The Mother of All Threads: Global War on Terror Year 16

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > C-SPAM > The Mother of All Threads: Global War on Terror Year 16

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Because events are heating up from the Trump Administration's belligerence across the globe, we need a thread to cover current events in the eternal struggle against Terror.

All content in this thread should be limited to areas outside of Syria since that conflict already has its own thread, although the particular actions of the United States in Syria can be relevant as part of the Trump administration's wider foreign policy strategy.

Current events as of the posting of this thread:

Afghanistan:

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/super-bomb-why-americas-enemies-fear-the-gbu-43-b-massive-20171
The United States dropped the "Mother of All Bombs" on an ISIS tunnel network in the Achin District of eastern Afghanistan. The MOAB is the biggest non-nuclear ordinance developed by the United States, and this is its first operational use to date. The Afghanistani government claims that the strike killed 95 ISIS militants, although this hasn't yet been independently verified. ISIS has a very minor presence in Afghanistan overall, which makes the use of MOAB on them highly questionable - but who cares when it's so cool? The media cannot get enough of this bombing, because of its raw awesome power, and its 16 million dollar price tag. If the media loved tomahawk strikes, and they love the MOAB, imagine how popular Trump will be if he drops a nuclear weapon on...

North Korea:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/17/mike-pence-north-korea-missile-nuclear-strategic-patience-is-over

quote:

Mike Pence has warned that the �era of strategic patience is over� with North Korea and urged China to use its �extraordinary levers� to pressure the regime into abandoning its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.

Tensions are high as Hell regarding North Korea, now that a blustering oaf is in command of the most powerful military force on the planet. The Trump administration is threatening a pre-emptive strike on North Korea for conducting a nuclear test, while North Korea is making threatening remarks as the United States performs massive military exercises with South Korea in the China Sea. They were raring to go to war over North Korea's ballistic missile test, but the missile launch failed and blew up so now everybody who makes a living in the MIC has blue balls.

Yemen:
:nms:

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/mar/16/yemen-conflict-7-million-close-to-famine
Because coalition forces keep getting owned by Houthi militias, the Saudis and their Gulf State & Hadi-government allies have implemented a full blockade on Northern Yemen, which is slowly starving millions of people to death including children. The Saudi-led coalition has engaged in terror bombing in civilian areas, including the triple-tap bombing of a funeral, and in response Western governments have continued selling them more weapons. The United States in response to these atrocities, continues providing the Saudi coalition with logistical support and helps to enforce the blockade. Likely because nobody has shown President Trump any pictures of all the beautiful starving babies we're making.

Iran:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/14/trump-administration-sanctions-iran-prison-torture-industry.html
In regards to Iran the Trump administration has been relatively less blustery, although threats are definitely being made. Three days ago the Trump administration sanctioned Iran for human rights violations in its prison system, which is a hypocrisy worthy of an ancient Greek comedy.

Somalia

Al Shabaab with captured government forces following the 2016 withdrawal of Ethiopian forces from Western Somalia

Al Shabaab, Al Qaeda's Somali franchise, has been driven out of Somalia's major towns and cities but remains a potent threat in the countryside. AMISOM, the African Union peacekeeping force, has long been one of the primary bulwarks against their advance. The mission has an uncertain future however, with participants facing pressure to withdraw troops to handle unrest in their own countries and Western funding withheld over human rights violations and disputed elections. This month Trump designated the country an "active area of hostilities," and regular troops will be returning authorized for offensive operations for the first time since 1994.

Iraq:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/24/world/middleeast/us-iraq-mosul-investigation-airstrike-civilian-deaths.html
poo poo is all hosed up.

Pener Kropoopkin has issued a correction as of 05:37 on Apr 18, 2017

# ¿ Apr 17, 2017 06:21

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 06:21

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

jBrereton posted:

The Yemen war fuckin blows and I genuinely don't understand why The Slightly Overgeneralised West pretends that Hadi is the leader of a legitimate government they should support by directing the Saudi air force.

