Evening News Update 30June09

From Iraq:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Analysis-US-role-in-Iraq-doesnt-end-just-yet-49536617.html

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/06/30/roller-coaster-ride-iraq/

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/30/companies-excluded-major-iraq-oil-deal-britain-china/

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/06/30/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5125861.shtml

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200963054650513164.html

From Afghanistan / Pakistan:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/world/asia/01pstan.html?hp

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-30-voa38.cfm

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/200963084536544156.html

http://www.afghannews.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3439

From Iran:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/30/iran.election/

God Bless America

Bryan Sphere: Related Content

Quote of the Day 30June09

"Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to
be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war."

Thucydides

God Bless America

Bryan Sphere: Related Content

AMP Morning Stand-To 30June09

Iran:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009629151258105455.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/28/iran.neda.dispute/index.html

Iraq:

Celebrations: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html?ref=global-home

Kurd / Arab: http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0629/p08s01-comv.html

Celebrations: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200963054650513164.html

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

Pakistan Taliban: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD994Q34O0

Security Arrested: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/2009629152429466546.html

http://www.afghannews.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3439

http://www.afghannews.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3438

Worldwide:

Honduras: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-honduras-obama30-2009jun30,0,756706.story

God Bless America

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Quote of the Day 29June09

This quote comes from an incredible lady, that I am proud to call a friend. It is a very deep statement that can lead to so many discussions.

"Cowardice and hate are rooted in ignorance."

Angelia Phillips


God Bless America and their family

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AMP Morning Stand-To 29June09

Iran:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062802845.html

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124607024946364341.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009629539416446.html

Iraq:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8582054

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200962985132437128.html

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/20096299174440835.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8582248

World-Wide:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/06/20096291184517429.html

God Bless America

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Sunday Night News Update 28June09

Iran:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009628192214829335.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran29-2009jun29,0,877375.story

Iraq:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200962817539115715.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062800573.html

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/28/iraq.iran.odierno/?iref=mpstoryview


Afghanistan / Pakistan:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/200962815525664398.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=a9tVXsShdJg4

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C06%5C29%5Cstory_29-6-2009_pg7_2

World-Wide:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/06/2009628155845590287.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/27/AR2009062701984.html

God Bless America

Bryan Sphere: Related Content

Saturday Night Funny 27June09

I normally do not do this, but it's Saturday Night and we can all use some humor. There is no bad language in the video. There were a couple funnier videos but I was not able to make that same claim about lack of bad language with them though. Enjoy, and I hope it brings a smile to your face.

God Bless America

Bryan


Ninja Parade Slips Through Town Unnoticed Once Again Sphere: Related Content

Saturday Evening GWOT Update 27June09

I normally do not do this, but there is a great deal going on right now. Most of it has been lost due to the pop-culture events that have occurred; and the sheer fact the MSM feels it is more important to cover that instead of incidents overseas. With that being said, here are the top stories in my opinion that people really need to be reading about.

From Afghanistan and Pakistan:

http://www.afghannews.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3436

http://www.afghannews.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3437

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/200962744249290501.html

http://www.pddnet.com/news-ap-lead-g-8-afghan-pakistani-foreign-chiefs-pledge-062709/

From Iraq:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8122579.stm

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article6590900.ece

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/20096271522551335.html

God Bless America

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Quote of the Day 27June09

"We shall meanly lose or nobly save the last hope of earth."

President Abraham Lincoln

God Bless America

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AMP Morning Stand-To 27June09

Iran:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529246,00.html

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/06/2009626183654681469.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jGSJEAPs_r2T2wxsL5G3t4z-jajQD992VF4O0

Iraq:

Bombings and Troop Withdrawal: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200962763946489392.html

PM Maliki calls for unity: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD992VEUO0

PM Maliki says Iraqi Forces can handle it: http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-40640320090627

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

G8 pledges support: http://www.pddnet.com/news-ap-g-8-afghan-pakistani-foreign-chiefs-pledge-work--062709/

Karzai calls on Taliban to vote: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/2009627103444647551.html

G8: http://www.canada.com/news/focus+stabilizing+Afghanistan+Pakistan/1740027/story.html

North Korea:

US / South Korean Talkshttp://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5icva5EVoVq1z8Bm49Lgk0AOgeE0g

Russia: http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-24-voa26.cfm

God Bless America

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Another Great Blog

You know, beyond the fact that Twitter has helped me connect with even more people then I ever thought was possible, it has also helped me find a number of other great milblogs that I did not know existed. This is another one of those. She has a son in Afghanistan and supports the military in all kinds of ways. Check her out!

http://applepiemom.wordpress.com/

God Bless America

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Quote of the Day 26June09

"The commander of the forces of a large State may be carried off,
but the will of even a common man cannot be taken from him."

Confucius

God Bless America

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AMP Morning Stand-To 26June09

Iran:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,529130,00.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8120217.stm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/06/25/ST2009062504596.html

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/20096261178950796.html

Iraq:

Bombing: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200962665113921979.html

Bombing: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/world/middleeast/27iraq.html?hpw

Bombing: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD9928H900

Kurdish Constitution: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gbgJWPfvj_oJpMuKT7Ra0YUmtISw

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

Girl's School Bombing in Pakistan: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jxFZX7rtNekwXydKITtuUzkCB2sQ

Indian Comments: http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/ns_asia/2009-06-25/455222986186.html

Bagram Hospital: http://www.afghannews.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3433

Southern Afghanistan: http://www.afghannews.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3435

North Korea:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iURO8fOyWVOA0ytFlaAGuC9F7R9wD9928J081

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/25/officials-dismiss-north-korea-missile-threat/

God Bless America

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A Must Read Blog

Another Blog that I found through friend's on Twitter is http://www.knottiesniche.blogspot.com/

The wonderful Lady that writes it is a Gold Star Mother. Angelia writes elequently about being a Gold Star Mother and her loss. She also discusses her son, his life, what he served for, and believed in. She also is a huge supporter of the troops through various and numerous ways. I am very proud to say I know her, and think the world of her. I will be very honest, her blog has brought me to tears a number of times.

Thank You very much for all you do Angelia and Thank You for sharing. It is vitally important.

God Bless America, Pokey (Micheal), Angelia, and the entire family.

Bryan Sphere: Related Content

Great Milblog!

I've been meaning to do this for about a week and a half now, and I have honestly lost site of it. So now, I am! This is a great Milblog that I found through Twitter and an absolutely great Lady that is writing it and supporting the Troops in a HUGE way! Much thanks for all you are doing, and love the site. Please go check her out.

http://www.hoperadio.blogspot.com/

God Bless America

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Quote of the Day 25June09

"No one starts a war-or rather, no one in his senses ought to do so-without first being clear in his mind what he intends to achieve by that war and how he intends to conduct it."

