tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post104847380256906642..comments2024-03-28T06:22:23.961-07:00Comments on CONTRARY BRIN: The GOP vs. the U.S. Military: Part Six- Purging the Officer Corps, Indoctrinating the RanksDavid Brinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-19370326538969637412007-10-03T22:04:00.000-07:002007-10-03T22:04:00.000-07:00The fundamental to remember is one word. Accounta...The fundamental to remember is one word. Accountability.<BR/><BR/>If you and your friends plan to steal a great nation blind, you must ruin accountability. That means increasing secrecy, crippling the FBI and auditing agencies, granting "emergency" contracts that aren't supervised, distracting the people with war.<BR/><BR/>A divided people won't look at the national leaders because they are at each others' throats.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-25619027181447948032007-10-03T21:50:00.000-07:002007-10-03T21:50:00.000-07:00Why weaken the American military? One reason might...Why weaken the American military? One reason might be that they're in the pocket of Saudi Arabia, which, far from being a natural ally of the United States, is basically North Korea but with oil.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-90337351327255758412007-10-03T21:35:00.000-07:002007-10-03T21:35:00.000-07:00Haha, if I don’t make sense it may be because we h...Haha, if I don’t make sense it may be because we have such a difference in our knowledge of the matter at hand. I am not very knowledgeable, but I am trying to learn. Would you like to help a fledgling such as myself to understand?<BR/><BR/>I try to break things down into parts which may cause me to lose the big picture at times. I would contribute the grow related to those early wars as an effect of restructuring our industry and training our population in engineering and management. Perhaps this is not the case. Another reason for our growth might have been the acquisition of spoils of war. But they don’t include that in the videos I’ve seen.<BR/><BR/>I will agree whole heartedly that this war has been mismanaged and has harmed the US. Unfortunately I also think that Bushies, as you call them, created the situation by focusing on their interests rather than the country’s. Halliburton, Big Oil, and many domestic political assignments have benefitted from this.<BR/><BR/>Let me summerize my thoughts with a part of your last line. “A man whose central aims are to divide us and to help [his] rich backers.” I do not understand why he would want to divide us. I just haven’t seen any arguments which approach this. I’m open minded though, do you have a post/essay or the like that can explain the (twisted) logic of it? “And to help his rich backers” is something which definitely rings true to me. I believe this is the tragedy of the situation. He is looking after his people rather than the United States of America. I could accept him giving advantages to them as corruption/favoritism will always be somewhat present in man. <BR/><BR/>The problem is he is indifferently, blatantly doing it at the great expense of the Country.<BR/><BR/>My goal in the above post to try to illustrate my lack of understanding for why you believe he actively wants a weak military. Heh, I fear I’ve asked you to explain neocon dogma.Eodarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09397605812582416268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-65098669512532058362007-10-03T15:17:00.000-07:002007-10-03T15:17:00.000-07:00Vietnam deeply weakened America, its military and ...Vietnam deeply weakened America, its military and our society.<BR/><BR/>Can you name for me another war that had that effect? We emerged from the Civil War a titan. From WWI a great power. From WWII the masters of the world.<BR/><BR/>The difference? Those others united us, were led by men whose GOAL was to unite us. ANd who asked the rich to pay and the poor to volunteer. <BR/><BR/>Vietnam was a divisive-stupid, pointless, wasteful land war of attrition in Asia.<BR/><BR/>ALas, there is not a single para of yours that makes sense. The common people DO sign up, and keep volunteering, if they believe in a war. But blue America loathes this disaste, led by a man whose central aims are to divide us and to help is rich backers.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-88700580208128307192007-10-03T14:36:00.000-07:002007-10-03T14:36:00.000-07:00Hi David,Forgive me if all of these comments are n...Hi David,<BR/><BR/>Forgive me if all of these comments are not directly related to Part Six. I just recently discovered your blog and will try to get future comments associated with your posts.<BR/><BR/>It seems reasonable to me that any prolonged military conflict would net the following things…<BR/>Reduced Interest in joining the Armed Forces. Thereby lowering requirements or increasing the cost of replacements.