The parallels between the Yemeni civil war and the Biafran war are pretty insane, imo.

# ¿ Apr 17, 2017 17:26

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Squalid posted:

OP you forgot Somalia (just like everyone else )

Somalia just isn't much of a priority in the American FP blob. We've been drone striking Al-Shabaab on occasion but there's not really anything in it for the United States outside of preventing Al-Shabaab or the ICU from taking over southern Somalia again. Nonetheless it is relevant, and I can easily see the Trump administration carrying out another massacre while claiming a success like they did in Yemen.

# ¿ Apr 18, 2017 05:40

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

In any case. How can humanitarian interventionism make any claim to ideological consistency while the liberal commentariat is completely silent about the ongoing atrocities in Yemen? More than that, it's an atrocity that the United States is actively helping to carry out without even so much as a diplomatic nay-saying. How can we pretend to be any better than say, the North Koreans, while we're intentionally starving millions of people?

The most immediate response would be to say that it's different when it's not your own people that you're starving to death - but that's nationalistic nonsense and not a morally sound argument. That's what the CHUDs believe.

# ¿ Apr 18, 2017 05:46

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

poo poo IS GOIN DOWN :siren:

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/04/saudi-arabia-bahrain-and-egypt-cut-diplomatic-ties-with-qatar.html

quote:

Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic relations and all land sea and air contacts with fellow Gulf Arab state Qatar on Monday, saying the move was necessary to protect the kingdom from what it described as terrorism and extremism.

The United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt also cut ties with Qatar on Monday.

Crude and natural gas prices jumped after the news with global benchmark Brent up 1.42 percent to $50.66 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate up 1.45 percent to $48.35 a barrel. U.S. natural gas prices quoted at the U.S. Henry Hub jumped 1.37 percent to $3.040 per million British thermal units.

Saudi Arabia's official state news agency, citing an official source, said the kingdom had decided to sever diplomatic and consular relations with Qatar "proceeding from the exercise of its sovereign right guaranteed by international law and the protection of national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism".

Saudi Arabia cut all land air and sea contacts with Qatar "and urges all brotherly countries and companies to do the same."

Charles Lister, a senior fellow at the Middle Eats Institute, responded on Twitter to the news by pointing out that Qatar "is very heavily reliant on food supplies accessed" through Saudi Arabia, so a closing of the borders poses a "very" serious challenge to Doha.

Qatar is the world's largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and has extensive air and banking links throughout the countries that snapped diplomatic ties. State-owned flag carrier Qatar Airways uses air terminals in all of the countries and has extensive links to Europe, Asia and the United States.

Qatar shares the world's largest gas field, South pars, with Iran. The commercial and business ties have irritated Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council countries at odds with Iran over Tehran's support for Shia-linked militants.

Bahrain, a close Saudi ally, also said on Monday it has cut diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing its fellow Gulf Arab state of backing terrorism and interfering in Bahrain's internal affairs.

Bahrain is also cutting air and sea contacts with Qatar and was giving its citizens in Qatar 14 days to leave.

The United Arab Emirates' decision to cut ties with Qatar was reported by state news agency WAM, accusing its Gulf Arab neighbor of supporting extremism and undermining regional stability.

The Emirates gave diplomats 48 hours to leave the country, citing their "support, funding and embrace of terrorist, extremist and sectarian organisations," WAM said.

This was almost certainly done with President Trump's ok. So now the GWOT is going to transform into a global war on Shia, and the incestuous Gulf State coalition is going to use their influence to persecute any Sunni state that even dares to cooperate with Iran or Syria.

# ¿ Jun 5, 2017 05:16

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Dapper_Swindler posted:

you think they will invade? i am sure trump won't care even though we have bases there and and qatar is small as gently caress and i am sure even House Saude's inbred conscript army could take it.

