dagblog - Comments for "What If The People Who Want To Go To War In Syria Are Fantasists?"

Could static electricity set

Resistance — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 19:07:44 +0000

In reply to Been there ... done that

Could static electricity set off a bomb prematurely?

Van de Graaff generator.

Been there ... done that

Beetlejuice — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 18:34:54 +0000

In reply to What If The People Who Want To Go To War In Syria Are Fantasists?

Been there ... done that

Charlie Wilson ... he lead Congress into supporting Operation Cyclone , the largest-ever CIA covet operation during both the Carter and Reagan's Administrations supplied military equipment including anti-aircraft weapons such as antiaircraft missiles and paramilitary officers from their Special Services Division Special to the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.

And we were blessed with the Taliban and bin Laden for our efforts. Seems they learned that a small, incoherent ideology with loose command structure can be used to force a super power to their knees. It takes no large army or trained fighting forces with tanks, ships or planes ... just someone with enough TNT strapped to their body and willing to blow themselves up around a group of innocent bystanders.

Figure out how to isolate and confine the lone suicide bomber and detect IED's and you'll take the wind out of their sails, leaving them floundering in the doldrums.

I would echo what barefooted

Bruce Levine — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 23:26:39 +0000

In reply to Pollack has been very good at

I would echo what barefooted just wrote, and you've probably some of that good ole' boys and girls club atmosphere in journalism circles. That's my hunch; these folks take care of each other like that. Kind of almost human naturish -- or something.

Yes, Michael thanks, sorry

Bruce Levine — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 23:07:25 +0000

In reply to This isn't what Bruce linked

Yes, Michael thanks, sorry about the link. This is what I'm talking about.

Thx

rmrd0000 — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 21:50:09 +0000

In reply to This isn't what Bruce linked

Thx

They published his nonsense

barefooted — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 21:13:12 +0000

In reply to Pollack has been very good at

They published his nonsense because he's well-known in foreign policy circles, and his book was successful. I dare say that noone who holds genuine sway in policy decisions is paying any attention to this latest bid for celebrity.

This isn't what Bruce linked

Michael Maiello — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:38:11 +0000

In reply to Just to finish the thought

This isn't what Bruce linked but it's Josh's Washington Monthly article about Pollack's book from 2002. Likely tells the same story.

Pollack has been very good at

Michael Maiello — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:35:19 +0000

In reply to Just to finish the thought

Pollack has been very good at marketing himself. In 2002 he was the non-neocon pro- war guy, marketed as a honest to goodness expert. His book making the case for war was a huge influence on people like Josh who, I think, were good natured and well intended in their desire to see if there were arguments other than the ridiculous Bush arguments, that made the case for invading Iraq. I might be fighting the last war but Pollack is clearly still influential. I can't see why else Foreign Policy would have published him.

The link to the article does

rmrd0000 — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:25:18 +0000

In reply to Just to finish the thought

The link to the article does not work. The article is not available on the site.

Just to finish the thought

Bruce Levine — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 19:46:34 +0000

In reply to What If The People Who Want To Go To War In Syria Are Fantasists?

Just to finish the thought with an example, I'm fairly certain that back in 2002, Ken Pollack was a go-to guy for Josh Marshall. That will hopefully not be the case this time. I think it is critically important to understand the various narratives being bandied about -- reminding us about Pollack is a good start, and edited to add that the narrative can't be ceded to others.