<BR/>Reduced Ability to counter other Threats while involved in existing ones.<BR/><BR/>Is it not fair to say all large conflicts (wars) destroy Armies naturally? This natural grind can be countered with Glory, Cash, a draft, and no doubt other methods I’m not thinking of.<BR/><BR/>Regardless the main effects which you describe seem natural to me. The problem being a Commander in Chief who created the situation without good cause and is willing to allow them to continue indefinitely. <BR/><BR/>We don’t have a good reason for being there other than cleaning up the mistake of being there. (Please counter this if I am mistaken) Remaining there continues to lock our forces. It is bad for National Defense and Disaster response. <BR/><BR/>You seem to argue that he wants a weak America, but this is hard for me to buy. It certainly doesn’t follow from this line of thread. I would say instead that he is willing to drain the resources of the country while it bolsters the strength of the ‘neocons’. It isn’t a war on the military so much as indifference/minimalizing of the situation.<BR/><BR/>Can you help me understand what I’m missing? I’m rather certain I’m not as well informed as you.<BR/><BR/>Respectfully,<BR/>EodarkEodarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09397605812582416268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-8522710762427250622007-10-02T19:44:00.000-07:002007-10-02T19:44:00.000-07:00http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQ6MiELLp8fFhwG...http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gQ6MiELLp8fFhwGT9y-Ri-p6o6QwD8S16LD80<BR/><BR/>At last --- some guts.<I><BR/><BR/>Three senior House Democrats proposed an income tax surcharge Tuesday to finance the approximately $150 billion annual cost of operations in Iraq, saying it is unfair to pass the cost of the war onto future generations.<BR/><BR/>The plan, unveiled by Reps. David Obey, D-Wis., John Murtha, D-Pa., and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., would require low- and middle-income taxpayers to add 2 percent to their tax bill. Wealthier people would add a 12 to 15 percent surcharge, Obey said.<BR/><BR/>The plan's sponsors acknowledged the tax measure is unlikely to pass, but Democrats have been seeking in recent weeks to contrast the approximately $190 billion cost of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars with the $23 billion increase that Democrats want in domestic programs.</I>David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-15682087108252996622007-10-02T00:42:00.000-07:002007-10-02T00:42:00.000-07:00Speaking of Adm Mullen and the FBI...http://news.b...Speaking of Adm Mullen and the FBI...<BR/><BR/>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7023230.stm<BR/><BR/><I>The new top military adviser to US President George W Bush has said he wants to prepare the military for challenges beyond Iraq and Afghanistan.<BR/><BR/>...Meanwhile, the FBI is to investigate US security firm Blackwater over the deaths of 11 Iraqis last month.<BR/><BR/>US politicians are also to question the company's chairman about the incident.</I><BR/><BR/><BR/>(Why these topics get lumped into the same article isn't clear!)Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-39817190858478958442007-10-01T21:31:00.000-07:002007-10-01T21:31:00.000-07:00http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/iranre...http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/downloads/iranreport.pdf<BR/><BR/>If these researchers are on target (and I do believe they overstate the efficacy of US military technology) the third carrier issue may be a moot point. (though apparently we're at another overlap point this month with 3 in the region)<BR/><BR/>I'll grant though, that Admiral Mullen is definitely one of the good ones, and many praises to Gates for rolling back the Rumsfeld purge as best as he can. Though whether there are 2 or 3 carriers won't matter if Cheney gets this attack approved, as Mullen is obligated to follow orders if they come down. His potential resignation has likely been anticipated, and I'm sure there's some overly ambitious orthodox lacky waiting in the wings.<BR/><BR/>Agreed on the necessity of getting these reforms to start with the FBI and CIA, as they're the ones who have more freedom to bend the rules and undermine illegal actions. It is far easier, if nothing else, for someone to whistleblow at one of these agencies and survive with a career after they're done. (Michael Scheuer comes to mind) A tad hard once you're in the active military to protest, as they've ways to deal with anyone who breaks ranks -see Watada, who still languishes in limbo last I checked.<BR/><BR/>Which leads to my main question in this discussion - how to actually effect the necessary institutional changes? It is immensely difficult to create and sustain a complex institution, and probably equally as difficult to reform one once entrenched. What procedures and mechanisms can we begin to create to promote dissent from the party line within the CIA and FBI, in order to cushion the first martyrs and turn them into rallying points? And once the support exists for reform, how to insulate the changes from the control of the neocons and their reflections on the left (Lieberman, et. al.)