Surviving the New America

Survivalist Bob Lee Swagger

2012-01-30T21:38:00.000-08:00

Bob Lee Swagger "grows and shoots his own food".

The Importance of Human Intelligence

2011-08-02T21:39:00.000-07:00

History is bound to repeat itself if we as a nation do not make adjustments in regards to national defense. As we draw near the ten year anniversary of the terrorist attacks that took place in the US on September 11, 2001 it is necessary to take a look at the importance of human intelligence (HUMINT). One of the major contributing factors to the attacks that took place was the downsizing in HUMINT during the Clinton administration. It is imperative to note what the importance of HUMINT is over other forms of intelligence gathering, what changes have been made since 9/11 within the intelligence community in regards to HUMINT, and why HUMINT is so effective. Human intelligence is the most important and cost effective intelligence gathering asset that the US has available to combat terrorist activity.

It is imperative to take a look at the importance of HUMINT over other forms of intelligence gathering within the intelligence community. According to Richelson “a number of observers and commissions have suggested that both the attacks of 9/11 and the intelligence failure with regard to Iraqi WMD’s are, to a significant degree, attributable to a lack of human intelligence”.[1] It can be said that during the Clinton administration the defense budget and more specifically the HUMINT budget was cut drastically. During this time period funding also transitioned to other forms of intelligence gathering assets such as imagery and signals intelligence. During the years of 1996 to 2000 military intelligence gathering assets performed roles originally designed for the CIA, DIA, and other similar collection agencies. During this time period military intelligence gathering assets were tasked with missions of gathering information about weapons of mass destruction being shipped out of Iraq and into neighboring countries, which was completely confusing do to the fact that when the time came to look for WMDs within Iraq after 2001 there was previous knowledge that they were not there anymore. While providing this information the operators tasked with gathering this information utilized assets such as satellite imagery and thermal energy detection devices also known as MASINT, however none of this information would have been complete without a person on the ground able to see with human eyes what was impossible for satellites to see. Utilizing these other forms of intelligence gathering was useful to the operators on the ground and helped conduct intelligence gathering missions. What is interesting to note is the fact that the cost of a satellite, moving a satellite in orbit to gain view of the area of operation, and the quality of information provided by said satellite are all costly and not of high quality as compared to an operator on the ground with surveillance equipment readily available to use.

Post September 11^th, 2001 a commission was formed to detail the history of terrorist threats to the US, the events that took place on September 11^th, as well as recommendations from a bi-partisan government run commission. The commission’s recommendations were based upon an analysis of the intelligence community and the discrepancies that existed at the time. Again stemming from the cutbacks during the Clinton administration the intelligence community witnessed competition between intelligence gathering agencies such as the CIA, NSA, DIA, and FBI for funding which resulted in a failure to share intelligence between associated agencies. The competition for funding created a group of agencies with a piece of the information pie each. These agencies together had a complete picture of threats to the US but separately did not have enough information to act upon such threats. In hindsight as the commission states “one missing element was effective management of transnational operations. Action officers should have drawn on all available knowledge in the government (agencies). This management should have ensured that information was shared and duties were clearly assigned across agencies and across the foreign-domestic divide”.[2] In today’s intelligence community there are liaisons that operate between respective intelligence gathering agencies that ensure information is disseminated properly to prevent such a situation from happening again.

The effectiveness of HUMINT can be found in the teachings of Sun Tzu. The notorious tactician states “knowledge of the enemy’s dispositions can only be obtained from other men”.[3] Granted, Sun Tzu did not have such things as unmanned drones or satellites at his disposal but recognized the importance of covert and clandestine individuals behind and within enemy lines acting as a commander’s eyes and ears of the battlefield. An individual that has been involved in information/intelligence gathering understands the meaning and importance of the term “eyes and ears of the battlefield”. As an example of the effectiveness of HUMINT one source states that the intelligence community has prevented attacks on US embassies as well as international targets due to informants or foreign assets working with the US.[4] In fact since 9/11 attacks have been thwarted in Canada, the US, England, Indonesia, and a list of other countries due to the changes the intelligence community has made in regards to HUMINT. Even international intelligence agencies have fallen in line with what the 9/11 commission had suggested in regards to HUMINT and information sharing.

Again, it is imperative to understand that if the intelligence community did not make the necessary changes post 9/11 then history is bound to repeat itself. Since 9/11 many potential attacks have been quelled internationally due to these changes. The commission, as well as other nation/states’ intelligence assets have placed an increased importance on human intelligence operations recognizing the importance of having eyes and ears on the battlefield. The effectiveness of human intelligence assets has also been recognized and appropriate changes have been made to increase the effectiveness of human intelligence assets. This can be seen in the decrease of terrorist activity especially within the United States. Budget cutbacks and competition for funding has been replaced with increased funding and liaison personnel that coordinates information sharing between human intelligence units throughout the world. In the future terrorist organizations, as decentralized units, will strive to find weaknesses within the intelligence community and intelligence gathering assets must remain flexible and communicative with other agencies in order to ensure a much safer international community. With the advancement and utilization of future technologies it will be equally important to utilize supporting elements such as satellite imagery, thermal imagery, and covert or clandestine foreign assets. These assets must not be used primarily, rather as a supplement to human intelligence operators throughout the world in order to prevent attacks such as those previously on US embassies and in New York on September 11^th, 2001. Cooperation between foreign entities will also be vital to the success of international intelligence gathering units.

[1] Jeffrey T. Richelson , The US Intelligence Community, 5^th ed. (Colorado: Westview Press, 2008), 529.

[2] The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, (New York: Norton, 2004), 353.

[3] Sun Tzu, The Art of War, translated by Lionel Giles, edited by Dallas Gavin, (New York: Barnes and Noble, 2004), 59.

[4] Chris Dishman, "Looking to future, CIA should focus on human intelligence." Christian Science Monitor, August 06, 1997. International Security & Counter Terrorism Reference Center, EBSCOhost (accessed July 28, 2011)

The Daily Bell - The Man With No Plan: The Fuse on America's Debt Bomb Just Keeps Getting Shorter

2011-08-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

The Daily Bell - The Man With No Plan: The Fuse on America's Debt Bomb Just Keeps Getting Shorter

The American Dream By The Provocateur Network

2011-05-25T22:55:00.000-07:00

Recommended viewing for every American. This is the foundation of the impending American revolution or dissolution....

