nerdgirl

Thanks for the initial link - I probably would have missed the sale. And thanks for the ensemble of quotations. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Thanks for the lesson of history. In the US, most look back at the treatment of returning (largely conscripted) soldiers from Vietnam with shame and regret. The vast majority of the US citizenry seemed to have learned that lesson. Makes me wonder what will be the lesson from the current conflicts. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Thanks for taking the time to clarify. I think your position and mine may be closer than superficially apparent. We may just phrase it differently. The problem is when “support the troops” becomes a reductive stand-in for “support of political policy and political decisions” eliminating any possibility of civil civic discourse and examination of policy choices. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Concur. Start with Stranger in a Strange Land then Starship Troopers. Include For Us, The Living and Misfits. From Time Enough for Love:“If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for ... but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against. In case of doubt, vote against. By this rule you will rarely go wrong.” “Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms.” “Belief gets in the way of learning.” From Take Back Your Government: "Democracy is not an automatic condition resulting from laws and constitutions. It is a living, dynamic process which must be worked at by you yourself - or it ceases to be democracy, even if the shell and form remains." "Democracy is the most efficient form of government ever invented by the human race. On the record, it has worked better in peace and in war than fascism, communism, or any other form of dictatorship. As for the mythical yardstick of 'benevolent' monarchy or dictatorship -- there ain't no such animal!" From Starship Troopers:“But does Man have any right’ to spread through the universe? Man is what he is, a wild animal with the will to survive, and (so far) the ability, against all competition. Unless one accepts that, anything one says about morals, war, politics, you name it, is nonsense. Correct morals arise from knowing what man is, not what do-gooders and well-meaning old Aunt Nellies would like him to be. The Universe will let us know - later - whether or not Man has any ‘right’ to expand through it." “‘Value’ has no meaning other than in relationship to living beings. The value of a thing is always relative to a particular person, is completely personal and different in quantity for each living human—‘market value’ is a fiction, merely a rough guess at the average of personal values, all of which must be quantitatively different or trade would be impossible. [...] This very personal relationship, ‘value,’ has two factors for a human being: first, what he can do with a thing, its use to him… and second, what he must do to get it, its cost to him.” “A generation which ignores history has no past; and no future.” [Some districts might have trouble with some of Heinlein's writing (nevermind his socialist political activities).] From the Notebooks of Lazarus Long:"The most preposterous notion that H. sapiens has ever dreamed up is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of His creatures, can be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not receive this flattery. Yet this absurd fantasy, without a shred of evidence to bolster it, pays all the expenses of the oldest, largest, and least productive industry in all history.” Random Heinlein words of wisdom: “‘Love’ is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own... Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy.’ “May you live as long as you wish and love as long as you live.” “Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.” [Twice divorced, Heinlein's third marriage lasted over 40 years, until his death. His third wife is taken to be the inspiration for his typically fiercely intelligent and independent female characters.] VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

So does that mean you support and think that every American should have supported every decision (i.e., “mission”) that the Clinton administration – the leaders who were elected – made regarding the national defense establishment and use (or non-use) of the military in order to “support the troops”? Your statements would seem to suggest that you would. And if Sen Obama is elected President and initiates the unilateral withdrawl of all troops from Iraq, are you both going to refrain from criticizing that decision, regardless of the consequences? It’s the mission. Or are those situations “different”? VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