The gulf states couldn't invade with a road map, but this is part of a larger strategy to completely isolate Iran and possibly invade them.

# ¿ Jun 5, 2017 05:29

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Fullhouse posted:

taking that together with the Senate FRC approving iran sanctions like a week ago it's definitely looking like the current coalition goal is to isolate and destroy Iran for no reason
we also just sold the saudis billions of dollars in arms to invade Qatar themselves and they will probably gently caress this up and get engaged in a foreverwar that spreads unrest, refugees, and terrorism even further in the region lmao

A war in the gulf would also wreck global oil prices, which is GOOD NEWS FOR MADURO!!!!

# ¿ Jun 5, 2017 05:34

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

rudatron posted:

This coming soon after Trump's meeting with ~the orb~, means the house of Saud managed to successfully smooth out Donald's baby brain, with enough pomp and flattery or some poo poo.

I'm guessing that Obama had been trying to rein in the Sunni-Shia poo poo for the last 8 years, and Salman was waiting for the green light from Trump personally before he did this.

Also there is no way Qatar is being invaded, they're too small and vulnerable to do anything but fold to Saudi pressure and then beg forgiveness. It'll be interesting to see what happens to Al Jazeera when that happens.

Al Jazeera Arabic has been lusting for Shia death since always, and there's no reason for AJE to change even under Saudi pressure.

# ¿ Jun 5, 2017 06:13

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/872062159789985792

# ¿ Jun 6, 2017 14:18

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

It is different now though because Trump is one of the most easily manipulable world leaders in history, and he'll believe whatever (most of) the GCC tells him.

# ¿ Jun 6, 2017 14:30

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

jBrereton posted:

Even if Kelly-Anne forced his head under the next time he asks her to share his dirty bathwater, I don't think Mike Pence or even the messiah Bernie would sort out that particular hornet's nest any time soon.

Even in the alternate dimension where Bernie won there would probably still be a disgusting amount of weapons sales to Saudi, but it's doubtful that any other administration would be dumb enough to ok the total diplomatic isolation of Qatar from the rest of the gulf. Trump has also surrounded himself with Reagan era dinosaurs and military leaders who all have major chips on their shoulders about Iran, and they're all going to agree that Saudi interests are American interests when it comes to the perfidious ayatollahs.

# ¿ Jun 6, 2017 14:39

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://twitter.com/spectatorindex/status/872246480425201664

# ¿ Jun 7, 2017 01:25

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://twitter.com/BaFana3/status/872154624832221190

# ¿ Jun 7, 2017 04:01

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/07/middleeast/iran-parliament-shooting/index.html

quote:

Tehran, Iran (CNN)Attackers have mounted simultaneous gun and suicide bomb assaults on Iran's parliament building and the tomb of the republic's revolutionary founder in Tehran.

At least seven people were killed and 35 others injured in the twin assaults, the semi-official Fars agency reported. State media reported that gunmen stormed the parliament building in Tehran and went on a shooting spree. At least one attacker detonated a suicide bomb. Five people died and at least 35 were injured, Fars reported.

At the same time, a gun and suicide bomb attack targeted the Ayatollah Khomeini mausoleum on the southern outskirts of the Iranian capital. Two people died and 10 were injured there.

A woman was arrested after the attack at the tomb, Fars reported, adding that another attacker has been surrounded by security officers.

CNN has not independently verified the number of victims and it was not immediately clear whether the number of dead included the suicide bombers.

The attackers were holding a number of hostages inside the highly-fortified parliament building, Press TV reported, as Iranian officials scrambled to establish who was behind the attacks or whether they were coordinated.