Intelligence Community Issues

2011-05-24T19:45:00.000-07:00

As we near a decade since the attacks on September 11^th it is important for the Intelligence Community to take a look back and reassess. Three issues that I see as continuous problems that confront the US Intelligence Community are the depleted human intelligence assets, officials and organizations within the intelligence community not being held accountable for failures, and a need for change as noted in the 9/11 Commission Report. Taking note of the “2025 Global Trends Final Report” we can see how the US Intelligence Community will be effected if these issues are not addressed. It is imperative that the IC continue to adapt and display its usefulness, as well as cost effectiveness. According to SunTzu “raising a host of a hundred thousand men and marching them great distances entails heavy loss on the people and a drain on the resources of the State”, in regards to how cost effective it is to employ human intelligence agents versus deploying troops.[1]

Depleted human intelligence assets (HUMINT) are something I am familiar with. During the Clinton administration funding for HUMINT assets was cut back to the point that military Special Forces and intelligence units played a major part in gathering information and acting as HUMINT assets. As noted in the US Intelligence Community “a number of observers and commissions have suggested that both the attacks of 9/11 and the intelligence failure with regard to Iraqi WMDs are, to a significant degree, attributable to a lack of human intelligence” as evidence of the issue of depleted HUMINT.[2] Continuing to utilize HUMINT whether international, host nation, or homegrown to conduct and analyze intelligence and counterintelligence operations is a must. These human assets fill the gaps that other intelligence methods such as COMINT and SIGINT cannot fill, and answers the questions that items such as satellite imagery cannot answer.

Responsibility for failure is a reoccurring issue in the IC, however restructuring and removal from office has taken place after past failures within the IC. Richelson points out “the danger of ignoring the key role that individuals play in organizational success or failure can have unfortunate consequences. Individuals not held responsible for significant failures may repeat them. The message conveyed by allowing those failures to go unpunished is that there is no penalty for failure, and that such individuals will not be replaced by people of greater competence, courage, and integrity”, in regards to how responsibility for failure is a major issue with in the IC.[3]

Post 9/11 attacks, a need for change within the IC became apparent. Too many government organizations competing for tight funding of operations and analysis within the IC ensured the entire picture of what was going to happen on September 11, 2001 was missed. Information sharing between agencies was not utilized and as a result the 9/11 Commission promoted the idea of liaisons between agencies tasked with intelligence gathering and processing in regards to the US’s threats. Restructuring and retooling was needed in order to try to prevent attacks such as these from happening again. As noted in the 9/11 Commission Report “the need to restructure the intelligence community grows out of six problems that have become apparent before and after 9/11: structural barriers to performing joint intelligence work,…lack of common standards and practices across the foreign-domestic divide,…divided management of national intelligence capabilities,…weak capacity to set priorities and move resources,…too many jobs (or tasks asked of the former DCI),…too complex and secret”.[4]

When referencing the Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World report you will find four possible global scenarios: “A World Without the West, October Surprise, BRICs’ Bust Up, and Politics is Not Always Local”.[5] There are a few underlying themes in this report and these scenarios that should concern the intelligence community. Future possible conflicts over a shortening supply of natural resources due to over population are the issues that reign across each of these scenarios. In order to combat these issues the IC will need to be utilized for clandestine monitoring of compliance with use and distribution of shortening supplies of natural resources as well as waste management and environmental impact due to over population. The US does not need to lean towards a “New World Order” as some conspiracy theorists suggest, the US IC can help maintain the stability of the position of the US as a super power independent from a global or collective effort to stabilize the global economy, international relations, and natural resource management.

As we, as a nation, draw closer to the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks we should put some faith in the intelligence community’s ability to adapt to the times and our government to provide sufficient oversight and transparency. We will also need our IC and government leaders to recognize that there is a depleted HUMINT supply, they need to be held responsible and hold themselves responsible for failures, and both groups must recognize the need for change and restructuring.

[1] SunTzu, The Art of War, ed. Dallas Galvin, trans. Lionel Giles, (New York: Barnes and Noble, 2003), 199.

[2] Jeffrey T. Richelson, The US Intelligence Community, 5^th ed. (Westview: 2008), 529.

[3] Ibid. 529

[4] The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on the Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, (Norton), 408.

[5] Global Trends Final Report 2025 http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_2025/2025_Global_Trends_Final_Report.pdf (accessed 05/23/11)

California’s Budget Crisis: A Step Away From the Past and a Move Towards the Future

2011-05-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

The issue that Californians feel is most important is the issue of the budget. The state currently runs a deficit of close to 30 billion dollars. The current Governor feels that an approach of raising taxes, focusing on education, and utilizing government subsidies are the answer to the budget crisis. If I were to propose budget adjustments to Governor Brown I would first draft my proposed solutions and post them on a website to gain public interest. Once public interest is gained public support and financial support would be necessary to promote the proposed solutions. Once interest, support and proper advertising is achieved the proposed adjustments can be presented in an attempt to influence policy makers.

A look in to the previous budget problems of California and the solutions that were implemented is important to look at in order to formulate proper solutions to combat the current crisis. California in the past has raised taxes and increased tax percentages on items such as vehicle registration in order to generate income for the budget. These solutions may have temporarily solved a much greater problem but have continued to not generate a balanced budget on a consistent basis. Governor Brown in his revised state budget states “based on a rebounding economy and higher state tax revenue, the revised budget calls for general fund spending to rise above its previous proposal for the 2011-12 fiscal year, from $84.6 billion in January to $88.8 billion today. The revised number still represents a $2.8 billion reduction from the 2010-11 general fund budget. Total state spending, which includes federal money and revenue dedicated to specific programs, would rise to $132.5 billion, about $5 billion higher than in the current fiscal year”, in regards to what the state faces currently.(1) His solution includes raising taxes, allocating tax revenue for education, subsidizing health and human services, and cutting the state work force.