Karl Von Clausewitz

God Bless America

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AMP Morning Stand-To 25June09

Iran:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/25/iran.election/

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200962594056586436.html

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-25-voa6.cfm

Iraq:

Baghdad Bombing: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200962561642485869.html

Bombing: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062500434.html

Q / A: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLP064310

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

Swat Search Operations: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aBrS0U6JP2os

Taliban Destroy Girls School: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gY7uQ_w5jl1u3_SbkuSjudDdSouw

Anti-Drug: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/us-winding-down-efforts-for-afghan-poppy-destruction_100209161.html

North Korea:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5givnzx2tQFTTR4dL8sBgHLUp9wvQ

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/24/us.north.korea/

General:

Manas AB: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/world/europe/26base.html?ref=world

NATO / Russia Talks: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnnIqo96QOiQ1d0unWoAPvYLs0PA

Syrian Ambassador: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/24/us.syria/

God Bless America

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Great Operation by the Afghan National Army

From Afghan News Network:

Afghan soldiers have killed 48 militants in two operations in southern Afghanistan aimed at clearing Taliban strongholds ahead of presidential elections in August, officials and the army said Wednesday.

Local troops backed by NATO-led international forces stormed a militant stronghold in the southern province of Uruzgan on Tuesday, killing 23 insurgents, Afghan army General Sher Mohammad Zazai told AFP.

"We had an operation in Chinarto area last night during which we located a Taliban hideout. We killed 23 enemy fighters," Zazai said.

Fighter jets from the NATO force took part in the battle close to the provincial capital of Tirin Kot and near the Pakistan border, he added.

The operation was part of an anti-insurgent drive recently launched to dislodge Taliban militants from their strongholds ahead of the August 20 presidential elections, the general said.

The Afghan defence ministry reported separately that troops had killed 25 "terrorists" in a three-day clean-up operation that ended on Tuesday in the southern province of Helmand.

Helmand, the main producer of Afghanistan's illegal opium, sees some of the worst of the insurgency, with a handful of districts said to be under insurgent control.

US national security adviser James Jones visited the province on Wednesday as part of a tour of Afghanistan to assess implementation of a new US strategy against the Taliban that promises more troops, money and development.

Jones started his trip in Kabul on Tuesday where he met President Hamid Karzai and the top US commander, General Stanley McChrystal, who took over just over a week ago.

God Bless America

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Iran and the Middle East

Last night I talked about why I am hopeful about Iran and the potential for change right now. Tonight, I wanted to talk about what this could mean if that came to fruition.

First, like I said last night, as I refer to democratic styled governance in this post, I do not mean something that looks like us. I mean a form of governance that the Iranian's choose for themselves, is more democratically structured, and less authoritarian. With that being said; what is so important about a country being democratically styled?

A democratically styled nation-state has a very small propensity of going to war with a neighbor. There are many reasons for this, but a large one is the ability to conduct meaningful conflict resolution, and that nation-states higher degree of polity influence on the government's decisions. In a authoritarian regime going to war is easy, the leader says go, and they go.

The second main reason is I am hopeful that a change within their government would lead to less adversarial conditions between us and Iran. There is much that we and the entire Middle East stand to gain from a condition such as this.

Some of the first conditions that leap to mind are greater help in Afghanistan, possibly pressure on the Palestinians, and greater access for all to natural resources. I know I am being very, very optimistic right now. But, change always has to start somewhere.

The other area that I see as critical for this type of change is within the balance of power in the Middle East. Iran is a Regional Power, and growing. A more democratically structured Iran would hopefully be more of a player within the world community. Instead of being labeled as a pariah due to their government's support for certain terrorist organizations and issues with the IAEA.

Now you notice I did not refer to the Iranian People. The reason for that is I truthfully do not believe in general that they have ever wanted to outright support terrorist organizations. There is a major difference between what a nation's government does, and what the people may want. I believe that this is a key difference that is part of what is showing itself within these protests.

To summarize, a more democratically styled Iranian Government can have a huge impact on the Middle East. It would do much to defuse present tensions, it would provide help in combating insurgencies within Iraq and Afghanistan, and aid in natural resource production and transportation.

Coupled with last nights thoughts, that is what I am hopeful about. I am hopeful that this is a beginning of changes that can benefit all of us together.

God Bless America

Bryan Sphere: Related Content

Quote of the Day 24June09

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."

President Thomas Jefferson

God Bless America

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AMP Morning Stand-To 24June09

Iran:

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-24-voa4.cfm

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124583232591946385.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Iran/idUSTRE55N1PJ20090624

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8116515.stm

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/23/iran.violence/index.html

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200962484755543950.html

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

Questions about a new Pakistan Offensive: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/23/AR2009062303478.html

Drone Strikes in Pakistan: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iETAw1x_TwPDb3S1p5A-dE5BMCvQ

GEN Jones to visit Afghan / Pakistan: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i1MdleUaaZh29e1Shvc1AahYE-iAD98VQHUG2

Iraq:

Kurds and Elections: http://www.kansascity.com/451/story/1268414.html

Casualty Update: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/23/AR2009062303305.html

General:

Swine Flu: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_fear_flu_mutating_as_citys_toll_rises.html

US Navy well trained in boarding ships: http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0624/p02s04-usmi.html

God Bless America

Bryan Sphere: Related Content

DOD Wounded Warriors Diaries

The Department of Defense has created a web-site called Wounded Warrior Diaries highlighting the road to recovery for some of our Wounded Warriors. I highly recommend checking them out.

http://www.defenselink.mil/home/features/2008/0908_wwd/index.html

God Bless America and may he be with our Wounded Warriors.

Bryan Sphere: Related Content

A Wonderful Organization

I was just introduced to this organization, and I can not say eneough about them after all I just read. Please follow the link to learn more.

God Bless America

Bryan

http://www.operationquietcomfort.com/index.html Sphere: Related Content

Change, Change, Change, and Iran

I've been sitting here watching all that is going on in Iran over the last week and a half. For those of you who read the blog all the time you know my feelings on what should and should not be done. But this is not about that. This is about two theories that have been put forth in the past, and maybe, being proved correct now. It is still too early to tell, but they are some of the reasons that I am hopeful about what I am watching occur in Tehran right now.

About four years ago I started working on my first Master Degree. The very first course I had to take was in Research Methods. At the end of the course we had to turn in a 20-25 page paper on a country of our choice and the National Strategy implications for the US about it. I choose Iran. It was a country that I was curious about, and had always wanted to learn more about.

What I found through my research was the ideas and theories put forth by a great deal of analysts about the youth of the country of Iran. At first I was not convinced, but as I read more and more my opinion was changed. You see, their general hypothesis was that due to the huge age disparity in size and age demographics that a change in government within Iran was coming.