# ¿ Jun 7, 2017 11:15

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

They're not wrong.

e:

https://twitter.com/faisaledroos/status/872251817110806528

1. Immediately break diplomatic relations with Iran.
2. Expel all Hamas members.
3. Freeze bank accounts of Hamas members and stop dealing with them.
4. Expel all Muslim Brotherhood members from Qatar.
5. Expel anti-GCC elements.
6. End support of 'terrorist organisations.'
7. Stop interfering in Egyptian affairs.
8. Cease broadcasting the Al Jazeera news channel.
9. Apologise to all Gulf governments for 'abuses' by Al Jazeera.
10. Qatar must pledge that will not carry out any actions that contradict the policies of the GCC and adhere to its charter.

https://twitter.com/faisaledroos/status/872268257302003712

Pener Kropoopkin has issued a correction as of 17:50 on Jun 7, 2017

# ¿ Jun 7, 2017 17:31

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

http://www.businessinsider.com/turkish-parliament-approves-troop-deployment-embattled-qatar-2017-6

quote:

Turkey's parliament on Wednesday approved a draft bill allowing its troops to be deployed to a Turkish military base in Qatar, an apparent move to support the Gulf Arab country when it faces diplomatic and trade isolation from some of the biggest Middle Eastern powers.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain severed relations with Qatar and closed their airspace to commercial flights on Monday, charging it with financing militant groups. Qatar denies the accusations.

The bill, drafted before the rift, passed with 240 votes in favor, largely with support from the ruling AK Party and nationalist opposition MHP.

# ¿ Jun 7, 2017 19:13

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/07/politics/trump-qatar-call/index.html

quote:

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump changed course on Qatar Wednesday, a day after praising a move by other Gulf nations to sever diplomatic relations with Doha, which hosts a US military base crucial to the fight against ISIS.

In a phone call with the Qatari Emir, Trump extended an olive branch, offering to help the parties resolve their differences by inviting them to a White House meeting if necessary. The outreach came as US officials told CNN they were observing increased Qatari military activity as the country placed its forces on the highest state of alert over fears of an military incursion.

Trump's new tone echoed that of his secretaries of Defense and State, who emphasized Tuesday the need for Gulf unity and the importance of the US partnership with Qatar, home to the Al Udeid Air Base, the main regional center for air missions against ISIS.

...

Trump's belated effort to calm the situation comes as the Qatari military has brought up 16 Leopard tanks out of storage in Doha and put the military on its highest alert out of fear that Saudi Arabia and others might attempt a military incursion.

On June 5, the Qatari Ministry of Defense transmitted a message to the governments of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, saying they would fire on any naval ships from those countries that enter into its waters, a US official said.

...

They have ordered Qatari citizens and diplomats out of their countries, cut all flights to Qatar and are looking for ways to bar international airlines from flying through their airspace to get to Qatar, which is slated to host to 2022 World Cup. The UAE announced Wednesday that "expressing sympathy, inclination or favoritism toward Qatar" is punishable by three to 15 years in prison, alongside a minimum fine of 500,000 dirhams, about $136,000.

Saudi Arabia has shut the only land border to Qatar, through which the country of 300,000 gets as much as 40% of its food supply, leading to empty shelves in supermarkets and fears that food and water will soon run out.

"My secretaries of Defense & State are both yelling at me, guys. Can I do a mulligan?"

# ¿ Jun 8, 2017 02:27

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://twitter.com/telesurenglish/status/872727763127590912

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/gcc-nations-issue-threats-qatar-170608014315094.html

quote:

But in some of the strongest comments yet, Bahrain's foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, reportedly told the Saudi newspaper Mecca he doubted whether Qatar would change its behaviour.

"We will not hesitate to protect our interests and the road is open to any options to protect ourselves from Qatar," Sheikh Khalid was quoted as saying.

# ¿ Jun 8, 2017 10:17

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Niger has announced that they're recalling their ambassador to Doha "in solidarity with Saudi Arabia." So apparently the Saudis are throwing their weight around in the whole of the Sunni world and aren't just content with the GCC.

Eritrea has rejected the notion of cutting ties to Doha.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/donald-trump-seeks-increased-anti-terror-efforts-170609182255279.html

quote:

The US administration has sent mixed signals to Arab Gulf countries amid one of the biggest diplomatic crises gripping the region.

Speaking at the White House Rose Garden on Friday, President Donald Trump called on Qatar and other countries to increase their efforts against "terrorism".

"Qatar, we want you back among the unity of responsible nations," Trump said. "We ask Qatar and other nations in the region to do more [to combat terrorism] - and do it faster."

Just minutes earlier, Rex Tillerson, US secretary of state, urged Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states to ease their blockade of Qatar, which was imposed on Monday allegedly because Doha supports "extremism".

# ¿ Jun 10, 2017 13:28

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Requesting thread name change to "Global War on Terror Year 16: Qatar Me Some Slack"

# ¿ Jun 10, 2017 19:40

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Asymmetric warfare typically isn't even characterized by "one side following the rules." Rules are for countries that are bound by international conventions, but most states can get away with just carrying out genocides in response to a guerilla threat because they have cover from those "rules honoring" powers - like how Indonesia murdered 500,000 "communists" with the help of gangster paramilitaries.

# ¿ Jun 11, 2017 10:41

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://twitter.com/AfshinMolavi/status/874089527538851840

*extremely King Salman voice*

All according to Keikaku

# ¿ Jun 13, 2017 10:17

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://twitter.com/RealAlexJones/status/876967853999628289

The cast of characters for the Iran War are gonna be way weirder than Iraq.

# ¿ Jun 20, 2017 03:11

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

It really is remarkable that Jones is so desperate to jerk off the Trump administration, that Infowars just recycles the Saudi line.

# ¿ Jun 20, 2017 05:51

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Modern weaponry doesn't really count for much, which is why the Saudi coalition has resorted to starving North Yemen into submission. Any war between Gulf Arab states is going to be fought between mercenaries.

# ¿ Jun 20, 2017 17:57

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

the bitcoin of weed posted:

I'm extremely glad that metal gear solid 4 is real life

Otacon fucks

# ¿ Jun 20, 2017 18:05

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://twitter.com/ForeignPolicy/status/877641005402423296

# ¿ Jun 22, 2017 10:35

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/23/close-al-jazeera-saudi-arabia-issues-qatar-with-13-demands-to-end-blockade

Saudi Arabia and its allies have issued a threatening 13-point ultimatum to Qatar as the price for lifting a two-week trade and diplomatic embargo of the country, in a marked escalation of the Gulf�s worst diplomatic dispute in decades.

The onerous list of demands includes stipulations that Doha close the broadcaster al-Jazeera, drastically scale back cooperation with Iran, remove Turkish troops from Qatar�s soil, end contact with groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and submit to monthly external compliance checks. Qatar has been given 10 days to comply with the demands or face unspecified consequences.
:thunk:

The 13 demands in full

Curb diplomatic ties with Iran and close its diplomatic missions there. Expel members of Iran�s Revolutionary Guards and cut off any joint military cooperation with Iran. Only trade and commerce with Iran that complies with US and international sanctions will be permitted.
Sever all ties to �terrorist organisations�, specifically the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic State, al-Qaida and Lebanon�s Hezbollah. Formally declare those entities as terrorist groups.
Shut down al-Jazeera and its affiliate stations.
Shut down news outlets that Qatar funds, directly and indirectly, including Arabi21, Rassd, Al-Araby Al-Jadeed and Middle East Eye.
Immediately terminate the Turkish military presence in Qatar and end any joint military cooperation with Turkey inside Qatar.
Stop all means of funding for individuals, groups or organisations that have been designated as terrorists by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Bahrain, the US and other countries.
Hand over �terrorist figures� and wanted individuals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain to their countries of origin. Freeze their assets, and provide any desired information about their residency, movements and finances.
End interference in sovereign countries� internal affairs. Stop granting citizenship to wanted nationals from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Revoke Qatari citizenship for existing nationals where such citizenship violates those countries� laws.
Stop all contacts with the political opposition in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain. Hand over all files detailing Qatar�s prior contacts with and support for those opposition groups.
Pay reparations and compensation for loss of life and other, financial losses caused by Qatar�s policies in recent years. The sum will be determined in coordination with Qatar.
Consent to monthly audits for the first year after agreeing to the demands, then once per quarter during the second year. For the following 10 years, Qatar would be monitored annually for compliance.
Align itself with the other Gulf and Arab countries militarily, politically, socially and economically, as well as on economic matters, in line with an agreement reached with Saudi Arabia in 2014.
Agree to all the demands within 10 days of it being submitted to Qatar, or the list becomes invalid.

