Tag Archives: Counterinsurgency

The Afghan Withdrawal: A Receding American Imperium

Posted on January 28, 2014 by William Holland

Dr. David Petraeus isn’t the sole authority or executor for the “Iraqi Surge”, Fredrick W. Kagan at the American Enterprise Institute had a major share in the restoration of the American threat deterrent by strengthening the application of policy oversight. … Continue reading →

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Dr. Brendan Simms: Strategery

Posted on May 29, 2012 by William Holland

I’ve always loved how the experts, the specialized mandarins and policy wonks ridiculed Bush for his malapropisms. The overly specialized development of precise language does have its flaws, if only exposed in the caldron of the mundane.  Where else is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Spring, Arnold Toynbee, Central Asia, International Relations, Islam, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Pakistan, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dr. Brendan Simms: Strategery

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 →

Posted in Frontier, International Relations, Near East, Pakistan, Politics, Terrorism, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Sleep of Reason Breeds Monsters

The Folly of Elites at Council on Foreign Relations

Posted on May 10, 2011 by William Holland

The Council on Foreign Relations is another anachronistic institution whose ties to monolithic liberalism is rendering itself obsolete in our present age of digital revolution. This is a sad state of affairs given this nations need for clarity of purpose … 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

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