial
Reality in Afghanistan - Washington Times editorial
On Borrowed Time - New York Times editorial
5 Ways to Win the War in Afghanistan - Foreign Policy opinion
Wishful Thinking? - Washington Post opinion
2011 to 2014: What a Difference Momentum Makes - National Review opinion
Winning in Afghanistan - Los Angeles Times opinion
Why We Must Stick with Obama's Afghan Strategy - Washington Post opinion
Another Tet? - Washington Post opinion
Mission Impossible in Afghanistan - Los Angeles Times opinion
All's Not Well in Afghanistan - Washington Times opinion
The Afghan Money Pit - Los Angeles Times opinion
Obstacles to Leaving Afghanistan - New York Times opinion series
Pakistan: Tug of War on Insurgents - Washington Post opinion
Bonus
Andrew Exum's Afghanistan trip reports can be found here, here, and here.
Briefing by Director of Policy Planning Dr. Anne-Marie Slaughter and USAID Deputy Administrator Donald K. Steinberg on Release of the First Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR).
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton:
"The QDDR is a blueprint for how we can make the State Department and USAID more nimble, more effective, and more accountable, a blueprint for how our country can lead in a changing world through the use of what I call "civilian power" -- the combined force of all of the civilians across the United States Government who practice diplomacy, carry out development projects, and act to prevent and respond to crisis and conflict."Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review - Executive Summary (pdf)
Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review - Full Review (pdf)
Town Hall Meeting on the Release of the First QDDR - Press Release
Clinton Announces State Review Stressing Conflict Prevention - Washington Post
Clinton Pledges Bigger Role for Besieged State Department - New York Times
Clinton Unveils State Department's QDDR - Foreign Policy
Clinton Unveils Blueprint for America's Diplomatic Arm - CNN News
Clinton Presents Plan to Overhaul State Department Operations - Bloomberg
Clinton's Vision for Foreign Policy on a Tight Budget - Christian Science Monitor
Clinton Proposes Revamp Of Diplomacy, Development - NPR audio/transcript
Update
Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellows Laurie Garrett, Yanzhong Huang, Isobel Coleman, and Paul Stares weigh in on the effectiveness of the QDDR's provisions.
The Center for a New American Security says the QDDR is "a positive step forward but execution is critical". Visit this page at CNAS for more on the QDDR and their resources on "leading through civilian power".
More recap at Foreign Policy - Josh Rogin here and P.J. Aroon here.
I was wondering what my grandfather felt when he drank in small rural pubic houses not too far away from here. (Not "too far away" in American standards, of course, not English. The English seem to think 20 miles is a long distance. I know Texans who will go 100 miles, one way, for a high-reputation Barbeque joint. Split the difference for my mid-western sensibilities.)
My grandfather was a bomber pilot in the US Army Air Forces, and in particular in the 8th Air Force. He flew B-17s, and perhaps B-24s. He and his men learned to fly in America, then trained some more here, and then fought from here, in World War Two.
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