The Political Conundrum!

The Holiday message from my man, the CJCS himself, Admiral Mike Mullen

The U.S. Navy on Monday awarded a $14 billion contract for eight new Virginia-class submarines to a division of General Dynamics Corp., part of the Navy's plans to add to its nuclear-powered submarine fleet.

Russia's new sea-based ballistic missile has failed in a test launch for the fifth time, signaling serious trouble with the highly advertised key future component of the nation's nuclear forces.

Until more testing can be done, U.S. Army medics are being told to stop using WoundStat, a new product just sent to the war front to help control bleeding among wounded troops. A recent study showed that if used directly on injured blood vessels, the granules may lead to harmful blood clots.

The case of Khan Mohammed is drawing wide-spread coverage, and rightly so. He is the first known Taliban to convicted of drug trafficking. He was sentenced yesterday to two life sentences.

It was another (along with Viktor Bout, Monzar al Kassar, and other "shadow facilitators") in a series of successful, aggressive moves by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in tackling not just drugs, but those that use the money to arm those who want to carry out attacks around the globe, particularly aimed at the United States.

As prosecutor Matthew Stiglitz said in court yesterday, Mohammed's "significance ultimately rests with the symbiotic confluence of two worlds: drugs and terrorism. Without him or men like him, there is no effective insurgency in Afghanistan."

The same can be said for numerous insurgent groups that continue to exist because of the money generated from the nexus to organized crime.

I know I have hammered on this point a lot recently, but there is still so little attention focused on this that I think it is necessary, especially when the concept is so strongly reinforced by a tangible case.

This is the future, and we must understand what is coming at us if effective policies are going to be made, and resources allocated, to combat it. There is no doubt states such as Iran, North Korea, Venezuela and Russia present a host of challenges. There is also no doubt that these states need and profit from non-state groups that rely on these shadow facilitators and criminal/terrorist organizations to carry out certain policy objectives. My full blog is here.

Writing in today's LA Times, Michael Jacobson and I argue the benefits of including a robust effort to combat terror finance as part of a broader counterterrorism strategy. Used in tandem with other tools, combating the financing of terrorism represents a powerful weapon in tackling the terrorist threat facing the nation today

The terrorist attacks on the transportation system in London in July 2005 killed 52 innocent people but only cost about $15,000 to carry out. The 2000 attack on the U.S. destroyer Cole in Yemen and the 2004 train attacks in Madrid set the terrorists back about $10,000 each. Even the 9/11 attacks -- the largest-scale terrorist plot in history -- cost less than $500,000, according to the 9/11 commission report.

Unfortunately, cutting off all funding for terrorist organizations is next to impossible, making efforts to combat terrorism financing seem a fruitless exercise, particularly with devastating terrorist attacks being so cheap to mount.

But the Obama administration would be wise to retain targeting of terrorists' financing as a key part the U.S. government's counter-terrorism tool kit.

Although mounting a terrorist attack is relatively inexpensive, the cost of maintaining a terrorist infrastructure is high. Terrorist networks need cash to train, equip and pay operatives and their families and to promote their causes. Recruiting, training, traveling, bribing corrupt officials and other such activities also cost money. Limiting their ability to raise funds therefore limits their ability to function.

The full article is available here.

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "This week, millions of Americans gather with loved ones for Christmas. This is a season of hope and joy. And it is an occasion to remember a humble birth that has helped shape the world for more than two thousand years. One of the things that makes Christmas special is that it allows us to step back and take stock of what is truly meaningful in our lives. As years pass by, we often forget about the gifts and the parties, but we remember special moments with families and friends."

Borrowed from my buddy CJ’s blog. He steals from me, so I borrow from him.

Christmas falls on a Thursday this year and we WILL be doing a You Served Podcast! How many people will actually be listening? Probably not many, but we’re doing it anyway.

As Soldiers, we are called frequently to be away from our families during the holidays. This Christmas season is no different for tens of thousands of troops who are on the front lines of combating terrorism and bringing peace to unstable corners of the world. From thousands of miles away their families try to enjoy their Christmas vacations knowing their loved ones are in harm’s way. So, why should we use the holiday as an excuse to avoid setting aside two hours to tell their story.

This week on the Blog Talk Radio You Served Podcast, CJ and I - along with other troops - will discuss our Christmas memories being away from family during this time of year. CJ is working feverishly to get some troops called in from theater. Due to the time difference, that may be difficult. If you think about it, tune in to www.blogtalkradio.com/youserved and spread the word that we will be there this Thursday from 7-9pm EST. Will you join us on this special day?

Also, there is a possibility that CJ and I will be joined by our lovely wives as they talk about what it is like to keep the holiday spirit alive while loved ones are deployed.

In his weekly radio address President Bush said, "This week, millions of Americans gather with loved ones for Christmas. This is a season of hope and joy. And it is an occasion to remember a humble birth that has helped shape the world for more than two thousand years. One of the things that makes Christmas special is that it allows us to step back and take stock of what is truly meaningful in our lives. As years pass by, we often forget about the gifts and the parties, but we remember special moments with families and friends."

Secretary Chertoff, DC Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, Md. Governor Martin O’Malley and Va. Governor Timothy M. Kaine met December 23, 2008 at Secret Service headquarters to discuss security planning and implementation for the 56th Presidential Inauguration.