Enlisted Warrior

Libyan PM States Gaddafi is Dead

2011-10-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

After months of fighting, today the Libyan Prime Minister announced that Moammar Gaddafi is now dead. Rebel forces overran the last stronghold of forces loyal to Gaddafi, and in the ensuing battle the long time Libyan leader was killed.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Africa&subcategory=North%20Africa

U.S. Uncovers Iranian Terror Plot

2011-10-12T09:27:00.000-07:00

This reads like a Hollywood movie, unfortunately this is reality. The U.S. uncovered a terror plot orchestrated by Iran, where individuals linked to Quds Force, part of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, tried to pay the Mexican drug cartel Los Zetas, to bomb the Israeli and Saudi Embassy in Washington.

The same plotters also were aiming to kill the Saudi ambassador to the United States. The plan never progressed as the suspects were dealing with an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

In the coming day's more details will be unveiled on the complexities and scope of this attempt to launch terror attacks in the United States. The real question has to be addressed, when will the U.S. realize that the policy of engagement, and the administrations Iranian policy are not working.

The administration came into office stating, if the Iranian leadership unclench their fists, we will open our hands. Since 2009, the Iranian government has had the blood of Americans on its hands in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus the continued progress of obtaining nuclear weapons. What will happen if Iran obtains a nuclear weapon?

The time has come for a different Iranian strategy!

http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Terrorism&subcategory=Transnational%20Threat

103,000 Jobs Created in September, Unemployment Rate Stays at 9.1%

2011-10-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Labor Department announced today that the economy created 103,000 jobs, and the prior two months were revised upward. Half of the jobs created were a result of striking Verizon workers returning back to work.

This report is better than most economists had predicted, but nowhere near the number of jobs needed for the economy to begin reducing the persistent high unemployment rate. The nation's economy has to begin creating at least 150,000 jobs a month, just to keep up with population growth.

The President has been crisscrossing the country trying to gather support for his job plan, unfortunately the attention has been focused on Republican opposition, but many Democrats oppose this job proposal, including many Senate Democrats.

The real opposition to sustained job growth is fear, which has permeated through businesses across the country. Businesses will not begin to hire until they know what their tax rates will be, unsure of what regulations will come out of Washington, and only beginning to feel the effects of health care reform.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

Fear has gripped this economy and will only end after the 2012 Presidential election

CEO of Military Briefing Book Set to Deploy to Afghanistan

2011-10-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

CEO of Military Briefing Book, John Ubaldi will begin a deployment to Afghanistan with the United States Marine Corps in support of U.S. military operations. Previously John had served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Ubaldi plans on sending periodic emails and updates on his personal time while in Afghanistan.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Russia%20and%20Eurasia&subcategory=Central%20Asia

Partisan Warfare Grips Washington

2011-09-26T11:04:00.000-07:00

As the economy sinks deeper into the abyss of economic stagnation, Washington is engulfed in partisan warfare, with another government shutdown looming on the horizon. Both political parties portray this strictly in partisan terms only appeasing to the base of their party, virtually ignoring the crisis American's are suffering through.

Missing is any sense of leadership! Right now the President has been crisscrossing the country on a partisan trip blaming others for the state of the economy, without looking at his own administration polices, which have contributed to the lack of job creation.

Republicans act like they control all elements of national power and must understand they control only one part of government and have to compromise, but unfortunately this is anathema to many Congressional Republicans.

Democrats, who for two years had a super majority in Congress, and had the largest Democratic majority since 1978, instead of governing in a bi-partisan manner, embarked on liberal agenda which appeased only their base. Democrats blame Republicans on the lack of a budget, but Democrats and the administration have failed to pass a budget since 2009. The Presidents own budget was defeated 97-0 in the Democratic controlled Senate.

This country needs leadership, but unfortunately it is getting only partisan politics from the two dominate parties.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

President's Difficulties Extend to Foreign Policy

2011-09-20T10:32:00.000-07:00

With all the focus on the U.S. economy and the President's response to persistent high unemployment and stagnate economic growth, another crisis is brewing, one that will have dramatic effect of the image and standing of the United States; that is in foreign policy.

Within days of assuming the presidency, President Obama was selected as a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and would be awarded this prestigious honor nine months later. This distinguished award was not given to the President for what the Nobel Prize Committee believed he would accomplish in the realm of peace, but more a repudiation of the polices of his predecessor; President Bush.

