Category Archives: Middle East

9/11 in Numbers (Part II): Climate and Energy

Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Since 9/11, climate data appears mixed, while energy consumption in the United States has undergone a notable amount of change. Climate Measures of climate change present a mixed picture for the United States. While the average global monthly concentration of carbon dioxide … Continue reading →

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Posted in Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Climate Change, Energy Security, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Peak Oil, Policy, Solar, Wind | Tagged 9/11, 9/11 Anniversary, Carbon dioxide, carbon emissions, CO2, Gasoline prices, global warming, Greenhouse gases, Nuclear Energy, Oil and Gas, September 11, Solar Energy, Solar PV, Wind Energy | Leave a comment

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

Posted on Friday, September 9, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

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 9/11, 9/11 Anniversary, Afghanistan, DOD, DOD Budget, Iraq, Pentagon, September 11, U.S. Casualties, U.S. Military | Leave a comment

Music During 9/11

Posted on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

People have a tendency to develop emotional memories after a particularly traumatic event. Sometimes they are able to repress these memories, only reminded of them after hearing a sound or a song that brings them back. While I was fortunately … Continue reading →

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Posted in California, Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Media, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Terrorism, War | Tagged 11th ACR, 2001, 9/11, 9/11 Anniversary, September 11, The Blackhorse Regiment | Leave a comment

In Libya, the Hits Just Keep on Coming

Posted on Monday, September 5, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

While I correctly predicted that a more democratic government in Muslim countries like Libya would result in increased Islamic radicalism, I could not have imagined it might spell the beginning of an Arab apartheid regime. Today, the New York Times reported … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged Apartheid, Islam, Libya, Nigeria, President Obama, Qaddafi, Racism, Sudan, Witchcraft | 10 Comments

Al Qaeda to Be Part of New Libyan Government

Posted on Saturday, September 3, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Ali Tarhouni, the deputy chairman of the rebels’ executive board announced today that he was appointing a Supreme Security Committee of civilian officials and militia leaders, as a prelude to forming a new Libyan government. That said, Mr. Tarhouni also announced that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, Terrorism, War | Tagged Abdel Hakim Belhaj, al Qaeda, Libya, Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Nuclear proliferation, President Obama | Leave a comment

Libya: Operational Success, Strategic Failure

Posted on Friday, September 2, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Last week, Bloomberg’s Jonathan Alter posed a tantalizing question: “you think Obama’s been a bad president? Prove it.” More specifically, Alter challenged the president’s detractors to identify specific administration policy failures. On Monday, conservative David Frum responded to Alter’s throwing down the gauntlet … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Nuclear Power, Nuclear proliferation, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kim Jong Il, Libya, Muammar Qaddafi, North Korea, President Obama, Saddam Hussein, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey | 6 Comments

Is the Libyan War Over? Not By a Long Shot

Posted on Sunday, August 21, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Al Jazeera reported today that Libyan opposition fighters just seized Tripoli’s Green Square and are celebrating a military victory over Qaddafi’s regime. Now that rebel forces appear to have defeated Qaddafi’s loyalists, the next hurdle will be avoiding further bloodshed amongst themselves.

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Terrorism, War | Tagged Abdel Fatah Younis, al Qaeda, Libya, Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, Muammar Qaddafi, Tripoli | 2 Comments

Strife in the Sinai: Is Egypt’s and Israel’s Peace at an End?

Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

“The Egyptians do not accept what has happened, and it means that Israel should take care. If they continue their behavior toward the Palestinians and the peace process, it means that the situation will escalate more.” — Mohamed Bassiouni, a … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Media, Middle East, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, War | Tagged Egypt, Gaza, Hamas, Hosni Mubarak, Israel, The New York Times | 11 Comments

Game Theory for Middle Eastern Dictators

Posted on Monday, August 15, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Towards a Dominant Strategy In “Saudis Shrug Off Day of Rage: Three Strategies to Suppress a Revolt Before It Starts“, I argued that there are two archetypal models for a dictator to deal with popular revolts in the Middle East: crush them or … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, International Security, Mathematics, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Predictions, War | Tagged Arab Spring, Egypt, Energy security, Hamas, Hezbollah, Hosni Mubarak, Iraq, Israel, Muammar Qaddafi, Oil, Policy, Politics, President Bashar al-Assad, President Obama, Saudi Arabia, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali | 9 Comments

New Fuel Economy Standards a Good Thing

Posted on Sunday, July 31, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

This past Friday, President Obama announced new corporate average fuel economy or CAFE standards that would require the average vehicle sold in the United States to provide 54.5 miles per gallon. The White House estimates the program will save consumers … Continue reading →