Search found 2073 matches

by Johann
01 Sep 2015 01:58
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-July 10, 2015
Replies: 2850
Views: 327748

Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-July 10,

Hi AG, - Iran is difficult to directly access because Turkmenistan which as a bit of a hermit kingdom wont provide a corridor to anyone (Americans, Russians, Chinese), and that means China can only reach Iran through either Afghanistan or Pakistan. That's part of the long term value to them of stabi...
by Johann
01 Sep 2015 00:12
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-July 10, 2015
Replies: 2850
Views: 327748

Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-July 10,

Hullo Shreeman! I swing by around every 6 months or so for a short round of brickbats and bouquets, and its about that time. As far as the PA goes, they really do go all out to protect their Chinese friends, and in ways that often make things worse for themselves. The military over-reaction to the k...
by Johann
31 Aug 2015 21:01
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-July 10, 2015
Replies: 2850
Views: 327748

Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-July 10,

If IS directly threatens Russian and Chinese interests, can we discuss and understand (on the ISIS thread), what, if anything, these two countries are doing in the motherland of ISIS - Syria, Iraq - to curb IS? If it is "IS in Afghanistan" that directly threatens Russian and Chinese inter...
by Johann
31 Aug 2015 20:46
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-July 10, 2015
Replies: 2850
Views: 327748

Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan-July 10,

Coming back to what I meant by "strangely". I do not believe that Bad Sharif was indulging in Taqiyya. What I do think is that Bad Sharif does not have complete control over the ISI and does not have complete consensus within his crore kammandus. They are all putting a unified front but I...
by Johann
21 Apr 2015 15:09
Forum: BR Nostalgia Archive
Topic: BRF 15 years. let us look back.
Replies: 194
Views: 73671

Re: BRF 15 years. let us look back.

Hello everyone, its a pleasure to see so many familiar names here after all this time. I started visiting shortly before the tests of 1998, but have been around much less in the teens. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here, from the high quality debates, the robust humour, to the absurd conspiracy theor...
by Johann
06 Aug 2014 00:14
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: West Asia News and Discussions
Replies: 12577
Views: 1247583

Re: West Asia News and Discussions

the ISIS have for the first time taken on the US backed Peshmerga and routed them out of two towns. unlike the iraqi army and associated militias, the peshmerga looked well equipped and cohesive - so far. this is a significant development and will embolden them for further action. The Obama adminis...
by Johann
06 Aug 2014 00:02
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: West Asia News and Discussions
Replies: 12577
Views: 1247583

Re: West Asia News and Discussions

N - there was an op ed column in the Jerusalem Post entitled 'Why Gaza Must Go,' which called for the expulsion of the Arab population of Gaza. http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Into-the-fray-Why-Gaza-must-go-368862 The problem is that reporting today means that you can't do that sort of thing...
by Johann
05 Aug 2014 23:43
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?
Replies: 2984
Views: 361573

Re: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?

Because that is the period when the Enlightenment values were trickling down and the slow process of challenging and transforming older attitudes. The *particular* humanist values you're talking about in the modern context are drawn from the Enlightenment, so its only fair to look at the periods th...
by Johann
05 Aug 2014 21:34
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

Thank you for sharing Shreeman. I appreciate it.
by Johann
05 Aug 2014 15:10
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: West Asia News and Discussions
Replies: 12577
Views: 1247583

Re: West Asia News and Discussions

Israel is emphatically interested in keeping Hamas alive but disempowered, as a kind of whipped dog if you will, because they are aware that in the hatred they are engendering, thee will be the seeds for a truly nihilistic enemy. But it is impossible to calibrate killing and debilitation of a peopl...
by Johann
05 Aug 2014 14:56
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?
Replies: 2984
Views: 361573

Re: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?

Johann you are starting from a point in American history where liberal movements such as abolitionism were beginning to take off. Because that is the period when the Enlightenment values were trickling down and the slow process of challenging and transforming older attitudes. The *particular* human...
by Johann
05 Aug 2014 13:48
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

You should also go back and read what you wrote. It is easy to claim victimhood. And this is not political. Those vultures are dying by dozens every day, and have ballistic missiles aimed at them. Need we apportion the blame now? This is an assymetric fight, but after the Libyas and Syrias, it is n...
by Johann
03 Aug 2014 15:33
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?
Replies: 2984
Views: 361573

Re: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?