I have a bit of heretical view: the US-led coalition ‘won’ the war against Iraq. That is, very specifically, the existing government in power was removed by force, dismantled, and control of territory was obtained, i.e., the US-led coalition had nominal control of the state until 30 June 2004. Iraq is now engaged in an internal insurgency. The insurgency is not the US’ to win or lose. I reject the term ‘civil war’ because the opposition to the sitting government is too fractured and too disorganized, w/limited possible exception of al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army; al-Sadr's Jaysh al Mahdi (JAM) is Shi’a like al-Maliki’s Dawa party. Heck, Shi’a anti-Saddam Hussayn sectarian groups are fighting each other (Dawa and ISCI[nee SCIRI] versus Sadr/JAM), nevermind the Sunnis or the Kurds (PKK v Turkey). If the US forces were removed from Iraq, would the al-Maliki government collapse? (There’s more than a 50% chance, imo.) Would the fragile state of Iraq become a failed state? Is Iraq essentially a client state of the US? Will the US lose the struggle for nation-building (i.e., security, stabilization, transition, & reconstruction [SSTR]) in the Middle East? is a more accurate & precise question, imo. But words are powerful. “War” is a powerful word … & it should be. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Thanks! I thought that was fabulous! (And in an area of Spain to which I haven't been yet ... yeah!) Reminds me of when I was ice-climbing regularly - (most) ice-climbers thought skydiving was 'crazy' & a good portion of the skydivers thought ice-climbing was 'crazy'. /Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

The problem is when “support the troops” becomes a stand-in for “unchallenged, unthinking support of political policy and political decisions." Imho, more members of the uniformed services should be p&%$d at attempts by any individual, group, organization, or political party to appropriate, to claim, or to politicize the uniformed services to their political goals. Most of the US citizenry doesn’t have a direct personal connection to the uniformed services. (One can debate as to the impact & causes of that …) In the 21st century, individual members of the uniformed military are occasionally/rarely seen as representative of political policy, which is (again imo) most frequently out of ignorance than malice. That’s just as problematic as the situation I described above, im-ever-ho. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Ya better be careful, with ‘talk’ like that someone might call ya the “e”-word. NPR and PBS NewsHour are a couple domestic options. Although of late NPR’s Morning Edition has shown a definite bias … for the Army. In the last 7 days, they’ve had two stories with detailed consideration of “Army Focus on Counterinsurgency Debated Within” (>8 min) and “Vietnam-Era Vet Reports for Duty” about Bronze Star winner Army SPC Tom Owens, who at 55, re-enlisted and hopes to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan … and how much of a role model he is serving as. (>5 min). (They’re probably just jealous cause the Navy gets their own show on PBS. ) Re: VA. this past weekend there was an 11 ½ min story on “Injured U.S. Troops Battle Drug-Resistant Bacteria” – the focus of the story is one a young Marine Sargant, the in-theater issues of inter-service coordination on treatment, and VA for those who are back home. (Try finding that on any commercial media) /Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Huh? Those people are just as affected by politics as skdivers are, if not much more since their jobs are on the line. Ask the NCOs in the field. They're the ones whose lives are on the line. From that perspective (or a Lieutenant or Captain/Company Commander) you get tremendous depth and situational context for that specific area, right then +/- some narrow window of time. Is it at the expense of the breadth and larger situational awareness/context that other perspectives are likely to bring? It's a balance to strike. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

George Soros has a new book out The New Paradigm for Financial Markets; and, as a good capitalist, he’s taking advantage of opportunities to promote it. Soros asserts that we are in an unparalleled financial: “It’s the worst, most serious crisis of our lifetime.” (Quoting from the NPR interview) “Soros blames what he calls a ‘super-bubble’ that started about 25 years ago. That’s when a less-is-more philosophy became popular with economic regulators. That allowed Wall Street to invest increasing amounts of money in credit. Soros says there's a ‘super-bubble’ in the economy that’s bigger than just the recent housing crises, and he blames exotic financial instruments for helping cause it.” He’s also challenging the belief in the collective ‘wisdom’ of the market. “The idea was that regulators always make mistakes, state interference in the markets just messes things up. And that was a false idea .... Regulators are human