During the Iran Iraq War, the Ayatollah had told all Iranian families to have as many children as possible. This led to a situation where the population demographics of Iran place almost 68% of their population under the age of thirty-five. This younger generation has embraced western culture and seeks greater and broader freedoms then they have been allowed by the government. The analysts felt that the best thing to do about Iran was to leave them alone, and they would slowly change to a more democratic and less authoritarian regime.

Now, an important disclaimer must be interjected here. When I say more democratic, I do not mean similar to the US. I mean a system that is more democratic but uniquely Iranian in nature. I feel one of our greatest foreign policy mistakes in the past has been we want countries we assist to end up looking like us. That is just not going to happen. Every area brings with it their own culture and background, and this will influence their governmental makeup. But, what is important is that the people are satisfied and they enjoy certain inalienable rights.

The second theory that makes me hopeful is the ideas put forth by GEN (R) Colin Powell and President George W. Bush. Now, whether you agreed with Iraq or not, put that out of your head for the moment. It is done, and there is no changing that. The implications remain though.

One of the ideas that I heard put forward after the initial invasion was that a successful democratic type nation-state in Iraq would have serious effects upon their neighbors. The hope was that if the people who resided in Iran and Syria saw a successful democratic styled nation-state in Iraq that they would strive to achieve those same things in their country. Are we seeing the beginning of this in Iran?

As I said at the beginning of the article, it is too early to tell if there is real change coming or if these theories are coming to fruition. Things are greatly in flux right now, and if anyone says they can predict the outcome, I am highly suspect of their intellect. But, I am hopeful. What a more democratic styled nation-state in Iran could mean to the entire Middle East I will discuss tomorrow night.

God Bless America

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Manas Air Base

From AJE:

The United States and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to a tentative deal that would allow the American military the continued use of a key air base in the central Asian nation.

A Kyrgyz parliamentary committee on Tuesday approved the deal to allow the US to use the Manas air base as a "centre of transit shipments" for US-led military forces in Afghanistan.

The committee approved the deal after the US agreed to pay more than triple the rent it currently pays for using the base, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Kadyrbek Sarbayev, the Kyrgyz foreign minister, said rent under the new deal will increase to $60m a year from the current $17.4m.

The US will also pay $37m to build new aircraft parking slots and storage areas, and another $30m for new navigation systems, the Associated Press reported.

God Bless America

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Quote of the Day 23June09

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his
blood with me, Shall be my brother."

William Shakespeare from Henry V

God Bless America

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AMP Stand-To 23 June09

Iran:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/23/iran.election/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/23/iran-guardian-council-results

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8114195.stm

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-23-voa1.cfm

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hcP2fLsSy5AsI75aY7qA90rFd9Gg

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5heBbALZ2uRaRJTO9hzBlKzmGmG0A

Iraq:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0622/p06s07-wome.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/world/middleeast/22iraq.html?ref=world

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,528060,00.html

Domestic:

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/23/Nine-dead-in-DC-metro-train-crash/UPI-65501245755695/

God Bless America

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Iran Update 22June09

From CNN:

Thousands of Iranians congregated and passed through Haft-e Tir Square, but riot police and the pro-government Basij militia confronted them and smacked their batons against their shin guards, making loud cracking sounds that seemed like gunshots, the witnesses said.

As the protests continued, an election official with the Interior Ministry said the "box-by-box details" of the ballots -- which were confidential in previous elections -- would be released in response to claims that the election was rigged, Press TV reported.

Iran's Guardian Council declared President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner of the election with 62.63 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Mir Hossein Moussavi, received 33.75 percent, surprising many experts who expected him to win.

Iranians have continued protesting the results by taking to the streets.

Most stores around the square were closed as the unrest reverberated, with some guarding against damage by erecting steel fences on their windows.

Helicopters hovered overhead as the security forces wielded batons and used a spray to push the crowd out of the square. After that, police chased down demonstrators in nearby alleys and streets, with protesters and lawmen playing cat and mouse over several tension-filled hours until the crowd began to thin out around dusk.

From AJE:

Anti-government protesters have continued their demonstrations on the streets of Tehran, the Iranian capital, despite a warning from the country's security forces.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards, a military unit, threatened on Monday in a statement on its website to crush further protests over the country's disputed June 12 presidential election.

The Revolutionary Guards is an armed force parallel to Iran's army which claims to defend the gains of the 1979 revolution against a possible coup.

But the warning fell on deaf ears as shortly afterwards hundreds of protesters gathered in central Tehran amid reports of teargas and batons being used to disperse the crowd.

Riot police and members of Basij, a pro-government armed volunteer force, were deployed heavily in Tehran.

Witnesses said 1,000 protesters gathered at the Haft-e Tir Square despite the guards' warning.

NY Times:

The protesters, far fewer than the numbers who had attended mass rallies last week, turned out despite the warning, on the Guards’ Web site, that they would face a “revolutionary confrontation” if they continued to challenge the results of the June 12 election and their country’s supreme leader, who has pronounced the ballot to be fair.

Security forces descended on a separate crowd of hundreds who had gathered at a square to memorialize Neda Agha-Soltan, the young woman whose shooting death at a rally over the weekend was captured on video and circulated around the world.

Despite the Ayatollah’s insistence of the election’s legitimacy, Iran’s most senior panel of election monitors, in the most sweeping acknowledgment that the election was flawed, said Monday that the number of votes cast in 50 cities exceeded the actual number of voters, according to a state television report.

The discrepancies could affect some three million ballots of what the government says was 40 million cast, giving the official victory to the incumbent president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

God Bless America

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Quote of the Day 22June09

"The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious."

Marcus Aurelius

God Bless America

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AMP Stand-To 22June09

Iran:

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Iran/idUSTRE55L0VM20090622

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jun/22/iran-elections-twitter-news-agencies

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/21/iran.election/index.html

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-22-voa8.cfm

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

US Casualties:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/21/AR2009062101840.html

Taliban Leadership: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124562262680835357.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Pakistan Army fighting Taliban: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/world/ap/48683447.html

Iraq:

US Military Casualty Numbers: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jSM16rQ_AA3cTBNwK_UJ26lRHBeAD98VCJKO1

Bombs explode in Baghdad: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hwK_CSpBxsNuVUEaDuOwmSSCiqGwD98VKQE01

Bombs explode in Baghdad: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8112504.stm

World:

North Korea: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/21/obama-prepared-threat-north-korea/

India: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iW6Y6G3OAzR72QDD96T2WVi75mAQ

Russia: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/world/europe/23ingushetia.html?hp


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Thomas Friedman on Iran

From the NY Times and Thomas Friedman:

For those who have read my column for awhile, you know I have had my differences with Mr. Thomas Friedman in the past. Make no mistake, I respect the heck out of the man, but I do disagree with him on some things. But, he is very intelligent, and his insight on Iran in this article, in my opinion, is spot-on. Read on for the excerpt, and follow the link to the whole article.

