Ed's Blog

"Some people know everything, but that's all they know."

RETHINKING AFGHANISTAN – Petraeus and America’s Longest War

General Stanley McChrystal’s resignation following his strategic blunder—granting an interview to Rolling Stone magazine—comes two weeks after the war in Afghanistan became America’s longest war, exceeding the 104 months of the Vietnam War. These two events, along with President Obama selecting General David Petraeus to succeed McChrystal, should give us pause to rethink U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. (More)

Filed under: Military, National Security, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

IS AFGHANISTAN ANOTHER VIETNAM?

Comment here on EWRoss.com’s June 28 poll: Is the war in Afghanistan winnable or is it just another Vietnam?

  • Yes, it’s winnable
  • No, it’s another Vietnam

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Filed under: Poll, , , ,

SHOULD McCHRYSTAL GO?

When General Douglas MacArthur, commanding United Nations forces in Korea, was “insubordinate” with President Harry Truman, Truman fired him. In that instance, MacArthur clearly crossed the line. Does General Stanley McChrystal’s statements in an interview to Rolling Stone Magazine rise to that level. Should President Barack Obama fire him? Should McChrystal resign? Or should he continue to command forces in Afghanistan?

Filed under: Military, , , , , ,

SAVING THE U.S.-U.K. SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP – Is It Already Too Late?

Since President Barack Obama took office, the U.S.-U.K. “special relationship” has been in free fall. The first manifestation of this decline, shortly after the President’s inauguration, was Obama’s sudden return of the Winston Churchill bust from the Oval Office, loaned to the U.S. by the British people as a gesture of solidarity after 9/11. A series of incidents followed. Now, the British even see the Obama administration’s treatment of BP in the wake of the Gulf oil spill in this light. Rough periods in the relationship are nothing new, but this one is different and likely will prove very difficult to undo, if it isn’t already too late.  (More)

Filed under: National Security, The Presidency, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

THE “SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP” STILL RELEVANT OR A RELIC?

Comment on EWRoss.com’s June 21 poll: Is the U.S.-U.K. “special relationship” still relevant in the 21st century or is it a relic of the 20th century>

  • Still relevant
  • A relic of the 20th century

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Filed under: Poll, , , , , , , ,

U.S.-CHINA MILITARY INTERACTION – A Dysfunctional Relationship

China’s on-again-off-again approach to U.S-China military interaction and Beijing’s refusal to allow Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to visit China during his recent Asian trip reveals a dysfunctional military relationship that’s the result of much more than Beijing’s displeasure over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. It reflects fundamentally different national strategic objectives and the changing locus of leverage that result from China’s growing power and influence relative to the U.S.  (More)

Filed under: Military, National Security, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

CHINA’S PLA: SERIOUS THREAT OR POTENTIAL ALLY?

Comment on EWRoss.com’s June 14 poll: Does China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) pose a serious threat to U.S.  national security interests, is it a potential ally, or is it neither?

  • Serious Threat
  • Potential Ally
  • Neither

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Filed under: Poll, , , , , ,

THE OIL SPILL IN THE GULF – Obama’s Leadership Crisis

President Obama’s critics have called him many things. Now, criticizing him for his reaction to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, they’ve begun to call him “incompetent,” comparing him to Jimmy Carter. If that label sticks, the Obama presidency, like Jimmy Carter’s, is doomed. Even worse, if President Obama doesn’t act decisively and quickly to stem the tide of destruction, the oil spill will cause irreparable damage to millions of people’s lives and to the country. (More)

Filed under: Climate Change, The Presidency, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

GRADE OBAMA’S HANDLING OF THE OIL SPILL

Leave your comments here to EWRoss.com’s June 7 poll question: What grade would you give President Obama for the way he’s handling the Gulf oil spill?

  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • F

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Filed under: Poll, , , ,

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    Government scandals are nothing new; they have plagued every presidential administration in American history, and they will continue to do so. What's disturbing about the current General Services Administration (GSA) and Secret Service scandals is what they tell us about the changing character of U.S. government employees involved in them.
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    The Treyvon Martin case has become a media sensation. It has all the necessary elements--tragedy, race, anticipated court-room drama, politics, exploitation, and a gun. We won't know how it will turn out until the authorities in Florida complete their investigation; however it turns out, it's become a rallying cry against stand-your-ground laws--a […]
  • DON'T CONFLATE THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD WITH THE EGYPTIAN ARMED FORCES March 25, 2012
    Critics of President Obama are condemning his administration's decision to waive legislative restrictions related to Egypt's democratic transition and allow Egypt's annual Congressional appropriation of $1.3 billion in military assistance to go forward. There is much about the Obama administration's Middle East policy to criticize; but in […]
  • AFGHANISTAN: THE BUCK STOPS WITH THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF March 18, 2012
    The American generals that now command and have commanded U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan are among the best warfighters in U.S. history. The U.S. troops under their command are the most skilled, battle-hardened warriors America has ever put in the field. So what went wrong in Afghanistan that's making victory so elusive if not impossible?
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