Unfortunately, the polices of President Obama have failed to live up to the lofty expectations many had for this perceived transformational president. This week the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, will address the United Nations and issue a formal request to the UN Secretary General for full UN membership for a Palestinian state.

The United States has now been placed in a difficult situation by having to utilize its veto in the Security Council and would rather the situation be dealt with in negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians. The President's own policies have contributed to this situation. Last September, the President unveiled his "Peace in a Year" initiative which failed to revive the peace process.

The "Arab Spring" revolution which swept the region, caught the administration totally by surprise, and it seems the President has always been one step behind world events. The difficulties the President is facing domestically are now manifesting themselves overseas.

The lofty aspirations many had for him after receiving the Nobel Prize were never rooted in reality!

http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Defense%20Policy%20and%20Budget&subcategory=U.S.%20Foreign%20Policy

President Plays Politics with Debt Plan

2011-09-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

For months the President has ridiculed Congressional Republicans for playing politics with the nation's economy, but the President has done exactly what he has criticized Republicans of doing. Today, the President has unveiled his debt reduction plan, but instead of a bold and comprehensive strategy to rein in the nation's massive national debt, the President offers only a partisan plan that appeals to the base of his party.

The main theme of the President's debt reduction is raising over $1.5 trillion in new taxes, mainly coming from new tax's on the wealthy. Unfortunately this approach has been tried before, in 2010 the Democratic controlled Congress rejected any tax increase, but now the the President is playing class warfare and partisan politics as he prepares for his re-election in 2012.

The plan offered by the President would do little to reduce the deficit, much like his jobs plan will do nothing to end persistent high unemployment in this country. If the President truly wants to reduce the massive U.S. federal debt, then get American's back to work!

The time has come for an overhaul of the nation's tax code by reducing corporate and individual tax rates, ending loopholes, but not applying selective capitalism on companies the President's base doesn't like. Reforming the tax code in a true bi-partisan manner, as was accomplished in 1986 by President Reagan and Democratic House Speaker Tip O'Neill, would go along way to increase revenue.

Uncertainty is strangling the economy as the business community is not sure what the tax rates will be, what new regulations will emanate from Washington, and what impact health care legislation will have on their business.

As the President continues injecting uncertainty into the economy the business community will respond by waiting for the outcome of the 2012 presidential election before they begin to hire again.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

U.S. in Dire Straights

2011-09-14T09:42:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, two reports painted a dire portrait of the United States; first the government reported that the poverty rate surged last year to 46.2 million people. Secondly, the Congressional Budget Office issued a report in which unemployment will remain around 9% for all of 2012.

All this has ominous ramifications for the President as he prepares for his re-election in 2012, and to make matters worse, Democrats lost two special elections yesterday. The seat in New York was particular hard to swallow for the White House, as it had been occupied by a Democrat since the 1920's. Each of these races were a referendum on the President and his handling of the economy.

Currently the President is on the road to sell and gather support for his job's plan that he unveiled to the American people and submitted to Congress. The unfortunate aspect of the President's job proposal is it contains nothing new, and replicates past proposals which have failed to revive or jump start the stagnate U.S. economy, not to mention the fact that it appears that they are to be paid for through new taxes, not a particular popular topic in lite of the stagnate economy and high unemployment numbers.

Time is running out, especially for the American people who want only one thing; a job!

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

President Gives Campaign Speech Instead of Economic Plan

2011-09-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, the President, before a Joint Session of Congress, gave an impassionate speech and laid out a $447 billion legislative plan for jump starting the stagnate U.S. economy, but more importantly set the stage for the 2012 Presidential election.

President Obama, in his speech to Congress outlined his "American Jobs Act", which if passed will now begin to create the jobs needed to resurrect the U.S. economy. Many of the proposals outlined by the President in his virtual second stimulus, are policy initiatives which have been tried before and have proven ineffective.

Inside the President's proposal are programs such as temporary payroll tax cuts, extended unemployment insurance, including incentives for businesses to hire new employees, and investing in infrastructure spending across the country. One has to remember all these proposals by the President were part of his first stimulus, which was over $800 billion, but failed to keep unemployment below 8%.

The unfortunate aspect for the President, which he mentioned in his speech, is the burden of regulations on the business community, which he stated hamper economic growth. The President wants to end crippling regulation on business, but failed to mention the passage of the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act of 2010, which has hampered business growth. The uncertainty of this piece of legislation has caused confusion throughout the business community, as more than seventy percent of the regulations have yet to be written. This was supposed to rein in the major financial institutions, which had a role in the financial crisis in 2008, but left Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac exempt. Both entities are still being bailed out to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars.