# ¿ Jun 23, 2017 21:46

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Dapper_Swindler posted:

yeah. they want war or at the very least some sort of violence. the GCC wants to flex its mucles on "easy" target, and trump being a fucktard has basicaly given them a green light. its 1914 all over again.

A country with American and Turkish military bases isn't going to be an easy target.

# ¿ Jun 23, 2017 22:17

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

I don't think the "unspecified consequence" is actually gonna be war. They're just going to keep up the blockade indefiinitely.

# ¿ Jun 23, 2017 22:22

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Crowsbeak posted:

It is rather interesting that Infowars has such a schizophrenic take on Iran. LIke half the time they hate them because Trump does. BUt then theyalso have to be supportive whenever Iran is targeted by the boggeymen of Infrowars like Tony Blair.

Iran is good because they support the Lion Assad, but they're bad because THEY KILLED ARE TROOPS

# ¿ Jun 24, 2017 00:42

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

This isn't the Syria thread, but I'd like to know how Brown Moses feels about the liberal media completely ignoring his report about the mosque bombing like we said they would.

# ¿ Jun 28, 2017 08:22

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Baloogan posted:

what mask bombing

Exactly.

# ¿ Jun 28, 2017 08:35

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Don't tease this out and not post links.

https://twitter.com/MarkAmesExiled/status/880383299985735681

lmao

Pener Kropoopkin has issued a correction as of 19:44 on Jun 29, 2017

# ¿ Jun 29, 2017 19:31

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

The post-9/11 social transformation of America was one of the most bizarre and terrifying things I've ever lived through, especially since I allowed my 16 year old self to get swept up in it.

# ¿ Jul 6, 2017 13:14

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2017/07/05/Cholera-in-Yemen-A-new-Houthi-weapon-killing-thousands.html

*while blowing up docks, roads, neighborhoods*

"Stop killing yourself, stop killing yourself, stop killing yourself..."

# ¿ Jul 6, 2017 14:48

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

https://medium.com/insurge-intelligence/pentagon-study-declares-american-empire-is-collapsing-746754cdaebf

quote:

Pentagon study declares American empire is �collapsing�
Report demands massive expansion of military-industrial complex to maintain global �access to resources�

By Nafeez Ahmed
...

An extraordinary new Pentagon study has concluded that the U.S.-backed international order established after World War 2 is �fraying� and may even be �collapsing�, leading the United States to lose its position of �primacy� in world affairs.

The solution proposed to protect U.S. power in this new �post-primacy� environment is, however, more of the same: more surveillance, more propaganda (�strategic manipulation of perceptions�) and more military expansionism.

The document concludes that the world has entered a fundamentally new phase of transformation in which U.S. power is in decline, international order is unravelling, and the authority of governments everywhere is crumbling.

Having lost its past status of �pre-eminence�, the U.S. now inhabits a dangerous, unpredictable �post-primacy� world, whose defining feature is �resistance to authority�.

Danger comes not just from great power rivals like Russia and China, both portrayed as rapidly growing threats to American interests, but also from the increasing risk of �Arab Spring�-style events. These will erupt not just in the Middle East, but all over the world, potentially undermining trust in incumbent governments for the foreseeable future.

