Tag Archives: Afpak

The Sleep of Reason Breeds Monsters

Posted on August 30, 2011 by William Holland

Fredrick W. Kagan along with Fouad Ajami and Bernard Lewis were the primary ideological agents that gave fortitude to the Bush administrations push to surge in 2006 under Dr. David Petraeus.  Kagan’s expertise in asymmetrical warfare is incomparable to any … Continue reading →

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Obama: The AfPak Strategy, What Nixon & Kissenger Can Teach

Posted on August 12, 2011 by William Holland

If Nixon hadn’t committed political suicide in Watergate, he would have turned a very diplomatic war into a massive win given how the Tet offensive was a disaster for the North Vietnamese.   Yes, the Marxist doctrine on insurgency was … Continue reading →

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George Melloan: The American Imperium For An Uncertain President

Posted on August 12, 2011 by William Holland

George Melloan has written “The Great Money Binge:  Spending Our Way To Socialism,”  out from Simon & Schuster 2009.  As former Editorial page writer and editor for the Wall Street Journal makes him a protege to the most powerful man … Continue reading →

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Pakistan: Incompetent & Duplicitous Ally

Posted on May 16, 2011 by William Holland

With the death of Osama bin Laden the U.S. can now begin to assess its partner in the ‘Long War’.  Any brief cogent view of Pakistan will reveal a deeply troubling political arena fit for only the most competent statesman. … Continue reading →

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Amir Taheri: Inscrutable Taliban Nomads Can Defeat U.S. In ‘The Long War’

Posted on November 9, 2010 by William Holland

Amir Taheri was executive editor (1972-1979) of the pro-western Iranian newspaper Kayhan which shut down with the arrival of the Islamic Revolution.  Taheri is known the world over as an erudite international relations expert specializing in Persian affairs.  If Oriana … Continue reading →

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Pakistan: The Wavering Ally

Posted on October 12, 2010 by William Holland

Ryan Crocker was U.S. ambassador to both Pakistan & Iraq from 2004-2009, he most certainly knows the region and its ambitions regarding American presence.  His latest speech reveals the limited range of policy options that constrains Pakistan.  This is not … Continue reading →

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Arthur Herman: The Perils Of Rigid Historicism

Posted on October 5, 2010 by William Holland

Ever since Leo Strauss wrote his infamous ‘Natural Right & History’ which forever defeated that overly rigid mental habit to discover a cyclical theme running throughout history (in academic circles its called Historicism), this Marxian habit certainly dies hard.  Witness … Continue reading →

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Najam Sethi: The AfPak Theatre

Posted on September 29, 2010 by William Holland

Najam Sethi is the editor in chief of the Friday Times and Dunya TV in Lahore Pakistan.  He has written a prescient essay articulating how the United States ought to develop a grand strategy in dealing with both Pakistan and … Continue reading →

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General David Petraeus Ph.D., Icon Of Counterinsurgency & The Ideals Of Mao Tse-tung & Sun Tzu

Posted on August 19, 2010 by William Holland

About fifteen years ago Nien Cheng (author of ‘Life & Death In Shanghai’) gave the commencement address at Marist College in New York.  I was unaware of her life and her relation to Mao Tse-tung, she was best friends with … Continue reading →

Posted in Central Asia, China, Sun Tzu, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments