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Pentagon Increases Its Spying Markedly |
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| Topic: Military |
5:59 am EST, Mar 24, 2005 |
The Pentagon's new emphasis on intelligence gathering overseas has led to a major expansion of espionage operations and a more prominent role for intelligence officers in military decision making and war planning. "The volume of these smaller-scale clandestine activities has expanded dramatically." (Unlike covert operations, clandestine missions are not intended to influence the internal dynamics of another nation.) [ "Oops! Do I do that?" ] "This is a turf battle." "DIA is now engaged in doing far grander things." "It's happening all over the Islamic world." It's a free-market economy! What could be wrong with that? Pentagon Increases Its Spying Markedly |
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National Defense Strategy of the United States, 2005 |
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| Topic: Military |
5:36 am EST, Mar 23, 2005 |
This strategy, released on March 18, is one of the driving documents for the Quadrennial Defense Review, which is just getting under way. This Strategy outlines our approach to dealing with challenges we likely will confront, not just those we are currently best prepared to meet. Our intent is to create favorable security conditions around the world and to continue to transform how we think about security, formulate strategic objectives, and adapt to achieve success. This strategy emphasizes the importance of influencing events before challenges become more dangerous and less manageable. That sounds like the preemption strategy we all know and love, but there's also a certain General Memetics Corp. quality to it. National Defense Strategy of the United States, 2005 |
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Transcript of Briefing on National Defense Strategy of the United States |
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| Topic: Military |
5:31 am EST, Mar 23, 2005 |
The document was released on March 18; this is a transcript of a Pentagon briefing announcing the release, describing the strategy, and answeringi press questsions. The National Defense Strategy is the guidance that the secretary provides on what the department has to do to implement the president's National Security Strategy. The National Defense Strategy also serves as the foundation for the Quadrennial Defense Review process. Basically, what the Quadrennial Defense Review does is, it asks what kinds of capabilities does this department have to have in order to fulfill the National Defense Strategy. Transcript of Briefing on National Defense Strategy of the United States |
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Anatomy of a tribal rebellion |
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| Topic: Military |
8:37 am EST, Mar 9, 2005 |
The answers to what motivates and sustains the insurgency in Iraq are not readily found in traditional insurgency literature. Much better answers can be found by reexamining something deemed anachronistic in the information age: the dynamics of traditionally networked tribes and clans. This paper provides such a reexamination, and shows that tribal dynamics are particularly evident among insurgents in Fallujah and other parts of the so–called Sunni triangle. Anatomy of a tribal rebellion |
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China's National Defense in 2004 |
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| Topic: Military |
9:34 pm EST, Jan 9, 2005 |
A panoramic view of the present-day world displays the simultaneous existence of both opportunities for and challenges to peace and development, and of positive and negative factors bearing on security and stability. The opportunities cannot be shared and the challenges cannot be overcome unless diverse civilizations, social systems and development models live together harmoniously, trust each other and engage in cooperation. Hence, the pursuit of peace, development and cooperation has become an irresistible trend of history. The development goal for China to strive for in the first two decades of this century is to build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way. As a large developing country, China has before it an arduous task for modernization, which calls for prolonged and persistent hard work. China will mainly rely on its own strength for development, and therefore poses no obstacle or threat to any one. China needs a peaceful international environment for its own development, which in turn will enhance peace and development in the world. Holding high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, China adheres to an independent foreign policy of peace and a national defense policy of the defensive nature. China will never go for expansion, nor will it ever seek hegemony. This White Paper, China's National Defense in 2004, is published to illustrate China's national defense policies and the progress made in the past two years in its defense and army building. China's National Defense in 2004 |
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| Topic: Military |
3:49 pm EST, Nov 26, 2004 |
We have become used to having a high-quality military filled by dedicated young women and men willing to put their lives on the line for less money than Donald Trump hands out in tips every week. It is worth remembering how extraordinary and unusual our service members really are -- and how much we owe them this Thanksgiving. In their post-Vietnam agony, all the services had trouble attracting recruits, and those who signed up tended to come from the bottom of the barrel. By the 1991 Gulf War, those problems had evaporated and the first-rate military we know today had been created. Anybody who has spent any time around today's soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines cannot help but be awed by their dedication, courage, and professionalism. Thanking Our Troops |
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Petraeus: 'Succeeding in Iraq is like a cattle drive' |
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| Topic: Military |
1:54 pm EDT, Oct 30, 2004 |
Lt. Gen. David H. Petraeus, the head of training and equipping Iraqi security forces, says that succeeding in Iraq is like a cattle drive from Texas to Wyoming in the Old West: the cattle are the myriad tasks that need to be done in Iraq, and American and Iraqi trail bosses are battling insurgent rustlers, treacherous conditions and daunting logistical hurdles to keep the herd moving. "I don't think it's too late to succeed, but it's not going to be easy. The bottom line is, you just have to keep it going." Petraeus: 'Succeeding in Iraq is like a cattle drive' |
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Keeping Pace with the Revolution in Military Affairs |
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| Topic: Military |
9:12 pm EDT, Jul 18, 2004 |
In Operation Iraqi Freedom, the world witnessed a progress report on the revolution in military affairs (RMA). The performance of US forces in the major combat phase of the operation in Iraq demonstrated the ability of institutions functioning within standard bureaucratic, hierarchical structures to operate beyond those structures. To put it bluntly, US forces in Iraq leapt past jointness into networked operating models. The challenge to the Intelligence Community is to keep pace with the significant flow of change emanating from the Department of Defense. Keeping Pace with the Revolution in Military Affairs |
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Coca-Cola promotion prompts security measures |
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| Topic: Military |
1:23 pm EDT, Jul 3, 2004 |
GPS-equipped cans of Coca-Cola are being used in a prize promotion by the soft drink company. The can has officials at some of the most secretive U.S. installations worried that the cans could be used to eavesdrop. Military bases are asking soldiers to examine their Coke cans before bringing them in to classified meetings. Paul Saffo compared the concern about the Coke cans to when the Central Intelligence Agency banned Furbies, the stuffed toys that could repeat phrases. Coca-Cola promotion prompts security measures |
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| Topic: Military |
5:35 pm EDT, Jun 19, 2004 |
A Go Approach to Mastering China's Strategic Concept, "shi" By better understanding Go, American strategists could better understand Chinese strategy. A never ending process: new strategic concepts constantly emerge, some fade away, a few pass the tests of suitability, feasibility, and acceptability and make it into the mainstream. It will be too late to consult experts when grave occasions arise. National leaders must make strategic thinking and employment of tactical skills part of their second nature. Learning from the Stones |
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