Shiv, Well I also mentioned medieval Europe and the Middle East and Germany as well, but we can stick to the US if you prefer. You have chosen to argue that liberal enlightenment values are a by product of strength rather than one of its sources. So once again I must ask, why the abolitionist moveme...
by Johann
03 Aug 2014 13:58
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: West Asia News and Discussions
Replies: 12577
Views: 1247583

Re: West Asia News and Discussions

KLNM, Quite agree. Part of the problem is that Israelis remain traumatised by the Holocaust. They are looking for a level of control and certainty ('security') that simply can *not* be achieved by any means other than the ones that created the Holocaust in the first place. With the Palestinians its ...
by Johann
03 Aug 2014 13:42
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?
Replies: 2984
Views: 361573

Re: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?

If you screw over the majority of members of your own society, you'll probably fall behind societies that a) dont hold them down and b) actually help them when they need it. <snip> The US at the turn of the old century had along with Germany the finest public education and public health systems in ...
by Johann
03 Aug 2014 12:50
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

Sometimes it seems human communication is impossible. My aside was not about the politics of the situation. It was about the added horror of people I know having to deal with identity theft on top of everything else, and having to fight the phone company and the banks in the middle of grieving becau...
by Johann
02 Aug 2014 21:30
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

The Ukrainians are going to use ballistic missiles given the effectiveness of Russian ground based air defences and the reports of Russian CAPs. That's nor surprising. But by targeting water systems they are in fact aiming at Gaza style collective punishment of the area - which will intensify the po...
by Johann
02 Aug 2014 20:14
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?
Replies: 2984
Views: 361573

Re: Western Universalism - what's the big deal?

Shiv, I may have misunderstood but it seemed as if you suggested on the previous page that values don't matter to material outcomes for societies and countries. Lets look at England and Egypt after the Black Death, a plague that killed approximately 1/3rd of the population in both societies. But the...
by Johann
02 Jul 2014 15:24
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Deterrence
Replies: 5129
Views: 866494

Re: Deterrence

Hi Shiv, The fact that there are many more Zia like types in the PA today is absolutely true. But again, Zia for all his hobnobbing with the JI and mullahs had no interest in giving them authority over the PA or defence policy, and zealously guarded the chain of command while greenwashing the PA's c...
by Johann
02 Jul 2014 14:01
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Deterrence
Replies: 5129
Views: 866494

Re: Deterrence

Its certainly possible to argue that the PA's officer corps as well as rank and file are getting more conservative (partly because the children of traditional officer class are less interested in military service). I can see this having an effect on policy. Yet I can not see them diluting their coll...
by Johann
02 Jul 2014 13:13
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - 21 Apr 2014
Replies: 2852
Views: 269628

Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - 21 Apr

The JuD shows up at every disaster in Pakistan, whether human or man made. Its been their thing ever since the 2005 earthquake. The JuD is ideal in a lot of ways because it persuades people not to vote, but recognises the state without trying to topple it. Not incidentally....Mullah Radio who runs t...
by Johann
02 Jul 2014 09:42
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - 21 Apr 2014
Replies: 2852
Views: 269628

Re: Sunni Terrorist Fragments of Unstable Pakistan - 21 Apr

SS, More specifically I'd say conflict between the PA and TTP has steadily escalated since first Baitullah (May 2013), and then certaintly since Hakimullah (Nov 2013) was killed and the balance of power within the TTP shifted towards anti-PA factions. The TTP's language against the Pakistani state h...
by Johann
02 Jul 2014 09:12
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: West Asia News and Discussions
Replies: 12577
Views: 1247583

Re: West Asia News and Discussions

ISIL has only done well in areas that are demographically favorable to it - i.e. overwhelmingly Sunni Arab. There's only one place in Lebanon that suits them - the northern bit around Tripoli. To be able to reach Tripoli, they must have Homs, but the rebels of all sorts evacuated Homs earlier. That ...
by Johann
01 Jul 2014 18:28
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: India-US Strategic News and Discussion
Replies: 14521
Views: 1433720

Re: India-US Strategic News and Discussion

Paul, McCain is a quintessential white Christian nationalist first and foremost. He is a hero in US, but all one has to do is listen to the scum bag and you know what he is made up of. Any amount of blood of non whites spilt in pursuit of US interests will not stir his conscience. He will make a fe...
by Johann
01 Jul 2014 18:13
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

If true, this is a HUGE development and cannot be simply shrugged off by India as some sort of realpolitik by Russia. It is a HUGE development, but considering how SBP (State Bank of Pakistan) has only reserves worth $500 million and revolves around that figure most of the time. It is also SMALL. b...
by Johann
01 Jul 2014 17:31
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: West Asia News and Discussions
Replies: 12577
Views: 1247583