The uncertainty facing the business sector hasn't been addressed by the President. It is one thing to give a tax break to businesses to hire additional personnel, but they still need to know what their tax burden will be in the future. Everything the President proposed are all temporary solutions. Hiring someone is a long term solution, if you are uncertain to what the future will be, you will not hire anyone.

Currently businesses don't know what future tax policy will emanate from Washington, as the Bush era tax rate expires at the end of 2012. Businesses are unsure what the financial regulations will be, or what environmental regulations will be set by the EPA and other government agencies. Health care is another area that is still looming, as like financial reform, an unelected bureaucracy will decide what regulations will be imposed.

The President gave a good campaign speech, but failed to solve the underlying problem with the economy; the uncertainty facing businesses across America.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

President to Propose $300 Billion Spending Package

2011-09-07T10:40:00.000-07:00

With unemployment at record levels and employment in the U.S. at a virtual standstill, the President on Thursday is poised as part of his job proposal, unveil a $300 billion spending plan.

The President will call for additional spending on the nation's infrastructure, housing aid, extension of unemployment benefits, tax cuts for business to hire workers and to spur hiring, and finally, additional aid for state and local governments.

The unfortunate aspect of the President's proposal is that this is a repeat of the first stimulus, which failed to keep unemployment below 8% as the administration stated it would not rise above. This administration again has failed to understand the real reason businesses are reluctant to hire; uncertainty over the future.

Right now businesses are faced with a labyrinth array of regulations that stifle economic growth, a tax structure that prevents job creation, and a health care law passed last year which businesses are still coming to grip with. None of these areas are fully understandable to the business community, as many regulations have yet to be written, and those that have stifle economic growth.

Again, the President will propose more of the same, which will not stimulate the economy or reduce the nation's persistent high unemployment.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

Stocks Tumble on Global Economic Concerns

2011-09-06T09:48:00.001-07:00

Stocks tumble over growing concern about the U.S. economy and the continuing economic crisis in Europe. This follows the sharp decline in the markets on Friday, after the dismal job report by the Labor Department, where employment in the U.S. remained stagnate, as for the first time since 1945 the economy produced no new jobs.

The President faces a difficult week, when Thursday he will give a Joint Address to Congress and announce his plan for reducing the persistent high unemployment, which has been over 9% for much of the past two and half years. Recent polls have shown a sharp decrease in the public's overall confidence in the President's ability to solve the nation's economic woes.

If on Thursday the President unveils polices of the past, or announces very little new policy initiatives, the markets on Friday will react negatively, as the business community will then refrain from investing in the economy. This stems primarily that the uncertainty of doing business has not been removed from the economy.

The nation will have to wait to see what the President proposes on Thursday.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

Zero Net Jobs Added in August; Unemployment Rate Remains 9.1%

2011-09-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Today, the Labor Department released August's unemployment numbers and for the first time since 1945, employers added no net jobs. The Labor Department also revised downward July's job's report, instead of adding 117,000 jobs as was initially reported, the economy added only 85,000 jobs.

This report by the Labor Department has ominous repercussions for the President, as the White House forecast's unemployment rates to be 9.1% at the end of the year, and will remain high through 2012.

Next week the President will address a Joint Session of Congress and announce his proposal for jump starting the stagnate U.S. economy, as well as what will be his plan for creating jobs. Both sides have been pressuring the President to do something on the job front, and after having spent close to $5 trillion dollars in just over three years, it will be interesting to see what the President proposes next Thursday.

The markets will be watching for anything different in the President's approach to job creation. If the President reiterates policies he has pursued in the past, the markets will act negatively and will reflect continued uncertainty about the future of the U.S. economy. With this, businesses will just wait until after the 2012 presidential election to assess where the economy is headed.

Unfortunately, the American people can't wait that long.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

President Talks Jobs to Veteran Organization

2011-08-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, President Obama addressed thousands of veterans at the American Legion convention in Minneapolis and reiterated that his administration would not reduce the federal debt on the backs of veterans. Veterans represent the largest demographics of any group, with the highest unemployment.

The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which held its convention in San Antonio, are asking what the President plans to do about unemployment as it relates to veterans? Next week the President will announce his proposal for job creation while the nation is still reeling from high unemployment, which has persisted for the past three years.