The popular uprising unfolding in Iran right now really is remarkable. It is the rarest of rare things — more rare than snow in Saudi Arabia, more unlikely than finding a ham sandwich at the Wailing Wall, more unusual than water-skiing in the Sahara. It is a popular uprising in a Middle Eastern oil state.

Why is this so unusual? Because in most Middle East states, power grows out of the barrel of a gun and out of a barrel of oil — and that combination is very hard to overthrow.

Oil is a key reason that democracy has had such a hard time emerging in the Middle East, except in one of the few states with no oil: Lebanon. Because once kings and dictators seize power, they can entrench themselves, not only by imprisoning their foes and killing their enemies, but by buying off their people and using oil wealth to build huge internal security apparatuses.

There is only one precedent for an oil-funded autocrat in the Middle East being toppled by a people’s revolution, not by a military coup, and that was in ... Iran.

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Rocket Attack on Bagram Airfield

From the LA Times:

Two U.S. troops were killed and six Americans were wounded Sunday in an early-morning rocket attack at sprawling Bagram air base in Afghanistan.

Military authorities said at least three rockets slammed into the base about 2 a.m., in a rare instance of an insurgent attack inflicting casualties inside the heavily fortified compound. It was the third rocket or mortar attack to penetrate the base since January.


The wounded, four service members and two civilians, were treated at a medical facility on the base, which is the size of a small city. Located along the fertile Shomali plain about 25 miles north of Kabul, the base and airfield are surrounded by farmland, desert and towering mountains.

The three rockets hit separate areas of the base, and a fourth exploded outside the security barrier, a military spokesman said. A police official in Bagram district, which surrounds the base, said he had heard no reports of Afghan civilian casualties.

"We offer our condolences and sympathy to the families of our two brave service members," said Army Maj. Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force-82 at Bagram. "Their sacrifice in the name of security and a better way of life for the Afghan people will not be forgotten."

God Bless America and may he be with the families of the fallen, and the wounded.

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Good News Story From Afghanistan

From ISAF Homepage:

As coalition forces continue to take on a mentoring role to help reconstruction in Afghanistan, one aspect of this process includes encouraging a rank structure within the Afghan National Army (ANA).

At Camp Stone in Herat, British mentors are assisting senior ANA soldiers to provide a six-week Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) course to fellow ANA soldiers that will help improve rank structure.

British Army Sergeant Andrew Cover, 40 Regiment Royal Artillery and NCO course mentor, explained the necessity for such a course, including his role within the classroom.

“Our goal is to help them understand the importance of a rank system and learn to delegate responsibility,” said Cover.

As a mentor, Cover shadows the instructors, and offers suggestions based on experience.

“My priority is to the instructors, and to make sure what they are teaching their students is accurate,” he said. “They teach the course, they give the information, and I am there only to assist and give my experience in the Army.”

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Happy Father's Day

I want to take a second and wish all of the Fathers out there a very Happy Father's Day, and especially to mine. I would not be where I am today without your love and support. Thank You.

God Bless America and God Bless all the Fathers out there.

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Quote of the Day 21June09

"The moral is to the physical as three to one"

Napoleon Bonaparte

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More CNN Video

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CNN New Video from Iran

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Foreign Policy and the Elements of National Power

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty."

President John F Kennedy

I have used this quote many times to summarize my feelings on what we should be doing with the situation in Iran right now. I have also seen many people stating that we should not get involved because using the military in this situation is wrong. Well, your exactly right, but you are missing the point of foreign policy and what the elements of national power are.

Foreign Policy simply put is the complex and complicated creation of how our nation will react and interact with other nation-states. Much goes into creating this policy; personality, national interest, personal politics, and party allegiances. To offer an example, it is like making sausage. Lots of different things go into a grinder, and out the other end hopefully comes something good and useful.

The elements of national power are Diplomacy, Information, Military, and Economics. We, within the military sometimes refer to it as the acronym DIME. Every nation has at its disposal various levels of influence utilizing these elements of national power. But, all of them are essential and vitally important.

When we discuss what the United States should do about Iran, we are firmly discussing the "D" and the "I" of the "DIME" The "E" or economics would not be useful at this point since the Iranian People would be the ones feeling the brunt of it usage. The "M" or the military has no place here. But diplomacy and information have large utilization.

Through diplomacy we can leverage the UN and our alliances to pressure the Iranians into chance. We can also utilize it to show our support for the Iranian People, and let them know that they are not alone in their requests for greater freedom and a free and uncorrupted election. The information aspect allows us to communicate with them, and let them know that we do support them. Over the course of today I have seen numerous times an Iranian Citizen asking, "Where is the United States? Will you not help us?" The information sphere allows us to answer that question, with a resounding; Yes we are.

No matter what we do though, the future of Iran is in the hands of the Iranian People. I think anyone who is trying to predict where this is going to end, is fool-hardy at this point to make that sort of statement. But, we can let them know that we support them, and are with them, as they strive for greater freedoms.

I know many of you, when you hear a Military Officer speaking of what we should do, automatically believe we will advocate the use of force. That is simply not true. If there is anyone out there who understands what force can do, what it can not do, and especially when not to use it; it is us. This is a situation where diplomacy and information are the key elements of national power for us to use.

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New CNN Video from Iran

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ITN News Video from YouTube on Iran

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CNN Video of Iranian Protests 5

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CNN Video of Iranian Protests 4

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CNN Video of Iranian Protests 3

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CNN Video of Iranian Protests 2

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CNN Video of Iranian Protests

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AMP Weekend Stand-To 20June09

Yes, the AMP Weekend Stand-To's will come out later in the morning, usually by 0900 EST. They are also a bit smaller, hitting 1-2 links per area. Monday through Friday will remain the 0600 EST and the typical length.

Iran:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/20/iran.election/index.html

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/20096209644441364.html

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8106686.stm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/19/AR2009061903464.html

http://www.nato.int/isaf/docu/pressreleases/2009/06/pr090619-436.html

Iraq:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009620111433747478.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/20/AR2009062000434.html

North Korea:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hYphBjQpSQaF-1iOItH4PhHufOGwD98U2BSO0


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Quote of the Day 20 June09

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty."

President John F Kennedy

I know I just used this quote last weekend, but trust me I have a reason for it. It lays a foundation for an article I'm working on right now.

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Iran: News, and some Analysis

From CNN:

From CNN: Khamenei Speech:

From NY Times:

From AJE:

With all of that being said, many people have asked me if I would change any of my recommendations for the US that I made last weekend in regards to Iran. Before we get to that though, here is some tidbits that I have not seen mentioned in the MSM.

1. Russia / Iran: Russia is going to push hard for Ahmadinejad to retain his power. Russia is in heavy negotiations and has plans of constructing natural gas and oil pipelines that stretch from Pakistan, through Iran, up into their territory. They are also the ones who have been aiding the Iranian's in developing, "peaceful" nuclear power. Not to mention helping them with military equipment.

