BruzzoneBlog

Race Against Time

SAN FRANCISCO, CA-- Judge the President by the team he assembles. Take Navy Adm. William Fallon, Bush's nominee to head the U.S. Central Command.  Tough, unflappable during Senate hearings yesterday.  "What we have been doing has not been working," he said. "We have got to be doing, it seems to me, something different." He did not say what might change under his command. 

So Senator Levin pressed, 'what change' he asked.  Fallon didn't budge.  Now why in the world would you telegraph your military strategy to the enemy!?

"Time's Running Out".  That's been the case in all wars the U.S. has won.  Can you imagine the press and anti-war nuts during the War in the Pacific, if they had the net, cable, Christiane Amanpour, Ramsey Clark, ANSWER, Jane Fonda, Sean Penn, Keith Olbermann? During the war against Japan, it looked dismal almost hopeless.  Japan seemed invincible (not like the desert rats killing each other in Iraq.)  Island by island, tunnel by tunnel, until a big bang ended it all.

Good choice by the President: Navy Adm. William Fallon

Iraq's Four Wars

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca -- I invite you to read my current article at counterviews.com. I titled it the "The Four Wars of Iraq -- The Northern Ireland Connection".  It's also at AmericanDaily.com, where I've returned as regular columnist.  I welcome your comments.

He Should Recognize 'that smell'

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca --- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stated he could still smell the sulphur.  "Yesterday, the devil came here," Chavez said, referring to Bush's address before the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday. "Right here. Right here. And it smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of."

Now, we could dismiss this half-wit if, IF, he wasn't daily selling 2.5 million barrels of oil to the U.S.  But Chavez should get his facts right. The devil you smelled came from another half-wit, Napoleanic mad leader..from Iran.  In fact, if we could measure the sulphur level in and around the podium of the U.N. General Assembly... the meter would have shown an elevated state as Chavez took his turn to condemn the U.S.

Bottomline: Since China and India are demanding more and more barrels of oil, these two renegade oil barons -- Chavez and Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad-- have the option of insulting the U.S.  They've done the numbers.  Soon, they won't need the American oil customer.  So, will the world automakers get on with it and build vehicles that don't need the oil of these annoying international punks. 

Could Kerry Be Right on Terrorism

SAN FRANCISCO, Ca --- George Will has given Senator John Kerry credit for characterizing an effective anti-terrorism program as a law enforcement problem.  I respect George Will, but, dismissed Kerry's viewpoint during the 2004 presidential campaign.  I have tended to support the Administration's view that anti-terrorism is a military problem.

Will writes on the recent foiled bombing attempt by home grown British terrorists: 

"Cooperation between Pakistani and British law enforcement (the British draw upon useful experience combating IRA terrorism) has validated John Kerry's belief (as paraphrased by the New York Times Magazine of Oct. 10, 2004) that 'many of the interdiction tactics that cripple drug lords, including governments working jointly to share intelligence, patrol borders and force banks to identify suspicious customers, can also be some of the most useful tools in the war on terror.' "

Will (and Kerry) has a point.  In July 2002 I wrote an article entitled "Using Terror against Terrorists".  In it I pointed to the key tool in the battle against all clandestine military groups:  inflitration.  Let me quote from my article:

"If the past is any indication, the primary weapon of counter- terrorism -- infiltration -- will not only hamper successful attacks, but also begin to corrupt the integrity of terrorist networks.

The use of informants was critical in the F.B.I.'s infiltration of black nationalist groups in the sixties. From the final report of the 1976 "Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities", we know that the F.B.I. spent over $7 million to fund a infiltrator network of 1,500 informants. Advance warning of violent acts was only one role of informants. They were also used to disrupt, confuse, discredit and instill paranoia. Within the black nationalist movement, efforts were made to cause inter-gang warfare. So, on May 26,1970, a rival black nationalist group, U.S., killed four Black Panther Party members, after which members of each organization were shot and beaten by members of the other."

We learned that the bombing plot in Britain was uncovered by an informant (He's in hiding for the rest of his life, in my view).  This was another successful use of the classic law enforcement tactic: infiltration or the use of informants.

