[February 19, 2015] The economic embargo on Cuba by the United States is the longest economic embargo of modern times. Yet throughout its existence, the embargo has been at the center of an emotional controversy and on-going debates. Whether the embargo has been effective is questionable and may begin to ease as the U.S. President removes some limitations.… Read More »

[February 18, 2015] In Parts 1 and 2 it was noted that none of the current strategies for defeating ISIS are likely to succeed. Today, specifics of grand strategy to defeat ISIS will be discussed. While any strategy must include a coalition of countries willing to take on the challenge, the focus of today’s blog will be on… Read More »

[February 17, 2015] Previously it was put forward that none of the popularly discussed strategies for defeating ISIS were sufficiently comprehensive – that the U.S. government had a poorly articulated “strategic patience” strategy, and that both are likely to fail. Today, a final four key items are presented that will make for a stronger grand strategy1 to defeat… Read More »

[February 16, 2015] There have been a number of recent proposals for a strategy to “degrade and defeat” the terrorist group ISIS and, as well, considerable criticism of the U.S. lack of any clear strategy or leadership. While this generates valuable discussion, most of these lack a comprehensive (or grand) strategy for doing so … perhaps purposefully. “Victorious… Read More »

[February 15, 2015] If you get more than two or three military general/flag officers in a room and they have a little time to chat with junior leaders, one of the topics they will nearly always talk about is those things leaders should never do. I’ve been there and as a colonel I listened closely to those things… Read More »

[February 14, 2015] There has been a lot of criticism and compliments, especially over the past few days, of the U.S. President’s strategy to defeat the Islamic terrorist organization known as ISIS. For purposes of better understanding what strategy is about, I would like to work through a few ideas to better understand why some of it is… Read More »

[February 13, 2015] War! It has been said that “war solves nothing.” Yet this is so parenthetically untrue that its longevity still amazes most of us. War is a violent, brutish, and chaotic affair; and of course not without extraordinary controversy. Such is the case of the World War II firebombing of the city of Dresden, Germany beginning… Read More »

[February 11, 2015] I was on a flight from Atlanta to New York a few weeks ago and met a very nice lady who had just returned from sub-Sahara Africa. Since she was sitting beside me on the plane, I took the chance to ask her opinion about her experience. Her opinion was made with a hand gesture… Read More »