2. The above relationship will cause Russia to pressure the EU to accept Ahmadinejad and not to make too much a stink over it. As we saw this past winter, Russia can exercise significant power over Europe by the simple fact that all their natural gas comes from Russia. When Russia cut off that natural gas this past winter, many Eastern European and some Western European Nations froze. This is a considerable bargaining chip.

3. I am watching to see if any of the internal insurgent groups within Iran seize upon this opportunity. Their are certain Kurdish separatist insurgent groups in the north, and Arab separatist insurgent groups in the south within the oil field regions. From news reports, I have not seen any occurrences of violence, or attacks. Much of the focus is on the urban areas right now by the Iranian Security Forces. This could create an opportunity for them to take greater action and exacerbate the situation even more.

Now to answer your question. No, I would not delete anything from my statement. I believe that the bill expressing support was a good first start. I would say there needs to also be a stronger worded document tied to a United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) stating there will be absolutely no tolerance of oppression and human rights violations by the Government of Iran. I would also put in the wording that the United States stands firmly behind the Iranian people in demanding free and uncorrupted elections.

I would also increase VOA, Internet, and other American Media programming in the region by a minimum of 100%. Purpose would be to expressly carry this message to the Iranian people so they understand that we stand behind them, and are not a threat to them as a people. That we stand for the rights of all people to have free elections and freedom, and will stand beside any people being oppressed.

With those additions, I stand behind the original recommendation completely.

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Iranian Update 19June09

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/world/middleeast/20iran.html?_r=1&hp

Taking an unequivocal stand against days of mass protests, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sternly warned opposition supporters on Friday to stay off the streets and raised the prospect of violence if their defiant, vast demonstrations continued.

He said bluntly that opposition leaders would be “responsible for bloodshed and chaos” if they did not stop further rallies in protest of last week’s disputed presidential election.

The comments, delivered in a lengthy sermon at Friday Prayers at Tehran University, put Ayatollah Khamenei at the forefront of an unraveling confrontation not only between factions of the government but between Iranians themselves.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009619972652612.html

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has backed the outcome of the country's presidential elections and warned protests against it must stop.

"Street actions are being done to put pressure on leaders, but we will not bow in front of them," he said in a sermon during Friday prayers at Tehran University.

"I want to tell everyone these [protests] must finish."

He said that any doubts concerning the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the president after the June 12 election would be investigated through legal channels.

If the supporters of defeated candidates fail to halt the protests "they will be responsible for its consequences, and consequences of any chaos," he said.

The speech was a rare public address by Khamenei, who usually only speaks in public at the end of Ramadan and the anniversary of the Iranian revolution, which brought the theocracy to power.

God Bless America

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Great Website / Blog

I went to school with Randall Miller. Very intelligent gentlemen with some very unique and well thought out ideas and analysis on current events. Highly recommend checking out his website.

http://randallhmiller.com/

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Quote of the Day 19June09

"In matters of style swim with the current in matters of principle stand
like a rock."

President Thomas Jefferson

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AMP Stand-To 19June09

Iran:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/2009619972652612.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8108661.stm

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE55F54520090619

How Iran's internet works: http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/06/18/1970353.aspx

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

Drone Attack in Pakistan: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8106686.stm

Pakistan and India: http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0618/p09s03-coop.html

Swat Valley: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=acjVC7iZX8zQ

Iraq:

Iraq confidant about security after US leaves: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/19/AR2009061900080.html

Iraq asks to reduce reperations to Kuwait: http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-18-voa63.cfm

North Korea:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/world/19military.html?ref=world

Tracking North Korean ship: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/18/military-tracking-north-korean-ship-suspected-proliferating-weapons-material/

Domestic:

Funding Bill Approved: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/18/AR2009061804094.html

Moon Mission: http://news.cnet.com/8301-19514_3-10268241-239.html

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Interesting Foreign Relations Question

From Fox News:

The U.S. military is tracking a flagged North Korean ship suspected of proliferating weapons material in violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution passed last Friday, FOX News has learned.

The ship, Kang Nam, left a port in North Korea Wednesday and appears to be heading toward Singapore, according to a senior U.S. military source. The vessel, which the military has been tracking since its departure, could be carrying weaponry, missile parts or nuclear materials.

"It is believed to be 'of interest,'" a senior U.S. official told FOX News.

This is the first suspected "proliferator" that the U.S. and its allies have tracked from North Korea since the United Nations authorized the world's navies to enforce compliance with a variety of U.N. sanctions aimed at punishing North Korea for its recent nuclear test.

The apparent violation raises the question of how the United States and its allies will respond, particularly since the U.N. resolution does not have a lot of teeth to it.

The resolution would not allow the United States to board the ship forcibly. Rather, U.S. military would have to request permission to board -- a request North Korea is unlikely to grant.

North Korea has said that any attempt to board its ships would be viewed as an act of war and promised "100- or 1,000-fold" retaliation if provoked.

If there is cause to pursue the ship, sources told FOX News the U.S. military would instead likely follow the slow-moving vessel until it goes into port to refuel.

So what do we do? I don't know. International Law states that you can't board without permission when in a condition of peace between the two countries. But then again, North Korea has stated that it withdrew from the armistice; so does that mean that a condition of peace no longer exists?

The United Nations will not sign a UNSCR that allows boarding for search, because China and or Russia would veto it in the Security Council.

So I guess we are back to the question of what do we do? Like I said in the beginning, I'm not completely sure, but it will prove a significant test for the new administration that the North Koreans will be taking note of.

God Bless America

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Quote of the Day 18June09

"We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans and confront the
worst threats before they emerge."

President George W. Bush

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AMP Stand-To 18June09

Iran:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200961821430303166.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8106292.stm

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/world/middleeast/18moussavi.html?_r=1&hp

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE55F54520090618

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

Bomb Plot Foiled: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD98QVJ3G0

Russian Tri-lateral Mechanism: http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/17/stories/2009061755751500.htm

Tri-lateral: http://www.reuters.com/article/gc05/idUSTRE55E6LK20090615

Drone Attack in Pakistan: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/06/200961875855867303.html

Iraq:

Arrests made after Sunni Clerics Death: http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSLH295528

Iraq reaction to Iranian Election: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124526049259323973.html

North Korea:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gon062DlnM-aarORNlnhk5kDuyRwD98SSVOO1

Shanghai Cooperation Organization:

http://news-en.trend.az/important/opinion/1489195.html

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-06-16-voa13.cfm

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ghofWsw6596hiWFv-WS4u6L84TGAD98RJKRO0

God Bless America

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Thank You's are in order....

Just over a year ago I started this blog. At the time I knew what I wanted, but I wasn't quite sure how it would be received.

I had no idea about things like Milblogging, unbelievable other Soldiers like "From My Position on the Way" and a "Soldiers Perspective." I did not know about people like "Kiss My Gumbo" who were doing so much for the military.