Proposed Solutions:

Eliminating tax shelters is a step in generating more tax revenue. According to one accounting website “the Franchise Tax Board estimates that California lost as much as $2 billion in tax revenue over the last four years due to abusive tax schemes, which generally have no business purpose except to hide income and reduce taxes”, which is 2 billion dollars that could go towards state jobs instead of cutting the state workforce.(2) Governor Brown proposes to cut the state workforce by at least 5500 employees. This cut of employees means 5500 new unemployed drawing unemployment benefits from the state instead of putting more tax dollars back into the economy. California specifically has also noticed a rise in businesses leaving the state because of high taxes as compared to states like Nevada where small business taxes are waived.

Utilizing government subsidies to become the leader in alternative energy product development, distribution, and exportation would pay off in the long run for the state as a product such as this could be sold internationally. Reports show that with the increase in global population the globes natural resources will be strained creating conflict. If one of those resources sought after by the world is a cost effective alternative energy resource then related businesses in California would thrive as natural resource exploitation has done for the Middle East region. This research and development would also create jobs which in turn would generate more tax revenue not only from the workforce but from sales of the alternative energy product. Costco currently sells individual solar cells with battery packs as an idea of what I am explaining here.

History has shown that strong economies have started out with a vast agriculture infrastructure. California, with its prime soil and weather for growing, should be the world leader in agriculture as a form of self-sustenance, to export to other states, and export internationally. A recent report states “in 2008, the value of California agriculture exports reached an all-time high of $12.9 billion, a 16 percent increase from 2007”.(3) This is a positive index to California’s ability to bring in revenue by providing an export.

I strongly believe that in times of financial crisis the federal government should intervene and allow for a certain percentage rebate on federal taxes collected from the state that can go back to the state as a stimulus package. If Californians were able to pay a smaller percentage in taxes to the federal government and that small percentage were to go back to the state then the state would not have to cut jobs, funding for social services, or raise taxes.

A controversial proposal that could be considered would be an effort to spur the California tourism industry. I feel that if developers were allowed to build coastal casino resort communities in California with the intent of incorporating a heavy tax on the industry in the state then that money could go to subsidize education in the state in much of the same way the California Lottery is supposed to. This proposal would also provide jobs, local industry would thrive, and California would become even more of a travel vacation destination.

The budget crisis of California can be fixed but our leaders must take a look at how past economic and financial budget plans have or have not worked. If our leaders continue to try solutions that haven’t worked in the past then the state will continue to have the same results. California can pull out of the current budget crisis with a combination of Governor Brown’s proposal as well as: growth in California’s agriculture industry, becoming a leader in alternative energy export, instituting a federal tax break for states in financial crisis, the elimination of tax shelters, and a spur in the California tourism industry. These proposals show a removal from past failed solutions and a move towards increased jobs, increased state tax revenue, and increased funding for education, as well as a balanced budget.

(1) “California Governor’s Revisited State Budget at a Glance”, The Associated Press, (May 17, 2011) http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9N96G800.htm (accessed 05/23/11)

(2) William A Mathews, Georgi Gabrielyan and Daniel A. Sumner, “California International Agriculture Exports in 2008”, AIC Issues Brief, (March, 2010) http://aic.ucdavis.edu/pub/briefs/brief36.pdf (accessed 05/23/11)

(3) http://aic.ucdavis.edu/pub/briefs/brief36.pdf

Bear Grylls Gerber Ultimate Knife Review, Equip 2 Endure

2011-05-07T20:48:00.000-07:00

I bought this knife a while back. Very solid review. - Dr. Bob

Bug Out Bag Basics | The Inner Circle

2011-05-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

Bug Out Bag Basics

Author: Aaron Frankel

About: Aaron Frankel is the editor of In The Rabbit Hole Urban Survival Blog and Co-Host of In The Rabbit Hole Urban Survival Podcast.

Perusing the online forums, you are likely to see a swath of images containing Bug Out Bags, or BOBs for short, that look like the owner is ready to go to war. You may be asking yourself, “Do I really need all this?” Yes and No – keep reading and I’ll explain.

A bug out bag can be any kind of bag containing the minimum items you need to leave your home and seek safety somewhere else, in the event of a disaster. The length of time a BOB should be able to sustain you is a subject for debate, but the most common practice is 72 hours.

Basic Items Needed:
3 Days Of Food
Water Bottle
Water Purification Tablets
Compact Shelter (Tents down to tarps. Whatever you are comfortable with)
3 Disposable Lighters (also a useful prop when using the Disposable Lighter Repairman routine in disaster shelters.)
$20 or more in cash
Toiletries
Tooth Brush
Tooth Paste
Deodorant
Soap
Talcum Powder
Feminine Hygiene products, a.k.a Tampons
Full change of clothes that are seasonally appropriate
Work Gloves
Flash Light
Headlamp
Extra Cell Phone charging cable and adapters to plug into a wall or car.
First Aid Kit
Multi-tool
Pen and a Sharpie
Small Note Pad
Duct Tape
Small Stuffed Animal
Condoms

And of course don’t forget your copy of Emergency, for survival tips and an entertaining way to pass the time when you’re not using the condoms.

Food is the trickiest item on the list because of its limited options. You want something edible, but also that can store for an extended period of time. Canned goods are not the greatest, but do offer on option. The contents are typically ready to eat, but if they do need to be cooked, they can be cooked right in the can with a small fire. While they do add weight from the water content, the water counts toward your intake needs. MREs (Meals Ready To Eat) are tried, true, and traditionally the most popular. They last for years and have become a lot more palatable recently. Freeze Dried foods, such as those from Mountain House, are also a good option. They have a long shelf life, are lightweight, and easy to prepare. C-rations are very light weight, very compact, and calorie dense. Buy some of each and see what you think before going bananas. Each person is different and tastes vary.

Some of the items I am suggesting may seem odd. I assure you, they all have a purpose. I’ll explain below.

Work gloves serve double duty. They can keep your hands warm, and they can protect your hands. In a disaster, whether personal or otherwise, handling debris or other potentially dangerous items can injure your hands. Hands are rather important.

Why a headlamp and a flashlight? Flashlights have their place. They can be used as a weapon, they can be used to signal, and they are typically brighter than headlamps. Headlamps allow you to keep light on something and both hands free to do tasks.

Extra cell phone charging cable and adapters are important because if you are grabbing your bag in a hurry or under stress you quite possibly may forget such an item. Cell phones have become an indispensable tool of communication, both in calling for help and making sure loved ones are safe.

