The Decline and Fall of National Security

In today’s America everything has become politicized, with the legacy media a willing, full participant. Science: Global Warming Alarmism. Education: Political Correctness and Common Core. Health Care: ObamaCare. Under BOTH parties, so it is now with DOD and the intelligence community. We have not won a war since 1945. Vince Flynn’s Thriller novels have excellent depictions of the politicization of National Security. This excellent article is a thoughtful discussion of how and why politics now trumps National Security, and the consequences.


“The Obama administration has a strategy. It is very simple. Any thinking American should be able to grasp it. It’s anti-American, anti-Western, it’s pro-Islamic, pro-Iranian, and pro-Muslim Brotherhood,” said 4-star Admiral James “Ace” Lyons, 36 yr. veteran and a former deputy chief of naval operations, at a conference hosted by the conservative Center for Security Policy where he heads the military committee!!! In other words, Obama is not on our side — and it is abundantly obvious!!!!

http://www.americasfreedomfighters.com/…/watch-wartime…/

The Decline and Fall of National Security

Two unlikely sets of institutions are playing key roles in the decline of American foreign policy effectiveness: Intelligence agencies and military commands.  The CIA and DOD, agencies that were heretofore above politics have lost their objective moorings. Contemporary guardians of national security have been suborned by partisanship, in the process, fostering a kind of soft sedition; analytical and operational incompetence.

The Intelligence Colossus

If a casual observer were to attempt to find fault with Intelligence in the 21st Century, he might identify size, complexity, and politics. Since World War II the American Intelligence Community (IC) has grown exponentially, 17 agencies in the US alone today and an expensive host of intermediary managers and commercial contractors. Unfortunately, national Intelligence products, now a kind of communal inertia, do not justify the exorbitant investment in collection and processing of raw data.

The Colin Powell UN speech in the run-up to the Iraq War and the now infamous Benghazi talking points are recent egregious examples “Intelligence” products corrupted by politics. If the purpose of Intelligence is to support the political flavor of the day, why not just subcontract analysis to Madison Avenue?

“Big” was not always the best thing you might say about US Intelligence. Time was when warning or analytical failures had consequences. Pearl Harbor is an example. Ironically, the sub-rosa Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was cashiered by Harry Truman immediately after WWII. Truman was not fond of a large Intelligence establishment or large political egos. It probably didn’t help that OSS chief William “wild Bill” Donovan was a prominent Republican lawyer.  Politics are ever-relevant.

Parts of the OSS were salvaged by the National Security Act of 1947 which created a then modest Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  But the Intelligence Community didn’t get a real boost until 1961 with the publication of Roberta Wohlstetter’s  Pearl Harbor: Warning and Decision, a volume that is still required reading for Intelligence acolytes. Wohlstetter’s encyclopedic study established several benchmarks for Intelligence still relevant today.

Foremost was the axiom that warning is usually an analytical or political, not a data failure.  In today’s argot it would be “failure (or unwillingness) to connect the dots.” Sixty years later, on 11 September 2001, analytical failure, not available evidence, was still the weak link. The only difference between Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 Twin Towers warning debacle is cost and the size of the Intelligence legion; alas, still a toothless dog that doesn’t bark.

And the warning problem is complicated today by design. Analysis is hamstrung by the Brennan Doctrine, an a priori policy that rejects evidence which might link terrorism, sedition, and Islamist wars with Muslim ideology or politics.

“How you define a problem shapes how you address it.” – John O. Brennan

DHSmuslimbroThe very word “Islamism” has been struck from threat discussions.  Where there is no distinction between church and state, religion is the center of gravity. Trying to analyze terrorism and contemporary small wars without mentioning Muslim political motives or Islamic doctrine is a little like studying WWII without mentioning Japanese Imperialism or German National Socialism.

Warning and Decision is still de rigueur for other reasons. A careful reading of official CIA reviews reveals that conclusions about the “underfunding” of Intelligence functions are, for CIA, the attractive parts of the Wohlstetter narrative. Ironically, truly talented analysts like Wohlstetter still do not work for Intelligence agencies. The best minds do not work for Intelligence because such analysts would be difficult to manipulate, hence politically unreliable.

The Military Establishment

Senior soldiers, however, are exceptionally reliable. Wet fingers are standard issue on the Pentagon side of the national security equation these days.  Political correctness has tarnished more than a few brass hats since Douglas MacArthur was fired. Admiral Mike Mullen’s recent social pandering and General Martin Dempsey’s Benghazi mendacity speaks volumes.

