Before I get started here, I should state upfront that I haven’t seen either of these movies, but will nonetheless argue that two recent romantic comedies — “It’s Complicated” (2009) and “He’s Just Not That Into You” (2009) — have a lot to say about US foreign policy. The thing is, you probably don’t have … Continue reading »
Author Archives: Tristan Abbey
DOD on Defense: Littoral Combat Ship
The future of the fleet. Blue-water vs. brown-water navies. Swarms, carrier killers, and area denial. These are just some of the terms defense policy analysts grapple with on a daily basis. In an age of alleged austerity, these discussions take on new importance. The Littoral Combat Ship is part of this mix. The US Navy … Continue reading »
The Gandalf-Yoda Problem: Afghanistan
If Gandalf told you to do X and Homer Simpson told you to do Y, you would likely do X. But what if Yoda agreed with Homer? What would you do? This is the situation we face with respect to Afghanistan. Hank Crumpton, a career CIA operations officer who led paramilitary teams in-country after September … Continue reading »
Is the Taliban Weaker or Stronger?
Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Congressman Mike Rogers (R-MI) made waves with their recent proclamation that the Taliban is actually stronger today than it was two years ago, when the United States “surged” additional troops into Afghanistan. The Washington Post recaps: When asked if the Taliban’s capabilities have been degraded since Obama deployed the additional … Continue reading »
Candidates and Responsibilities
On March 6, President Barack Obama criticized the Republican presidential candidates for their recent statements about Iran’s nuclear program: Now, what’s said on the campaign trail — those folks don’t have a lot of responsibilities. They’re not Commander-in-Chief. And when I see the casualness with which some of these folks talk about war, I’m reminded … Continue reading »
The Bipartisan Pivot to Asia
President Obama’s “strategic pivot” to Asia has received a lot of attention lately. Philip Zelikow, former advisor to Condoleezza Rice, defended the move, while Arnaud de Borchgave remarked that “U.S. strategic moves from Europe to the western Pacific and South China Sea are likely to be more pirouette than pivot — spinning on one foot, … Continue reading »