Feminine Hygiene products are useful in a number of ways, in addition to their intended purpose. They can make a very good bandage for wounds and burns, they can be used as a wick in a make-shift oil lamp and they are also excellent for cleaning firearms. Keep an eye out for a later article on uses of Tampons in survival.

Talcum powder is not something I have ever seen listed. However, on many a camping trip, I have found it to be extremely useful. First, it helps you feel a little more fresh in situations where bathing is not an option. Second, if you are having to do a lot of walking, chaffing can easily become a real irritant. Several manufacturers make travel size bottles. As a Marine Corp buddy of mine once said after a long tour in Iraq, “Dog gone Monkey butt ain’t no laughing matter. I would have given darn near anything for a bottle of Gold Bond.”

Seasonally appropriate clothing is an important bullet point. Your ability to weather the elements will play a key role in your comfort level and survival. Be sure you are equipped appropriately.

In the event you have to use your bag, writing information down and leaving notes could become crucial. There is also an added benefit. On the outside cover I write, “1st RESPONDER: Emergency #s and Info Inside”. On the inside of the cover I put: Health Insurance, Primary Physician, Medical Alerts, and Driver’s License Number. On the first page I keep a list of my most important contact telephone numbers. After family, I include the highest-ranking friend from each named and unnamed law enforcement agency I know. This all works best using a waterproof marker, like a Sharpie, and a “Rite in the Rain” all-weather notebook No135.

A small stuffed animal may seem like a very strange item for a BOB. It was to me when I first heard the suggestion. However, if you have a child and they lose their favorite buddy, it could be a good backup. If you do not have a child you may just make a truly crappy situation bearable for a child you come across. If things are really bad, you may need it yourself.
There are many other survival tips I will go into at a later date, where condoms are useful. In addition to those, grabbing the birth control is easy to forget when dashing for the door. Hurricane Babes is a term often used in my neck of the woods. In disasters and times of “hunkering down”, people get bored.

Is This A Complete Bug Out Bag List?

No, this is a basic list. As the title indicated, this is BOB basics. Bug Out Bag contents are regularly debated online and off, passionately. What goes in a Bug Out Bag beyond the basics, is highly personal. I have met people that keep Kiehl’s facial moisturizer (ok that one’s mine), Game Boys, M&Ms, darn near a full tool box, gas masks, you name it in their BOBs. Put whatever you think will help YOU survive physically and mentally, into the bag. You just have to be willing to hump all that junk some day – hump as in carry, not as in using the condoms on your bag, pervert.

Yes and No

First of all, “need” is a subjective word. It makes me bananas when people throw around the word “need” like a three year old. If you decide you have a goal that can not be accomplished without something, then yes, you need it. I will stop my rant there.
Yes, in my opinion, everyone should have a BOB. They provide the most efficient, least hassle way to quickly get out of harm’s way, with all or most of the things to make the ordeal as painless as possible. This can be life saving. This can also mean you beat the herd on the evacuation route and forgo spending hours on end sitting in traffic only to run out of gas and be stuck, still in the disaster’s range.

No, it does not have to be – and probably shouldn’t be – the tacticoolest on the block. No, you will most likely never need to go flying out of the house at full speed with bag in tow, but if you needed to, you could.

Final Words

It is a good practice to go through your bag every three to six months. There are a few reasons for this.

BOBs need a balance between essential items, and weight. It is an unlikely scenario, but you could find yourself having to carry this bag over long distances on foot. The last think you want is to be dragging a lot of weight needlessly. Go through your bag, take everything out, and ask yourself what you really need and don’t. As your survival skills and knowledge progress you will find that you need less gear.

I live in a region of the country that really only has two seasons: hot and humid as hell, and kinda cold. This means twice a year I add to or deduct from the contents of my bag, and my girlfriend’s bag. Others may find that they need to cycle the contents of their bag more frequently, and have vastly different climatic issues to consider.

There are food stores, such as Mainstay Emergency Food Rations and MREs, that are compact and can be left in a bag for a very very long time. Most people will feel the need for a little more variety in their diet. Expiration dates should still be checked regardless, and packaging should be inspected for damage.

Condoms expire. Seriously.

I keep a box of my discarded BOB items. Reasons range from no longer needed to found something better. When making new bags I often pull from this box to build out a new kind of bag, rather than going out and buying more crap. My first dedicated car bag was built this way.
Know every piece of gear in your bag intimately – don’t confuse this with the use of condoms, intimately. Understand how they work before you need them. Just reading instructions isn’t enough. Actually, try everything out before putting it in your bag.

Webster Tarpley: The Next Decade 1/4

2011-04-20T23:53:00.000-07:00

An amazing and in depth look at the global politico-economic scene. Fantastic insight and historical reference. Wow!

Webster Tarpley: The Next Decade 2/4

2011-04-20T23:50:00.000-07:00

Webster Tarpley: The Next Decade 3/4

2011-04-20T23:49:00.001-07:00

Webster Tarpley: The Next Decade 4/4

2011-04-20T23:49:00.000-07:00

Specialized Training for Television and Film Actors

2011-04-15T23:05:00.000-07:00

Ad for training

Shotgun Ammunition: 'Rounds of Authority'

2011-04-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

Great little video about the different types of shotgun ammo available and their effects.

Mujahedeen: Deception and its Impact

2011-04-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

It is evident that starting in 1979 and continuing through today the Mujahedeen have used deception to overcome and impact the US ability to make decisions based on ground truth. There was a large level of impact on the US Intelligence Community and the US Government. The success of this impact is measured by the level of mirror imaging that took place and the failure to realize the local views towards foreign control.

Deception played a big part of the progression of the Mujahedeen. Through their US backed conflict with the former Soviet Union backed Peoples Republic of Afghanistan, the Mujahedeen readily accepted money, training, and resources that were crucial in their fight against the Russians. All while accepting this support the Mujahedeen had planned on turning on the US as noticed in the YouTube video Secrets of the CIA (new) - Part 4/6 by Mel Goodman and other high level analysts.[1] It is also evident that not only deception but self-deception was utilized by the Mujahedeen. In regards to self-deception, in Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence the authors explain that “the false view of the situation one wishes an adversary to adopt must be determined by the action one wishes the adversary to take”.[2]

The level of impact on the US was large. After the US left Afghanistan for the most part post Russian withdrawal, it can be argued that a large part of the Mujahedeen branched out to other organizations such as Al Qaida, the Taliban, and operated as Iraq war insurgents from Al Qaida spinoffs. As seen in our other YouTube supplemental video Secrets of the CIA (new) - Part 5/6, another analyst compares how the US assets devoted to analyzing intelligence about Al Qaida (and the Mujahedeen) started out with just a handful of analysts and is now large in scope and size of assets.[3] Another issue of concern regarding impact is the issue of blowback. Andy McNabb is an example of blowback stemming from the training of the Mujahedeen and Northern Alliance soldiers and how it has negatively affected the US and its interests. Again in the YouTube video Secrets of the CIA (new) - Part 4/6 you can see McNabb, a former British SAS operator, explains how he taught these soldiers how to make explosives, shoot down helicopters, and how to utilize improvised explosive devices or IEDs which were so effective in Iraq and still are today in Afghanistan against US and coalition forces.[4] This makes me wonder what our government would do to me if I started training Americans how to do all of that.

Mirror imaging, according to Shulsky and Schmitt, is defined as “the judging of unfamiliar situations on the basis of familiar ones”.[5] Mirror imaging on the part of US intelligence analysts and policy makers was a form of failure in regards to assessments about the Mujahedeen. The “we wouldn’t do that if we were them” attitude did not pan out in this instance. Also, the Afghan people’s views towards foreign control or presence were not taken into consideration resulting in blowback. A 2009 article in Survival details the “US and British failures to understand the extent of resistance in Afghanistan to anything that feels like foreign control, the 1979-89 war between the Soviet-backed Afghanistan government and its mujahedeen adversaries, and the power of non-state groups to rely on uses of force not controlled by any state” proving the importance of mirror imaging when it comes to intelligence assessment.[6]

We can see that through deception the Mujahedeen and similar entities have exposed the US intelligence community of its failures. Mirror imaging was a catalyst to these types of organizations and their ability to affect the US. Blowback and a step up in resources devoted to the situation have brought to light the impact that the Mujahedeen and similar organizations have the US, the intelligence community, and its assets.

[1] Secrets of the CIA (new) - Part 4/6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh6UI5i0yCI&feature=related (9:00-9:40, 10:25-10:34 accessed 04/13/11)

[2] Abram N. Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt, Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence 3^rd ed. (Potomac, 2002), 121.

[3] Secrets of the CIA (new) - Part 5/6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo9hslrF8b8&feature=related (10:15-10:30 accessed 04/13/11)

[4] Secrets of the CIA (new) - Part 4/6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh6UI5i0yCI&feature=related (7:45-8:06 accessed 04/13/11)

[5] Abram N. Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt, Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence 3^rd ed. (Potomac, 2002), 67.

[6] Adam Roberts, “Doctrine and Reality in Afghanistan”, Survival, 51 (Feb/Mar, 2009) 1, abstract. http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/ehost/detail?vid=6&hid=119&sid=9b827dfb-d4ac-4510-9932-93840a98fda7%40sessionmgr112&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=tsh&AN=36449345

Failures in the Intelligence Community

2011-04-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

Causes of Failure within the Intelligence Community

In chapter 3 of our text we find the major causes of intelligence failure listed as subordination of intelligence policy, unavailability of information when and where needed, received opinion, and mirror imaging. Of these four causes of failure, even though all are important, I believe received opinion is the most important area in regards to intelligence failure.

Looking at subordination of intelligence to policy you will find that this type of failure is caused by an analysis leaning towards what an individual analyst believes his/her superiors would want to hear. As noted in Silent Warfare Understanding the World of Intelligence subordination of intelligence to policy “is perhaps the most commonly discussed source of error or bias in intelligence analysis”.[1] This form of failure may be the most commonly discussed but I feel it is not the most important to address of all the types of intelligence failures. Historical examples of this may include analysts trying to appease leaders from authoritative dictatorships such as Hitler’s Germany and Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.

Unavailability of information is the most interesting problem to me in regards to intelligence. According to Shulsky and Schmitt “this unavailability has various causes: for example, security regulations…,bureaucratic jealousness and power struggles, or simple lack of awareness in the office processing the data of another office’s information needs”.[2] Our text points out the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese as an example of unavailability of information when and where needed. I also feel that the attacks on US soil on September 11^th 2001 show this country’s weakness when it comes to this sort of information sharing. The 9/11 Commission Report was drafted as a result of the breakdown of information sharing that allowed the attacks to happen and included recommendations on what steps to take to prevent that breakdown from possibly happening again.

The most important cause of failure within the intelligence community in my opinion is received opinion, or “those opinions about a subject that are generally regarded without sufficient investigation, as true” according to Shulsky and Schmitt.[3] Our text uses the Iraq invasion of Kuwait as an example citing analysts whose opinions were that Iraq would not invade Kuwait despite imagery that showed troop build ups along the border of the two countries. In the supplemental reading for this week, the ICD 203 Analytic Standards document, details how to generate assumption (which is part of the process of analysis) without letting “conventional wisdom” create negative results. The document states “analytic products should identify indicators that would signal whether assumptions or judgments are more or less likely to be correct” as an answer to the possible problem of received opinion.[4]

Mirror imaging is the last of our four causes of failure. In my opinion this is the least important of the four and deals with the assumptions made on unfamiliar situations based on familiar situations. Basically the assumption is made based on what the entity making the assumption would do if they were in a similar situation. Our text cites the Yom Kippur War in 1973 in which “Israel’s intelligence services did not imagine that the Arabs would begin a war that they seemed sure to lose”.[5]

After researching the subject of causes of failure within the intelligence we find four major causes. These causes include subordination of intelligence to policy, unavailability of information when and where needed, received opinion, and mirror imaging. Although all of these factors are important, I feel that received opinion is the most mitigated by intelligence community standards and mirror imaging is the least mitigated.

[1] Abram N. Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt, Silent Warfare Understanding the World of Intelligence (Potomac, 2002), 64.

[2] Abram N. Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt, Silent Warfare Understanding the World of Intelligence (Potomac, 2002), 65.