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-77907578519708334112007-10-01T20:42:00.000-07:002007-10-01T20:42:00.000-07:00Please go view my version at:http://www.dailykos.c...Please go view my version at:<BR/>http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/1/175911/992<BR/><BR/>and post a comment, if only to up may rangings!David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-40891171196189097462007-10-01T20:19:00.000-07:002007-10-01T20:19:00.000-07:00Andrew, why do you think Mullen absolutely refused...Andrew, why do you think Mullen absolutely refused to send a third carrier battle group into the Persian Gulf?<BR/><BR/>Whereupon, he was promoted!<BR/><BR/>Proof that there really are heroes who are fighting for us, right now! Things have been said, ultimatums exchanged. There is a quiet war going on, right now, as some of the professionals fight back on our behalf.<BR/><BR/>Oh, but what can the military do, in the long and short of it? The REAL wakening has to be at the FBI and CIA. Somehow, they have to start behaving as if -- <B>as if</B> - their agencies have been suborned and taken over by enemies, at the top. <BR/> <BR/>Only by instituting the right protocols for such an event...<BR/><BR/><B>...even if it isn't quite true...</B><BR/><BR/>...can they step back far enough to examine the range of big picture possibilities. Trace the patterns of influence. Spot the blatant signs of one or more corrupted (or blackmail-turned) associates. <BR/><BR/>Even if this has not happened in an all-pervasive and top directed way (the "manchurian " scenario) is almost certainly has happened on a point-by-point basis. With many of their politically appointed superiors either knowingly in cahoots or else troglodytic-dogmatic thugs. <BR/><BR/>Either way, the effect has been to undermine society's very immune system of open accountability. <B>What we are experiencing is the societal equivalent of AIDS, in which our defense organs and cells were the ones attacked first!</B><BR/><BR/>Individually and in small groups, the FBI and CIA and other professionals must start a rapid slog back uphill, tracing the patterns and exposing the filth. For in a democracy, as Justice Brandeis said, <I>the greatest medicine is always light.</I>David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-41208429291838993122007-10-01T18:47:00.000-07:002007-10-01T18:47:00.000-07:00The Hersh report is here:http://www.newyorker.com/...The Hersh report is here:<BR/><BR/>http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/08/071008fa_fact_hersh<BR/><BR/>(Hence my comments on targetting the guard rather than the enrichment plants)<BR/><BR/>It also features a disingeneous riposte to the 'what if Clinton had done this?' argumentTony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-14129006618213957052007-10-01T17:34:00.000-07:002007-10-01T17:34:00.000-07:00http://www.newyorker.com/Ach, the previous link fa...http://www.newyorker.com/<BR/><BR/>Ach, the previous link failed. Headline article as of today (10/1) Also posted on RealClearPolitics. Must read, IMO, though a tad off topic for this post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-10622875511882065632007-10-01T17:32:00.000-07:002007-10-01T17:32:00.000-07:00Yes, God Bless the USN - until we invite a counter...Yes, God Bless the USN - until we invite a counterattack on our forces in the Gulf, perhaps as they transit Hormuz.<BR/><BR/>If Hersh is to be believed, the Navy may get in its own version of quagmire in the near future.<BR/><BR/>http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/10/08/071008fa_fact_hersh<BR/><BR/>We may see the birth of a new form of insurgency - but this time at sea. Sea denial in the form of hidden Silkworm anti-ship missiles fired unpredictably, and terrorist strikes coming from speedboat swarms. I begin to give more credence to your argument that maybe, just maybe, someone in this administration is actually TRYING to destroy the military.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-72679408748374572772007-10-01T17:30:00.000-07:002007-10-01T17:30:00.000-07:00If you want to nourish your paranoia, I'd ask whos...If you want to nourish your paranoia, I'd ask whose nukes are being decommissioned?<BR/><BR/>Talking of tin foil, my 'surprise' scenario now looks like this:<BR/>- a 'surgical strike' at Iran, targetting not the nuclear facilities but the 'Terrorist supporting' Revolutionary Guard.<BR/>- a botched raid incurring blood debt on both sides. (Nothing like unfinished business...)