AMERICAblog: RAND STUDY: War on Terrorism fundamentally flawed and doomed to fail
Õ¿Õ
· 1 year ago
Took them long enough to come up with this study.
hawkseye
· 1 year ago
This is excellent coming from the Rand Corp. It demonstrates why the surge has failed to achieve its stated goals, and why Petraeus keeps saying the surge accomplishments are in a precarious place. I hope Obama uses this study for attacking McSame.
ron071
· 1 year ago
WANT MORE PAIN?????
VOTE McCAIN!!!!
Dave of the Jungle
· 1 year ago
I am so tired of being right all the time.
hawkseye
· 1 year ago
It's the burden you must bear, Dave. :-)
nsr
· 1 year ago
A study by the Bland Corporation proved that animals could be bred and SLAUGH-tered...
DoctorJ
· 1 year ago
Seriously, who cares what chicken-shit RAND has to say now, five years too late, when it's become conventional wisdom to slam all Bush policies? I worked in the think tank world in DC in the 90s, so trust me when I say that these "thinkers" are just as cowardly and unimaginative as anyone else who follows the herd. I recognize the same names of so-called pundits from many years ago -- a former boss is now at RAND -- who blow with the wind like every columnist and talking head on teevee. Maintaining job security and a facade of relevancy are the main motives for everything these people say and do. Stating the obvious is their strong suit.
jdeisenberg
· 1 year ago
John Kerry was ridiculed for saying that terrorism was "primarily an intelligence and law enforcement operation that requires cooperation around the world — the very thing this [Bush] administration is worst at." Nice to know his message is finally being received.
BLOGGING BITCH!
· 1 year ago
Wow. That's right up there with wondering why none of the soldiers have heard of The "Patriot" Act.
I'm sure it's nothing.
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 1 year ago
I remember talking with a repug... in a gay bar of all places... during the last few "we're going to have to take stronger measures if Saddam doesn't allow inspectors back in" threats. And I thought to myself "My God! what a way to increase the size of al qaeda... attack a Muslim nation."
the drunken repug started off on some tangent about 'being a Vietnam Vet' and 'you wouldn't understand'... and I got REALLY loud on him.
this war was then, and is now, about OIL... nothing else.
I knew it then, and I knew one of the claims for hating America was its Imperialism... occupying Muslim nations.
only makes sense that going to war in Muslim nations will CREATE MORE extremists.
in fact, diplomacy causes more of their people to realize how extremists want to limit their lives... and drives them to get rid of extremists in their midst.
it seems so easy to understand... the only question is, why do repugs want the world in constant chaos?
BLOGGING BITCH!
· 1 year ago
Saddam didn't have an Air Force that could deliver a nuke over here....and what's worse is that John Conyers knows it.
vkobaya
· 1 year ago
Saddam didn't have an Air Force that could deliver a nuke over here
What is even worse, recall the absurd claims that Saddam could be nuclear bombing our nation within 45 minutes. Our ICBM missiles can reach Iraq in 30 minutes but Iraq has no such capacity and no possibility of acquiring such technology.
lucky hussein
· 1 year ago
some people need enemies. all the time. mix that in with a belief that your actions are guided by god, well...
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 1 year ago
that works for ALL religious fanatics. Whether its God, Allah... whatever.
hawkseye
· 1 year ago
According to many, Repugs want the world in constant chaos because chaos is a money-maker. See Naomi Klein's book, "Shock Doctrine"
richmx2
· 1 year ago
Hopefully, its not to late to stop those of YOU in the U.S. from financing the military/industrial boondoogle here in Mexico that is treating our gangsters as "terrorists" requiring a military solution... qhich has meant a skyrocketing death toll in our "war on (your) drugs" almost as alarming as the death toll and violence north of the border.
BLOGGING BITCH!
· 1 year ago
We try not to pay much attention to the non-war in Nuevo/Loredo...our President is from there and his friend is Rick Perry.....whom John Mc Caian likes a lot.
