tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91716092009-12-07T13:04:28.859-05:00Commentary, analysis, and dignified rants on national security issues. Other posts on home life, annoying things, and a vast 'other' formerly on The Dignified Rant: Home Edition, will be posted here and clearly marked.Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comBlogger5000125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-40883440421587983772009-12-06T08:37:00.000-05:002009-12-06T08:37:35.353-05:00

There were initial rumors that we'd send 35,000 troops to Afghanistan, including 3 Army combat brigades and a Marine regimental combat team or expeditionary brigade. I assumed these would be formed combat units and that any brigades sent as trainers would be in addition to the combat brigades. When the decision to send 30,000 troops came out, I assumed that this must mean only 2 Army combat

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-39340118502883661482009-12-06T04:00:00.000-05:002009-12-06T04:00:01.995-05:00

While opposition to war is a normal condition presidents waging war have to face, this war is different. The president will face opposition to the war in Afghanistan largely from within his own party. In Vietnam, Nixon faced the opposition party that became anti-war and under Ford we were compelled to lose that war. In similar partisan fashion, however, we won the Philippine Insurrection despite

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-9707990053626252392009-12-05T23:54:00.000-05:002009-12-05T23:54:38.969-05:00

So is it awkward for the president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize even as he escalates our troop commitment to Afghanistan? The memory is only days' old of Obama's address at West Point, where he told cadets and the rest of the world that he was escalating the war in Afghanistan so he could stabilize it and then try to end it. Under his watch, the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan has grown

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-85694546063577839762009-12-05T11:11:00.001-05:002009-12-05T11:12:59.470-05:00

Knowing that reinforcements are on the way to Afghanistan, and perhaps seeking to exploit any enemy discouragement from hearing that 40,000 more Western troops are on the way to kill them, Marine Corps and British units with Afghans in a minor supporting role (this will need to be reversed in time) have launched an offensive: Operation "Cobra's Anger," which involves 900 U.S. Marines and sailors

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-30256330401729575922009-12-05T10:47:00.000-05:002009-12-05T10:47:29.564-05:00

The criminal enterprise with a UN seat that is the North Korean regime is unhappy that some of its people managed to srurvive and even get a bit ahead in the impoversihed disaster area their country has become under Stalinist rule (but give them credit, their carbon footprint is minimal, eh?). The North Koreans changed their currency to catch those who made money. And now the North Korean regime

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-75132388817032500792009-12-04T21:00:00.001-05:002009-12-04T21:00:01.146-05:00

I didn't think much of the idea that our enemies in Afghanistan would decide not to fight to wait for us to leave Afghanistan: [Laying] low just gives us the time and peace to round up the enemy. Being quiet may be indistinguishable from losing for the average Afghan villager. There is a risk to laying low while we entrench security and governing forces and build infrastructure throughout the

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-6851310193764034422009-12-04T20:00:00.000-05:002009-12-04T20:00:01.743-05:00

If the Russians manage to rebuild their military power, and if they move into the hostile rather than friendly category, we can at least take comfort that they are both pushed east and that they will be a regional power (granted, the regions would be "Eurasia") lacking the ability to cut the lines of supply between North America and European NATO: The Russian public is becoming aware of the fact

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-75513058896119968322009-12-04T17:30:00.000-05:002009-12-04T17:30:00.438-05:00

Iran is unhappy with the wimpy attention being focused on them lately: A nuclear official said Friday Iran will not answer to the U.N. nuclear watchdog about its plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment sites beyond the barest minimum required under the international nonproliferation treaty. The comments by Abolfazl Zohrehvand, an adviser to the country's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili,

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-70415565813582528072009-12-04T15:09:00.002-05:002009-12-04T17:01:04.788-05:00

During the Cold War, European NATO members had a couple worries about our nuclear deterrent. One, they worried about whether we'd risk New York City to defend West Berlin. That is, would we really use nuclear weapons against the Soviets if they were defeating us in conventional war when the price might be a crater where New York City is? If we weren't willing to do that, the Soviets would be

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-59472182848093481112009-12-04T12:30:00.000-05:002009-12-04T12:30:00.797-05:00

Given that General McChrystal asked for 40,000 troops, I found it a little odd that our president didn't grant that request. If we end up losing (and there is no reason we can't win, I should add), it would be easy for critics to claim that a decision to send only 35,000--or 30,000 in this case--was the cause of our defeat. For want of a nail, and all that. I disagree with that simple causation

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-26018146584100545712009-12-04T04:00:00.001-05:002009-12-04T11:56:01.255-05:00

I think that Russia's August 2008 invasion (well, really a raid) of Georgia signalled a new outlook by Russia's leaders. They have crossed a threshold and are now willing to use force to restore as much of their empire as possible: I am troubled because it may represent a change in how Russia's leaders sees the former Soviet republics. Russia before the invasion of Georgia may have been the low

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-40323907742920110442009-12-03T23:30:00.001-05:002009-12-04T13:36:47.749-05:00

The Russians don't like NATO and would rather it just go away. NATO isn't gone, but it is stalled in expansion and is shamefully not even prepared to defend our newest additions: [It] became shockingly clear following the Georgia conflict that there had been no serious NATO contingency planning for the territorial defense of the new, post-Cold War allies. That would seem like the bare minimum

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-24730565893838557282009-12-03T22:00:00.000-05:002009-12-03T22:00:01.860-05:00

