RADICAL VISIONS OF THE CALIPHATE – HIZB UT-TAHRIR IN CENTRAL ASIA
Ariel Cohen critiques the political aspirations and activities of the Islamist movement Hizb ut-Tahrir and declares it a threat to American national security.
USING SPAM AND PORN TO GRAB CONTROL OF THE INTERNET FOR THE UN
Transnational Progressives are going to use the availability of porn on the web and the minor problem of Spam in our email boxes as a wedge issue to place more control of the internet in the hands of the UN – that is, in the hands of technologically backward, socialist, Third World tyrants who are trying to keep the world at bay as much as possible.
Here’s an issue tailor made for one of John Bolton’s cataclysimic ” No way ” speeches. The United States really shouldn’t be in the business of helping dictatorships set up gatekeepers for a system they could never possibly have conceived of, much less invented – all for the purposes of strengthening censorship and secret police surveillance.
We made the internet. The rest of the world can use it or opt out as they like but the undemocratic elites abroad don’t get to run the service for which they have predominantly been an incredibly ungrateful bunch of free-riders with bad motives.
THE PENTAGON’S NEW MAP – A HANDY GUIDE TO THE MUST-READ FOREIGN POLICY BOOK of 2004
Tom Barnett has written an exemplary book that enunciates something you very seldom see in American public debate – a long-term strategic vision for the United States that gets beyond the crisis de jure. Moreover, it’s a strikingly positive vision that can politically connect with the American public across party lines – ” Shrinking the Gap ” is a clarion call that can supported from liberal humanitarian interventionists to neocons to cold-hearted realists. As a paradigm, this is the Convergence of Civilizations, not the Clash.
Moreover, the PNM builds on the historic American commitment since FDR to freeing markets that every administration has supported since WWII. The Pentagon’s New Map, as a concept, represents both innovation for the post 9/11 world and reassuring continuity. Ted Rall and Michael Moore are going to hate it. So will Pat Buchanan. Everyone else however will be willing to give Barnett’s ideas at least a serious look.
A Quick and Dirty Guide to PNM Terminology:
The Core: The industrialized, connected to the information economy, mostly peaceful, rule of law abiding, liberal democratic world.
The Old Core: The heart of the core, the old G-7/NATO/Japan states led by the United States.
The New Core: Those modernizing states that decided to join the Core in the 1980’s and 1990’s – these are not always as liberal, democratic and law-abiding as the Old Core but they have more or less irreversibly committed to moving in that direction – China, India, South Korea, Mexico, Brazil and the like.
The Gap: The Third World regions mostly disconnected economically and politically from the Core. Hobbesian in character, ridden by violence, oppression, poverty and anarchy. Ruled by despots- when ruled by anyone- committed to keeping their nations disconnected as a political survival strategy.
Rule Sets: The explicit and implicit rules that provide the framework by which nations interact and function internally. There is a clash of rule sets between the Gap and the Core and within the Core between Europe which mostly cannot and will not intervene in the Gap to enforce rules and the United states which can and sometimes must.
Connectivity: The degree of acceptance of globalization’s many effects and the ability of a nation’s individuals to access choices for themselves. Most international hotspots are in the most disconnected parts of the Gap.
Global Transaction Strategy: Barnett’s equivalent to ” Containment” – a national and Core strategy to ” Shrink the Gap ” by connecting and integrating into the rule sets of the Core.
I am going to discuss some of Dr. Barnett’s more specific observations and recommendations – and where I see caveats – in a subsequent post but overall the PNM is a book that will have an intellectual impact that will be both broad and deep.
KERRY-EDWARDS
John Edwards was added to the ticket because he meets the prime requirement of any vice-presidential candidate – ” First, do no harm “. He brings none of the inevitable difficulties or ego of a Hillary Clinton or a John McCain nor is Edwards a tired and colorless retread
In addition, Edwards, despite his slick trial lawyer background has never detached from his southern roots and he can still ” speak Bubba ” to a region that views the Democratic nominee with suspicion. Given that Kerry is the epitome of a stereotypical limosuine liberal and cold and arrogant Yankee moralist, Edwards bring much needed charm and warmth to the Democratic ticket. In practical terms, Edwards can bring little else to the table having had virtually no impact on any substantive national issue whatsoever – something of an advantage because it leaves very little record – barring unrevealed skeletons – for GOP operatives to attack except youth and inexperience ( which will stick because Edwards looks like he might be about 30). I don’t see Edwards having much of an effect either way on the election unless he makes an unexpected gaffe.
Not a bold choice but from Kerry’s perspective the most attractive safe choice.
Zenpundit is a blog dedicated to exploring the intersections of foreign policy, history, military theory, national security,strategic thinking, futurism, cognition and a number of other esoteric pursuits.
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