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Category Archives: Allies
Things to Consider: Iraq War at 20
Everyone (and their dog) is writing/commenting about the Iraq war 20 years later. I doubt more accuracy is achieved in these tales after 20 years. Everyone seems to think they were central to events. Some of them were.[1] My perspective was also partial, … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Chemical Weapons, Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, Sunni, Syria CW, United Nations, WMD
Tagged Intelligence, Iran, Iraq, Iraq Survey Group, Iraq War, Saddam Hussein, United Nations, WMD
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Nuclear Weapons and Alcohol Do Not Mix
Lot’s of analysts are creating analyses of Vladimir Putin. What drives him? What are his objectives? Is he psycho? The fact is, no one really knows. Analysis that was likewise wobbly surrounded Saddam in his day. It was off the … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Intelligence, Lavrov, nuclear weapons, Putin, Ukraine, WMD
Tagged DEFCON 3, Nuclear Alert, Nuclear Weapons, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, WMD
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Putin: Lessons from Saddam
Is Lavrov the New Baghdad Bob? Saddam’s Saddam’s last information minister and a former foreign minister was Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf–better known in Western Press as “Baghdad Bob”. He was ridiculed for his blatant incorrect statements about the American led invasion … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Intelligence, Iraq, Lavrov, NATO, nuclear weapons, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, WMD
Tagged PutinLavrov, Ukraine
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Unavoidable Elements of the Ukraine Crisis
Western policy to prevent further Russian aggression in Ukraine is hobbled by a few inescapable problems. The government in Ukraine is weak from the top down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is no Vladimir Putin. While they both stand about 5 … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, NATO, nuclear weapons, Russia, Ukraine, United Nations
Tagged Lavrov, Putin, Russia, Ukraine, Zelensky
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Taiwan is to Xi Jinping as Ukraine is to Vladimir Putin…
This analogy is too simple, but helps to think about the vise jaws that the Biden Administration now finds itself between. The similarities: Both Xie and Putin have maneuvered to be in power for the foreseeable future. The duration of … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, Cyber Threat, Elections, Intelligence, NATO, Russia, Ukraine
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Bill Burns – A Glimmer of Hope
Finally there is some ground for imagining a glimmer of hope in Afghanistan. CIA Director Bill Burns is reported to have met with Taliban leadership in Kabul Monday. Burns is exactly the right person with, hopefully, the right amount of … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, Intelligence, Russia, Terrorism
Tagged Afghanistan, Bill Burns, China, Russia, Taliban
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Afghanistan: Looming Tragedy – Will President Biden Blame Bad Intelligence?
President Biden visited the Office of the Director of National Intelligence Tuesday (27 July). In his public remarks he praised the Intelligence Community (IC) and promised to never politicize their work. Sounds promising and clear-cut. But reality is never that … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Intelligence, Iraq, NATO, Uncategorized
Tagged Afghanistan, Bill Burns, Mary Louise Kelly, National Public Radio, President Biden
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BYOB? — US and UK F-35s operate from UK Carrier against ISIS
UK and US F-35s have conducted strike missions against ISIS targets from the new carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. (https://theaviationist.com/2021/06/21/f-35b-hmsqe-shader/ ) This is good news. It points to the potency of close allies working together. We draw strength in many ways … Continue reading
Reward for What?!
According to news reports, the US State Department announced that in response to the continued attacks on US diplomatic personal and assistance missions in Iraq it was offering a reward of $3 million for information about the perpetrators. This seemed … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sunni, Syria
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The New CIA Director
Ambassador William J. Burns is a great and timely choice to head the CIA. He will assure that the Administration has the intelligence collection and analysis for the critical security issues facing the United States. He is a long time … Continue reading
Posted in Allies, China, Cyber Threat, Elections, Intelligence, Iran, Russia, Uncategorized, WMD
Tagged Bill Burns, China, Russia
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