The surge in Afghanistan needs Pakistan to control its side of the border. It was the part of the war effort that President Obama glossed over in his West Point speech. But it is crucial: Mr. Obama could not be very specific about his Pakistan strategy, his advisers conceded on Monday evening. American operations there are classified, most run by the Central Intelligence Agency. Any overt

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-86419884455672580362009-12-03T21:54:00.000-05:002009-12-03T21:54:56.936-05:00

I think we can all be happy that President Obama has not, in fact, faced a rash of death threats from Confederate flag-waving, gun-toting, Bible-thumping, inbred Red staters: Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, testifying today about the state dinner security breach, refuted stories that President Obama has received more threats than previous presidents. "The threats are not up," Sullivan

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-91580368915023866062009-12-03T21:46:00.001-05:002009-12-04T17:00:51.125-05:00

The Chinese berated and humiliated the Canadian prime minister on his visit to Peking: Fresh off the triumph of their humiliation of President Obama during his Asian trip, this week the Chinese decided to stomp on America's Hat. I am, of course, referring to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's public dressing down of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during their joint appearance in Beijing today.

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-14294297830077304532009-12-03T18:30:00.002-05:002009-12-03T18:30:00.253-05:00

One counter-insurgent expert expresses doubts about our major move into Helmand province in Afghanistan: In a matter of weeks, a Marine Regimental Combat Team will be heading to Afghanistan’s Helmand province, to reinforce the thousands of marines already patrolling this poppy-growing heartland. It’s a move Nagl — and some other military observers — find questionable. Helmand is

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-18028098896756704912009-12-03T06:30:00.006-05:002009-12-03T12:12:22.522-05:00

One of the things that really annoys me to no end is the disturbing tendency of Retreatist Americans to pretend their urge to run away is based on their big-brained, nuanced understanding of the world: One of the psychological defenses our anti-war side uses to rationalize their advocacy of retreat is the comforting illusion that we are doomed to defeat. Urging retreat and defeat under those

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-37349330245875529002009-12-02T23:30:00.003-05:002009-12-04T15:32:16.098-05:00

I freely admit I've enjoyed the East Anglia Climatic Research Unit affair. Over the years, I have found the pro-global warming side insufferable in their arrogance and their refusal to actually defend their positions by insisting the science is settled and anyone who raises doubts is an eco-criminal. And since their solutions were suspiciously socialist in nature, their science results seemed far

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-83966611340266238152009-12-02T22:30:00.001-05:002009-12-03T12:13:58.666-05:00

Is Chris Matthews a total, drooling idiot? A man who actually makes Thomas Friedman look wise? You tell me: West Point is "enemy territory" for the president? No reinforcing of the evil Republican stereotype of Democrats as anti-defense there, eh? UPDATE: To his credit, Matthews apologized for his poor word choice.

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-86711393934523907772009-12-02T22:00:00.002-05:002009-12-03T22:02:43.706-05:00

President Obama addressed the nation last night, pledging 30,000 new troops in an Afghanistan surge to buy time for Afghanistan to win the fight. Hopefully, we knock down the enemy enough and stand up government and pro-government forces enough that our side can win with a diminishing US/allied direct combat role (though we'd need to support our side with logistics, planning, firepower, intel/

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-42709480157395791622009-12-02T21:30:00.000-05:002009-12-02T21:30:00.044-05:00

As China attempts to hold off our carrier battle groups--should we attempt to intervene against a PLA invasion of Taiwan--with their own land-based missiles and navy venturing into blue waters, the classic response is to extend the range of our own weapons so we don't have to venture within the range of their weapons to hit them. I noted our refinement of our Tomahawk cruise missiles to strike

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-17480820266654876652009-12-02T21:02:00.000-05:002009-12-02T21:02:48.895-05:00

Hugo Chavez could very well work himself up in his paranoid frenzy to attacking Colombia: Chavez continues to push his belief that the United States, using Colombia as a staging area, is preparing to invade Venezuela. Most South American politicians think Chavez is nuts, but are too polite (and politically astute) to criticize anyone who is badmouthing the "Colossus of the North." The U.S. has

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-25084004866861939272009-12-01T23:00:00.003-05:002009-12-01T23:00:00.652-05:00

The China Research "Unit," that is. China pressures academics to write only nice things about China: As stated by one academic economist, "Academics who study China . . . habitually please the Chinese Communist Party, sometimes consciously, and often unconsciously . . . the incentives for academics all go one way: one does not upset the Party." One of the punitive tools that the Chinese

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-52458255038006985592009-12-01T19:30:00.001-05:002009-12-01T19:30:01.464-05:00

I don't know how anybody could have been confused about the long history of anti-Iraq War types claiming that they really wanted to fight the good war in Afghanistan. It has always been clear that they'd turn on the war in Afghansitan as soon as they didn't need to protest the Iraq War. And oh how they have turned: At West Point tonight, when Barack Obama formally announces he is sending tens

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9171609.post-33452101449497412102009-12-01T19:12:00.000-05:002009-12-01T19:12:52.470-05:00

Here's a little preview of the president's speech. Based on this and other scattered bits I've heard, it looks like we'll reinforce our 68,000 troops and 42,000 allied troops with 30,000 more troops by mid-August. This seems faster than I thought given what I thought was a pace of one combat brigade per month. Four brigades plus supporting units would take a year. But it looks like we're talking

Brian J. Dunnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03949518866034572156noreply@blogger.com