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United States of America

I've Got Your Sovereignty

The Best Part About Think Tank 2.0: Heterogeneousness of Thought

By Michael Tanji
My colleague Steve Schippert asked recently: "Wither Soverignty." My then-private reply at the time went something like this: Steve, I don't want to up the humidity level on this parade, but: INTERPOL's resources (aside from administrative) are drawn from member nations' police forces (contrary to the movies, you can't be an 'INTERPOL agent') who are there to facilitate and liaison, not conduct police operations themselves. While this may be seen as something linked to a path to the ICC, congress...
United States of America

Wither Sovereignty

Executive Order Amended to Immunize INTERPOL In America - Is The ICC Next?

By Steve Schippert
Last Thursday, December 17, 2009, The White House released an Executive Order "Amending Executive Order 12425." It grants INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) a new level of full diplomatic immunity afforded to foreign embassies and select other "International Organizations" as set forth in the United States International Organizations Immunities Act of 1945. By removing language from President Reagan's 1983 Executive Order 12425, this international law enforcement body now operates - now operates - on American soil beyond the reach of...
United States of America

Burying Nitze

Calling for an end to cold-war analogs for info-war situations

By Michael Tanji
Bob Gourley, an old and trusted colleague in the national security arena, asks if we are any closer to achieving a cyber deterrence policy. While it is worth having the discussion as an academic exercise, it couldn't be less practically relevant to keeping our country's resources secure from digital threats. The problem of course is that its a lot easier to attempt to focus on a narrow set of legacy futures rather than to start to develop new ideas. Whether...
Afghanistan

Counterinsurgency Incoherence

A Simple Truth: The Afghan People Have No Exit Strategy

By Steve Schippert
In war, and particularly in an Afghanistan counterinsurgency effort, there are always three sides to the coin: the good, the bad and the ugly. This is especially true in President Obama's new Afghanistan strategy, finally announced to the American public Tuesday from a West Point backdrop. The prescribed influx of much-needed American warriors onto the battlefield is clearly and rightly the good. And the good can withstand the bad, a Taliban enemy in the absence of reliable partners in the...

February 8, 2010

1. As Iran announces that it will begin higher-level uranium enrichment, SecDef Gates nullifies "all options on the table" stance by declaring sanctions, which have never worked, are the "only path left" to stop Iran.

2. Afghan President Karzai states he wants US transition to Afghan forces to begin by end of year. Afghan forces incapable, demonstrated by arrest of senior police official for role in roadside bombs.

3. SecState Clinton claims Obama administration Iran, Korea stances yielding "benefits." Curiously, Yonhap News reports Germany told South Korea to perpare for earlier than expected reunification with North.

4. In mere formality, Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab (The Youth) officially aligned with al-Qaeda. Group's leadership had deep AQ ties even before formation.

5. As France finalizes deal to sell Russia helicopter carrier warships, President Dmitri Medvedev declares NATO "Russia's greatest threat" and welcomes leaders of the Palestinian terrorist group HAMAS to the Kremlin.

More details available here.

February 8, 2010

Anwar The American: Just One Question

An editorial in Investors' Business Daily sums it up: Enemy No. 1: Anwar The American. They are talking about Anwar al-Awlaki, the American mouthpiece and top English-language recruiter for al-Qaeda who found himself more comfortably in Yemen than America after...

From Russia With Love: "NATO Our Greatest Threat"

A interesting and important update to today's DailyBriefing. The ink's not even dry on the French deal to sell Russia helicopter carrier warships and President Medvedev declares NATO a "threat." 5. As France finalizes deal to sell Russia helicopter carrier...

January 28, 2010

Pirate Fighting in the Gulf of Aden (Revisited)

The January 18th Daily Briefing highlighted the resurgence of piracy off of the coast of Somalia. Actually, the observation made related to the paying of a ransom to the pirates and that paying rewards begets more piracy. Apparently, a total...

January 23, 2010

Indefinite Detention at GITMO

Some semblance of reality may have set in regarding the "closing" of the terrorist holding prison at Guantanamo. A task force led by the Department of Justice has concluded that 47 prisoners should be held indefinitely without trial. While there...

January 18, 2010

Horrid 2007 Iran NIE To Be Revised

A big part of today's DailyBriefing is the developing story that the authors of a grotesquely incorrect 2007 National Intelligence Estimate is about to get revised. Finally. And begrudgingly at that. U.S. intelligence agencies are quietly revising their widely disputed...

  • AudioFebruary 2, 2010
    [Listen Here]
    What on Earth can Usama bin Laden, the mystical calculus of climate change and US Homeland Security have in common? Does bin Laden really agree with the President of the United States on matters weather? How is it that the...

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