[3] Abram N. Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt, Silent Warfare Understanding the World of Intelligence (Potomac, 2002), 65.

[4] Intelligence Community Directive Number 203 (June, 2007) http://www.dni.gov/electronic_reading_room/ICD_203.pdf

[5] Abram N. Shulsky and Gary J. Schmitt, Silent Warfare Understanding the World of Intelligence (Potomac, 2002), 67.

Gerald Celente on The Nutrimedical Report with Dr. Bill Deagle 07 Apr 2011

2011-04-10T19:38:00.000-07:00

Gerald Celente talks the 3 G's: Gold, guns, and a getaway plan...

Ridiculous DHS list: You might be a domestic terrorist if...

2011-04-04T22:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/ridiculous-dhs-list-you-might-be-domestic-ter

Ridiculous DHS list: You might be a domestic terrorist if...

By Ms. Smith on Sun, 04/03/11 - 6:39pm.

We've all heard the "You might be a Redneck If" jokes, but in this series "You might be a Domestic Terrorist If" you believe in civil liberties, or if you actually believe in your Constitutional rights. Sadly, this is not a joke. You might also be a terrorist if you have ever expressed concerns of Big Brother. Are you a Christian who has ever discussed the anti-Christ, the apocalypse, or even mentioned the book of Revelation? Guess what, according to DHS then you too qualify as a potential domestic terrorist.

An 18-year veteran in law enforcement warned to beware of Homeland Security training that is being pushed to local law enforcement. James Wesley Rawles recently posted on AxXiom for Liberty some very disturbing trends in law enforcement training. He reports a shift in focus in the last 18 years from local community to a "federally dominated model of complete social control" coming out of, not surprisingly, Homeland Security. More specifically, the long-reaching DHS arms of TSA and FEMA have been pushed heavily in the last two years to local law enforcement.

Rawles notes that regardless to training session topics, the courses shift to domestic terrorist warnings in the community. That is not abnormal, but the wide scope of what our government describes as having the most potential to be domestic terrorists is highly alarming.

Rawles writes that the following are characteristics that qualifies a person as a potential domestic terrorist:

Expressions of libertarian philosophies (statements, bumper stickers)

Second Amendment-oriented views (NRA or gun club membership, holding a CCW permit)

Survivalist literature (fictional books such as "Patriots" and "One Second After" are mentioned by name)

Self-sufficiency (stockpiling food, ammo, hand tools, medical supplies)

Fear of economic collapse (buying gold and barter items)

Religious views concerning the book of Revelation (apocalypse, anti-Christ)

Expressed fears of Big Brother or big government

Homeschooling

Declarations of Constitutional rights and civil liberties

Belief in a New World Order conspiracy

People engaged in the above activities or mind-set may be considered "extremists" or "militia groups" that exist in our communities and are "hiding in plain sight, ready to attack."

We've looked before at suspicious activity reports (SAR database) and fusion centers that keep info on supposedly "suspicious" people, keeping watchlists that can be accessed by local law enforcement and other government agencies. Domestic surveillance seems out of control and ACLU's Policy Counsel on National Security, Immigration and Privacy, Mike German, has said as much: "The most disturbing thing we've uncovered is the scope of domestic intelligence activities taking place today. Domestic spying is now being done by a host of federal agencies (FBI, DOD, DHS, DNI) as well as state and local law enforcement and even private companies. Too often this spying targets political activity and religious practices. We've documented intelligence activities targeting or obstructing First Amendment-protected activity in 33 states and DC."

I'm sure none of us want terrorists in our country. Although there may be domestic terrorists inside the USA, why don't we actually hear about these groups? Could it be that all the warnings of how there are such a high risks for terrorism inside the U.S. might be because there are these utterly ridiculous lists of what qualifies as potential terrorists?

I strongly disagree that We the People of the USA, the land of free, are a wildly dangerous group. In fact, I don't think terrorists are lurking everywhere in America, waiting to attack. I believe, it is because we love America that we talk about and write about the worrisome facts of our great country becoming the land of surveillance and distrust, the place where neighbors are encouraged to report neighbors, and where local law enforcement is being told to be on the lookout for terrorists lurking all over their communities.

Sullivan Ballou's Letter to His Wife

2011-04-03T22:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.pbs.org/civilwar/war/ballou_letter.html

Sullivan Ballou's Letter To His Wife

This striking historical letter from a man to his wife during the Civil War is both moving and inspirational. It displays the courage, dedication, love, and beauty of the written word our forefathers possessed. I seriously question if our current society could speak with this depth, stand for a cause with such fearlessness, and love with this much conviction. Beautiful.

July 14, 1861
Camp Clark, Washington

My very dear Sarah:
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days—perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write again, I feel impelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more . . .

I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans on the triumph of the Government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and sufferings of the Revolution. And I am willing—perfectly willing—to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt . . .

Sarah my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me unresistibly on with all these chains to the battle field.

The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them for so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together, and seen our sons grown up to honorable manhood, around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me—perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar, that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battle field, it will whisper your name. Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have often times been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness . . .

But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the gladdest days and in the darkest nights . . . always, always, and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath, as the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sarah do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again . . .

Sullivan Ballou was killed a week later at the first Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861.

The Two Party System

2011-04-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

Two Party Political System

The political system within the United States government has always been a two party system. According to our text from 1788-1824 the two parties vying for power were the Federalist and Democratic Republican parties, from 1828-1854 the Democrats and the Whigs were the two major parties, and from 1896 to present day the two major political parties have been the Republicans and the Democrats.[1] It is my opinion that this selfish power sharing relationship that our two political parties exude has been the catalyst to our country’s current situation.

In the Federalist Papers #10 James Madison proclaims “complaints are everywhere…that our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties”.[2] This is evidence that even in the early days of this government’s history; the founders of this country were aware of and wrote about the flaws of a two party system. So why is it that more than two hundred years later we as a country have not fixed this problem? It seems that even today anything that the majority party in the legislative branch and the executive branch puts forth as policy or legislation will eventually be changed back or overturned when the minority party becomes the majority. The recent Health Care Plan is the most current example of our political parties’ ability to bastardize our political system. Another example of our two party system spinning its wheels and going nowhere could be the fact that our countries economic plan changes with every new administration thus not allowing our progress or investments as a nation to grow exponentially as China has witnessed with their 25 year economic plans.