Read my lips.....NO NEW TEXANS!
hawkseye
· 1 year ago
LOL!!
TheOriginalLiz
· 1 year ago
Hindsight is always 20/20.
BLOGGING BITCH!
· 1 year ago
Bush said foresight sucks.
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
Foresight is for Islamofascist sympathizers!
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 1 year ago
he misunderstood when Jeffylube said "I'm not into guys with foreskin."
BLOGGING BITCH!
· 1 year ago
I hear Mark Foley never even violated an ethics rule.....that's what Tom DeLay said.
unrepentant_expat
· 1 year ago
not when being processed by deficient mind!
Bush_Bites
· 1 year ago
Good.
Now, how can we get the morons who vote to believe it?
KerrynowCampau
· 1 year ago
Maybe the MSM will pick up the story.
snark......
lucky hussein
· 1 year ago
FU. NOW they come out like Captain Obvious? Where were they when Kerry said fighting terrorism was a law-enforment effort? HUH? FU Rand.
BLOGGING BITCH!
· 1 year ago
Hmmm...and opium exports are up %2100 since we went to Afghanistan.
Is there anything (other than pot) that they could tax to get us out of this shit?
BLOGGING BITCH!
· 1 year ago
2100%. oops.
BLOGGING BITCH!
· 1 year ago
What's this about Elizabeth Dole and Ted stevens?
Isn't her husband the guy that said that (as a veteran) it's OK if soldiers lay around in their own piss as long as A Republican is President?
Next thing you know, they'll put Kissinger on their side of the 9/11 Commission.
BLOGGING BITCH!
· 1 year ago
Wonder why soldiers din't know that the Patriot Act trumps the Bill of Right as long as the President feel we're at war and torture isn't torture if the torturer thinks he's in Church?
PeteWa
· 1 year ago
gosh, the progressives have only been saying this since day one...
Wouldn't this new study be akin to the Rand Corporation saying the Sun rises in the morning and sets at night? Kind of a big Duh! The only thing they're accomplishing is adding their slightly Hawkish/conservative credentials to what had been completely obvious. I wonder how long it took them to come up with this--a drunken weekend?
Rob Mule
· 1 year ago
In DC, the obvious costs more...
woodroad34
· 1 year ago
Could this be part of the $482 Billion deficit, then? Golden Fleece Award time comes earlier and earlier each year...
Shannon
· 1 year ago
That is pretty amazing. I believe these wars have nothing to do with the reasons stated, but that actually they are about war profits for American companies in their quid pro quo relationship with the government and the military who justifies its' position of power with any and all excuses. As long as war is profitable, there will be alot of them.
Fireblazes(CheetohsandCatfood)
· 1 year ago
I know modern journalism, politics and logic do not go together these days. So if the surge is "working" and is obviously wildly successful, then we should be able to bring our armed forces home forthwith. Somebody should ask Old Man McCain about that.
mf_roe
· 1 year ago
This is a case of hearing what you want to hear and not hearing what is being said. Rand is suggesting that what is needed is more KGB-like secret police tactics. They have not had an awakening, they still embrace totalitarian tactics to achieve their goals of placing all power in the hands of a very elite group of Superior People.
unrepentant_expat
· 1 year ago
Rand Corp... Bahhh unable to recognize the obvious until it becomes an unavoidable, insurmountable historic landmark.
vkobaya
· 1 year ago
McCain's willingness to stay in Iraq "maybe one hundred" years shows his complete lack of understanding of the root cause of terrorism.