Military literature is equally disingenuous. Two subjects dominate military journals and training manuals today: counterinsurgency (COIN) and an excursion called Fourth Generation Warfare (4GW); foxtrot golf whiskey.

COIN

Counterinsurgency (COIN) is official US military doctrine, a lame legacy of Vietnam. Counterinsurgency is warfare or intervention on behalf an incumbent or allied regime.  Yet COIN doctrine seldom accounts for the enemy view — phenomena like coups, revolution, or civil war.  The Pentagon avoids such terms because the US military has no charter or doctrine for regime change. The rhetorical dishonesty over the recent “coup” in Egypt makes the point well enough. And at the expense of logic and clarity, any discussion of jihad is officially proscribed by the brass too; no matter how many GIs might get killed by jihadists. With the Brendan doctrine, Jihad, or holy war, is still ritual cleansing.

Since Vietnam, most small Muslim wars might properly be called civil, or better still, religious wars. If Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, or Syria had anything to do with counterinsurgency, the West should have armed the Ayatollah Khomeini, Mullah Omar, Saddam Hussein, Hosni Mubarak, and Bashar Assad. On the E-Ring, COIN and regime change seem to be synonymous.  Military analysis, such that it is, is trying to square this circle with some profound naval gazing. Strategists are calling for a ‘fourth generation’ model of warfare.

4GW

One time he can't say "I"

One time he can’t say “I”

Unfortunately, the new doctrine keeps many of the inanities of Army and Marine Corps official guidance. Foremost is the inability, or unwillingness, to precisely describe the enemy by name, nation, associations of nations, or ideology. And calling 3rd generation warfare a “war on terror” is a little like calling WWII a war on blitzkrieg. Tactics and the enemy are different things: tactics are ephemeral; enemies are kinetic until they are defined and defeated in detail.

The 4GW crowd also talks of collapsing the enemy’s “center of gravity,” but the center for Islamists, and the broader Muslim base, is religion. A CJCS that has stricken Islam from the discussion is not likely to assault “one of the world’s great religions,” much less try to neutralize imams who might insist on Sharia law — or target clerics sponsoring holy war, lethal jihad.

4GW aficionados also support a Fabian strategy.  Fabius Maximus Cunctator (280-203 BC) was a Roman general who used defensive delay and attrition tactics to bleed Hannibal’s expeditionary forces during the Punic Wars. Fabius is thought to be the father of guerilla war.

Fabian Defense?

Enemy Agents

Enemy Agents

Ironically, the Fabian fad is a page out of Osama bin Laden’s cookbook: extend the infidel armies and kill with a thousand cuts. War is curious politics; Islamists are defining our strategy?  If so, 4GW is truly cunctative; too late for a flaccid flag corps that already offers “transition” and “stability” as passive strategic objectives.

Imagine a high school athletic coach who would use such banalities instead of words like victory!  We remember Bolingbroke, not Hotspur, because Henry IV knew how to win. Douglas MacArthur struck the same cord: “There is no substitute for victory.” Life, war, and politics are zero-sum games — history is the tale of winners and losers.

Obama's Brother

Obama’s Brother

American diplomatic and military operations are starting to look like T-Ball or scoreless soccer; no winners or losers, yet all participants get a medal or a promotion.

The Fabian debate is another nickel and dime argument.  What’s required is a new global strategy, not another small war tactical salad where universal threats are ascribed to vague local grievances.

If diplomacy is the only answer, then new strategy is required there too. Here two attack vectors recommend themselves; abandon the “two-state” chimera in the Mideast and engage, dare we say confront, the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Israel needs to negotiate directly with the Arab League, not individual terror surrogates like Fatah. And America needs to confront the OIC, not individual Muslim states like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, or Syria. If Fabian strategy is a good idea, then it is the Arab League and the OIC, not America, that needs to be put on the defensive.

The burden for killing autocrats or defeating Islamist “insurgency” needs to be shifted to the faithful, that celebrated “moderate” Muslim majority, the citizens of the Arab league and the OIC. God knows the US Department of Defense sells Muslim autocrats enough firepower to police zealots.

The question that futurists need to ask is; why are American and European infidels obliged to make the world safe for Islam when only Muslims can save the Ummah from itself? Answer that question; then worry about the reform of inert military doctrine and fanciful national strategy.