Over the course of this year, I have met many wonderful people, many amazing fellow Soldiers and men and women in uniform, and many journalists and analysts. I have learned much more from you then I can ever have hoped to impart to you.

The reason I say all of this is tonight I hit 25,000 unique hits to the site. I'm shocked and truthfully in awe. Thank You to all of you who encouraged me, educated me, and helped me along the way. I never would have made it this far without you.

Thank You to all of you. To those who read, to those who helped, and to those who offered encouragement. You truly have made me a better officer and leader. I greatly appreciate it.

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The Treaty of Versailles and Afghanistan

Did the Treaty of Versailles have anything to do with Afghanistan? Well no, not directly, but the inherent attitude that permeated the Versailles Treaty did.

You see, throughout most of the last half of the 19th century the British Empire and the Russian Empire were locked in what became known as the Great Game. They were fighting for control over the area that would become known as Afghanistan. The British wanted to secure their northern frontier in India, and the Russians wanted to continue their march towards a warm water port.

As they signed various treaties with one another, and certain Afghan Tribes they drew up boundaries for a country, that had never been a country. To make matters worse the British signed a treaty with Emir Khan of Afghanistan in 1893 laying out the Durand Line. This was supposed to designate the line in the sand between the Afghan Tribes and Pakistan. The British had fought battle after battle with the Afghan Tribes that had not fared well for them. Establishing a border was seen as a way to secure their possessions within present day Pakistan.

But what did this line in the sand do? Well it doesn't exist. It is just that, a line in the sand. To make matters worse, it split the Pashtun Super Tribes in two between Afghanistan and Pakistan. People in the present day talk about securing the border. But what must be understood is that this border is an artificial demarcation in the middle of a tribal homeland, that they have crossed back and forth over for generations.

The second part of this problem is that power was vested in the Pashtun Tribes from the beginning since they were the dominant tribe in the south, and had secured most of southern Afghanistan. This did not take into account lands and ethic groups / tribes that were north of the Hindu Kush Mountains, namely the Hazara, Tajik, and Uzbek. From 1919 on, when the British fully gave sovereign power to Amanullah the current leader in Afghanistan, they sought to put these northern tribes under their control. This led to many grievances between these northern tribes and the Pashtuns.

Finally, from 1919 until present day, every major power that has entered Afghanistan has tried the same thing to establish government. This model, was exactly what was tried in places such as Iraq and Trans-Jordan after World War One with the Treaty Of Versailles. A strong central government is created, this government tries to assert its power and control over the tribes and local people, and create changes in their culture to make them more western.

In some examples this worked for a time being. In Afghanistan, this has not worked. In every single attempt at creating strong central government, that government has tried to change the people, and the people have risen up in insurgencies against them.

These are the challenges that we still face today. How do you help structure a government in a country that has historically favored local level tribal leadership and governance? How do you establish economic infrastructure and revenue sharing in this environment? How do you deal with the fact that the identity of, "Afghanistan", is still developing and many people still see themselves as a member of their tribe vice the nation?

These questions plague us today in Afghanistan, and in many ways were created by the attitudes and ideas put forth by the colonial powers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The endeavors that we are undertaking currently are in many ways righting improper political and international relations decisions that were made almost a century ago.

God Bless America

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Quote of the Day 17June09

"I hold it to be of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and
insulting words towards any one, for neither the one nor the other in any
way diminishes the strength of the enemy; but the one makes him more
cautious, and the other increases his hatred of you, and makes him more
persevering in his efforts to injure you"

Niccolo Machiavelli

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AMP Stand-To 17June09

Iran:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200961781159912955.html

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/17/iran.elections.rallies/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8104466.stm

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/world/middleeast/18iran.html?ref=global-home

Afghanistan / Pakistan:

Afghan Presidential Race: http://www.afghannews.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3414

Afghan Presidental Race: http://www.afghannews.net/index.php?action=show&type=news&id=3416

Afghan / India Trade: http://www.upiasia.com/Blogosphere/Editor-Rupee-News/20090617/should_india_be_allowed_transit_trade/

GEN McCrystal's changes: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124520391183921807.html

Taliban in Pakistan: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/16/AR2009061603413.html

Russian assistance to ISAF: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3730408,00.html

Iraq:

US Soldier Casualty: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gQNZ-iDlwjFMX9HrXgX7-7y-RuGQD98RVBNO0

Funding from Congress: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i1DBB8JA46mzegcVniqdGeQYASwQD98S1QIO0

Iraqi's take control of Green Zone: http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSLG015001

Middle East:

Mid East Peace Process: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gmkKnjFUbXhmkoPoCrmFegIsiKSQ

Mid East Peace Process: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/06/17/2009-06-17_twostate_double_standard_even_israels_peace_efforts_get_used_against_it.html

Hezbollah: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-denselow/hezbollah-still-holds-swa_b_216220.html

North Korea:

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE55F7R520090616

United States:

Swine Flu: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,526820,00.html

Changes to Regulatory System: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/16/obama-proposes-new-agency-police-lenders-protect-consumers/

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New Series in the AM: AMP Stand-To

Tomorrow Morning I am going to start a series called "AMP Stand-To." It will be published by 0600 EST every morning.

I know it's not original, the US Army publishes an update every morning called Stand-To. But, to be honest I can not think of a better term for it. Stand To is the military term for the time before morning nautical twilight (BMNT) when security is always at 100% due to it's the best time to attack. In layman's terms it is that time before dawn when its just getting a little bit light, but the shadows of the night are still playing games on your eyes. It makes it very easy for an attacking force to sneak up on people or positions. It is also that time of day when defenders are usually the most tired and prone to making mistakes in their security.

I know that's probably more then you wanted to know, but I wanted to give a quick background before I start throwing the term around. What I will do is give a run-down of news links to articles that I think are important. I will obviously concentrate on military operations, and major international news. If there is a story domestically of financially that I think is important to understand I will throw that in too.

Let me know what you think, whether I should continue, or add, or delete parts of it.

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Great New Resource For GWOT

One of my PHD's just finished a book along with two other authors. I had a chance to look at some of the ideas and theories used in the book, and it is very useful to understanding the Global War On Terror. Now, I must put a quick disclaimer in here. No one has asked me to pass this on, nor am I receiving anything from this. This is purely my own desire to pass on a useful resource to all of you that I know of.

The name of the book and the authors are Terrorism, Instability, and Democracy in Asia and Africa by Dan G. Cox, John Falconer, and Brian Stackhouse.

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So What Did The Treaty Of Versailles Do?

Last night I talked about 1919 and the Treaty of Versailles. As we discussed, it created nation-states where there had historically been none. But what does all of this mean for us now?

Well first, let us look at the easiest example, the Kurds. The Kurdish people are probably the largest ethnic group in the world with no nation-state homeland. They inhabit much of northern Iraq, parts of Syria, Iran, and Turkey. They have always been a very powerful group since they straddled the historical trade routes.

