Comments for NYC Junta http://nycjunta.com A stiff drink and a good discussion Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:29:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 Comment on The Effectiveness of Sanctions by Jeremy Hurewitz http://nycjunta.com/2010/03/08/the-effectiveness-of-sanctions/comment-page-1/#comment-142 Jeremy Hurewitz Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:29:52 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=378#comment-142 Well, sanctions are complex and it's hard to say broadly that they are "bad" or "good". An oil embargo would likely be highly effective on the Iranian government, but it would place a terrible burden on the Iranian population, who are generally pro-Western, young and against the regime, so that would be unwise. And yes, many companies find ways around the sanctions, and with unscrupulous countries like China willing to trade with Iran they are likely ineffective. Smart, targeted sanctions against the Revolutionary Guard might be a good idea. But I like Roger Cohen's idea in recent column about what sort of trade we should allow the most. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/opinion/19iht-edcohen.html?scp=2&sq=roger%20cohen&st=cse Well, sanctions are complex and it’s hard to say broadly that they are “bad” or “good”. An oil embargo would likely be highly effective on the Iranian government, but it would place a terrible burden on the Iranian population, who are generally pro-Western, young and against the regime, so that would be unwise. And yes, many companies find ways around the sanctions, and with unscrupulous countries like China willing to trade with Iran they are likely ineffective. Smart, targeted sanctions against the Revolutionary Guard might be a good idea. But I like Roger Cohen’s idea in recent column about what sort of trade we should allow the most.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/opinion/19iht-edcohen.html?scp=2&sq=roger%20cohen&st=cse

]]> Comment on Iran as “Superpower” by Jeremy Hurewitz http://nycjunta.com/2010/03/01/iran-as-superpower/comment-page-1/#comment-135 Jeremy Hurewitz Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:32:26 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=353#comment-135 Interesting. Robert Baer is always worth reading. He had a good piece in the weekend WSJ on the Dubai assasination and tradecraft. He is good at stepping back from an issue and giving a long-view. No one wants to have war with Iran but there needs to be an honest discussion about the scenarios involved and what should be done. We'll do that next Tuesday, and then sending our findings to the white house........ Interesting. Robert Baer is always worth reading. He had a good piece in the weekend WSJ on the Dubai assasination and tradecraft. He is good at stepping back from an issue and giving a long-view. No one wants to have war with Iran but there needs to be an honest discussion about the scenarios involved and what should be done. We’ll do that next Tuesday, and then sending our findings to the white house……..

]]> Comment on Goodluck to Nigeria by Jeremy Hurewitz http://nycjunta.com/2010/02/09/goodluck-to-nigeria/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Jeremy Hurewitz Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:34:33 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=332#comment-127 Couldn't open that piece from the Nation, but I know that newspaper. Hard to say why they didn't get a comment, but doubt that the Saudi government wants to be very forthcoming on the topic. Couldn’t open that piece from the Nation, but I know that newspaper. Hard to say why they didn’t get a comment, but doubt that the Saudi government wants to be very forthcoming on the topic.

]]> Comment on Goodluck to Nigeria by Almerindo Portfolio http://nycjunta.com/2010/02/09/goodluck-to-nigeria/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Almerindo Portfolio Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:47:50 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=332#comment-126 That's after this: "Nigerian MPs who travelled to Saudi Arabia to meet President Umaru Yar’Adua returned home after a week without being able to see the ailing leader, reports said today... The 58-year-old president has not been seen in public since he flew to Saudi Arabia on November 23 for treatment for an acute heart condition." How is it that the Saudi government isn't asked for comment in this piece? http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/-/1066/862088/-/1237jvdz/-/ That’s after this:

“Nigerian MPs who travelled to Saudi Arabia to meet President Umaru Yar’Adua returned home after a week without being able to see the ailing leader, reports said today…

The 58-year-old president has not been seen in public since he flew to Saudi Arabia on November 23 for treatment for an acute heart condition.”