While I agree with most of the article, this statement is wrong. McCain, even Bush understood the root cause of terrorism. The chose a military war type solution for the war powers that Bush could claim and that McCain intends to take possession of when he takes the mantle of president. The military war on terrorism is illegitimate in going to war with a nation when terrorism is a strategy of a group not a nation. The willingness of the Bush administration to kill Iraqi is fraudulent and a result of his bigotry against Muslims and Arabs. While Britain fought against the terrorism of the IRA in Ireland, they never resorted to bombing Ireland (never cruse missiles, cluster bombs, depleted uranium or poison gas) or using navel ships and fighter bombers against the Irish as they could not blatantly disregard the humanness of the Irsh as fellow Whites and fellow Christians. The British also never butchered Irish by the hundreds as their military convoys drove through Irish cities. Yet Britain fought the terrorism in Ireland not for 8 years but for decades and NEGOTIATED a settlement and surrender of weapons.
The war on Iraq as a stand-in for terrorism, the invasion of Iraq was doomed from one minute after it started back in March of 2003 and Bush was told this by reliable, respected military authorities, but becoming a war president and acquiring the war powers thereby was more important to this traitor than losing a war.
anarchy
· 1 year ago
Bush and Bin Laden: two sides of the same coin.
woodroad34
· 1 year ago
I believe his name is Bush Laden...he's been under our nose all along. American-born terrorist.
hawkseye
· 1 year ago
It's 4:35 PDT and it is173 days, 5 hrs, 17 minutes and 20 seconds until Obama's inauguration.
cowboyneok
· 1 year ago
A COMPLETE repudiation of Bu$h-McSame.
cowboyneok
· 1 year ago
Wait a minute! This is a report from the RAND CORPORATION. Now, compare a report from the Rand Corporation proving McSame is all wrong with Obama being compared to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. I wonder which will be more powerful to the American voter. Please tell me I've underestimated the average American voter's intelligence and attention span.
Shannon
· 1 year ago
Would like to tell you that, but then I would have to become a politician..........
jr
· 1 year ago
"but war makes my wee-wee hard"-John McCain
dad
· 1 year ago
the bush administration should be perceived and described as criminals, not holy warriors
(welcome Robert)
perl_jammer
· 1 year ago
The first I heard of this Rand study was on Rachel Maddow's show on Air America a few days ago. My reaction to her analysis was, "Wow. She's being incredibly ingenuous, or intellectually dishonest, or she's completely lacking in critical thinking and logical reasoning skills."
The study reports on the percentage of terrorist groups that cease operations for various reasons. Those who disagree with the "War on Terror" seize on the statement that of the 600-plus terrorist groups included in the study, only 7% "ended" due to military operations. The portion of the report that is publicly and freely available does not comment on the number of cases wherein military operations (or any other method) were attempted, so it is impossible to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of any particular method. To make it a bit simpler, consider this:
The application of non carbon based energy production technologies such as solar and wind supplies a tiny percentage of total US energy production. Therefore, applying the logic being used by Dr. Maddow and others, the pursuit of large scale solar and wind energy generation should be abandoned.
Maybe that's not fair, because solar and wind power generation technologies are new, whereas armies have been around since Christ was a corporal. OK, then:
I live 7.5 miles from work. In 100% of the cases where I go to and from work, I use an automobile rather than a bicycle. Therefore, using a bicycle to get to and from work is a terrible idea and will never work.
In other words, pending further information, I call BS.
Here is something else you might want to consider before getting all lathered up about stopping the "War on Terror". Barack Obama does not appear to have any significant reservations about using the military to fight a war on terrorism. The main reason he wants to withdraw from Iraq is to make more military resources available to the effort in Afghanistan.
For me, the saddest thing about the way this study is being interpreted, is that all of these people so lacking in the ability to engage in rational, dispassionate analysis are eligible to vote. Oh well - guess I just have to "hope" that this will "change".
All Comments
It demonstrates why the surge has failed to achieve its stated goals, and why Petraeus keeps saying the surge accomplishments are in a precarious place.
I hope Obama uses this study for attacking McSame.
VOTE McCAIN!!!!
