Book Announcement: It Happened On the Way to War: A Marine's Path to Peace
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by Rye Barcott
Available on 29 March 2011.
In 2000, Rye Barcott spent part of the summer living in ten-by-ten-foot shacks in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya. He was a twenty-year-old college student heading into the Marines, and he sought to better understand ethnic violence—something he would likely face in uniform. Barcott learned Swahili and listened to young people talk about how they survived amidst poverty he had never imagined existed. He stumbled into friendship with a widowed nurse, Tabitha Atieno Festo, and a tough community organizer, Salim Mohamed.
It Happened on the Way to War is the gripping story of this unlikely trio's journey to build a nongovernmental organization in a volatile place and help develop a new generation of leaders from within. Their organization, Carolina for Kibera (CFK), is now a pioneer of the movement called participatory development, drawing recognition from Time magazine as a "Hero of Global Health" and interest from Melinda Gates, President Barack Obama, and other dignitaries, who have visited to see its best practices.
Barcott continued his leadership in CFK while serving as a Marine in Iraq, Bosnia, and the Horn of Africa. Engaged in two forms of public service at once, he fought in wars while waging peace. Grappling with the intense stress of leading Marines in dangerous places, he took the tools he learned building community in one of the most fractured parts of Kenya and became a more effective counterinsurgent.
This is a true story of sacrifice and courage, failure and triumph, and the powerful melding of military and humanitarian service. It's a story of what America's role in the world could be.
About the Author: Rye Barcott co-founded the non-governmental organization Carolina for Kibera (CFK) with Salim Mohamed and Tabitha Atieno Festo while he was an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earning his B.A. in Peace, War, and Defense. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 5 years in Iraq, Bosnia, and the Horn of Africa. Barcott then earned master's degrees in business and public administration from Harvard University, where he was a Reynolds Social Entrepreneurship Fellow and a George Leadership Fellow. In 2006, ABC World News named then Captain Barcott a 'Person of the Year' for his dual service to Kibera and the Marine Corps. In 2009, he joined the inaugural class of TED Fellows. In 2011, he was named as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He lives in North Carolina with his wife and daughter and works in the Sustainability Office at Duke Energy.
Pakistan frees CIA contractor Raymond Davis
For background on the Raymond Davis affair, see this post.
16 March SWJ Roundup
Toll Rises, Stocks Plunge, Foreigners Flee - Washington Post
Japan Says 2nd Reactor May Have Ruptured - New York Times
New Fire Reported at Nuclear Plant - Washington Post
Setback in Reactor Fight - Wall Street Journal
Leak from Second Japan Reactor Feared - Los Angeles Times
Workers Struggle to Contain Crisis at Nuclear Plant - Voice of America
Last Defense at Troubled Reactors: 50 Workers - New York Times
Workers Briefly Abandon Nuclear Plant as Crisis Worsens - Reuters
Death Toll Rises, Stocks Plunge, Foreigners Flee - Washington Post
Radiation Falls at Japanese Plant - BBC News
New Reactor Fire as Japan Works to Contain Threat - Associated Press
Exodus from Tokyo Begins - Washington Times
New Aftershock Rattles Quake-Devastated NE Japan - Associated Press
Japan Rushing Aid to Survivors; Food, Water Supplies Low - VOA
Afghanistan
Petraeus: Taliban Momentum Halted - Washington Post
General Sees Joint Bases for Afghans After 2014 - New York Times
Petraeus: Enough Progess Made for Withdrawal - Washington Times
Petraeus: Afghan War Gains Enable U.S. Troop Cuts - Associated Press
Petraeus Upbeat on Afghan Efforts - BBC News
Coalition Has Momentum in Afghanistan, Petraeus Says - AFPS
Local Police Effort Shows Innovation, Petraeus Says - AFPS
Nearly 2/3 of Americans Say War Isn't Worth Fighting - Washington Post
In Afghan Kilns, Cycle of Debt and Servitude - New York Times
Signs of Trouble at Afghan Bank - Washington Post
Mascot Dogs of American Combat Outposts - New York Times
Pakistan
Row Over Pakistan Christian Death - BBC News
Pakistan Death Row Prisoners 'Languish in Jail' - BBC News
Officials: U.S. Missile Kills 5 in NW Pakistan - Associated Press