Veterans returning from both Iraq and Afghanistan face bleak unemployment prospects and a country who know very little of their sacrifice. Next weekend the nation commemorates the tenth anniversary of September 11th. The euphoria and patriotic fervor of that time has faded into history as Americans have really little or no connection to those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Veterans today face a different set of circumstances then was faced by veterans from Vietnam. The nation shunned Vietnam veterans, but today the country knows little of their sacrifices and even less of military service. Too often companies have no concept of what veterans can bring to their organizations. Much of what they do know is rooted in misguided or delusionary rhetoric portrayed by Hollywood.

Veterans face the prospects of having to explain in basic terms what they accomplished in the military and at the same time reservists face the prospect of being denied a job simply because they serve in the military reserves.

Where is the America that honored its veterans?

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Military%20Strategy%20and%20Transformation

Obama Chooses Princeton Economist to Head Economic Team.

2011-08-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

Today, President Obama chose labor economist Alan Krueger to be the new Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, replacing Austan Goolsbee who left this month and returned to the University of Chicago.

Krueger comes into the administration having run the "cash for clunckers" program and served in the Labor Department during the Clinton administration. His most recent position was an an economist at Princeton University. Unfortunately for Krueger, this requires Senate confirmation, which will undoubtedly highlight his lack of practical business experience.

Much of Krueger's experience has been in government and academia, with little or no business experience, which has been the complaint against many of the President's advisers and appointments.

This comes at a crucial time for the President, as his next task after Labor Day will be to unveil his job proposal and his plan for reducing the enormous federal debt. His speech will come on the heals of Friday's job report by the Labor Department, which will further fuel the fire already raging over the stagnate economy.

Next week should be an interesting and volatile week.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

CBO Report's High Unemployment Through 2014

2011-08-25T10:31:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report that unemployment is projected to fall from 9.1 percent in the second quarter of 2011, to 8.9 percent in the fourth quarter of the year, and to 8.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012--and then remain above 8 percent until 2014.

Remember, back in 2009 the passage of the controversial stimulus package, which if passed, unemployment was never supposed to be above 8 percent. Fast forward to August 2011, almost $5 trillion dollars later and the nation's unemployment rate has been over 9 percent for almost three years, with it dropping below 9 percent only briefly. The Labor Department reported today that new applications for U.S. unemployment compensation rose 5,000 to 417,000.

Next month, after the Labor Day holiday, the President is going to give an address on his plan to stimulate job creation, and his proposal to reduce the massive federal debt. Since assuming office the President has repeatedly signaled that he is focusing on jobs, but has always pivoted to other priorities as the employment situation worsened in the country.

The debt debate signaled to American's the depth of dysfunction in Washington as each side blames the other for the fiscal mess, with neither side focusing on what matters most to Main Street USA; jobs.

The speech will be watched closely, and if the President reiterates previous proposals of more government spending and tax increases, the markets will have a negative reaction. Will just have to wait and see what the president proposes.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

What's Next For Libya and the U.S.

2011-08-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

The forty two year regime of Moammar Gaddafi appears to be over with the rebel conquest of his compound. The real work is just beginning! After forty two years of brutal rule, the institutions that sustain a modern democracy are non-existent in Libya.

Remember the euphoria that erupted after the fall of Saddam Hussein, quickly followed by anarchy as there was no government to provide for the rule of law. The west has to realize that like Iraq & Afghanistan, Libya is a tribal society with its own internal dynamics, and one we had better tread lightly as we move forward.

Currently, the U.S. needs to build a broader coalition beyond NATO, one which includes at the very least Tunisia, Egypt and other African nations, in stabilizing Libya. The U.S. will have a role, but that will be up to the President to articulate a broad strategy for Libya, and for that matter the broader Middle East. So far the President and his national security team have always been a step behind in the "Arab Spring" revolutions that have swept the region.

The President has already stated, 'no American boots will be on the ground in Libya,' but the question is, will NATO assume that role. NATO was barely hanging on when the rebels advanced into Libya. NATO is having a difficult time sustaining troop commitments in Afghanistan, will they be willing to provide the forces necessary to sustain the transition to a democratic Libya?

The weeks and months ahead should be interesting.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Africa&subcategory=North%20Africa

Qaddafi Appears Done in Libya

2011-08-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

After 42 years in power, the brutal regime of Colonel Muammar Qaddafi appears to be over. Over the weekend rebel forces entered the Libyan capital of Tripoli, and reports have it that one of Qaddafi's son's has been captured by rebel forces.