How is it that the Saudi government isn’t asked for comment in this piece?
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/-/1066/862088/-/1237jvdz/-/

]]> Comment on Obama’s State of the Union by Jeremy Hurewitz http://nycjunta.com/2010/01/28/obamas-state-of-the-union/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Jeremy Hurewitz Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:34:42 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=323#comment-125 I'm responding a bit late so the speech isn't fresh in my mind, but in general I like the speech. I just find him incredibly likeable and I take a step back when I hear him speak and just think thank god it's not Bush and his dumbass smirk up there. I love that he can be light-hearted and funny even standing in front of the country (the world, basically). I'm actually touched by his banter with Michelle. The biggest thing for me was the call for bi-partisanship, the Republicans are a disgrace, the party of no, but the whole system, starting with the filibuster, seems broke. That is what I think is driving the tea-party idiots, and that kind of grass-roots popular movement will spread on the left too if Obama can't achieve big things due to political grid-lock. I’m responding a bit late so the speech isn’t fresh in my mind, but in general I like the speech. I just find him incredibly likeable and I take a step back when I hear him speak and just think thank god it’s not Bush and his dumbass smirk up there. I love that he can be light-hearted and funny even standing in front of the country (the world, basically). I’m actually touched by his banter with Michelle. The biggest thing for me was the call for bi-partisanship, the Republicans are a disgrace, the party of no, but the whole system, starting with the filibuster, seems broke. That is what I think is driving the tea-party idiots, and that kind of grass-roots popular movement will spread on the left too if Obama can’t achieve big things due to political grid-lock.

]]> Comment on Haiti by Almerindo Portfolio http://nycjunta.com/2010/01/15/haiti/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Almerindo Portfolio Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:46:55 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=312#comment-124 Don't be so cynical. The fact that it is so easy to send money, and information on how to help spreads so quickly, means that incredible resources can be brought to bear. Obviously it's not possible for each of us individually to do much except give money. We can't fix the infrastructure to allow delivery of aid. That's why we take pride in our military, who can. Imagine how much we could help if we weren't off fighting wars. Don’t be so cynical. The fact that it is so easy to send money, and information on how to help spreads so quickly, means that incredible resources can be brought to bear. Obviously it’s not possible for each of us individually to do much except give money. We can’t fix the infrastructure to allow delivery of aid. That’s why we take pride in our military, who can. Imagine how much we could help if we weren’t off fighting wars.

]]> Comment on Richard Holbrooke at the Council on Foreign Relations by Jeremy Hurewitz http://nycjunta.com/2009/12/16/richard-holbrooke-at-the-council-on-foreign-relations/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Jeremy Hurewitz Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:25:49 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=298#comment-123 Hey Simon, Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Rindy tells me you live out of the general reach of the Junta gatherings, pity because it would be great to have you join us. I believe I first head about the Holbrooke's Kashmir controversy in the New Yorker article I reference in the top of my post. But I've since heard a lot about it, it was talked about on the sidelines of the event, people generally laughing about how shrewd he was in handling the dorky Paki journalist. Here is a link to a story referencing Kashmir being taken out of Holbrookes', uh, portfolio. http://www.dawn.com/2009/01/31/top4.htm Hey Simon,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Rindy tells me you live out of the general reach of the Junta gatherings, pity because it would be great to have you join us.

I believe I first head about the Holbrooke’s Kashmir controversy in the New Yorker article I reference in the top of my post. But I’ve since heard a lot about it, it was talked about on the sidelines of the event, people generally laughing about how shrewd he was in handling the dorky Paki journalist. Here is a link to a story referencing Kashmir being taken out of Holbrookes’, uh, portfolio.