At the Treaty of Versailles they were hopeful they would finally achieve a homeland with the fall and demise of the Ottoman Empire. This was not to be though. After speeches by President Wilson their hopes were again raised by the Treaty of Sevres. But, again, they were denied a nation-state of their own relegating them to a sub-ethnic group of a variety of nations created by the European powers.

The outcome has been a long standing feeling of grievances by the Kurds against the nations that they are inhabits of. In the case of Iraq this was compounded by outright violence and persecution at the hands of Saddam Hussein. Not until the establishment of the no-fly zones, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the later granting of semi-autonomous status to their provinces in Iraq have they felt that these grievances have been addressed.

In addition to the Kurds, the other newly formed nation-states such as Saudi Arabia and Trans-Jordan were based upon completely imaginary boundaries. Some of the arguments that Saddam Hussein used in his invasion of Kuwait date back to these boundaries that were established.

The problem is that nations are usually formed over years and years of identity consolidation as a people. In the Middle East, this was not allowed to happen. We, the Western Powers, basically forced nations and countries to mirror what we told them to be. Historically and from the examples just in this article we can see this does not work out to well.

Now, take a step back from what we just talked about, and remember the issues that we discussed and we will pick this up tomorrow night with Afghanistan. Their are many similarities.

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Iran Update 16June09 Part2

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1904989,00.html?cnn=yes

We're told that a young and restless Facebook generation has arisen in Iran, text-messaging and Twittering away at the fabric of a conservative clerical rule that it is no longer willing to accept. Ranged against it are the dogged defenders of a decrepit regime that has outlived its purpose, surviving only through brute force and its ability to convince the unsophisticated, mostly rural poor folk in their ragged suits and black chadors that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is their champion against corrupt politicians and the treacherous intellectuals and amoral rich kids who support them.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/16/iran.election.questions/index.html

Official results from Friday's polls show that the city and its surrounding province of East Azerbaijan -- dominated by ethnic Azeris like Moussavi -- voted 57 percent to 42 percent to re-elect hard-line incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It's a result many observers of Iranian politics find incongruous, but just one of the things that have raised eyebrows among Western analysts.

An Iranian official who asked to remain unidentified said Monday that Moussavi was not popular in Tabriz. There were no exit polls conducted in Friday's balloting and little polling before the election. Nate Silver, who runs the U.S. election Web site FiveThirtyEight, told CNN the official results were "ambiguous."

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200961615355050345.html

Tens of thousands of opposition and pro-government demonstrators have held rallies in the Iranian capital, raising fears of possible clashes.

Thousands of people gathered at a government-organised rally in Tehran's central Vali Asr square on Tuesday, while a similar-sized demonstration was held by opposition supporters in the city's north.

State television footage showed a crowd of thousands of flag-waving protesters at the pro-government rally, while the media was banned from filming the opposition protests.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/06/200961581957321161.html

Iran has taken steps to control the flow of information from both domestic and international news sources, accusing them of exaggerating reports of anti-government protests in Tehran, the capital.

On Monday, the government ordered the expulsion of a Spanish television crew who were covering the protests against the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, one of the journalists said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8103577.stm

Supporters of Iran's defeated presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi have held another big rally in northern Tehran.

Hours before, thousands of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's supporters staged their own protest in the city centre.

The opposition rally went ahead despite an official offer of a partial recount of the poll, which returned Mr Ahmadinejad to power.

Tough new restrictions have been imposed on foreign media reporting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/world/middleeast/17iran.html?_r=1

http://www.internetnews.com/webcontent/article.php/3825286

http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=526&doc_id=178067

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Iranian Election Update 16June09

From CNN:

Iran's election authority has agreed to recount some votes in the disputed presidential election, but opposition leader Mir Hossein Moussavi rejected the idea, asking instead for fresh elections.

Moussavi's supporters also plan to hold a rally on Tuesday at Vali Asr Square in central Tehran, a day after a massive demonstration in which seven people were killed, according to Iranian government-funded Press TV.

But Moussavi asked his supporters to forego Tuesday's demonstration to avoid a potential clash with Ahmadinejad's backers, an official with his camp said. Iran's government is forbidding foreign media from covering the rallies.

The Ministry of Culture said Tuesday that foreign journalists -- including CNN -- will not be allowed to cover any events in Tehran outside of their offices.

Ahmadinejad's supporters also took to the streets en masse on Sunday to celebrate the official results which showed he secured more than 62 percent of the vote.

From AJE:

Iran's powerful Guardian Council says it will order a recount of votes cast in the country's disputed presidential election if it finds irregularities.

Iran's highest legislative body made the announcement on Tuesday after at least seven people died in protests against the election result.

The official news agency IRNA reported: "If the Guardian Council reaches the conclusion that such offences as buying votes or using fake identity cards have been committed ... it will order a recount."

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the incumbent Iranian president, was declared the winner in Friday's poll with 63 per cent, compared with 34 per cent for his nearest rival Mir Hossein Mousavi.


Alireza Ronaghi, Al Jazeera's correspondent in the capital, Tehran, said: "[The Guardian Council has] given in from pressure. It appears Ayatollah [Ali] Khamenei, the supreme leader, has forced them to comply with the request."

The council has said a recount of some disputed ballot boxes may lead to changes in the candidates' tally.

Mousavi had asked for the election result to be annulled.

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Quote of the Day

"Never forget that no military leader has ever become great without audacity. If the leader is filled with high ambition and if he pursues his aims with audacity and strength of will, he will reach them in spite of all obstacles."

Karl Von Clausewitz

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1919

Many of you have asked me about the Treaty of Versailles after last night's article I wrote. The treaty was one of the worst foreign policy decisions / treaties ever established. In 1919 the Allied Powers signed the Treaty and the widely known version of the history is that it ended the War in Europe after World War One. That is true, and the implications that it passed upon Germany would directly lead to World War Two. But, it's implications upon the Middle East were ten times worse.

You see, the Ottoman Empire had controlled much of the Middle East. They, along with Germany, were soundly defeated. At the end of the war then, the European powers lined up to collect their spoils. In all truth, shortly after World War One had began, the allies were already partitioning up the Middle East in the event that they would won.

In 1920 after the Treaty Of Versailles was signed, the Treaty of Sevres was signed directly with the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish People revolted and subsequently a new treaty called the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923 had to be signed to finalize the partitioning. What did all of this do though?

Well, it created nation-states where there had never been one. Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Palestine, and Trans-Jordan were all created from this Treaty. These actions were taken in order to control the territory and the natural resources. But, they did not take into account ethnic grievances, cultural issues, or long-standing arrangements. The map-makers literally divided up the region based upon their wants and needs and ignored the local people and tribes all together.

This would continue to haunt us for many years, and in many ways still haunts us today. That is why I made the bold statement last night in my article that the Treaty of Versailles was the worst piece of foreign policy ever devised or written.