Re: West Asia News and Discussions

I don't see the current 'caliphate' remaining stable for long. Thinking as a state, they're in competition with all the surrounding states especially given the speed of their advance and their rejection of all existing borders The American drone machine (and all of the less visible stuff that feeds ...
by Johann
01 Jul 2014 15:15
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: West Asia News and Discussions
Replies: 12577
Views: 1247583

Re: West Asia News and Discussions

In the end, How far Sunni Wahabi Kingdoms be willing to help Shia Iran-Iraq-Syria to quell this Sunni uprising which anyways these Gulf-doms were instigating for quite some time? They'll cut off support to groups that start to threaten their own internal stability, or the stability of key allies as...
by Johann
01 Jul 2014 14:32
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: West Asia News and Discussions
Replies: 12577
Views: 1247583

Re: West Asia News and Discussions

Jordan has from the 90's onwards had a serious problem with Salafi jihadi sympathisers and returnees. Zarqawi was Jordanian. Ma'an in the south usually sees an civil uprising every 5-10 years. But Jordan will not go over unless, as in northern Iraq the tribes get fed up with the government and ally ...
by Johann
01 Jul 2014 14:08
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

Excellent piece of long form journalism originally in Novaya Gazeta on the life and death of a Russian volunteer in Donetsk.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/j ... ia-fighter

Here's the original in Russian

http://www.novayagazeta.ru/inquests/64052.html
by Johann
21 May 2014 23:47
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

TSJ, that is true. Energomash has said they have received no official instructions from the Kremlin yet, and yes, NASA would not fall under Rogozin's threatened ban on use for DoD launches. Still given all that has happened NASA and Congress would be unlikely to count on the Russians given that the ...
by Johann
21 May 2014 20:15
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

- TSJ, SNC's Dream Chaser was to be launched on the Atlas V, which has the engine supply issue. SpaceX and Boeing unlike SNC have their own launch vehicles with US engines. If those two have to take up slack for the Atlas V they have no incentive to make their crowded launch pads and launch vehicle ...
by Johann
21 May 2014 16:28
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

- Akhmetov is a key figure in the Party of Regions, which has a number of oligarchs. I pointed out in my original post on this thread's grandfather that it was his defection, along with other key figures that brought Yanukovych down, not the actions of guys in masks on the street - until the Party o...
by Johann
04 May 2014 13:30
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

Looks like China lead SCO and Russian lead CSTO will have more to talk about CSTO Looks Away From NATO and Toward SCO Russia is turning towards China as a source for financing: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/30/us-russia-asia-bonds-insight-idUSBREA3T0AD20140430 and as an energy export marke...
by Johann
04 May 2014 13:22
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

check the video in the link clearly shows how pro-Kiev radicals are throwing Molotov cocktails into the Trade Unions House Avoiding facts? MSM uncertain who is behind deadly Odessa blaze The twitter feed from one of reporters present https://twitter.com/howardamos The two sets of rioters had starte...
by Johann
04 May 2014 12:25
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

But it's more complicated than that, surely? It is not as though the Russians whom you judge authoritarian (with some justification), are out to swallow harmless Ukraine whose current leaders desire nothing more than freedom. Coming to Russia, I would think fighting a bloody war with Eastward-expan...
by Johann
04 May 2014 11:34
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

A non-zero sum game would have been -- EU talking to Putin back in November 2013 about Russia's concerns (two separate bilateral talks, one with Ukraine, other with Russia, if they want to preserve the idea of Ukrainian sovereignty), they strip out the military clauses from the Association Agreemen...
by Johann
04 May 2014 10:02
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

Fundamentals ? We will discuss the troop movement later; the more pressing matter is the burning alive of almost 50 people. Yet another diabolical attempt at agenda setting... The troop movements dear Rajiv are important, because now Putin is talking about receiving thousands pleas for help - and t...
by Johann
03 May 2014 15:30
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

Now back to the fundamentals. Here's one of the best maps so far of troop movements, and the conventional land force order of battle: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/world/russias-buildup-on-the-ukraine-border/996/ If you look carefully, its clear the Ukrainian General Staff and/or political l...
by Johann
03 May 2014 15:20
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: Eastern Europe/Ukraine
Replies: 4026
Views: 387907

Re: Eastern Europe/Ukraine

You are wasting quite a lot of time and effort in typing out long-winded replies. Let me try to simplify things a bit. Most of us here are neither pro Russia, nor pro US/West. We are here to discuss and understand what is happening in East Europe and Ukraine. And from these discussions, and from wh...