Iraq Justified: a Strategic Analysis

Thomas Barnett is a strategist at the US Naval War College. Since 1998 (in other words, for two administrations), he has advised the Department of Defense regarding global military strategy. He states, in possibly the clearest language I've seen, the driving reasons behind the invasion of Iraq.

Taking down Saddam, the region’s bully-in-chief, will force the U.S. into playing that role far more fully than it has over the past several decades, primarily because Iraq is the Yugoslavia of the Middle East-a crossroads of civilizations that has historically required a dictatorship to keep the peace. As baby-sitting jobs go, this one will be a doozy, making our lengthy efforts in postwar Germany and Japan look simple in retrospect... ...But it is the right thing to do, and now is the right time to do it, and we are the only country that can. Freedom cannot blossom in the Middle East without security... We are the only nation on earth capable of exporting security in a sustained fashion, and we have a very good track record of doing it. Show me a part of the world that is secure in its peace and I will show you a strong or growing ties between local militaries and the U.S. military. Show me regions where major war is inconceivable and I will show you permanent U.S. military bases and long-term security alliances. Show me the strongest investment relationships in the global economy and I will show you two postwar military occupations that remade Europe and Japan following World War II...

The Pentagon's New Map

Letter to the Editor

Here is yet another letter to the editor of the local paper.

During his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, John Kerry spent but a scant few minutes discussing his two-decade Senate record. During his career: Kerry was wrong about the Soviets, opposing Reagan's arms buildup during the eighties. Kerry was wrong about Nicaragua, favoring appeasement of the pro-Communist Sandanistas. Kerry was wrong about Vietnam. Kerry was wrong about Iraq, taking multiple positions based upon political expediency. Conversely, under President Bush's watch, the Pakistan nuclear parts network was crushed. Libya dropped its nuclear aspirations. Afghanistan is ready for its first elections. And Iraq is poised to become the Middle East's beacon of freedom, spreading the promise of democracy. We are living in the nuclear age of terrorism. Indecision and poor decision-making could have tragic repurcussions for America.

Take action against Pravda^H^H^H^H^H^H CBS

Hhere's how to take action against CBS.

1) If you are a shareholder of Viacom, call 1-800-516-4399 (Investor Relations) and politely tell them that Dan Rather's fraudulent and biased reporting is destroying the brand equity of CBS News and hurting the value of the entire network. As a shareholder, you will not stand for someone destroying the CBS brand name. 2) If you are not a shareholder, call 1-212-258-6000 - press 6308 (not sure which one did it, but I got to the voicemail directory, say the name of Mel Karmazin, and leave a voicemail politely expressing your desire for CBS to rectify the situation immediately before what little brand equity remains with CBS News is completely eradicated). Other names you can leave messages with: Sumner Redstone, Richard Bressler (CFO), Michael Fricklas, and William Roskin. If you're stuck with what you should say, try the following: "As a [prospective] shareholder, I'm extremely dismayed with CBS News' use of apparently fraudulent memos and ignoring testimony counter to the story they tried to tell regarding President Bush's Guard service. They have effectively destroyed what little brand equity remained with the CBS News name! These acts are decimating shareholder value and I believe that senior management must take action before the entire situation implodes. Thank you very much. My name is [ ] and my phone number is [ ]." Be polite, but make your point!

Sign the petition and boycott CBS

Was the Beslan Massacre to have taken place in Maryland?

From JihadWatch, in November of 2003:

WASHINGTON -- The FBI is investigating a Saudi college student and his American wife who recently videotaped a Jewish school in Baltimore and said they sent the footage to Saudi Arabia, according to law enforcement officials and community leaders who know about the case. The Saudi man, who came to the United States on a student visa four years ago, and his wife were seen videotaping an Orthodox school for girls, Beit Yakov, on Oct. 26 and fled after witnesses wrote down their automobile's license plate number, officials said. Law enforcement officials were contacted and later interviewed the couple, who said the video was intended for the man's parents in Saudi Arabia.

Was the Beslan Massacre to have taken place in Maryland?

Can't say they weren't warned...

I wrote the following email to the staff of "60 Minutes" on September 6, 2004. We can't say we didn't warn 'em.

Regarding the Ben Barnes story: I believe the New York Times has just reported that Mr. Barnes is a large individual contributor to the Kerry campaign. If the Swiftboat veterans are less credible because they took a contribution from a common contributor to Republicans, then Ben Barnes' status as the third largest contributor to Kerry's campaigns should render any direct testimony from him completely invalid. And that's without even getting into Mr. Barnes' odd history as a "lobbyist". The Barnes story, and your reports on this issue, are being carefully fact-checked in the blogosphere (e.g., http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/002430.php and http://blogspirator.blogspot.com/2004/08/exclusive-dirt-on-ben-barnes-claims_29.html ) . The Swiftboat Veterans have already proven what kind of a force lies in the blogosphere. Simply from your sharedholders' perspective, I would suggest that you not further undermine your credibility as a news organization by publishing only half the Ben Barnes story. CBS' ethical reputation -- and market-share -- hinge on decisions like these. Fully disclosing Ben Barnes' history is a step in the right direction. Regards, Doug