http://www.dawn.com/2009/01/31/top4.htm

]]> Comment on Richard Holbrooke at the Council on Foreign Relations by Simon Flavin http://nycjunta.com/2009/12/16/richard-holbrooke-at-the-council-on-foreign-relations/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Simon Flavin Sat, 19 Dec 2009 22:26:50 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=298#comment-119 Jeremy, I'm a fan of the site. Long time time reader, first time poster. This is the best junta out there right now after Myanmar. I'm also a friend of your fellow junta leader, Rindy Portfolio. Interesting take on the Holbrooke talk. Shame that Peter Tosh never wrote a song about poppy cultivation before this military campaign. I also would have enjoyed the Pam Constable dress-down. But dude, where did you glean this info? "Holbooke was originally supposed to have Kashmir as a part of his portfolio but when the Indians got wind of it they went ballistic and it was taken away from him." Also nice use of the word Portfolio. Simon Flavin Jeremy,

I’m a fan of the site. Long time time reader, first time poster. This is the best junta out there right now after Myanmar. I’m also a friend of your fellow junta leader, Rindy Portfolio.

Interesting take on the Holbrooke talk. Shame that Peter Tosh never wrote a song about poppy cultivation before this military campaign. I also would have enjoyed the Pam Constable dress-down. But dude, where did you glean this info?

“Holbooke was originally supposed to have Kashmir as a part of his portfolio but when the Indians got wind of it they went ballistic and it was taken away from him.”

Also nice use of the word Portfolio.

Simon Flavin

]]> Comment on Very Timely by Jeremy Hurewitz http://nycjunta.com/2009/11/20/very-timely/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Jeremy Hurewitz Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:52:52 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=292#comment-106 BTW Blackbeard (real name: Edward Teach) was killed today in 1718 off the east coast of North America. BTW Blackbeard (real name: Edward Teach) was killed today in 1718 off the east coast of North America.

]]> Comment on Pirate Run-Down by Jeremy Hurewitz http://nycjunta.com/2009/11/17/pirate-run-down/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Jeremy Hurewitz Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:27 +0000 http://nycjunta.com/?p=282#comment-103 Really good write-up, Rindy, but I'm not so sure I would agree about the comparison between pirates and terrorists. There might be similarities in terms of greivances, but terrorists are motivated by a political or religious goals while the pirates are motivated solely by money. The pirates are not seeking to change any paridigm, and in fact probably worry that things might change and upset what has been a lucrative and relatively low-risk criminal venture. Already that has changed with increased risk mitigation solutions being put into place--the number of attacks has risen but their success has gone down. Case in point, the Maersk, which you'll recall was American ship that was captured and then liberated by Navy Seals, was attacked again yesterday but this time managed to repel the pirates with small arms fire, evasie manuevers and LRADs (link below). Some might argue this is an example of where armed private security guards were a great idea, but the story below highlights the continued debate on the subject within the shipping industry. I personally find it odd than whenever this comes up people generally think it's a great idea to have armed security guards ready to blow the pirates away, but when it comes to private security guards doing the job of the military in other areas of the world we see it as a dangerous precedent. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gB7YMEDuCwwY9ncDOtPAkEI4-H2wD9C20OO00 Really good write-up, Rindy, but I’m not so sure I would agree about the comparison between pirates and terrorists. There might be similarities in terms of greivances, but terrorists are motivated by a political or religious goals while the pirates are motivated solely by money. The pirates are not seeking to change any paridigm, and in fact probably worry that things might change and upset what has been a lucrative and relatively low-risk criminal venture. Already that has changed with increased risk mitigation solutions being put into place–the number of attacks has risen but their success has gone down. Case in point, the Maersk, which you’ll recall was American ship that was captured and then liberated by Navy Seals, was attacked again yesterday but this time managed to repel the pirates with small arms fire, evasie manuevers and LRADs (link below). Some might argue this is an example of where armed private security guards were a great idea, but the story below highlights the continued debate on the subject within the shipping industry. I personally find it odd than whenever this comes up people generally think it’s a great idea to have armed security guards ready to blow the pirates away, but when it comes to private security guards doing the job of the military in other areas of the world we see it as a dangerous precedent.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gB7YMEDuCwwY9ncDOtPAkEI4-H2wD9C20OO00

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