Middle East / North Africa Unrest
Pro-Gadhafi Forces Launch Another Strike on Ajdabiya - Voice of America
Libyan Forces Rout Rebels, No-Flight Zone Stalls - New York Times
Battle for Libyan Town Rages On - BBC News
Gaddafi's Forces Mount Heavy Assault on Town - Washington Post
Gadhafi Closes In on Rebels - Wall Street Journal
Libya Bombards Rebels, Gets Closer to Stronghold - Associated Press
Gaddafi Forces Push Towards Rebels, No U.N. Move Yet - Reuters
Pro-Gadhafi Forces Said to Be Weak on Manpower - Voice of America
Libyan Oil Buys Allies for Qaddafi - New York Times
People Prevented From Fleeing Combat in Libya - Voice of America
G8 Backs Away From Libya 'No-Fly' Zone - Voice of America
Supporters Introduce No-Fly Resolution at U.N. - Associated Press
Supporters Introduce No-fly Resolution at U.N. - Associated Press
Libyan Rebels fault U.S. Inaction - Washington Times
Clinton: Egypt Revolution Must Produce Democracy - Associated Press
Egypt Protesters Find Unity Difficult to Maintain - Los Angeles Times
Egypt Ends Domestic Spying Agency, Creates New One - New York Times
Egypt Dissolves Notorious Internal Security Agency - BBC News
Egypt: Mubarak's Allies Fear They're Targets - Washington Times
Bahrain Declares State of Emergency - Washington Post
2 Protesters Dead as Bahrain Declares Emergency - New York Times
Troops, Police Assault Protesters in Bahrain - Los Angeles Times
Bahrain Clashes Kill 2 People, Wound Hundreds - Voice of America
Two Killed in Bahrain Violence Despite Martial Law - BBC News
Bahrain Unleashes Forces on Protesters' Camp - Associated Press
Security Forces Move to Clear Out Bahrain Protesters - Reuters
Anti-Government Tribesmen Kill 4 Yemeni Soldiers - Associated Press
Mid-East Unrest: Syrian Protests in Damascus and Aleppo - BBC News
The Freedom Belt - Washington Post opinion
Collision Over Bahrain - Washington Post opinion
Iraq
Iraqi Delay Hinders U.S. Planning - New York Times
Iran
Iran: 'Blatant Interference' in Bahrain Affairs - Los Angeles Times
Israel / Palestinians
Israel Seizes Suspected Arms-Smuggling Ship - Voice of America
Israel Stops Ship it Says Carried Weapons to Gaza - Washington Post
Israeli Navy Intercepts Egypt-bound Ship with Arms - Associated Press
Palestinians Rally for Reconciliation of Rival Governments - Associated Press
Hamas Forces Break Up Pro-Unity Protests in Gaza - New York Times
Neighbors' Blood Binds Settlers to West Bank - New York Times
Uruguay Recognizes Palestine Statehood - Associated Press
Piracy
Pirates Jailed in 17 Nations as Prosecutions Rise - Associated Press
U.S. Department of Defense
Services Meet, Exceed Recruiting, Retention Goals - AFPS
United States
Candidates Emerge to Replace Mueller at FBI - Washington Post
'Trusted Traveler': Answer to TSA Bottlenecks - Washington Post
New Mexico Mayor, Police Chief Indicted - Washington Times
Africa
Accused Somali 'Pirates' Deny U.S. Yacht Death Charges - BBC News
Ivory Coast Rivals Battle Near Abidjan Barracks - Voice of America
Ivory Coast's Ouattara Makes Final Offer to Gbagbo - Associated Press
Niger Election: Opposition's Mahamadou Issoufou Wins - BBC News
Mauritanian Sentenced to Death for Killing U.S. Man - Associated Press
Mauritanians 'Shot Dead U.S. Man' - BBC News
Americas
U.S. Drones Fight Mexican Drug Trade - New York Times
Mexico Prison Warden Stabbed to Death During Rounds - BBC News
Mexican Judges Resign Amid Outcry Over Ruling - Associated Press
Gunmen Kill 2 Kids, Woman in Mexican Resort - Associated Press
Japan's Woes Prompt Venezuela to Halt Nuclear Plan - Associated Press
U.S. Urges Aristide to Delay Return - BBC News
Asia Pacific
DoD Official Notes Readiness Challenges in Pacific - AFPS
Filipino Militant Linked to Airport Blast Captured - Associated Press
Indonesia Still Plans Nuclear Reactors Near Fault - Associated Press
Indonesian Mail Bombs Target 'Sins Against Islam' - Associated Press
Exiled Tibetans Face Vote, and Risky New World - Reuters
Central Asia
Uzbekistan Expels Human Rights Watch's Staff - New York Times
Europe
German Nuclear Plants Shut Down - BBC News
Germany Shuts 7 Reactors for 3-Month Review - New York Times
Italy: Berlusconi Sex Case Widens - Associated Press
South Asia
Graft 'Threatens India's Growth' - BBC News
A Clear and Sober Assessment on Afghanistan
Coalition Has Momentum in Afghanistan, Petraeus Says
WASHINGTON, March 15, 2011 -- The Taliban's momentum has been reversed in most areas of Afghanistan, but the progress achieved there is fragile and reversible, the commander of NATO and U.S. forces said here today.
