NY International Security Examiner

Support the Troops? Prove it!

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:42:43 -0700

Everyone says they support the troops, but rarely does anyone actually do something to prove it. Words are cheap and meaningless unless there are actions to support them. Rob Herbert wrote a spectacular Op-Ed in the NY Times today about t...

The Pentagon's "Wasting Assets"

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:45:18 -0700

There is an excellent article by Andrew F. Krepinevich in the 2009 July/August edition of Foreign Affairs that argues for a fundamental review of U.S. military strategy and procurement choices in light of emerging threats to our once unchallenged abi...

Didn't we say "Never Again"?

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:49:42 -0700

The media's obsession with all things Michael Jackson is like watching reruns of Anna Nicole Smith's death in 2007. Smith's early and mysterious demise meant large ratings for news organizations, but by the end of the first ...

Biden puts foot in mouth with comments on Russia?

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 10:08:54 -0700

Read this article in the Wall Street Journal and let me know if you think Vice President Biden's comments were too harsh. Sometimes telling the truth doesn't do you any good!

It's never as bad as they say it will be

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:57:28 -0700

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Turning point in Mexico drug war?

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:36:18 -0700

The NY Times is running an interesting piece on how the recent wave of coordinated attacks against Mexican authorities for the capture of a senior La Familia cartel member could possibly represent a turning point in the war against the narcos. ...

Nonproliferation a cornerstone of Obama's foreign policy

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:35:01 -0700

During his short stint as a Senator, one of the main issues Barack Obama worked on was nonproliferation. In fact, one of his major legislative achievements was the Lugar-Obama Proliferation and Threat Reduction Initiative, which was signed...

Barack Obama: the United States' first global president

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:48:06 -0700

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Striking a new chord toward Cuba

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:00:28 -0700

In its developing role as musical ambassadors, the New York Philharmonic may travel to Cuba to perform two concerts there. This announcement comes a year after the Philharmonic traveled to North Korea, when it appeared as if an agreement for nuc...

Lack of Afghan forces, rampant corruption worry allied commanders

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:37:49 -0700

The news out of Afghanistan is not good. In a recent NY Times article, top military commanders in Afghanistan lament the lack of Afghan forces present in their operations. For instance, in the recent offensive by 4,000 marines in Helmand ...

Obama's response to Honduras "coup" masterful

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 09:52:04 -0700

Over the past couple of days I have come across numerous articles criticizing President Obama's response to the "coup" in Honduras. Some argue his condemnation of the coup has not been fast or forceful enough. Others ...

Iraq says sectarian reconciliation is an internal matter

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:12:28 -0700

In a rebuff to Vice President Joe Biden's remarks while visiting in Baghdad for the 4th of July holiday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said Saturday that sectarian reconciliation is an internal matter best handled by Iraqis. &q...

Honduras coup update #6

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:34:48 -0700

The New York Times and Wall Street Journal are running good articles on the situation in Honduras. Much has happened in the past 48 hours and I recommend you check out these articles if you are interested! New York Times updateWall Street...

Russia agrees to allow transport of NATO supplies through its territory

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:00:26 -0700

Russia yesterday said it would allow the transport of lethal cargo, destined for Afghanistan, through its territory. The announcement comes a week before President Obama will travel to Moscow to discuss a range of issues, such as a planned miss...

Honduras coup update #5

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:15:02 -0700

Honduras' interim president Roberto Micheletti has rebuffed international pressure to restore ousted president Manuel Zelaya to power. He said he is confident other countries will realize the danger Zelaya posed to the Honduran constitution and...

Wake up Evo Morales!

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:02:36 -0700

The Associated Press reports the United States has decided to remove Bolivia from the Andean Trade Preference Act, a bill that allows many goods from Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Peru to enter into the United States duty free. The idea behin...

Honduras coup update #4

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:34:11 -0700

The New York Times is running a good article on the current situation here. But to save you some time here is a quick list of the most important points:More countries are recalling their Ambassadors (add Spain and France to the list).The Organi...

Honduras coup update #3

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:20:12 -0700

Ousted Honduran president Manuel Zelaya has vowed to return to Honduras on Thursday to finish his term as president. Zelaya said Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza has agreed to accompany him b...

Beijing delays software censor mandate

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:43:32 -0700

The New York Times reports Beijing has delayed indefinitely the requirement that all computers sold in China after July 1st have the Green Dam-Youth Escort censorship software installed. The announcement came today via the official news network...

Honduras Coup Update #2

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:47:13 -0700

President Obama has come out strongly against the removal of Honduran president Manuel Zelaya. "We believe that the coup was not legal and that President Zelaya remains the president of Honduras, the democratically elected president there,&...