Why is it that voters only have two parties to identify with? This is because the election process is set up so that it is either a republican or democrat that will be elected and no-one else. The two political parties increase their odds of winning if they block and make difficult for other parties to be involved in the process; especially in a time when polls of the 1990’s show that only 8% of voters feel that the candidate’s party affiliation matters.[3]

What is the answer? It is obvious that only half of Americans are represented by the two combined political parties. Where are the representatives for the Libertarians and Populists? Although it is hard to tell the difference during election time: Democrats favor a big government hand in the economy and little government involvement in our private lives, Republicans believe in the government being involved in our private lives and want little to no government involvement in the economy. Where are the Populists that want big government in our economy and big government involvement in our private lives? Where are the Libertarians who want very little government involvement in our private lives and the economy? Where are the Green Party members during debate time? Why are the Independents when it comes time to cast a ballot? Touching on this, James Madison writes ”a zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for pre-eminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good”.[4] So our country will just sit here and not progress until we can reverse what James Madison over 200 years ago said would happen.

[1] John F. Bibby and Brian F. Schaffner, Politics, Parties, and Elections in America 6^th ed. (Mass: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008), 22.

[2] James Madison, “The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection” Federalist Papers #10, (New York Packet, 1787), (accessed 2/16/11) http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fedindex.htm

[3] John F. Bibby and Brian F. Schaffner, Politics, Parties, and Elections in America 6^th ed. (Mass: Thomson Wadsworth, 2008), 20.

[4] James Madison, “The Union as a Safeguard Against Domestic Faction and Insurrection” Federalist Papers #10, (New York Packet, 1787), (accessed 2/16/11) http://www.foundingfathers.info/federalistpapers/fedindex.htm

Al-Qaeda 100% Pentagon Run

2011-03-31T08:42:00.000-07:00

Watch and read for yourself.

http://www.infowars.com/al-qaeda-100-pentagon-run/

Gerald Celente on the Lew Rockwell show 27 March 2011

2011-03-30T23:47:00.000-07:00

Here is the most recent interview with Gerald Celente from the Trends Research Journal. If you want a good concise interpretation of what is going on in North Africa and The Middle East, and what we can look forward to, this is a great interview.

http://www.trendsresearch.com

Political Polarization

2011-03-30T22:40:00.000-07:00

Political Polarization:

Positive and Negative Factors and Effects

Positive Factors Leading to Political Polarization and the Positive Effects of Polarization

Polarization, in regards to politics, is defined as “a sharp division, as of a population or group, into opposing factors”.[1] Polarization is evident in today’s political culture and this paper will delve into the factors contributing to this shift in politics as well as the effects of polarization on the political landscape. Is this shift beneficial or harmful to the function of our government and the representation of the American citizens?

In the past thirty years Democrats have grown more liberal while Republicans have grown more conservative, even moderates or independents have been shifting to the extreme right or left. First we will take a look at the positive factors of political polarization and the effects on the voter. Competition, voter participation, and political participation are good examples of the positive factors and effects that stem from political polarization. Competition can lead to better representation from the leaders in government, voter participation is paramount in elections which can lead to the importance of more involvement in the process, and there is the social aspect of political participation that can produce a positive outcome in regards to elections.

It can be argued that competition resulting from polarization can produce better representation for the public. According to David C. King’s work on polarization “competition makes the political market more efficient and rewards superior political teams” and, “competition yields parties and policies reflecting the median voter’s preferences”.[2] If this is the case then it seems that polarization is contributing to a more accurate representation for the American voter. I don’t quite agree with this philosophy. I believe that with polarization comes fewer choices stemming from the more efficient and superior political teams. In my opinion this breeds political teams that are excellent fundraisers and run excellent campaigns rather than excellent public leaders. I will cover the subject of lack of representation more when I tackle the opposite side of the argument.

Voter participation is crucial in the political process. The argument can be made that the more public involvement in politics the more accountable political leaders will be held. In Dodson’s work on polarization in politics he has found that “party polarization is a key element that connects citizens to the political process”.[3] The major political parties use their fundraising and organizational skills to appeal to the voters and encourage them to get involved in order to gain more votes to win elections. Major parties and their inherent exclusive ways have shut out most third parties and independent parties from even competing with the major parties as elections near the end. In order to have a chance at holding office for the most part third party and independent party candidates must succumb to the views of the major parties as they slide left or right and join one of the major parties that have the resources for a candidate to gain exposure and have a chance at succeeding in gaining office.

Political participation should not be confused with voter participation. There is a difference between the two in that voter participation has to do with voting and political participation has to do with anything regarding involvement in politics. Calling into political radio shows, joining in political discussions on blogs or online news outlets, volunteering or donating to a campaign, and voting can all be considered some forms of political participation. Open debate is encouraged in America and it can be argued that polarization of politics has caused more Americans to become involved due to the major social aspect of politics. Bibby and Schaffner discuss the social aspect of political participation noting that “while scholars and commentators have been lamenting the decline in political participation for many years, polarization may at least temporarily, be reversing this trend” and specifically “in 2004,…,nearly half of the American public reported trying to influence another person on how to vote…thus, partisan polarization not only led citizens to participate more in the political process, it also drove them to discuss politics with others, which reinforced the politically charged atmosphere in 2004”.[4] I agree with this analysis however, I feel this is still due to the lack of choices to the voter. By the time voters get involved in the process a majority of the independent and third party candidates have fallen out of the race due to the inability to keep up financially and failing in the ability to gain enough support to be competitive. The voter’s choice is limited throughout most of the process.

In researching the experts and sorting through the facts it is clear that there are two sides to the issue of political polarization, as well as the factors leading to polarization, and the effects of polarization on the voters. Some experts agree that there has been an increase in voter participation and political participation in Americans over the last three decades. These increases in participation is viewed as a positive however, could this increase in participation be that the voter is disappointed with their elected officials and feel that increased participation will fix the situation? We will now take at the other side of the issue of political polarization. How has the last three decades of growing polarization negatively affected politics in America?