The report, based on a year-long intensive research process involving consultation with key agencies across the Department of Defense and U.S. Army, calls for the U.S. government to invest in more surveillance, better propaganda through �strategic manipulation� of public opinion, and a �wider and more flexible� U.S. military.

The report was published in June by the U.S. Army War College�s Strategic Studies Institute to evaluate the DoD�s approach to risk assessment at all levels of Pentagon policy planning. The study was supported and sponsored by the U.S. Army�s Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate; the Joint Staff, J5 (Strategy and Policy Branch); the Office of the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Strategy and Force Develop�ment; and the Army Study Program Management Office...

quote:

Thus, securing computer networks and cyber lines of communication from the predations of opportunistic opponents remains a critical component of U.S. defense calculations. However, this is essential but also insufficient in the contemporary environment. Indeed, to date, American strategists have focused to the point of distraction on defense against the purposeful interruption or destruction of the United States� information-focused connective tissue, as well as intrusion into and damage to sensitive information repositories. However, consequently, they have been less focused on the purposeful exploitation of the same architecture for the strategic manipulation of perceptions and its attendant influence on political and security outcomes.18

https://ssi.armywarcollege.edu/pubs/display.cfm?pubID=1358

quote:

The study team suggests there is a single core defense implication of hyperconnectivity��speed kills.� With hyperconnectivity comes a quantum increase in the velocity of change in strategic circumstances. It raises the specter of sudden, violent, or disruptive political contagions; rapid, unintended military escalation; as well as war prosecuted by alternative�even overtly non-violent�means at increasingly faster processing speeds. Furthermore, it enables virtual mobilization and distributed collective action under no centralized authority or control and at speeds that will outpace 20th-century bureaucracies at every turn.

lmfao

quote:

The study team concluded that the status quo that virtually all U.S. strategy rests on is, in fact, an artifact of a prior era. It lingers precisely because it comports well with the U.S. self-image of a matchless global leader. In reality, it is an increasingly flawed foundation for forward-looking defense strategy and risk assessment under post-primacy conditions.

Basically the conclusion of the study seems to be that the US military is still set up to face a Cold War environment, and if it wants to adequately deal with new 21st century threats - then it needs to get bigger and have more money so it can deal with both conventional and unconventional threats at the same time. The necessity of American hegemony is never in question, and the only solution is to make the military bigger and to do more on the internet I guess.

# ¿ Jul 18, 2017 11:58

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

When you're the global hegemon, all postures are defensive.

# ¿ Jul 18, 2017 12:20

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

Larry Parrish posted:

Its really funny because when I was in the military, everyone from rank and file airmen like me to the wing commander complained about how the personnel/actual unit funding was at ridiculous all-time lows but for some reason R&D and production contracts are like 80% of the national budget or whatever

# ¿ Jul 18, 2017 12:55

Adbot: ADBOT LOVES YOU

# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 06:21

Pener Kropoopkin: Jan 30, 2013

They privatized chow halls by thee time the Iraq War was in full swing. The USMIC is little more than an elaborate scheme to reappropriate public funds into the private sector. Even the CIA and FBI have to massively outsource intelligence work to private contractors because of artificial caps placed on government agencies in terms of employment & salaries. Generally speaking no government employee is supposed to earn a bigger salary than a congressman, and the same is true of the military. Max base salary for a four star general is only $180,000. You'd have to be insanely principled not to do grift work for private companies which can guarantee you twice that amount for consultancy in "retirement."

tl;dr it's arbitrarily impossible for the government & military as-is to compete with the private sector and retain its own brain trusts, so now the brains are all thinking of ways they can grift the government instead of serving the public

# ¿ Jul 18, 2017 13:42

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > C-SPAM > The Mother of All Threads: Global War on Terror Year 16

«‹›2 »