For six months rebels have been trying to over through Qaddafi. In March, NATO entered the fray to prevent a humanitarian disaster, with the U.S. playing a subordinate role. The U.S. however, was still providing 75% of the funding and other logistical support. Recently NATO was having a difficult time continuing the operation as the conflict was fraying the alliance.

If this latest events provide for the removal of Qaddafi, the transition to democracy will be problematic and chaotic as the National Transitional Council (NTC) begins to assume some sort of control over the country. This rebel council had been recognized by France in March, with the U.S. reluctantly supporting it last month. As Libya is tribal society, the question remains if the NTC be able to incorporate all elements of Libyan society into a cohesive government?

In tribal societies we have seen the fragmentation of the country once the authoritative government is removed, one only has to remember the euphoria that swept Iraq after the removal of Saddam Hussein. What role will the U.S. play in assisting with the establishment of a democratic Libya? Remember, President Obama stated `there will be no American boots on the ground.`

The Libyan people are close to ending their long nightmare, but before one gets all euphoric, especially those in the west, it is important to remember that Democracy takes time to build and doesn't happen over night! The U.S. still doesn't have a clear policy for Libya, or for that matter the Middle East.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Africa&subcategory=North%20Africa

Wanted: Veteran Looking For a Job

2011-08-18T11:52:00.000-07:00

George Washington said it best, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." Unfortunately, this statement rings all to true today. With the nation facing a stagnate economy, the highest demographics for those unemployed are; veterans.

Too often the nation is euphoric as they send brave men and women to preserve the freedom we cherish, but when they return, veterans face bleak employment opportunities.

I have felt this searing sting of rejection while seeking employment. Employers, not fully understanding what a veteran can bring to a company, many times ask questions that are reflections of opinions regarding military service of what Hollywood portrays. Society today has grown detached to what military service is and believing what the media tells them, which is that all veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan face some sort of psychological disorder.

Veterans today don't feel the open hostility felt by veterans returning from Vietnam, but they face the hidden rejection of society not fully understanding what they can bring to a company. Military reservists face the prospects of being denied employment just because they serve their country. I faced this myself when applying to numerous companies, always asked the same question-"when are you deploying'? The other question is, what can your experience from the military bring to our organization.

This is why I started Military Briefing Book so that I can employ veterans who are shunned by a country they swear allegiance to protect, and I urge you to encourage others to do the same. As we ponder my opening statement of a past president, General George Washington (who served his country in the military) we can ask ourselves, where has America gone.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/browse.cfm?category=Military%20Strategy%20and%20Transformation&subcategory=Military%20Reserves%20and%20National%20Guard

Panetta Cautions Against Deep Defense Cuts

2011-08-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta stated yesterday that deep defense cuts would "terribly weaken" U.S. national security. Speaking at a rare joint news conference with Secretary of State, he cautioned against radical defense reduction, which would have a devastating effect on U.S. national security.

"We recognize that we're in a resource limitation here, and that we got to deal with those challenges, " said Panetta. "But I don't think you have to choose between our national and fiscal responsibilities. And I want the country to know that we can get this done, but we have to do it in a way that protects our national defense and protects our national security."

Right now it seems that the budget is determining what the national security of the United States should be instead of the other way around. Currently, a revolution in military strategy is being waged in national security circles as to which direction the United States heads in the coming decades. Conventional threats, that had been the hallmark of U.S. national security focus since the end of the Second World War, have been replaced by unconventional and asymmetric security threats.

With the change in the challenges faced by the U.S., it alters what types of weapons the Pentagon will need in the future. At the same time the Pentagon will have to realign its procurement and acquisition systems to meet these new challenges. Currently, the Pentagon operates under an antiquated budget system, in which billions have been squandered without any real oversight and direction. This must change!

As I mentioned yesterday, a dedicated task force needs to be established to look and make the necessary recommendations on how the Pentagon can realign its priorities, look at the duplication of services that are inherent in each military branch, and ultimately end outdated practices.

Failure to address political reality will have the Pentagon forced to make reductions, not by national security concerns, but by budget realities. This focus will place the security of the nation in peril.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Military%20Strategy%20and%20Transformation

Time has come to Reorganize the Defense Department

2011-08-16T12:34:00.000-07:00

With the nation mired in massive debt and the fight in Washington over how to reduce the bloated federal debt every federal program needs to be included in deficit reduction; and that includes the Defense Department.

