This is just too good...

I'll probably comment on this later being a prime recipient and all but until then just thought I'd share.

Hat tip to Armchair Generalist.

The Greater Good Disconnect

I'm gonna have to unplug for awhile. I'm knee-deep into the revision process on my thesis and I've got to put this sucker away before I seriously lose my mind. I'll be posting on my arguments when everything calms down and I'm not writing 24 hrs a day. Until then, peace.

The human side

Great personal account of the current living experience in Beirut from Steve Hyland, a PhD candidate at Ohio State.

Hat tip to War Historian.

This thing has spiraled completely out of control and there's no end in sight. We're not talking about Iran anymore though, are we?

It is finished...or is it?

For all my readers who sit in burning torment, worried for my sanity as I attempt to complete my MA thesis, calm yourselves for I have finished. I wrapped up my final chapter, which is essentially a conclusion, on Wednesday. All I lack is an introduction. Currently my page count stands at around 160 (without the intro)with a perfunctory page limit set at 130 . However, this does not include a chapter that I've written on the use of print and pop culture by Air Force and Navy during their public relations campaigns, A CRUCIAL CHAPTER for which I'm gonna have to fight. My solution to this problem seems to be a perfect microcosm for the institutional evolution of military history. My opening chapters drip with traditional “drum and trumpet” issues, they’re heavy on conceptional air force and naval strategy, doctrine, and force structure problems. Therefore, in order to make room for more “accepted” academic methodologies, such as the culture chapter and a Foucaultian discourse argument, these chapters must be cut. It’s gonna be tough to do but I’m trying to demonstrate how cultural analysis can be paired with traditional narrative methods in order to form a piece of research that still makes a “good story.” Therefore "drums and trumpets" must be sacrificed for the greater good;). Time to get out the ax.

OK I'm startin' to lose it!

This damn thesis is about to suck the soul right out of my body! I mean really. I keep writing and writing and the fucker just keeps snowballing. Jesus I'm losing all control. I stopped counting pages like a month ago and I was at 130! I've got to be over my limit--which was set by the academic establishment at 130--by 50 fucking pages. That's right sports fans, I'm sticking it to the academic man. But when I turn this bitch in "the man" is gonna hand me my ass in a handbag. Damn I've gotta go buy some more paper...

Good news in "The Long War?"

Interesting note from Barnett on Iraq:

Just-in-time strategy for this stop on the Long War

ARTICLE: “U.S. and Iraq Make Inroads With Insurgents,” by Greg Jaffe and Yochi J. Dreazen, Wall Street Journal, 22 June 2006, p. A3.
ARTICLE: “Some Insurgents Are Asking Iraq For Negotiations: Sunni Groups Reach Out; Reconciliation Plan Draws Responses From Factions Said to Be Nationalist,” by Edward Wong, New York Times, 27 June 2006, p. A1.

ARTICLE: “Car Bomb Kills More Than 60 In Iraq Market,” by Edward Wong, New York Times, 2 July 2006, p. A1.


One story I did not clip but only heard on the TV/radio over the past couple of weeks was members of Congress getting mad at an Iraqi proposal for amnesty to insurgents who have killed American soldiers. All I thought at the time was how unrealistic those sorts of demands would be on our part, plus how insulting they could come off to the locals (as in, it’s okay to kill Iraqis and get amnesty but kill an American and that’s that).

But as far as I know that’s a hubbub that comes and goes, since the first article above said that “the only firm line… was that no amnesty would be granted to members of Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia or guerrillas intent on restoring Saddam Hussein’s rule.” That seems reasonable enough.

But beyond all those details, the key thing is that we’re talking directly to insurgent groups, and when I say “we,” I mean both the U.S. forces and the Iraqi government. To the extent that Sunni insurgency factions come in from the cold and we affect a sort of ideological divorce between them and the Saddamists and Salafi jihadists represented by Al Qaeda, this insurgency becomes a whole lot more manageable and ultimately small enough to turn over to the Iraqi forces with the U.S. remaining primarily in the advising role (sort of a purer SysAdmin from above--or behind the scenes).

All of this unfolds with increasingly bold talk from U.S. commanders of reducing troop levels in the fall. With the continuing violence, that seems far-fetched as a hope, but it need not be. Insurgencies ratchet up violence as negotiations such as these mature. We’ve seen this time and time again. The insurgents want to be able to claim that the change achieved was primarily due to their willingness to commit acts of violence. For some, it’s an honor thing, for others, sheer negotiating plank, and for still others eyeing the next fight (like the Al Qaeda guys), there is the need to start building the myth--however far-fetched--that it was their “glorious victory that drove out the invaders” when--in reality--the “invaders” simply shifted the Long War to its next logical stop.

Things that Piss Me Off

Okay, we’re gonna start a little George Carlin section that I’ll be coming back to every now and then entitled “Things that Piss Me Off.” I’m sure George won’t mind, and if he does, well, I don’t really give a shit, he kinda pisses me off too. If you know me personally you’ll know that these types of entries could be quite numerous, but I promise to limit my cynicism as much as possible so bare with me. I’ve also told my sister that I’d try to watch my language but no promises here.

First on my list: PEOPLE WHO GIVE ME BOOKS TO READ

A lot of people seem to love to do this, and I’m guessing a few people, hell maybe even a lot of people like to get said book, read it, and then tell the giver they’ve read it so they can talk about how the damn thing changed their lives. My mom just goes ape-shit over it. Well let me just state for the record that I can’t fucking stand it. Every time someone gives me a book I feel like they’ve just handed me like 48 hours of work to do. Cause let’s face it, you’ve gotta read the damn thing. Everybody is always asking “hey did you get a chance to read so and so?” and you always feel like you’ve done something wrong if you haven’t read it. You wanna say “Uh, no I haven’t read your book and I don’t intend to but thanks for the effort.” But you can’t say that, it would be rude. Anyone ever notice that the truth is usually rude? Anyway, everybody feels like they’ve got to enlighten you. Well look, I don’t care to be enlightened! The self help book is the worst. What am I supposed to think when you give me a fucking self-help book? Look bud, if you think there’s something wrong with me why don’t you just keep it to yourself okay? If I want help I’ll get it, I don’t need, nor do I want your opinion on the matter.

It’s not that I don’t like books; my problem is I love books, people know it, and they know I read military history. They just don’t know the specific type. Look folks there are thousands of books on military history out there, the vast majority of which I wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. I’ve got literally boxes of military history books people have given me to read and you know what, they’re still in the damn box. I am very particular about the books I read. I seriously have a list of like twenty books that I want to read right now, some of which I’ve already bought. I can see them. They’re sitting there justa callin out. But due to my heavy required reading schedule, I get very little time for pleasure reading and I’m not about to spend that precious time reading some kind of crappy military history book that somebody saw at Barnes and Noble and picked it up cause they “thought of me.” That’s sweet, I appreciate it but I’m not gonna read it. I’ll lie to you and tell you I’ve read it, but I won’t read it. Oh, and try not to ask me too many questions about it or it will just be awkward. Next time, just get me a gift certificate.