I'm sure it's nothing.
the drunken repug started off on some tangent about 'being a Vietnam Vet' and 'you wouldn't understand'... and I got REALLY loud on him.
this war was then, and is now, about OIL... nothing else.
I knew it then, and I knew one of the claims for hating America was its Imperialism... occupying Muslim nations.
only makes sense that going to war in Muslim nations will CREATE MORE extremists.
in fact, diplomacy causes more of their people to realize how extremists want to limit their lives... and drives them to get rid of extremists in their midst.
it seems so easy to understand... the only question is, why do repugs want the world in constant chaos?
What is even worse, recall the absurd claims that Saddam could be nuclear bombing our nation within 45 minutes. Our ICBM missiles can reach Iraq in 30 minutes but Iraq has no such capacity and no possibility of acquiring such technology.
Read my lips.....NO NEW TEXANS!
Now, how can we get the morons who vote to believe it?
snark......
Is there anything (other than pot) that they could tax to get us out of this shit?
Isn't her husband the guy that said that (as a veteran) it's OK if soldiers lay around in their own piss as long as A Republican is President?
Next thing you know, they'll put Kissinger on their side of the 9/11 Commission.
So if the surge is "working" and is obviously wildly successful, then we should be able to bring our armed forces home forthwith. Somebody should ask Old Man McCain about that.
While I agree with most of the article, this statement is wrong. McCain, even Bush understood the root cause of terrorism. The chose a military war type solution for the war powers that Bush could claim and that McCain intends to take possession of when he takes the mantle of president. The military war on terrorism is illegitimate in going to war with a nation when terrorism is a strategy of a group not a nation. The willingness of the Bush administration to kill Iraqi is fraudulent and a result of his bigotry against Muslims and Arabs. While Britain fought against the terrorism of the IRA in Ireland, they never resorted to bombing Ireland (never cruse missiles, cluster bombs, depleted uranium or poison gas) or using navel ships and fighter bombers against the Irish as they could not blatantly disregard the humanness of the Irsh as fellow Whites and fellow Christians. The British also never butchered Irish by the hundreds as their military convoys drove through Irish cities. Yet Britain fought the terrorism in Ireland not for 8 years but for decades and NEGOTIATED a settlement and surrender of weapons.
The war on Iraq as a stand-in for terrorism, the invasion of Iraq was doomed from one minute after it started back in March of 2003 and Bush was told this by reliable, respected military authorities, but becoming a war president and acquiring the war powers thereby was more important to this traitor than losing a war.
(welcome Robert)
The study reports on the percentage of terrorist groups that cease operations for various reasons. Those who disagree with the "War on Terror" seize on the statement that of the 600-plus terrorist groups included in the study, only 7% "ended" due to military operations. The portion of the report that is publicly and freely available does not comment on the number of cases wherein military operations (or any other method) were attempted, so it is impossible to draw conclusions regarding the effectiveness of any particular method. To make it a bit simpler, consider this:
The application of non carbon based energy production technologies such as solar and wind supplies a tiny percentage of total US energy production. Therefore, applying the logic being used by Dr. Maddow and others, the pursuit of large scale solar and wind energy generation should be abandoned.
Maybe that's not fair, because solar and wind power generation technologies are new, whereas armies have been around since Christ was a corporal. OK, then:
I live 7.5 miles from work. In 100% of the cases where I go to and from work, I use an automobile rather than a bicycle. Therefore, using a bicycle to get to and from work is a terrible idea and will never work.
In other words, pending further information, I call BS.
Here is something else you might want to consider before getting all lathered up about stopping the "War on Terror". Barack Obama does not appear to have any significant reservations about using the military to fight a war on terrorism. The main reason he wants to withdraw from Iraq is to make more military resources available to the effort in Afghanistan.
For me, the saddest thing about the way this study is being interpreted, is that all of these people so lacking in the ability to engage in rational, dispassionate analysis are eligible to vote. Oh well - guess I just have to "hope" that this will "change".