and bound to make mistakes, but markets are also human and they are also bound to make mistakes. Instead of markets always being right, they're actually always groping at trying to find out what the facts are. But they never get it right.” [From his book:]“We are in the midst of the worst financial crisis since the 1930s. In some ways it resembles other crises that have occurred in the last twenty-five years, but there is a profound difference: the current crisis marks the end of an era of credit expansion based on the dollar as the international reserve currency. The periodic crises were part of a larger boom-bust process; the current crisis is the culmination of a super-boom that has lasted for more than twenty-five years. “To understand what is going on we need a new paradigm. The currently prevailing paradigm, namely that financial markets tend towards equilibrium, is both false and misleading; our current troubles can be largely attributed to the fact that the international financial system has been developed on the basis of that paradigm.” He’s also concerned about the large amount of IOUs held by China, Japan, and oil-producing nations. So what is Soros missing that Speakers Corner's collective wisdom sees? VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

I found a profound dissonance in what he was saying and the connections trying to assert. I can think of a very long list of affronts against human dignity; birth control &/or artificial insemination aren’t anywhere in the top 100 (if at all). Reading that commentary, to me it doesn’t sound like he’s talking about birth control or artificial insemination. Rape, molestation, sexual abuse, forced prostitution/sexual slavery, forcing a 15 yo girl to marry a 45 yo man (whether a second cousin in northern Arizona or in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan), or that guy in Austria who raped and imprisoned his daughter and grandchildren/children for 20 years sound much more appropriate for the rhetoric applied. It also doesn’t seem that birth control or artificial insemination were required for sex to become a motivator – a metaphorical “drug” – prompting humans to act in ways that cause loss of dignity, e.g., former Governor Spitzer, Senator Craig, or former President Bill Clinton. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Good points. Anti-intellectualism may be the more important factor. I'm reminded that between ~800-1200 CE, the Islamic world was the leader in science and mathematics. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Enough natural gas to keep FINA-TOTAL quite interested. One example: in 2005, a UK-based NGO found: TOTAL as the largest European corporate funder of the regime. The Yadana gas project, in which it is a partner, is believed to earn the regime [i.e., the military junta] between $200m to $450m a year. TOTAL’s presence in Burma influencing French, European Union and British foreign policy on Burma, as France vetoes effective EU sanctions in order to protect TOTAL. Horrific human rights abuses committed in the region of TOTAL’s gas pipeline by pipeline security forces. Arms sales closely linked to TOTAL’s gas project. The regime used its first downpayment for gas exports to buy 10 MIG jets from Russia. It’s not just FINA-TOTAL, there are at least 27 companies from 13 countries (including, but not a majority from the usual suspect China) working with the Burmese government for oil and natural gas-related contracts. The US House and Senate have been passing resolutions for many years condemning Burma’s undemocratic, oppressive regime, e.g., recent history of House & Senate bills related to Burma. Generally these resolutions have overwhelming bipartisan support, i.e., everyone who is actually present on the day the vote is taken votes ‘aye,’ except Rep Paul, who votes against them (on principle). And natural gas is not the only commodity of interest. Uranium (“yellow cake”) is also mined in Burma. A couple years ago there was a lot of chattering among the wonkish w/r/t nuclear proliferation … pursuing purchase and assistance from Russia for a light-water research reactor, short-range surface missiles from DPRK, connections to Iran & Syria … [sarcasm] Almost makes one wonder if there is a rogue-state checklist circulating on the under-net? [/sarcasm] VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Is there something unique about the US (or western Europe) when it intersects culturally with Christianity (or Abrahamic religions) that generates the “science versus religion” divide/argument/whatever? I’ve speculated on that idea before w/r/t policy controversies and popular culture/political disagreements, as well as some of the past and ongoing discussions here. Recently ran across a counter-example of the opposite – showing a complete lack of the forced dichotomy – from Japan. And not some pointy-headed academic waxing philosophical but the policy of the Japanese government, which expends over 3.57 Trillion Yen annually (~$35B USD), second or third largest Science & Technology funder in the world. Japanese Ministry of Education Annual Report on the Promotion of Science and Technology (released October 2006): “Science and technology to contribute to the building of a spiritually wealthy Society “During the long life of the people due to the increase in the average lifespan, it has become possible for each individual to enjoy wealthy life actively participating not only in work, but also in hobbies, learning and local activities. There is a need for science and technology to contribute to not only material wealth, but also to achieving spiritual wealth. For example, there are media arts, technologies for the preservation, restoration and utilization of the cultural heritage, and the distribution of information on cultural assets through digital archives. Furthermore, basic research conducted based on free imagination satisfies intellectual curiosity and leads to new knowledge for humanity.” Excerpt is from page 8, if anyone wants to check the original. How novel! What have they figured out? VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Hmmm … when your operational perspective becomes “conventional” what does that mean for unconventional warfare? Between LTC Gian Gentile as eloquent & effective spokesman for the "traditionalists" and a significant part of Army staff seeming to be in concurrence, you’re in fine company. On the other end of the spectrum, there are folks talking about 7th, 8th, & 9th Generation Warfare. I’d like to see more recognition for emergence of 5GW at the strategic & operational level … altho’ I have to acknowledge that there still seem to be folks who haven’t recognized 4GW. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Good question. I've been asking that question since I became aware of the 8/8/88 student uprising against the SLORC and the subsequent detention of Aung San Suu Kyi (the democratically elected leader). Where's been the outcry with respect to the reports of use of slave labor (ethnic Karen minority) in the north of the country for building a pipeline? Outcry over humans rights abuses throughout Burma? Is your indignation really about Burma? Btw: UN to resume Burma food flights, UN aid flights to Burma under way, UN resumes Burma cyclone aid flights, UN aid convoy reaches Burma. Excerpts: "The convoy, which crossed the border unhindered, included two trucks carrying 20 tonnes of material, such as tents and tarps, the agency said in a statement. "UNHCR officials at the border were to supervise the loading of the material on to Burma trucks, then accompany the convoy to Rangoon, it said. "Meanwhile a UNHCR-chartered plane left Dubai to begin airlifting 100 tonnes of material, including tents, blankets and kitchen sets. "The UN said that at least one million survivors of last week's cyclone have not received aid yet, with emergency supply shipments still held up by the regime. "A shipment of high-energy biscuits that could feed 95,000 survivors remains impounded by customs at Rangoon airport, the World Food Program (WFP) said, while few visas have been given to key aid staff." VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

There are at least 3 different concepts – that I can see, likely to be others – that are all important but getting slightly convoluted. (1) Gen Zinni’s comments that initial planning for SSTR should occur concurrently with planning for initial combat operations (traditional military), rather that SSTR following linearly after combat operations have been initiated or have concluded. (2) (a) Linearity between execution of traditional combats operations and SSTR operations. With traditional Westphalian-based military operations, combat operations ended (signed armistice, treaty of surrender, etc) and then SSTR began, e.g., Japan WWII. With counterinsurgency operations, there is no formal end of combat operations, i.e., no linear transition. (See attached very rough & simplified graphics intended only to help better illustrate what I mean not as prescriptive. Also serve as a strawman to start 'ripping apart.' ) I think a lot about this in terms of nuclear, chemical & biological defense. Are the defensive RDT&E programs adequately addressing the requirements (whether officially produced through the J8 requirements process or not) of the warfighter in SSTR operations? Or are the defensive RDT&E programs still giving ("transitioning" is the precise term but don't want to confuse w/the "T" of SSTR) the services products that are only adequate for traditional combat operations, or even worse, traditional combat operations in a Cold War setting? What is the role for the S&T portion? (b) Linearity with SSTR. I don’t think anyone is going to argue that transition or reconstruction can occur without some