And as a practical matter, any policy reform would require regime change in America: at Intelligence, at Defense, and at the White House.

G. Murphy Donovan is a former military intelligence officer who writes occasionally about the politics of national security.

Source: http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/../2013/10/the_decline_and_fall_of_national_security.html at October 09, 2013

Note: John Brennan, long time Obama Czar and former drone master, is now the head of the CIA. He has reportedly also converted to Islam. Want to learn more about the Muslim Brotherhood? Here is a short course.

Allen West said, “C’mon these folks are either clueless or complicit. You won’t believe what CIA Director John Brennan said in 2011 about the threat of an Islamic caliphate.”

http://allenbwest.com/2014/08/now-absurd-2011-cia-director-called-threat-islamic-caliphate-absurd/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62wkOvIlYNg

Obama's Handler

Obama’s Handler

“I am Iranian by birth and of my Islamic Faith. I am also an American citizen and seek to help change America to be a more Islamic country. My faith guides me and I feel like it is going well in the transition of using freedom of religion in America against itself.”

– Valerie Jarrett (Obama’s “handler”), Stanford University, 1977

Who Watches the Watchers?

There is not much oversight of NSA or the CIA. The only real power is in the Senate Intelligence Committee, a part of the Harry Reid wing of the Obama Whitehouse. And even this committee is being stonewalled. Numerous Republicans are calling for Brennan’s resignation, or more drastic action. Tempers rose when it was found that NSA had hacked into the Senate computers to remove documents the CIA thought the Senate should not have. Here are some comments:

“The Legislative Branch should declare war on the CIA.”

Senator Lindsey Graham, R-SC

“We’re the only people watching these organizations, and if we can’t rely on the information we are being given as accurate, then it makes a mockery of the entire oversight function.”

Senator Angus King, I-Maine

“This is all about the CIA playing stall ball.”

Senator Ron Wyden, D-Oregon (who is now using the words “Select Committee”)

Even the Committee Chair, far-left Obama ally Diane Feinstein (D-CA), voiced outrage and called Brennan to testify about it. In March 2014, Brennan testified under oath, “As far as allegations of CIA hacking into Senate computers, nothing could be further from the truth. We wouldn’t do that. I mean that’s, that’s, that’s just beyond the scope of reason.”

But in late July Brennan announced that a review by the CIA inspector general had found that CIA officials had indeed hacked the system, causing Senator Udall (D-CO) and others to demand Brennan’s resignation. As of this posting, Brennan has not resigned.

http://www.tpnn.com/2015/02/04/four-star-admiral-muslim-brotherhood-has-penetrated-all-of-u-s-national-security-agencies-under-Obama/

The Muslim Brotherhood in America

About the Course

Have you ever asked yourself why, despite more than ten years of efforts –involving, among other things, the loss of thousands of lives in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, well-over a trillion dollars spent, countless man-years wasted waiting in airport security lines and endless efforts to ensure that no offense is given to seemingly permanently aggrieved Muslim activists – are we no closer to victory in the so-called “war on terror” than we were on 9/11?

http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/the-muslim-brotherhood-in-america/

***

Fairly disturbing, but not surprising. The Clarion Project uncovers documents that show Obama’s Intel chiefs lied to Congress about Muslim Brotherhood connections

http://allenbwest.com/2014/05/obamas-intel-chiefs-lied-congress-muslim-brotherhood-connections/

The Muslim Brotherhood — a terrorist organization according to Egypt, who ARE Muslims — is well established inside the Obama Administration. Too bad for us….

http://www.wnd.com/2013/12/islamist-influence-putting-u-s-in-grave-peril/

***

Finally, alas, the Muslim Brotherhood has not only established itself at high levels inside the Obama Administration and the radical left. It appears that the REPUBLICANS have also been compromised.

http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/2014/02/18/the-islamists-and-their-enablers-assault-on-the-right-the-case-against-grover-norquist-and-suhail-khan/

***

PRIVATE SOURCE: “Obama has not disclosed it, but he is running a hard military reduction in force, focused on small unit leaders, including senior NCO’s and Company and Battalion rank Lt’s, Captains, and Majors.  These notices are being served on these officers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Is this ill-considered and untimely, when the Middle East is on the verge of monster conflagration?  Make your own choice.