<BR/>- the administration hands over the driving seat with the controls smashed and jammed on 'war'. If Cheney is any sort of visionary, his plans don't necessarily leave him at the top, just close enough to guide. ('We are very patient' saith the Drakh, and so was Sideous... Ooh! It all sounds so much like SF, no wonder no-one believes it!)<BR/><BR/>And, *if* you can pin a botched coup attempt on all those retired generals who won't shut up... hmm, didn't Palpatine do that too?Tony Fiskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14578160528746657971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-11663391110148599242007-10-01T15:03:00.000-07:002007-10-01T15:03:00.000-07:00I thought that we already had more than enough nuk...I thought that we already had more than enough nukes to effectively destroy the world, so we could get rid of lots of them and it wouldn't matter?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-47345732090885537012007-10-01T13:01:00.000-07:002007-10-01T13:01:00.000-07:00I am about to cross post this on Kos. ANy comment...I am about to cross post this on Kos. ANy comments suggestions before that? I guess you guys are getting tired of the topic and I do wax on too much. But there are so many aspects.<BR/><BR/>*<B>Here's a piece of news.</B> The Defense Department just anoounced one program that is <I>actually ahead of schedule. The dismantling of US nuclear weapons under the final U.S. Russia arms reduction protocols.</I><BR/><BR/>Now, normally, that would be just fine. Okay, I was all in favor of the START process and I'm glad to see at least one defense-related program actually move ahead efficiently, under this administration, instead of spiralling into delays, inefficiencies and odors of crony-corruption.<BR/><BR/>Except... can one be forgiven for having - by now - developed a bump for paranoia, somewhere at the back of the skull? A creepy sensation on the hairs of the neck?<BR/><BR/>The Bushites do something well, at last... and it just happens to be something that has the effect of <B>reducing U.S. military power.</B> If Clinton had done this, while maintaining our alliances and science and armed readiness, it would havessemed comepletely natural. In this case though, we have to wonder.David Brinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14465315130418506525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8587336.post-7182256105051532772007-10-01T06:48:00.000-07:002007-10-01T06:48:00.000-07:00I contend that the rocket-like upward failure of M...I contend that the rocket-like upward failure of Major General Petraeus is a consequence of the purging and promotion of incompetent political insiders that you decry.<BR/><BR/>Do we have any examples of in theater success lead by Petraeus? No.<BR/><BR/>How about the administration of Mosul and Nineveh? I suppose one could say that his presence (meaning the 101st) forestalled the subsequent insurgent surge in Mosul starting Spring 2004 as well as forestalling the assassination of the Governor of Nineveh. A less generous interpretation would be that all of his efforts in that region were for naught and that his techniques did not stand the test of time. Is that his fault? Can we blame him for failing so miserably in the millieu established by Paul Bremer III De-Baathification program? Is Petraeus another academic parading as a military man? Prior to his recent Iraq deployment, he was certainly long on schooling and short on combat experience. <BR/><BR/>Nonetheless, only six months after 101st redeployment he was promoted before the house of cards that was Nineveh collpased. His new task? Stand up the Iraqi Army and Police forces. How have his efforts panned out? 30% of all the weapons distributed to Iraqi forces are missing due to the sloppy logistics of the Petraeus lead effort. Observers assert that the forces that have stood up are rife with corruption and thoroughly infiltrated by sectarian militias. Again is this Petraeus' fault? Maybe, but it certainly doesn't look like a success worthy of rapid promotion, unless one considers the temporal PR needs of the BUsh Administration and supporters of continued occupation of Iraq.<BR/><BR/>But before anyone could judge the quality of his work, Petraeus moved on to reforming the Army's counterinsurgency doctrine in his own image, revamping their manual, training officers to emulate his "successes" in Mosul and Nineveh. How long would that take, amazingly, less than two years. For he was then promoted (to four star general) to replace General Casey to Command the Multination Force in Iraq. So how has the Petraeus doctrine panned out so far?<BR/><BR/>Given his rash of temporary successes and rapid upward promotion I think Petraeus qualifies as one of those purge replacement officers of which you speak. All through his mercurial ascent, Petraeus failures have served to degrade the situation in Iraq, yet now the US Army is poised to embrace his model as doctrine?Enterikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04758515647778280562noreply@blogger.com