So, Kerry may have been correct, in part.  But Senator Kerry must acknowledge that law enforcement tactics didn't close down Al Qaida's training bases in Afghanistan.  Military action was required. 

In the end, the Administration must accept the law enforcement component in the fight against internationl terrorism, and Kerry must accept the need for military action. In both cases, the skill is knowing which tactic to use, and at the right time.

Bin Laden's 'Bleed the US into Bankrupcy"

Now A leading expert on Al Qaeda has predicted that in the next phase of the terrorist group’s war on the US economy, the number of attacks on oil infrastructure targets will increase.  Part of  a new bleed-until-bankruptcy” strategy against the US as the prime backer of Gulf regimes.   This, from a Daily Times report by Khalid Hasan

"Michael Scheuer, who served the CIA for 11 years and was head of the agency’s Osama Bin Laden unit, told a meeting on the threat to Saudi oil industry, organised by the Jamestown Foundation at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Monday that Al Qaeda and its allies are well placed throughout the Persian Gulf to attack oil facilities and officials."

My Take:  Bin Laden from the start has always focused his greatest condemnation on the Saudi Royal Family.  Attacking New York as the commercial center of the U.S. had the intended effect of inflicting damage on the world economy.  With attacks on the complex world oil production and distribution systems, would accomplish his overall goals. 

Now perhaps the Chinese and other newly developed nations will take seriously the threat of global terrorism.

Dafur Demonstrators

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Travelling over the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday, I witnessed a remarkable demonstration.  For the full length of the bridge the most diverse group of "demonstrators" lined the East Side of the bridge walkway.  I was taken back by the purity of their cause.  Here they were, on opening day for boaters and sailors, on a beautiful Sunday morning demonstrating genocide occurring thousands of miles away.  Good to see concern for a people needing escape from tyranny without protest.   Of course, it's easier to protest for a day without sacrifice. 

Iraqi Democracy at Work

With the parade of sniping ex-generals and negative media reports, now comes word that the Iraq's largest parliamentary bloc, the Shia United Iraq Alliance (UIA), has nominated Jawad al-Malik for Prime Minister (Left).

Critics of our campaign in the Middle East, take note.  It shows that democracy takes time and patience.  It requires compromise, negotiations, concessions and determination.  This is what had to be learned. 

And for those who say 'so what'?

Here's my take:  To defeat radical Islam you have to bolster moderate Islam.  Moderate Muslims will eventually curb the radicals --- one way or another.  We will never defeat radical Muslim terrorists through counter-terrorism alone.  Moderate Muslims must mesh their religion with government; they must learn to respect universal human rights, while adhering to the message of the Koran.

This an important step.    Finding a compromise candidate for Prime Minister is exactly what has to occur for this moderation to occur.   If Iraq succeeds, it will serve as a model for all of the Middle East, as people in that region see their neighbor prospering economically and democratically.

The Enemy Within

Conservative Talk Show hosts have lambasted the liberal media over ideologically driven war reports.  Now, hosts on the right are guilty of the same charges of pessimism and emotion-based attacks on the Iraq operation. 

Michael Savage is the prime example.  He rants and raves each hour against the Administration.  But he's the one who told us about the German Werewolf operation following the defeat of Nazis.  The wolves formed 5 person guerrilla squads to attack the Allies, infrastructure repairs and carry out executions of those collaborating with the victors.  Precisely the tactics used by 'insurgents' in Iraq. The German werewolf operation continued for two years after the end of the war.  Their effectiveness was minimal.  BUT there was no critical press at the time.  Had there been, we would have heard exaggerated stories about their effectiveness.

Fortunately, the President heeds neither the left or conservative media.  Military commanders should concentrate on the mission not  critics in the  grandstands.

Saddam Must Be Executed

March 20, 2006

ROME (AFP) - Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi said Saddam Hussein should still be considered Iraq's legal president and the current government illegitimate as it was elected under an occupation regime. Full Story

 That's the problem we have.  The Libyan "leader" demonstrates it-- Without appearing too cold blooded, I say Saddam must be executed for Iraq to survive as a nation.