Army Gen. David H. Petraeus told the Senate Armed Services Committee that much dangerous work remains ahead for coalition and Afghan government forces in the country.
"Nonetheless, the hard-fought achievements in 2010 and early 2011 have enabled the joint Afghan-NATO transition board to recommend initiation this spring of transition to Afghan lead in several provinces," he said. The progress also will factor into his recommendations in drawing down the number of U.S. forces in the country, now at around 100,000, the general added.
The progress, Petraeus said, has put the NATO-led effort on the path to turn over security responsibility for the country to Afghan forces by 2014.
The effort in Afghanistan is more than simply a military campaign, Petraeus told the senators. Support and resources the United States and the 47 other troop-contributing countries have provided has allowed the civil-military campaign to work, he said.
And, Petraeus noted, the Afghans themselves are shouldering an increasingly larger share of the defense burden.
"More than 87,000 additional NATO ISAF troopers and 1,000 additional civilians have been added to the effort in Afghanistan since the beginning of 2009," the general said. "In Afghanistan, security forces have grown by over 122,000 in that time as well."
Getting the inputs right has enabled all forces to conduct the comprehensive campaign, he said.
"Our core objective is, of course, ensuring that Afghanistan does not once again become a sanctuary for al-Qaida," Petraeus told the panel. "Achieving that objective requires that we help Afghanistan develop sufficient capabilities to secure and govern itself, and that effort requires the execution of the comprehensive civil-military effort on which we are now embarked."
The effort has enabled a stepped-up tempo of precise, intelligence-driven operations to capture or kill insurgent leaders, the general said.
"In a typical 90-day period, in fact, precision operations by U.S. special mission units and their Afghan partners alone kill or capture some 360 targeted insurgent leaders," Petraeus said. "Moreover, intelligence-driven operations are now coordinated with senior officers of the relevant Afghan ministries, and virtually all include highly trained Afghan soldiers or police, with some Afghan elements now in the lead on these operations."
Combined ISAF-Afghan operations have cleared the Taliban from important safe havens, and the forces are holding these areas, allowing governance and development to take root, Petraeus noted.
"ISAF and Afghan troopers have, for example, cleared such critical areas as the districts west of Kandahar city that were the birthplace of the Taliban movement, as well as important districts of Helmand province," he said.
These operations have resulted in the gradual development of local governance and economic revival in the growing security bubbles, the general said, pointing out that in Marja in Helmand province --- once a Taliban stronghold --- 75 percent of registered voters cast ballots in recent city elections.
"As a result of improvements in the security situation there," Petraeus said, "the markets -- which once sold weapons, explosives and illegal narcotics -- now feature over 1,500 shops selling food, clothes and household goods."
Safe havens in Pakistan also are receiving attention, as ISAF has troops in place to interdict these corridors, the general told the senators, and ISAF and Afghan troops are cooperating with Pakistani forces across the border to trap Taliban forces between this hammer and anvil.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai will announce which provinces will transition to full Afghan control next week, Petraeus said. "In keeping with the principles adopted by [NATO's] North Atlantic Council to guide transition," he said, "the shifting of responsibility from ISAF to Afghan forces will be conducted at a pace determined by conditions on the ground with assessments provided from the bottom up so that those at operational-command level in Afghanistan can plan the resulting battlefield geometry adjustments with our Afghan partners."
The transition, he continued, will allow NATO to take some troops out of the country, and will enable a bulk-up of troops in other areas.
"Similar processes are also taking place as we commence transition of certain training and institutional functions from ISAF trainers to their Afghan counterparts," Petraeus said.
It's important to ensure the transition process is irreversible, the general said.
"As the ambassadors of several ISAF countries emphasized at one recent NATO meeting," he said, "we'll get one shot at transition, and we need to get it right."
Since the surge of forces into Afghanistan reached its peak eight months ago, the progress is undeniable, Petraeus told the panel. The Taliban have lost safe havens, many insurgent leaders have been killed or captured, and hundreds of reconcilable mid-level leaders and fighters have been reintegrated into Afghan society, he said.
Meanwhile, Petraeus added, Afghan forces have grown in numbers and capabilities, and security improvements have meant real progress in governance and the economy.
"None of this has been easy," the general said. "The progress achieved has entailed hard fighting and considerable sacrifice. There have been tough losses along the way, and there have been setbacks as well as successes. Indeed, the experience has been akin to that of a roller coaster ride. The trajectory has generally been upward since last summer, but there certainly have been significant bumps and difficult reverses at various points."
The Taliban will try to regain momentum this spring, Petraeus said.
"We believe that we will be able to build on the momentum achieved in 2010, though that clearly will entail additional tough fighting," he added.