Our total military profile of active duty combat personnel and ships of the line are now below those of pre-WWII.  The Marine Corps is down to four under-staffed brigades, and the Army has four under-strength Divisions with worn out equipment.”

Subject: Rioting Muslims, The Definitive Statement on Islam and Muslims I have ever heard.

 AN INTRO TO THIS WOULD BE A DETRIMENT TO HIS TALK!! NO PUNCHES PULLED IN THIS DISCOURSE

http://dotsub.com/media/72457cbc-fe18-4053-ae3f-6c7639cf4e79/embed/

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5 Responses to The Decline and Fall of National Security

  1. John Trudel says:

    Marine Veteran Attacked by Pro-Hamas Terrorist Supporters at White House Rally

    August 4, 2014 By TPNN Staff Writer

    Pro Hamas Terrorists Attack

    Yes, this happened in America. Even more disturbing, it happened in front of the White House.

    We are witnessing a rise of anti-Semitism in this country with not only pro-Hamas terrorist sympathizers in Hollywood standing in solidarity with the terrorist and against Israel, but there is also an increasing number of pro-Hamas terrorist rallies being held across the United States. Even more disturbing is the fact that the Obama regime remains largely silent. In fact, they have made numerous statements that has led some, including FOX News’ Judge Jeanine Pirro, to wonder just whose side Obama is on.

    Over the weekend, a large group, of pro-Hamas terrorists held a rally in front of the White House. There was a pro-Israel group across the street in counter-protest. In total, D.C. police estimated there to be 10,000 in attendance. The pro-Hamas terrorist group openly berated the Israel supporters, blowing loud horns to cover up chants in favor of Israel and yelling things like “Free, Free Palestine” and “End the Genocide.”

    As if that were not disturbing enough, one brave man crossed over onto the pro-Hamas terrorist side to show that he was not afraid and would stand with Israel. Former Marine Manny Vega served during the Iraq War. He is non-Jewish and is of Puerto Rican descent. Vega wanted to make it clear to Israelis that there were many in America who stood with them. So, he proudly held his American flag in one hand and an Israeli flag in another amidst the pro-Hamas terrorist group. (Watch Video Below)

    The events that transpired are, in one word, frightening. Breitbart reports that Vega was attacked by the pro-Hamas terrorist crowd after trying to have a civil conversation with one Muslim in attendance. The chased him, cursed at him, hurled epithets at him, and tried to burn his Israeli flag while he was holding it.

    Vega had this to say about the violence that he experienced at the hands of the pro-Hamas terrorist group.

    “Hey, I’m not going to be pushed out of here… If I was in Palestine, my throat my throat would be slit, but I’m in front of the White House. This is America, and I have every right to be here with the American flag, and the Israeli flag as a counter protest to the `Free Gaza, Anti-Occupation’ protest here. And pro-Hamas.”

    According to Pamela Geller, sponsors of the rally were as follows:

    *ANSWER Coalition – American Muslims for Palestine (AMP)
    *Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
    *American Muslim Alliance (AMA)
    *Al-Awda: Palestine Right to Return Coalition
    *Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
    *Muslim Legal Fund of America – MAS
    *Immigrant Justice Center
    *Code Pink

    In 2012, the Daily Caller reported that the Obama White House met with the Muslim group CAIR and other Muslim groups in an effort to `reduce anti-terrorism investigations.’ CAIR alone had 20 meetings with the Obama White House despite warnings from the FBI that CAIR was an inappropriate liaison partner due to their ties to Hamas terrorists.

  2. John Trudel says:

    http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bc0_1423721020&use_old_player=1

    Adm James Lyons Ret gives his opinion on the errors of omission and commission of every administration from Carter on, in regard to responses, or the lack thereof, to Islamic activity. He praises ex-premier Erdogan of Turkey.

    Some old guys are pretty good.

    Someone should have pinned down Weinberger by now?

    Excellent clip. Rings of Truth. Obama is NOT on America’s side.

    ***
    They are supposed to be on the defensive and losing, but according to their recent repulsive spectacle of the mass beheading of 21 Coptic Christians, ISIS is only growing stronger and more vile.

    It gives me some semblance of confidence that Egypt has responded quickly and harshly. Once again, we have a leader who actually leads.

    ISIS lives in the 7th century but now has 21st century technology and financing. We live in the 21st century but we must acknowledge that we must go “Medieval” on Islamic jihadists – sadly that is all these savage barbarians know.

    Steadfast and Loyal,

    Allen West

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