Too often many in Washington hold defense reductions in the same way, many refuse to entertain any thought of reducing or overhauling entitlement spending as a way to rein in federal spending. The time has come where defense spending has to be included in reducing the federal debt.

Instead of handing the Defense Department over to budget cutters, Washington needs for the first time to look how the Pentagon can reduce spending without reducing military readiness and power projection. Too often in the past, short-sighted policies place the nation in peril, without thinking of what future threats or contingencies will be. The reduction of the Defense Department, after World War II had a disastrous effect on the U.S. in the early days of the Cold War and which the U.S. paid dearly for in the beginning of the Korean War. The same could be said for the time following the Vietnam War and in the 1990's.

The Defense Department needs to overhaul and change how it operates and look at every aspect of procurement and acquisition; this also includes looking at duplication between the various military services. Each military service has unique capabilities that are inherent in that service, but that said, too often many of the same services duplicate supply, communications, and other aspects that could be standardized throughout the Department of Defense.

The time has come for the Pentagon to commission a task force that looks at all aspects of Pentagon spending; otherwise reductions will be made, and as we know, history repeats itself, which will be detrimental to the national security of this country.

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=Military%20Strategy%20and%20Transformation

As the U.S. Dithers; World Spirals out of Control

2011-08-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Much of this month debate has centered on the fragile state of the U.S. economy, with vicious and heated debate on raising the federal debate ceiling and reducing America's massive federal debt. Each side has staked a position, and each side has firmly entrenched itself in its position. Unfortunately, what is missing is any meaningful debate on what is transpiring across the globe.

The President in recent campaign stops routinely highlights the situation in the Middle East, most notably the "Arab Spring" revolution, as on of the root causes affecting the U.S. economy. Since the Arab revolts broke out in January of this year, even though one could say it originally started in Iran in 2009, the United States has articulated confusing and contradictory policies in the region.

In March, the U.S. and NATO undertook military operations in Libya, and six months later the situation is no more clearer then when it was first initiated. Today, it has been reported that scores of Iraqi's have been killed as Iraq is beginning to spiral out of control, what is U.S. policy toward Iraq?

Last weekend 30 U.S. military personnel were killed, but still U.S. strategy in the region is confusing and perplexing, even to the most ardent foreign policy experts; what is our strategy in Afghanistan, and for that matter, Pakistan?

It seems U.S. foreign policy strategy is like a brush fire moving from one crisis to another, without any real direction. At some point that brush fire will turn into a full blaze and will bring to the forefront a failed U.S. foreign policy.

Read More:

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What's Wrong With Washington?

2011-08-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

This past week has seen a tumultuous activity with regard to the nation's economy, as the country witnessed and experienced a wild ride on the economic markets. The wild swings on the Stock Market were the same swings the country witnessed last week as the nation went to the brink of default before finally passing the Debt Ceiling legislation.

Both political parties are playing partisan politics and are only playing to the base of their respective parties. Missing is the leadership that we need to have if the nation is to recover from this economic stagnation, which has the economy virtually at a standstill.

Elements of the Republican party have to realize they only control one aspect of the government. Many scoff and would rather let the nation go to the brink before they compromise with the administration over anything. Democrats, need to stop blaming the other side and pass a budget, which they have failed to do in over two and half years.

Yesterday, President Obama spoke at Johnson Controls, Inc. in Michigan, an advanced battery facility, but unfortunately the President returned to his usual rhetorical partisan rancor of blaming the other side. What the President failed to mention was he has failed to submit his own budget, failed to submit his own proposals for addressing the economy, and failed to embrace any recommendations from his own debt commission.

Before the President unleashes partisan speeches, it's time for leadership and time for the President to submit in writing his own strategy for reviving the nation's economy and for reducing the massive federal debt.

Too bad that it's leadership from both parties that is the real thing missing in Washington!

http://militarybriefingbook.com/topic.cfm?topic=U.S.%20Politics

America in Crisis

2011-08-10T10:34:00.000-07:00

America today reminds me more of the America in the 1970's, where economic uncertainty over the nature of the economy, coupled with indecision abroad seemed to paralyze this country. On Monday the Stock Market had the sixth largest one day drop in its history. When the President spoke, the markets reacted negatively to his feeble attempts to assure stability.