basic level of security. (How stable that level of security is something else -- the Green Zone is quite secure; if US forces depart, how stable is that security?) Is it purely linear – no. “Three steps forward, two steps back” might be a better – altho’ still imperfect – metaphor. Particularly not in a counterinsurgency like Iraq in which while the overall trend is to greater security and stability, incidents of insecurity and destabilization spike with seasons (seasonal pattern of violence also observed in Afghanistan). As institutions (banking, police, education, health) are rebuilt and strengthened and corruption decreases as part of reconstruction that has a positive feedback on security and stability of a fragile state. That’s been observed repeatedly in Africa. (3) Extent of involvement of military versus civilian in SSTR operations. As a nation is rebuilt, through time the extent of involvement (proportion) of uniformed services should linearly decrease and civilians (both foreign and domestic) should increase roughly linearly. (See attached very rough, simplified graphics intended only to help better illustrate what I mean not as prescriptive.) There’s a reasonable question to ask: did transition occur too quickly in Iraq (30 June 2004) before there was adequate security, stabilization, *and* reconstruction? VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Can they be treated linearly? Thanks for the SFRC link! Purely linearly, no. And there are not strict demarcations between S | S | T | R. Although if at the conclusion of traditional military operations (e.g., defeat/overthrow of the ruling govt) security is not established, then basic security has to be established first. So there is some linearity there, imo. My understanding of GEN Zinni’s comments is that he was emphasizing the need for coordinated planning of traditional military (offensive) operations and post-conflict operations (from the uniformed services through whoever is responsible for reconstruction) *at the time* the initial conflict (invasion) is being planned. Have to admit that my favorite comments from the Senate hearing came from the ADM Leighton Smith, (ret): “We need Smart power to keep America safe & to demonstrate our moral leadership. For the United States to be an effective world leader, we have to balance all three tools of our nation’s statecraft defense, diplomacy, and development. This is what we refer to as ‘smart power.’ “The next Congress & President must project the strength of our values in the world: our actions & programs that [can] impact and inspire the world’s most vulnerable groups. “My own military experience leads me to support programs that improve the way developing countries govern. Programs that train teachers and doctors, create infrastructure for health care, strengthen international alliances, promote global development, these & other actions that meet humanitarian needs express the values of our nation, and that’s what’s important.” And his comment that “the worse news we could get was that we’ve got some more civilians coming in to deal with …” because they didn’t/don’t listen made me chuckle! (The latter is my translation of what he said much more diplomatically.) VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

01001111 01101000 00101100 00100000 01000111 01101111 01100100 00101100 00100000 01001111 01101000 00101100 00100000 01000111 01101111 01100100 But you knew that didn't you?

She could get a job doing Phone sex for geeks. More likely wonk porn. Giving talks this summer on "AQ & Unconventional Weapons" and "Emerging Tech for WMDs," the latter to an audience of mostly uniformed officers. I'll be sure to let ya know what their reaction is. /Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Just wait til I've got DoDD 3000.08. W/r/t |R|, it's the most comprehensive & detailed of the three on the websites. I give Sen Clinton and her foreign policy advisory team credit for treating it as more than just an after-thought. Before |R| need the |SST| against an overwhelmingly domestic insurgency in Iraq ... COIN. The most comprehensive approach to reconstruction that I've encountered is the CSIS Post-Conflict Reconstruction (PCR) Project, which has many publications exceeding 180 words. |R| is tough. