America

Bob Gates’ DUTY
Bob Gates’ DUTY

America, Blogs, Books, Harlan Ullman., Publications, Regions

Bob Gates’ DUTY

Last week’s release of Bob Gates’ Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War was preceded by his publisher’s brilliant public relations campaign hyping the book with tantalizingly provocative excerpts. The brouhaha over the propriety of the timing of the book’s release while Gates’ boss, President Barack Obama, was still in office and the dramatic excerpts especially the criticism of Vice President Joe Biden filled the talk shows. And, now, all that has sunk without trace. A few reactions are in order before getting into the most telling and largely unmentioned aspects of Gates’ blockbuster---but a blockbuster for other reasons. First, too many of the pundits pontificated without reading the [...]

By Harlan Ullman|2018-02-08T18:44:09+02:00January 27th, 2014|America, Blogs, Books, Harlan Ullman., Publications, Regions|0 Comments

Desperately needed: a new security mindset for the 21st century
Desperately needed: a new security mindset for the 21st century

America, Blogs, Harlan Ullman., Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis

Desperately needed: a new security mindset for the 21st century

Since George Washington was America’s first commander-in-chief, successive administrations have often been accused of either lacking a strategy or having one that did not work. The major exceptions perhaps were the bipartisan policies of containment and deterrence that ultimately prevailed over the Soviet Union. The debate then focused more on means than on ends. Unfortunately, the success of the Cold War has perpetuated a 20th century mindset for national security that cannot and will not work in the 21st century. Until we create a relevant framework and paradigm, unless we are unconscionably lucky, our policies will be flawed. And critics will sadly prove correct in assailing our inability to “think strategically.” The [...]

By Harlan Ullman|2017-11-14T21:28:29+02:00November 28th, 2013|America, Blogs, Harlan Ullman., Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis|0 Comments

Worse than a bad joke: a broke and broken U.S. government
Worse than a bad joke: a broke and broken U.S. government

America, Blogs, Harlan Ullman., Issues, Regions

Worse than a bad joke: a broke and broken U.S. government

The great American and Oklahoman humorist Will Rogers had a toxic view of Congress eighty or so years ago and long before Congress bashing became a contact sport for late night television hosts. “Every time Congress wanted to pass a law, it became a joke,” Rogers quipped. “And every time Congress wished to make a joke, they turned it into a law.” Today, the U.S. government is worse than Rogers’ bad joke. Failure to pass a budget is now standard operating procedure. Should the debt-ceiling limit be unreconciled by October 17th and the nation defaults, the consequences are almost certainly going to be bad and grow worse the longer government is [...]

By Harlan Ullman|2017-11-14T21:28:29+02:00October 18th, 2013|America, Blogs, Harlan Ullman., Issues, Regions|0 Comments

Din seria „Greu de ucis – SUA infruntand crizele”
Din seria „Greu de ucis – SUA infruntand crizele”

Adrian Marius Dobre., America, Blogs, Economics, Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis

Din seria „Greu de ucis – SUA infruntand crizele”

Totul a plecat de la Obamacare, un sistem de asigurari medicale extinse asupra caruia republicanii si democratii nu au cazut de acord. De aici s-a ajuns la blocarea votului pentru buget, boicotarea acestuia de catre republicani, intr-un joc in care vina este plasata ca o minge de foc ba in bratele republicanilor, ba in cele ale lui Obama. Republicanii sustin ca bugetul SUA nu poate sa acopere extra cheltuielile cuprinse in programul Obamacare, iar democratii arata cu degetul catre republicani ca fiind responsabili pentru paralizia administratiei (atat timp cat bugetul nu este aprobat, nu exista o lege in baza careia functionarii sa fie platiti, astfel ca zeci de mii de [...]

By Adrian Marius Dobre|2017-11-14T21:28:32+02:00October 15th, 2013|Adrian Marius Dobre., America, Blogs, Economics, Issues, Regions, Studies and Analysis|0 Comments

Rummy’s reclama—fixing a broken process
Rummy’s reclama—fixing a broken process

America, Blogs, Harlan Ullman., Regions, Studies and Analysis

Rummy’s reclama—fixing a broken process

Don Rumsfeld is on tour touting his newest book: Rumsfeld’s Rules, a compilation of lessons accumulated over fifty years of public service. Mr. Rumsfeld has the distinction of being both America’s youngest and oldest secretary of defense, presiding over three wars---winding down Vietnam and during the past decade, overseeing the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. But it is actually Rumsfeld’s previous book, Known and Unknowns---A Memoir that is more relevant regarding the state of American politics today. Towards the end of that book (and his time as George W. Bush’s secretary of defense), Rumsfeld forwarded a memo to the National Security Council calling for a commission to address what he [...]