Thursday, October 27, 2005
America's Secret War
Is a great book by Stratfor founder George Friedman. I'm not quite finished it, but it's chock full of some interesting nuggets. Among them:
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- The Russians believed the Chechnyans are supported/armed by the U.S. Government.
- To allow us to use a Uzbek air base, U.S. Special Forces had to block weapons from entering Chechnya, via Georgia.
- The Russians view Bin Laden as a Saudi agent who's job, among other political causes, is to block Central Asian oil from hitting the market.
- The biggest reason for the Iraq invasion was to demonstrate to the Middle Eastern/Arab World/Al Qaeda that the U.S. is series about defeating them, and we will not be afraid of casualties, like in the past. Having France/Germany against us, only helped us, by showing that we wouldn't be deterred by anyone.
- The Bush Administration wasn't as excited about going to war as perceived.
- Turkey not allowing their territory to be used in the invasion really didn't matter at all-the area that would've been used is to rocky/close to Syrian border.
- "Shock and Awe" never really existed-it was merely psychological warfare. The problem was, Americans/media believed it too much, and were let down when it didn't happen.
- Mass arrests of Muslims, but the U.S. and our allies, followed by many of their releases of has benefited the U.S. Government by confusing Al Qaeda into thinking that many of the released Muslims might be double agents. (taking it for granted that some of those arrested/released were in fact Al Qaeda)
