Dubai Ports

This week, a deal in which a foreign corporation is selling their management of several domestic sea ports caught significant attention. And well it should. It is a political year.

What is really going on here? That's a great question. There really hasn't been that much information released about who this company is, nor what they will really do. What we do know, however, is that security won't change. That is controlled by the Coast Guard and ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement). We know that the employees won't change. The longshoreman aren't willing to cut out any of their overpaid employees. So what does change? The only thing I can figure out is who signs the paychecks.

But because this is an election year, certain politicians are trying to gather votes, so they are playing to two of people's worst emotions: fear of security and xenophobia. A longshoreman from Baltimore summed it up when he said, "I don't trust them." Of course, he meant the Arabs. My guess is that if fighting an insurgency is about winning the hearts and minds, and the nations in which we are trying this are Arabic, then this fight is not helping. Although, in the short run, it may help in the polls.

The Lessons of Counterinsurgency

Recently, Thomas Ricks of the Washington Post wrote an article regarding counterinsurgency operations in the Tal Afar region of Iraq. It was quite impressive detailing the significant gains made by the 3rd Armored Cavalry Division over the past year. While difficult to maintain in any large urban area (i.e. Baghdad), it does coincide with the "oil spot" counterinsurgency operations detailed within the pages of a recent issue of Foreign Affairs magazine.

Within the article, Ricks details the commanding General's attempts to retrain his soldiers to effectively beat an insurgency. Including community policing and language skills, Ricks explains that General HR McMaster has provided a reading list on counterinsurgency operations as well as Middle East history. It took some time, but I was able to come across this list on the Internet.

While I consider myself a pretty bright guy, this list is significantly more comprehensive than any college syllabus I have ever seen. I must say that I am significantly impressed. For those of you who believe our military consists of the poor and stupid of our nation, I would suggest you try some of this list on for size. It is located at http://www.carson.army.mil/UNITS/3RD%20ACR/Regimental%20Education.pdf. This is 7 pages of reading that could quite likely keep me busy for years.

It is also nice to see such great journalism still being produced by the establishment media.

Dana Milbank today in the Washington Post

Today, Dana Milbank, a columnist for the Washington Post wrote an interesting article about Bob Barr (former Republican congressman from Georgia), and his interactions with new-age Republicans at CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Conference).

For those of you who don't know, Rep. Barr established his conservative bona fides in the late 1990's by prosecuting the impeachment trials of President Bill Clinton. He became the hero of the Republicans and the bain of Democrats. Since Sept. 11th, he has become a vocal critic of President Bush's expansionary government and the Patriot Act. The article correctly states that Rep. Barr is just remaining consistent. Unfortunately, as I have mentioned before, politics is a team sport. Despite leftist rhetoric to the contrary, ideology does not really exist any longer in the parties. It is all about rooting for the home team. If your opponent has several party members who have been indicted, chide them for their indictments. If your own party has several members indicted, claim that at least you have less indictments than they do.

I think that is an egregious example of homerism in politics. America, where have your ideals gone. This is why I have left the mainstream parties and will not rejoin until an ideological fervor does. It is about principles folks, not parties!

57% of American Believe We Should Invade Iran!

Oh really? I am glad to hear the party that runs on princple (the Republicans), not polls, have decided to invade the airwaves with a poll indicating that the majority of Americans want to invade Iran.

I have a follow-up question for you: Of those who want to invade Iran, how many are willing to go themselves? Nice try guys (and gals; I think I can smell Hill rooting around on this issue). If we can't finish a war in Afghanistan, we're not finished in Iraq, and now you are testing the waters on Iran, who is going to fight?

It is time for the military brass to take a stand against these irresponsible politicians and reporters who have convinced Americans that we can destroy countries we don't like because they have weapons we don't like. I blame the Democrats for that one, as they have made the debate on Iraq about whether or not Sadaam had the weapons (of course he did; the UN found them for a decade; they just got better at hiding them), instead of whether or not that justifies invading a country.

It is also time for our country to have a legitimate debate about what hostile actions deserve the ultimate action of war; and once and for all, actually have the guts to declare one.

I'm back (This time I am serious)

It has been a busy couple of weeks. Over the past several weeks, I have found out that I am going to have a son (probably). As both of you know, this is not 100% certain, but enough such that the ultrasound technician labeled the picture as a boy.

This is quite exciting for me personally, as I am the last Vandergriff male I know that will have children. Yes, I am sure the line continues in Texas, the Carolinas and Tennessee, but now it will continue from me.

While this is not a great excuse, it has kept my mind on many other things like preparing the nursery, etc. Additionally, I finished my taxes, which also consumed much of my free computer time.

Don't give up on me just yet. I will make sure to provide provocative conjecture if for nothing but the sake of posterity.

Happy February!

b