Dunno quite what to say?
The United States blocked Israel’s participation in the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s (GCTF) first meeting in Istanbul on Friday, despite Israel’s having one of the most extensive counterterrorism experiences in the world.
Israel was excluded from the meeting due to fierce objections by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a Washington-based source told Globes news.
Not much to add. Draw your own conclusions.
Why does this fit at TAH? YMMV
SEAL Captain Larry Bailey is at it again!
From their mission statement:
SOS is configured as a “Super Political Action Committee” (Super PAC) that will enable it to exert maximum influence as an advocate for the election of Mitt Romney as President of the United States. Subsequent to the 2012 campaign, SOS will continue to exert pressure on behalf of the Special Operations community.
Of particular interest to SOS is the urgency of maintaining the level of secrecy that has heretofore been a hallmark of Special Operations. The recent leaking of highly classified information from the offices of the Commander-in-Chief himself clearly indicates the need to protect sensitive information from the public (and enemy’s) eye. SOS will educate the public and its representatives in the US Congress about this issue.
Until November 6, 2012, SOS will organize and execute operations designed to help elect Mitt Romney and to defeat Barack Hussein Obama.
Respectfully suggest you bookmark the site and visit it often. I will. NB: The website is new and under development ! Larry’s name is not featured prominently yet.
Yeah it IS politics, but Larry swings a HUGE hammer.
Slight disclaimer: Opted not to credit the source out of privacy concerns.
ETA: Just talked briefly to Larry… This IS his baby (said he) and that is good enough for me.
Me and a friend in Alongapo, PI circa 1966.
Philippine government gives OK for US to use old bases, newspaper reports
The Philippine government said this week that the United States military is again welcome to use Subic Bay and the sprawling Clark Air Base, two decades after the installations were abandoned due to political friction with Manila, according to media reports.
I always thought that Mount Pinatubo blowing its top had much to do with our leaving?
Regardless, this story brings back some memories, although a bit unlike those associated with Danang and Cam Ranh Bay AND I have found my PI pix.
“Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” –John Adams
Yeah I’m paraphrasing Shakespeare… not the first methinks?
Over in Russia they have a non-bloody way of dealing with protestors – fine ’em!
Can’t avoid thinking about Tiananmen Square and Syria. You can read about the Russian effort here.
Not gonna support the effort directly, but it does seem to have a sweet capitalist bent?
J. D. (another Army guy) has a post up at his place and I stole his title.
President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Bob Dylan. He also gave one to Delores Heurta, a Hugo Chavez toady and Chair of the Democratic Socialists of America. Ms. Huerta is on tape proclaiming that Republicans hate Latinos.
Sorry Jonn, I think you didn’t get the latter message?
The REAL teaser, and the reason I’m bringing his post to your attention:
Just imagine the President and Dylan on stage together. Both with flattop guitars and harmonicas in neck holders. See the haze from the pot smoke? The President speaks about the unfairness of having to pay back ones student loans and declares that he will cut enough out of the defense budget to forgive all of them – keeping just enough for the drone fleet.
There’s more…
Slight disclaimer: J .D., Russ (poetrooper), myself, and many others, were contributors at Old War Dogs.
Why Hatfields & McCoys broke ratings records: 4 theories,
Our pal Greyhawk proposed a hypothesis to explain the phenomenon on FB.
“Hypothesis: The History Channel’s “Hatfields and McCoys” was a hit because deep down inside, Americans secretly wish they could go all Hatfield and McCoy on each other. (You know I’m right – and this is wrong X4…”
I responded that his premise is biased, and with ” I haven’t watched the thing. Born and raised in WV The Feud is/was part of our mythos here. Toss in “The Battle of Blair Mountain” and couple of other events and then explain why we should bother?”
ETA: The pix is courtesy of Greyhawk and is NOT myself or Jonn.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has been talking about re-tasking our Navy towards the Pacific by 2020 AND he’s taking active steps in that direction.
Although he couches his words carefully China appears to be the focus. Offshore petroleum (which doesn’t apparently interest many in DC) and freedom of the seas are mentioned.
I have little problem with the notion in general, but would like to understand where these assets will come from?
Will the Navy be downsized as a “peace dividend”? Do we have warships somewhere currently they aren’t needed?
And while I’m certainly no expert in geopolitics it seems that China could painfully swat the US economy without firing a shot if needs be?
So the question seems to be – Why now, and why there?