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Concur. Concur. Concur it's the most explicit vision (not a plan) to address Iraqi security/stabillization and counterinsurgency. Unfortunately, that also "does nothing to address al Qa'eda." Bringing up (big) al Qa’eda and global radical Salafist movement w/in the constraints of the thread, which I tried to abide by, is something of a false and limiting premise. To consider strategy against al Qa’eda, Afghanistan and Pakistan’s northwest territories must be included. (Or maybe that’s the crux ….) Per the US State Dept 2007 Report on Terrorism released less than 10 days ago: “Al-Qa’ida (AQ) and associated networks remained the greatest terrorist threat to the United States and its partners in 2007. It has reconstituted some of its pre-9/11 operational capabilities through the exploitation of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), replacement of captured or killed operational lieutenants, and the restoration of some central control by its top leadership, in particular Ayman al-Zawahiri. Although Usama bin Ladin remained the group’s ideological figurehead, Zawahiri has emerged as AQ’s strategic and operational planner.” Insurgent militias in Iraq are organized by religious identities; their religious extremism is not directed at the American homeland but against the US-led occupation and each other. The goals of Al Qa’eda in Iraq (AQI) are: “expelling U.S. forces, establishing an Islamic authority, spreading the conflict to Iraq’s secular neighbors, and engaging in battle with Israel.” Similar goals for Ansar al-Sunna (AS) (nee Ansar al-Islam). What about Africa? al Qa’eda Organisation in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb in Algeria; Tanzania; al Shabab & Al-Ittihad al-Islami in Somalia, where COIN and traditional military operations are having success; and Uganda. Sen McCain’s foreign policy team, lead by former PNAC director Randy Scheunemann, asserts that the main front against al Qa’eda is Iraq, (e.g., see Brookings Institute hosted discussion from March featuring all 3 candidates foreign policy advisors. Sen McCain’s foreign policy team looks a lot like Pres. Bush’s in 1999: William Kristol, Robert Kagan, John Bolton, Max Boot. Where are the Reagan-era realists? What happened to the realpolitik of former SecState Henry Kissinger? The Democratic candidates assert that it is in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s northwest territories where a resurgent al Qa’eda and the radical Islamist threat to the US is located. It’s not about politics – at least not to me – it’s about where the organized global Salafist strategic and operational leadership is and to where are they spreading. And stopping that. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying

Oooh, tough & good question! Based on the linked websites & the constraints in this SC notional scenario, I’d have to go with the only one that mentioned counterinsurgency strategy & reconstruction. In reading Sen McCain’s platform and actively looking for the “why” as to the US should remaining militarily engaged in Iraq – just because they are there is not sufficient reason to maintain or to deploy additional US troops, imo – what I found was this: “Success is essential to creating peace in the region, and failure would expose the United States to national security threats for generations. Defeat in the war would lead to much more violence in Iraq, greatly embolden Iran, undermine U.S. allies such as Israel, likely lead to wider conflict, result in a terrorist safe haven in the heart of the Middle East, and gravely damage U.S. credibility throughout the world.” And this: “Iraq's transformation into a secure democracy and a force for freedom in the greater Middle East is the calling of our age. We can succeed.”That’s a passionate rhetorical mix of normative and non-specific realist security issues for being pro-interventionism. Heartened to note that Sen McCain considers what the rest of the world thinks to be important, i.e., maintaining US credibility. I’m still very much wrestling with what I consider to be appropriate use of armed forces for interventionism, nation building, and international development, across the full spectrum of Security, Stability, Transition, and Reconstruction Operations. Since when did the interventionism, nation-building, and international development become a Republican principle? Your thoughts? & why? Bon mot LTC John Nagl, USA – soon to be just Dr. Nagl, who (as I’m confident you know) was hand-chosen by GEN David Petraeus, USA and LTG Jim "Warrior Monk" & "Mad Dog" Mattis, USMC to lead writing of FM 3-24 – is taking a senior fellowship at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS), a liberal-centrist think tank with a number of Sen Clinton’s advisors (i.e., likely deputy and assistant secretaries), as well as former appointees from Pres. Bill Clinton’s administration). Nagl’s said some things that suggest he might support Sen Obama as well; and former SecNav Richard Danzig is also a CNAS senior fellow (likely SecDef nominee if Sen Obama is elected). I know General officers have to wait some “X” number of years before cabinet level appointeeships; I don’t know what the rules are w/r/t field officers and other Senate-confirmation-level appointee positions. My speculation is that Nagl is waiting for a clear Democratic nominee. VR/Marg Act as if everything you do matters, while laughing at yourself for thinking anything you do matters. Tibetan Buddhist saying