Negative Factors Leading to Political Polarization and the Negative Effects of Polarization

One may remember the Coca Cola vs. Pepsi advertisement war and the more recent PC vs. Mac ad campaign, but would one remember what other soft drinks or computers respectively were on the market at that time. It was as if that within the constant lobbying to dink Coke or Pepsi the other soft drink competitors fell by the wayside in an effort to gain more interest in their product creating the inability to compete. In essence the less advertised competitor’s inability to compete created less readily available and easily accessible choice. It is this lack of choice that I feel is the main problem with political polarization. We will now take a look at the negative effects of polarization and the problems that started the process. Representation or lack thereof, voter turnout bias in the primaries, and complete avoidance are all examples of negative factors and effects of political polarization.

Representation in our government is important to every American that pays their taxes. Without representation an American may feel that their voice and those like them are not being heard. However, representation as I have mentioned earlier suffers when political polarization is at its strongest. Competition has been the catalyst to polarization all along, forcing some of the third parties and independent party’s candidates and nominees to move from moderate or activist views and standpoints to adopting liberal or conservative views. This view can be reinforced by King when he states “electoral realignment may be partly endogenous, since moderates are more likely to call themselves independents as they see the party faithful moving to extremes, which in the end reinforces polarization”.[5] King calls this “competition polarization” and states that in regards to representation in the United States Congress “the more party competition there is, the more divergence one expects from delegate-type representation”.[6] I definitely agree with this. In a two party system a voter is limited to only two choices for our representatives in the electorate college. Imagine if you went car shopping and all that was available was a truck and a compact car but you are a mother with four kids. In this example there are not enough choices for the mother to even make a decision to purchase a vehicle that suits her needs. Why when one goes to the grocery store there are close to one hundred choices in the breakfast cereal aisle but when it’s time to vote for the leader of the United States there are only two choices? Just listen to the language on any major media news outlet when debating a vote in Congress on a bill. The pundits usually talk about the Republicans agenda and the Democrats agenda and nothing about the “yea” and “nay” votes thus contributing to the us against them attitude in politics with not even acknowledgement of third parties until only recently noticed with the Tea Party’s gain of notoriety.

Primaries are a crucial part of the election process that starts the weeding out process of those running campaigns that are inefficient or ineffective. Voter turnout bias can be viewed as a negative effect contributing to political polarization. Bibby and Schaffner describe voter turnout bias as “the tendency of party activists to have higher rates of turnout in primaries and also to have stronger ideological orientations than rank-and-file voters” and goes on to point out that “there is evidence from recent political science research that suggests that because turnout in primaries is low and primary voters in both parties are more extreme in their views than are general election voters on the whole, members of Congress find that to protect their flanks they may have to play to non-centrist elements in their constituencies”.[7] The outcome of voter turnout bias is continued and reinforced political polarization. I agree that there is some bias, as Bibby and Schaffner point out, and that the bias does contribute to polarization. This movement away from the non-centrist elements in primaries can only have one of two outcomes; one of increased voter participation due to the feeling of disenfranchisement, or one of decreased voter participation and complete avoidance due to the feeling that involvement in the process doesn’t matter.

Complete avoidance is a negative effect stemming from polarization. The argument can be made that most Americans are moderates caught in between the two major parties. Again, Bibby and Schaffner point out, in regards to avoidance that “as a result, much of the American electorate is uncomfortable with and turned off by such polarizing partisan politics, leading them to avoid politics altogether”.[8] Although disturbing, I do agree with and can identify with the avoidance issue. As stated before, polarization drastically limits choices. If as an American voter I don’t have a nominee to vote for I would not vote. I am a Libertarian and am usually lost around election time because I do not agree with conservative’s view of more government control over our private lives, and I do not agree with liberals stance on more government control over the US economy. Come election time I and many other American voters have to vote for a nominee that we don’t agree with or not vote at all.

In conclusion, one can see through today’s media news outlets, politically charged blogs, radio shows, and elections that polarization is evident in politics. Some of the negative aspects of political polarization include lack of representation, voter turnout bias in the primaries, and the complete avoidance of participation by disenfranchised voters. It is my opinion that all of the aforementioned factors and effects can be avoided with a more inclusive process. Third parties need to take advantage of social media outlets, on air advertising, and government subsidies in order to compete with major parties in today’s polarized political landscape. In addition to inclusion, it would be beneficial if stricter legislation were passed regarding campaign finance in order to level the playing field. More exposure would help third party candidates as well as inclusion in debates, thus creating a larger market of choice to the American voter and their representatives in the electorate college. There are positive aspects of political polarization to the voter, but I fear that the negative effects and factors leading to polarization far outweigh the positive.

[1] www.dictionary.com (accessed 03/27/11)

[2] David C. King, Congress, Polarization, and Fidelity to the Median Voter, http://www.hks.harvard.edu/fs/dking/Extreme_Politics.pdf (accessed 03/27/11)

[3] Kyle Dodson, “The Return of the American Voter? Party Polarization and Voting Behavior, 1988 to 2004” Sociological Perspectives 53, no. 3 (Fall, 2010) abstract http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy2.apus.edu/ehost/detail?sid=6373423a-fa50-439a-aeb4-e748b6f47b64%40sessionmgr114&vid=1&hid=125&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=54327079 (accessed 03/27/11)

[4] John F. Bibby and Brian F. Schaffner, Politics, Parties, and Elections in America (Thomson Wadsworth, 2008), 381.

[5] David C. King, Congress, Polarization, and Fidelity to the Median Voter (year unspecified) 18.

[6] David C. King, Congress, Polarization, and Fidelity to the Median Voter (year unspecified) 18.

[7] John F. Bibby and Brian F. Schaffner, Politics, Parties, and Elections in America (Thomson Wadsworth, 2008), 157.

[8] Ibid., 249

AIKIDO

2011-02-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

Aikido, a fantastic self defense technique which does not require tremendous strength, but focuses on flexibility.

Dmitry Orlov: Peak Oil Lessons From The Soviet Union

2011-02-19T18:43:00.000-08:00

Dmitry Orlov gives a very plain spoken and straightforward explanation of the impending collapse and what it means, how it happens, and what to expect. A must watch and a must forward to friends and family who have not yet awaken to the fact that things are not going good in the US of A.