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Iran Elections Update 15June09 Part 2

From CNN:

Iranian presidential candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi told followers Monday he will "pay any cost" to contest the country's presidential election results, but said he had little hope his challenge would succeed.

Moussavi made his first public appearance since Friday's vote during a massive rally in central Tehran.

The official results showed incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad winning with more than 62 percent of the vote, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- the true leader of Iran -- has given his blessing to the outcome.

Moussavi has alleged fraud and filed a complaint with Iran's Guardian Council, which oversees elections, but he said the council had not remained neutral in Friday's vote.

"I don't have any hope in them," he said in a statement posted on his campaign's Web site Monday evening.

In the United States, President Obama said Monday he was "deeply troubled" by the violent protests, but said it was "up to Iranians to make decisions about who Iran's leaders will be."

"Having said all that, I am deeply troubled by the violence I've been seeing on television," Obama added. "I think that the democratic process, free speech, the ability of people to peacefully dissent -- all those are universal values and need to be respected."

"We respect Iranian sovereignty and want to avoid the United States being the issue inside of Iran," Obama told reporters at the White House.

Obama did not take a position on the claims of election fraud. But he said, "The Iranian people and their voices should be heard and respected."

From AJE:

At least one person has been killed in Tehran after armed men opened fire during a rally by tens of thousands of people protesting against Iran's election results.

Clashes were reported on Monday hours after the rally, held in defiance of a ban imposed by the interior ministry, began.

An Associated Press photographer in Tehran's Azadi Square said one person had been shot dead and several others appeared to be seriously wounded.

The incident occurred in front of a local base of the Basij, Iran's volunteer paramilitary force, which had been set ablaze.

Police fired tear gas as dozens of protesters set several motorbikes on fire.

"There has been sporadic shooting out there ... I can see people running," said a reporter of Iran's English-language Press TV who was at the demonstration.

From the beginning, the demonstration had been largely peaceful, but was disrupted by the shooting incident.

Robert Fisk, a writer and journalist who was observing the rally, told Al Jazeera he had heard shoots fired and seen demonstrators break out into a run, but that things had continued to be largely peaceful.

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Iran Elections Update 15June09

From CNN:

Iran's defeated main opposition leader appeared at a rally Monday, the first time he has been seen in public since last week's elections which he says were rigged to give hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad overwhelming victory.

Reformist Mir Hossein Moussavi, whose claims of fraud in Friday's vote have fueled three days of unrest and prompted authorities to launch a probe, spoke to supporters in Tehran's Freedom Square using a loudspeaker, and clasped his hands over his head as the crowd cheered.

Wearing a striped shirt and smiling, he appeared confident, despite official election results showing that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad convincingly won Friday's election.

Hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the demonstration, said Amir Mehdi Kazemi, a reporter for the Iranian government-backed station.

CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour saw a pair of four-wheel drive vehicles -- believed to be transporting Moussavi to the rally --pass at high speed to join the march, one with security officials hanging off the car and the other with a camera.

Crowds shouted "Moussavi! Moussavi!" as they passed.

There was little or no chanting of political slogans among the marchers, with demonstrators quieting anyone who tried to shout, Amanpour said, because the Interior Ministry has banned political demonstrations.

From AJE:

Tens of thousands of Iranian's have rallied in the country's capital in defiance of a government ban to protest against the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president.

In his first public appearance since the elections three days ago, Mir Hossein Mousavi, the defeated presidential candidate, told supporters at the Tehran rally on Monday that he would take part if new elections were called.

"The vote of the people is more important than Mousavi or any other person," he said.

The demonstrators headed toward the capital's huge Freedom Square in the largest display of opposition to the election results to date.

"Mousavi we support you! We will die but retrieve our votes!" shouted supporters, many wearing the trademark green colour of Mousavi's election campaign.

Stick-wielding men on motorcycles scuffled with some of the marchers, who wore Mousavi's green campaign colours.

There have been several clashes between Mousavi supporters and riot police since Ahmadinejad was declared the landslide winner.

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Quote of the Day 15June09

"Wars can be prevented just as surely as they can be provoked, and we who
fail to prevent them must share in the guilt for the dead."

General Omar N. Bradley

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So What Should We Do???

Before I begin I would like to reiterate again the disclaimer that is at the bottom of my blog. The opinions expressed here are not that of the US Government, US Department of Defense, or the United States Army. These are purely my personal thoughts right now after watching all that is going on.

OK, with that out of the way...What should we do?

"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty."

President John F. Kennedy

I used this quote the other day, on my quote of the day portion of the blog. I think it is one of the best and clearest definitions of a foreign policy that we have had in a long time. Personally, I'm very multi-polar in my international relations theory. I'd say I lean 45% Complex Realist, 45% Liberal, and 10% Constructivist. This situation though lends itself to all of these theories.

You see in 1919, we and I mean we as the western powers that won WW1, signed the Treaty of Versailles. This is probably one of the worst pieces of foreign policy ever stated. It amongst all of its other disasters, split the Middle East up along our whims and desires. Not taking into account ethnic boundaries, political allegiances, or cultural grievances.

Since then we have had a history of not thinking through our decisions within the Middle East. Culminating with a litany of mistakes in the late 1970's and of course in 1979 with the Iranian Revolution.

For a long time, foreign policy experts have said that we need to court this young generation of Iranians. They make up almost two thirds of the populations of the country. We need to engage them through media, soft power, cultural exchange programs and others like this, so that the system of governance within Iran slowly changes to one that we can work with. No one wants a bloody revolution, it is best to change things slowly over time through engagement.

But now, here we are. During the term of President Khatami in Iran we had a chance at improving relations. Circumstances and policies prevented our effective utilization of this opportunity. Then we had the current President of Iran enter the picture, and we all know what has happened since then. But now, here we are at a cross-roads again.....so what do we do?

In my personal opinion, a statement of support for the Iranian People needs to be issued immediately stating that we stand behind their desire for an impartial and uncorrupted election. Second, a resolution needs to be introduced into the UN Security Council (UNSC) demanding a recount, and if that is impossible then another election. With that new election, outside monitoring from the UN needs to be provided. Third, we need to make short and long term policy goals towards continuing and strengthening our engagements with the Iranian People. Fourth, if Iran continues brutally oppressing demonstrators and protesters then a UNSC Resolution needs to be introduced immediately calling for a cease to said activity, and immediate cessation of all economic trade if it continues. It also needs to state the US, and the UN's unwavering support for the Iranian people to have a free and fair election.

I have a great degree of respect for the Iranian people. I feel it is a tragedy that our people have been prevented from learning and sharing with one another over the last three decades due to the radicalization of their government. But, I feel we are at a vitally important crossroads where we must show our solidarity with them. They like us are a freedom loving people, and we must stand behind, stand beside, and stand with them in these trying times.

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