rssCharlie vs. The Commandant
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 10:16 am
- 4 Comments
My pseudonymous friend Charlie has been AWOL from her perch at Abu Muqawama for so long that I thought Undersecretary of Defense for Policy-designate Michele Flournoy might have offered her a job. Alas, she’s just had to endure an extended jury duty stint, but now she’s sort-of back, and she has Gen. James Conway, the commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, in her sights.
The Commandant wants to send Marines to Afghanistan, again, shifting troops from Iraq. (This isn’t really news is most defense circles…people have been working this for quite some time.) But why does Gen Conway have to say such utterly maddening and patently false things like this?
“It’s very much a nation-building kind of environment that’s taking place there [Iraq]” now, Conway said, adding “that is not what we do, and we need those Marines elsewhere.”
…For starters, this is ahistorical bullsh*t. (I’m of half a mind to send The Bateman over for a remedial lesson on Marine Corps history). The Marines have arguably done more of this sort of work than any other service; they literally wrote the book on it.
Indeed. As Charlie can tell you, Conway, a former Marine commander in Anbar Province, has sounded cautionary notes about counterinsurgency throughout his tenure as USMC commandant. Those who want to see the corps embrace counterinsurgency more thoroughly tend to promote Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis — Charlie, with characteristic understatement (like I’m one to talk), says, “Maybe Gen Mattis needs to take Gen Conway out back, smack him around a bit, and tell him to get on board for the big win.” Earlier this week, Mattis made this interesting comment:
But Mattis emphasized that technology alone can’t fight and win wars. “I want the best possible technology in the hands of our troops,” he said. “But the idea that this is going to solve the problem of war is a little silly if you study history.”
That’s because although technology has altered the character of war, “the fundamental nature of war has not changed,” he said.
Mattis said this at a Brookings Institution forum for a new book by defense scholar P.W. Singer that aims to put “the robotics revolution” in the context of war-fighting. (And which, awesomely, starts off with a Battlestar: Galactica reference.) His willingness to provide that sort of pushback is part of why the COIN set likes him.
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4 Comments
Comment posted January 28, 2009 @ 10:38 am
Stop the process of Kurdish Genocide in Turkey
Israeli Government and Jewish lobbyist in Europe and America are helping Turks of Turkey for the Kurds Genocides in Turkey. Kurdish traders’ like Barzani, Talabani, Zebari and Barham Salah are partners of that crime against the Humanity.
We are asking President Obama to correct the wrong policy of the US government in the Middle East. The lobbyists in America are supporting Turkey to make money. They are calming that Turkey is fighting terrorist organizations of PKK only. PKK are not violent organizations any more. They are asking the Turks of Turkey for peaceful settlement of Kurdish right in Turkey.
The Turks of Turkey are insisting to continue with the wars. The Turks of Turkey are hiring Israeli Government, Europeans and American lobbyist, Traders Barzani and Talabani mafia groups to finish of the Kurdish populations in Turkey.
Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union the Turks of Turkey killed and displaced at least ten million Kurds in Kurdistan region of Turkey. We are appealing to you directly Mr. President Obama to stop this unjust practice by Turkey.
We are calling on the Kurdish people world wide to join Eraiain liberations movement to stop the Turks and Israel plans for our people’s Genocide in Kurdistan of Turkey.
Comment posted January 28, 2009 @ 11:06 am
Appealing to the US government official for Justice
I am a naturalized citizen of the USA. I do understand that the laws are counting me equal with other citizen in the country. But individuals are not counting me as a full citizen.
I was trying to serve my country the USA who adopted me during the hardest time of my life with wife and two children’s. While I was searching for job in the Army CI department the people interview Me made me look like Osama bin Laden on his paper work.
I was working on the Air force Satellite communications for many years and had security clearance (Secret) and over two years serving military war effort in Iraq.
The US governments are paying up with the accusing me to not be good citizen. I went to senator and Congress men; I am told every thing are fine but when I look for Job there are note on my interim security will chase away hiring companies to consider me for the Job for over one year now.
There are no other agencies to go too. The US governments are treating me very bad; I do need help please.
I do write “Policy-designate Michele Flournoy” and asked her to hire me. I am originally from Iraq and lived in Iran too. I do understand the culture, religions, political structures inside out about both country and want to help her department but there are no way to reach these people in power.
I am writing this and hope that she and others will count us the “naturalized citizens” as a full citizen of the USA and give us the chance to serve in this treble time.
I hope she or her subordinate or some on in the State department or department of defense will read this advertising of myself and will send me an email to offer me a job so I can serve my country the USA.
Thanks for any help you might provide.
Regards,
Hamma Mirwaisi
hmirwaisi@gmail.com
Jan-28-2009
Comment posted January 28, 2009 @ 6:38 pm
Stop the process of Kurdish Genocide in Turkey
Israeli Government and Jewish lobbyist in Europe and America are helping Turks of Turkey for the Kurds Genocides in Turkey. Kurdish traders’ like Barzani, Talabani, Zebari and Barham Salah are partners of that crime against the Humanity.
We are asking President Obama to correct the wrong policy of the US government in the Middle East. The lobbyists in America are supporting Turkey to make money. They are calming that Turkey is fighting terrorist organizations of PKK only. PKK are not violent organizations any more. They are asking the Turks of Turkey for peaceful settlement of Kurdish right in Turkey.
The Turks of Turkey are insisting to continue with the wars. The Turks of Turkey are hiring Israeli Government, Europeans and American lobbyist, Traders Barzani and Talabani mafia groups to finish of the Kurdish populations in Turkey.
Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union the Turks of Turkey killed and displaced at least ten million Kurds in Kurdistan region of Turkey. We are appealing to you directly Mr. President Obama to stop this unjust practice by Turkey.
We are calling on the Kurdish people world wide to join Eraiain liberations movement to stop the Turks and Israel plans for our people’s Genocide in Kurdistan of Turkey.
Comment posted January 28, 2009 @ 7:06 pm
Appealing to the US government official for Justice
I am a naturalized citizen of the USA. I do understand that the laws are counting me equal with other citizen in the country. But individuals are not counting me as a full citizen.
I was trying to serve my country the USA who adopted me during the hardest time of my life with wife and two children’s. While I was searching for job in the Army CI department the people interview Me made me look like Osama bin Laden on his paper work.
I was working on the Air force Satellite communications for many years and had security clearance (Secret) and over two years serving military war effort in Iraq.
The US governments are paying up with the accusing me to not be good citizen. I went to senator and Congress men; I am told every thing are fine but when I look for Job there are note on my interim security will chase away hiring companies to consider me for the Job for over one year now.
There are no other agencies to go too. The US governments are treating me very bad; I do need help please.
I do write “Policy-designate Michele Flournoy” and asked her to hire me. I am originally from Iraq and lived in Iran too. I do understand the culture, religions, political structures inside out about both country and want to help her department but there are no way to reach these people in power.
I am writing this and hope that she and others will count us the “naturalized citizens” as a full citizen of the USA and give us the chance to serve in this treble time.
I hope she or her subordinate or some on in the State department or department of defense will read this advertising of myself and will send me an email to offer me a job so I can serve my country the USA.
Thanks for any help you might provide.
Regards,
Hamma Mirwaisi
hmirwaisi@gmail.com
Jan-28-2009
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