Over the weekend 30 American Special Forces military personnel had been killed when their helicopter was shot down by Taliban forces, and again the U.S. seems rudderless in what strategy it is trying to pursue in Afghanistan. The administration has thus far failed to articulate a comprehensive strategy in Afghanistan. It appears that the strategy the President proposes is based more on politics then on any military strategy.

Currently, economic instability in Europe has affected U.S. markets, but our own economic policies have also affected the economy. Too often leaders in Washington have routinely debated raising taxes and spending reductions as a way to reduce the massive federal debt. Unfortunately, Washington politics continually contributes to high unemployment and flight of jobs overseas.

If the U.S. wants to reduce the federal debt, it will have to reduce the persistent high unemployment rate. Washington passed the massive stimulus plan in 2009, we were told that its passage would keep unemployment under 8%- well we have been over 9% for over two years.

As a small business owner, I see first-hand the affects of misguided policies of Washington and its continued failed economic policies. Maybe if at at least some of this administration had run a business before we would be in a far different place economically. This period reminds me more and more of the 1970's!

http://militarybriefingbook.com/

Congress Approves Debt Deal; Now on to the President

2011-08-02T10:58:00.000-07:00

Today, the Senate approved the landmark federal debt ceiling plan 74-26, which would raise the federal debt limit and radically reduce government spending. The measure now goes to the President to be signed into law.

After weeks of contentious and downright vigorous debate about reducing the ballooning federal debt the partisan battles will continue into the fall and definitely into next year's pivotal presidential election. Still left to be decided is the 2012 federal budget, as of right now, none of the appropriations bills have been signed only the House has passed a budget.

President Obama's 2012 federal budget was defeated by the Democratic controlled Senate 97-0, with nothing else submitted in its place. The contentious battle over the scope and direction of the federal government will definitely continue into next year.

The 2012 presidential election will be a transformational election one that will present two competing ideologies, one the American people will have to make.

President Obama will be campaigning on the theme of a more activist role for the the federal government in the nation's economy, which in turn he believes will spur economic growth. Republicans will be campaigning on less government involvement in the market place, with more market orientated business practices to expand the nation's economy.

The American people have two stark choices to make.

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Debt Ceiling Agreement Finally Reached

2011-08-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

Late Sunday night both parties agreed to raise the federal debt ceiling in conjunction with $2 trillion dollars in cuts in federal spending. Now, the political protagonist will have to sell the agreements to their respective members before the President signs the legislation.

The Stock Market has closed down over 100 points, mainly from the news that U.S. manufacturing barely grew in July, and fell to its weakest point in more than two years. This after Friday's report from the U.S. Commerce Department that showed for the second quarter U.S. Gross Domestic Product grew only 1.3% and a revised 1st quarter growth of 0.4%.

The anemic growth of the nation's economy has the U.S. stagnating as it enters its third year of recovery from the deepest recession in generation's. There is speculation that the nation has entered a second double dip recession.

Friday, more depressing news will hit the economy when the Labor Department will release July's unemployment numbers. Right now Washington political pundits are debating the winners and losers of the debt agreement, but the real losers are the American people who are saddled with a stagnate economy, persistent high unemployment, and with little outlook the economy will improve in the near future.

There is little joy on Main Street!

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Where's the President?

2011-07-29T10:27:00.000-07:00

Throughout the debt crisis in Washington, the one prevailing theme has been, where is President Obama? Even the New York Times has questioned the absence of the President at this crucial time. Since Monday's press conference, President Obama has been rarely seen or heard. Today, the President in a short statement mentioned that the GOP plan in the House has "no chance of becoming law," urging "bipartisan compromise" in the Senate.

The President has urged bipartisan compromise, unfortunately President Obama has resorted to partisan rhetoric, all the while failing to submit his own proposal. Throughout the process, the President has failed in presidential leadership, the budget he submitted in February, was soundly rejected by the Democratic controlled Senate 97-0. President Obama has even failed to address the federal debt, which is the basis for the crisis today, by failing to accept any recommendations from his own debt commission.

The one aspect that has been rarely reported, was last year when the Democrats controlled both the House and Senate failed to pass a budget, which was only resolved this spring. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid failed to increase the debt ceiling last December, instead decided to let the next Congress tackle this volatile issue.

All the while President Obama has provide very little leadership and only resorted to partisan politics and wanting to push the crisis forward until after the 2012 Presidential election. Hardly asserting presidential leadership.

It's time for the President to start providing leadership, instead of engaging in partisan politics.

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