Monthly Archives: July 2010

Weak Currency: Weakened Prosperity

Posted on July 28, 2010 by William Holland

A great friend of mine recently admonished a competitor who exclaimed that the Dow Jones was rising!  His response was incisive:  what does it matter, the currency is shot!  His thinking was grounded in sound fiscal, macroeconomic policy that is … Continue reading →

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Pakistani Intelligence Services, Osama bin Ladin & The Nemesis Of History

Posted on July 27, 2010 by William Holland

The recent release of the AfPak papers (summer 2010) reveals what many already knew:  ISI (Pakistani Directorate of Inter-Services Intelligence) is giving tactical and material support to the Taliban.  First, some definitions:  ISI is the CIA for Pakistan, the Taliban … Continue reading →

Posted in Frontier, International Relations, Islam, Politics, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

AfPak Papers & American Statecraft

Posted on July 27, 2010 by William Holland

The central tenant of any counterinsurgency is the consolidation of domestic political leadership.  What the Bush administration got right was his unwillingness to bend to the wishes of the Pentagon, State, Media, Congress or Wise men on the absolute need … Continue reading →

Posted in Frontier, International Relations, Islam, Near East, Politics, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fouad Ajami: Egypt & The Role Of Reversal In The Greater Near East

Posted on July 26, 2010 by William Holland

On July 22, 2010 I posted an essay surmising the near death and political paralysis of Egypt during the crisis that is Honsi Mubarak.  Other critical analysts are now weighing the future that is becoming of Egypt.  Faoud Ajami’s op-ed … Continue reading →

Posted in International Relations, Islam, Near East, Politics, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

East Africa: Agents Of Al Qaeda & The New Front

Posted on July 24, 2010 by William Holland

The recent bombing of Kampala has brought to light several key strategic insights regarding both the nature and drive of Islamic terrorists and the strategic alliance of American presence in East Africa; particularly regarding our relation to Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Islam, Politics, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The New Wiseman: Informed Critics Of Afpak Strategy

Posted on July 23, 2010 by William Holland

Decades ago Washington insiders always spoke reverently about the need for any President to have a ‘wise man’ continuously informing and constraining the President’s policy options:  Roosevelt had Hopkins, Truman had Acheson, Kennedy had Macmillian.  Today’s President either arrives into … Continue reading →

Posted in International Relations, Islam, Near East, Politics, Reagan, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gilded Age: Prominence & Patricide

Posted on July 22, 2010 by William Holland

Anyone familiar with the Hudson River Valley in New York State is familiar with the rise of tourism that accompanied the twenty-five year economic boom that we sustained since Reagan.  All along the Hudson River are mansions from the Gilded … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatism, Ethics, Identity Development, John Paul II, Money, Morality, Perils Of Specialization, Sociology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Ralph Peters: Spygame

Posted on July 22, 2010 by William Holland

Known as an old ‘Russian Hand’; a euphemism detailing the acumen accrued by developing successful ‘cover’ as a mole behind the line of fire, Ralph Peters remains one of the finest intelligence experts the Army has produced in decades.  He … Continue reading →

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Benny Avni: Egyptian Warning

Posted on July 22, 2010 by William Holland

The news is out regarding the terminal status of Mubarak’s stomach cancer with grave political consequences for the region, especially regarding the weakness of American administration and the regions penchant for Islamic terrorism.  With the recent bombing of Uganda, the … Continue reading →

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France: Unintended Consequences Of A Bastard Ally

Posted on July 21, 2010 by William Holland

Few academics have been driven to excoriate the craven French as they lovingly embraced Marxism, the incubus of revolutionary fever that cradled the genocide in South East Asia.  Even fewer have quarried how Solzhenitsyn’s ‘Gulag’ was the text that finished … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Tocqueville, Arnold Toynbee, China, International Relations, Politics, Raymond Aron, Sociology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment