Category Archives: Central Asia

Top 10 Predictions for 2013: Results

Three years ago, I started this blog with my top 10 predictions for 2011. I also polled readers on these same predictions. At the end of the year, my accuracy rate was 40%, while my readers were right 50% of … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, Central Asia, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Leadership, Media, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, Predictions, Taxes, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top 10 Predictions for 2013

Two years ago, I started this blog with my top 10 predictions for 2011. I also polled readers on these same predictions. At the end of the year, my accuracy rate was 40%, while my readers were right 50% of … Continue reading

Rate this:

Posted in Business, Central Asia, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Leadership, Media, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, Predictions, Taxes, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Top 10 Predictions for 2012: Results

In 2011, I started this blog with my top 10 predictions for 2011. I also polled readers on these same predictions. At the end of that year, my accuracy rate was 40%, while my readers were right 50% of the … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, Central Asia, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Leadership, Media, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, Predictions, Taxes, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Koran Burning Incident Underscores Dangers of “Advise and Assist”

I thought I would take a moment to comment on the recent events surrounding the burning of Korans by American troops in Afghanistan. The events of this week have reinforced the part of my previous post that mentioned the danger … Continue reading

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Posted in Central Asia, Defense, Leadership, Policy, Politics, Terrorism | Tagged , , , , | 57 Comments

Why “Advise and Assist” Is A Bad Idea

Recently, the Pentagon announced plans to end combat operations in Afghanistan by the end of 2013.  Instead of taking an active combat role, American forces will shift to an “advise and assist” mission according to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. … Continue reading

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Posted in Central Asia, Defense, International Security, Leadership, Policy, Politics, Terrorism, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Top 10 Predictions for 2012

Last year, I started this blog with my top 10 predictions for 2011. I also polled readers on these same predictions. At the end of the year, my accuracy rate was 40%, while my readers were right 50% of the … Continue reading

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Posted in Business, Central Asia, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Leadership, Media, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, Predictions, Taxes, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Newt Gingrich Won the Republican Debate

Newt Gingrich won the debate hands down. No one else was even close. He was honest and pragmatic on immigration, recognizing the tough reality that a percentage of the eleven million illegal immigrants have been living and contributing to American … Continue reading

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Posted in Central Asia, China, Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Crime, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Leadership, Media, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Battle of the Crater: Fascinating Tale of a Little-Known Battle

Battle of the Crater is Newt Gingrich’s and William R. Forstchen’s fascinating historical  novel about this infamous battle, in which the Union Ninth Corps attempted to end the siege of Petersburg, Virginia (Click here to listen to an excerpt from the audiobook … Continue reading

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Posted in Book Reviews, California, Central Asia, China, Climate Change, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, Food Security, International Security, Mathematics, Media, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Science, Technology, War | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

9/11 in Numbers (Part I): The U.S. Military

Since 9/11, the United States military has changed in several fundamental ways. Here are just a few of them: The Defense budget grew by 155% from FY2001 to FY2011 The number of active military personnel increased by 3.6% The Army and … Continue reading

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Posted in Central Asia, Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Policy, Terrorism, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plague Year: Riveting Novel About Nanotechnology Gone Awry

Plague Year is Jeff Carlson’s riveting novel about a nanotech machine plague that breaks out in Northern California, and ultimately kills nearly five billion people. The hook: the machine plague has a hypobaric trigger that renders the plague inert at elevations over 10,000 feet. While I normally do … Continue reading

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Posted in Book Reviews, California, Central Asia, China, Climate Change, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, Food Security, International Security, Mathematics, Media, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Science, Technology, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments