Author: Tim J. Clark

Ideological Engagement

How To Win The War Of Ideas, (Wall Street Journal)…James K. Glassman, June 24, 2008

 “In the long run, winning the War on Terror means winning the battle of ideas.”

Many of the strongest supporters of ideological engagement can be found in the Department of Defense, starting with Secretary Robert Gates, who reminded senators earlier this year that the Cold War was “as much a war of ideas as it was of military power.” Unfortunately, since the rise of Islamic terror, we haven’t done enough on this front.

What we seek is a world in which the use of violence to achieve political, religious or social objectives is no longer considered acceptable, efforts to radicalize and recruit new members are no longer successful, and the perpetrators of violent extremism are condemned and isolated.

Military success is necessary, but it is not sufficient – for the simple reason that we face as an enemy not a single nation, or even a coalition, but a stateless global movement. Without a vigorous war of ideas, as we kill such adversaries others will take their place.

Illiteracy: Next Steps

OPINION: Editorial Illiteracy takes toll on our health and welfare, Indianapolis Star, Sunday, June 22, 2008.

The statistics are startling. One in five adults in Marion County is functionally illiterate. The job prospects of one in three workers in the state are hampered by poor literacy skills. Health-care costs for an illiterate adult are on average four times higher than for a person who can read prescriptions, follow doctors’ instructions and process other health-related information.

This is a follow-up article discussing the initiative to improve literacy levels in Indianapolis.

Goal: 100% literacy. Solutions mentioned in the article include:  More networking among community organizations working independently on the issue; recruitment of more volunteers.

More info:
– www.indyreads.org, M. Travis DiNicola, Executive Director
– www.readyindiana.org
– www.illiteracyhurts.com
– www.proliteracy.org

Air Force: Change

Air Force Adrift, (Washington Post)…Editorial, June 21, 2008, Pg. 16

SLOWLY AND painfully, the U.S. Army has adapted itself to the unconventional wars the country has faced since Sept. 11, 2001. Following a reorganization of forces, a rewrite of doctrine and the emergence of new commanders such as Gen. David H. Petraeus, American ground troops are winning counterinsurgency wars in Iraq and eastern Afghanistan — and are recognized as state-of-the-art by NATO allies.

… In contrast, the U.S. Air Force, which dominated the 1990s with its smart bombs and stealth planes, has lost its way in the new century.

Supreme Court, War, Civil Rights

Having Judges On The Battlefield, (Wall Street Journal)…Andrew McBride, June 21, 2008, Pg. 7

The Supreme Court’s decision in Boumediene v. Bush is being hailed in many quarters as a great victory for civil rights and the rule of law. It is not. In fact, it is a watershed in judicial hubris, and in the continuing trend in our society to convert every form of decision making into a lawsuit.

India: Nuke Energy

Leaders Push Nuke Deal, (Washington Times)…Unattributed, June 21, 2008, Pg. 10

NEW DELHI–India’s leaders considered pushing ahead with a landmark U.S.-India nuclear energy deal Friday – a move that could bring down the government and lead to early elections, two people involved in the deliberations said.

The debate among India’s leaders revived hopes that the nuclear accord, seen as a cornerstone in the budding partnership between New Delhi and Washington, could be clinched before President Bush leaves office in January.

North Korea: New Info

New Data Found On North Korea’s Nuclear Capacity
(Washington Post)…Glenn Kessler

The United States in recent weeks has obtained new intelligence — fresh traces of highly enriched uranium discovered among 18,000 pages of North Korean documents — that are raising new questions about whether Pyongyang pursued an alternative route to producing a nuclear weapon, according to sources familiar with the intelligence findings.

"As we’ve gotten deeper into the process, we’ve been troubled by additional information about North Korea’s uranium-enrichment capability," Rice said. "And this information has reaffirmed skepticism about dealing with North Korea." — Secretary Rice

Mideast: Nuke Issue, U.S. Elections

    Bush May End Term With Iran Issue Unsettled
    (New York Times)…Helene Cooper
    For more than five years now, President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have made clear that they did not want to leave office with Iran any closer to possessing nuclear weapons than when they took office.
    Israeli Maneuvers Demonstrate Unease Over Iran
    (Wall Street Journal)…Jay Solomon and Yochi J. Dreazen
    …U.S. officials Friday confirmed a report in the New York Times that Israel recently mounted a large-scale military exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean that appeared designed to hone the tactical skills needed in any future military strike against Iran’s nuclear installations.
    Israel Conducted War Games, U.S. Officials Report
    (Washington Post)…Robin Wright
    …The mock operation reflected a growing policy schism over Iran among major international players at a time when U.S. politics may freeze major decisions until a new administration is in place, its officials are confirmed and a policy review is complete.

Air Force: Philosophical Differences

Ex-Official Cites Differences With Gates, (Washington Times)…Robert Burns, Associated Press, June 21, 2008
Pg. 9

Two weeks after being ousted, Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne said Friday he had a "difference in philosophy" with his boss, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, on numerous issues – not just on the nuclear slip-up that Mr. Gates said was his reason for removing Mr. Wynne.

"When you have a difference of philosophy with your boss, he owns the philosophy and you own the difference," he said.

AFRICOM: Improving, Experimenting

AFRICOM Short On Answers, Long On Challenges
(Aerospace Daily & Defense Report)…David A. Fulghum, June 20, 2008 Pg. 7

The new U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) is facing some problems that its commander doesn’t want to talk about, and high on that list is China and South Africa.

While avoiding direct questions about South Africa, Ward did mention his desire to work with the few professional air forces in Africa, such as in Botswana.

… He predicts that AFRICOM will double in size over the summer, but it is not being designed to unilaterally “fix things for them.” Instead, the command will wait for requests from African nations, after which the United States will do its best to meet those needs as a partner, and would be willing to depart from traditional organizational constructs and funding models if necessary.

Asked where AFRICOM will move its headquarters that are now in Stuttgart, Germany, Ward says, “I don’t need to spend time on that right now.” He says there is no guide book about how to set up a new unified command, so his time is spent in improvising and experimenting with its organization.