For MEB, forever.

It's unfortunate that with such information available, we reduce everything to the same screams and shouts, Change, Forward, Tea Party, Prog.

As to the Tea Party, if people in that quarter can go overboard calling anyone who thinks the government can alter the distribution… Read full post »

For MEB.

Geopolitics is not the most fashionable way of looking at things in academia, although they lament it's use in practioners, hence perhaps the popularity of some people's classes with military personnel, if that would also explain that person's unpopularity with academics too. Oh well.

As to… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

There will be a terse discussion of method before the explanation of the why the Sequester is not in American interests as it currently stands as viewed from the perspective of geopolitics, if it's not the end of the world in itself either, hopefully.

As to the  the field… Read full post »

For MEB

When Europeans first met the Japanese, in the 1500's, they left a very distinct impression on said explorers, some respecting them, others hating them, but that they were an impressive people in their way, no one denied.

Historically speaking, Americans preferred Chinese to Japanese, the Brit… Read full post »

It is reported by reliable ummedicated sources at our End of Times Chronicles bunker in Northern Idaho that Secretary of State John Kerry is deeply worried about the Pope  being replaced by Lady Gaga, now that Dennis Rodman is taking the position of Ambassador to North Korea.

Acco… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

Now that Hagel is about to be confirmed, one can say that he maybe in fact he isn't the sharpest knife, if that's all relative, and Obama as a strategist is hardly all bad, as he is one of the sharper knives in the kitchen to have become… Read full post »

For MEB, forever. Pandas are good, if interacted with properly.

China is much in the news as to its activities in the ancient field of Cyberwar.

Russia is at the front of the Cyberwar in the techincial (and human) pack on the cutting edge, with us, of course, technically, if maybe not… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

Some people like Netanyahu, some don't.

But that he is one of the most formidable leaders in the contemporary world, no one in contact with reality fails to see.

Perhaps it is appropriate that Netanyahu has quite an architecting job to do, since he is by Master's degree a… Read full post »

For MEB. And for Wayne Higginbotham, a high school State champion, near All-American caliber in college, and current coach, who is on to something about wrestling as a release of aggression in a controlled fashion, as to wrestling as a martial art.

It's a good sign, at least in the short… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

Historical perspective is always useful in terms of the nature of anything, and the position of the Secretary of Defense is no exception, history showing that there are three basic theories of the SecDef.

Hagel  is therefore well in line with a theory of the Secretary of Defens… Read full post »

For MEB, always, and for Tea Party Wayne, who has much to say of politics that is always worth considering, as he's a smart guy, with a high level of command of the English language, including his lovely pet phrase "Tepid RINO" as opposed to "Rat fuck RINO," Prog Princess Dumpling,… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

As to the Sequester, it exempts Entitlements, which as both a practical matter and as one of  fairness ought to be changed.

As to practicalities, Entitlements are a large component of Federal spending, as in over 40 per cent, although since one has to pay interest, that's… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

Note, it may be the case that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea does not want re-unification on any terms that either the ROK or the United States could accept, and instead is seeking military victory as to the terms.

It would not surprise the author if deterrence… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

This was Tom Nichols suggestion as to deterrence as of the current state of things with North Korea, aka the DPRK.

Very few have thought about such things more than him, since he instructs Naval Officers in such things, if the opinions here have nothing, zero to do with… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

That was how the Democratic People's Republic of Korea referred to its actions should policy not change, calling for the "final destruction of the ROK," saying it is a "puppy", dealing with a "tiger."

That's pretty serious, even for the DPRK, especially during a Security Council mee… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

The setting is a pristine Southern Italian lakehouse, small for this particular lake, but very comfortable.

Caesar had spent much time reading history, especially Plutarch's The Lives of his future, and his beloved languages, reflecting on things, and was at peace with h… Read full post »

 For MEB, forever.

There used to be a much developed literature on the economics of defense, best captured in the RAND study How Much is Enough from the McNamera era.

"Mac" of course left a lot of mixed feelings, and results, as to why that literature perhaps fell into abeyance,… Read full post »

For MEB, forever. 

As to American's problem with last week's North Korean test on the date of the State of the Union address, one could say it was President Obama's difficulty.

As President, managing the day to day conduct of foreign affairs is of course one of his obvious ex officio t… Read full post »

For MEB, forever, and Wayne Higginbotham, Coach Hig. And Vladimir Putin, judo degree, sixth belt. Ia panemaeu. Shah e mat.

I wrestled in eighth and ninth grade, and then skipped two years to wrestle senior year, mainly to be supportive of Wayne's run at a state title, and to try to… Read full post »

For MEB, forever. I love you very much. Ne adoptee. Shah e mat.

Every empire has its peaks and valleys, flourescence and decline, as empires are living things made of living creatures. Every dog has its day.

American hegemony since the end of the Cold War was not likely to last… Read full post »

For MEB, forever.

That was the most provocative date to chose, the eve of the State of the Union Speech, if that was surely facilitated by the 2/12 date, two months to the day of the 12/12 launch of the alleged observation satellite.

Give the swerving around would they or won't… Read full post »

For MEB, forever. And Mst. Sgt. Jim Rich, USMC Republic of Korea 1950-52 or thereabouts. That's why I always watched the North over the years, out of basic respect, if like everybody else pretty much, from a distance. Not many people ever go there, and none do who see anything that… Read full post »

For MEB, forever. And Special Forces Lt. Col (Ret.) Roger Carstens, who did Rumsfeld's legislative work, not easy by his granted not super extensive accounts, but enough to get the drill too.

I've never met Chuck Hagel, so I can't say if he's a Chuck Hagel or not, to mix metaphors… Read full post »

For MEB, forever. And Peace Liberallibbynyc, and I am sorry about any intemperance as to expression, once, and won't visit in cyberspace, or of course anywhere else, since I don't know if you are even here or in ...Argentina for all I know or care, just a mea culpa here, and… Read full post »

For MEB, forever. And Rein Taagapera at UCI, who taught me these things, and very graciously too, along with Bernie Grofman, Carole Uhlaner, and always Wayne Sandholtz and Stergios Skaperdas, as to good memories.

There is such a thing as political science, per the move of House Republicans to delete… Read full post »