Maybe stability trumps democracy after all
Obama undoubtedly knows that he will face intense criticism if he stands by while Qaddafi ruthlessly crushes the rebellion. Knowing this, we must presume that outcome, assuming Obama allows it to occur, is part of a larger calculation of risks. What might those calculations be? Topping the list might be that Obama and his advisors have decided that they want to encourage no more rebellions in the Arab world, particularly in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere on the Sunni side of the Persian Gulf.
Events over the past four days have only reinforced that impression. The Obama administration backed the protesters in Egypt's Tahrir Square and openly pressed for Hosni Mubarak's resignation. That seemed like wise strategy at the time; the protesters weren't going away, the Egyptian army was not going to permit a violent repression of the revolt, and thus the United States government had to get on the right side of history.
But that was then. It seems clear now that the Obama team has had enough of that kind of excitement, especially with the situation in Bahrain seemingly getting worse every day. Veterans of the Carter administration no doubt get a burning sensation in their stomachs when they recall what happened to a U.S. ally on the eastern side of the Persian Gulf during the last two years of their one and only term in office. Today's White House staffers must shudder to think of history repeating itself on the western side of the Gulf.
As I mentioned last Friday, this may be the first among many reasons why the Obama team is in no mood to help the Libyan rebels. If the United States helped Libya's rebels, other protesters in the Arab world might get an impression that the Obama team does not want them to entertain.
Even if the Obama administration was otherwise inclined, Libya's rebels now seem like a weak horse on which to wager. Qaddafi's troops, led by his son's 32nd Brigade, are advancing up the coast road at a rate of up to 100 kilometers a day. Having today swept through Ajdabiya without much resistance, there are no obstacles remaining until Benghazi, which the loyalists could reach on Thursday. The rebels might attempt an urban insurgency strategy. If so, we might then see whether Qaddafi's approach to counterinsurgency fares better than FM 3-24.
Meanwhile in Bahrain, a place that might qualify as a vital U.S. interest, a 2,000 man Saudi-UAE intervention force rolled into Manama -- now under a three-month state of emergency - without any official comment from either the State Department or the White House. It must not have been a pleasant decision for Saudi officials to make. They know that this action could invite the very thing they are attempting to avoid, an excuse for Iran to incite Shiite mobilization in Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia. With protests in Bahrain getting worse by the day, these officials must have concluded that Shiite radicalization, whether incited by Iran or not, was already occurring and had to be confronted at an early stage.
Iran's nuclear and missile programs were catalyzing an eventual confrontation between Iran and the GCC countries. The civil breakdown in Bahrain has sped up that reaction. No one doubts that the U.S. has vital interests in the Persian Gulf and will have to respond to threats to those interests. Might 2011 resemble 1979? Not a pleasant thought for anyone, least of all those in the White House who, fairly or not, will be held responsible for events.
CNAS Fifth Annual Conference
Registration information, the agenda and featured speakers will be available soon on the CNAS 5th Annual Conference webpage.
This year's conference will focus on how the United States can manage global risk and seize opportunities in a time of growing economic constraint. Featured topics include cyber security and Internet freedom, the rapidly evolving Middle East, a new phase of the war in Afghanistan and cooperation and competition in the Asia-Pacific.
Is U.S. Aid to Afghanistan Helping Win the War?
15 March SWJ Roundup
Nuclear Crisis Escalates in Japan - Wall Street Journal
Japan Faces Potential Nuclear Disaster - New York Times
Japan's Nuclear Crisis Grows More Dire - Washington Post
Third Nuclear Reactor Blast Rocks Japan - Washington Times
Japan Fears Disaster From Reactor Breach - Los Angeles Times
At Nuke Plant, Desperate Battle for Containment - USA Today
Radiation Alert After Japan Blast - BBC News
New Explosion Heard at Japanese Nuclear Plant - Voice of America
Japan Suspects Nuclear Reactor Container Damaged - Associated Press
Japan Braces for Potential Radiation Catastrophe - Reuters
Engineers Say a 'Meltdown' No 'China Syndrome' - USA Today
Japan Confronts Multiple Crises as Death Toll Climbs - New York Times
Second Quake, Tsunami Threat Hampers Rescue - Stars and Stripes
Relief Efforts Still Getting Started Days After Earthquake - Stars and Stripes
In Battered North, Survivors Face Cruel Uncertainty - Stars and Stripes
International Aid to Japan Continues to Ramp Up - Los Angeles Times
Japan's Blasts Cast Doubt on Nuclear Renaissance - Associated Press
Radiation Forces U.S. 7th Fleet to Reposition Ships - AFPS
Afghanistan
Petraeus to Face Congress as War Doubts Grow - Los Angeles Times
First to Leave Afghanistan Will Be Noncombat Troops - New York Times
Bomb Kills 37 at Afghan Army Base - Washington Post
Bomber Kills 36 Outside Afghan Recruiting Center - New York Times
Bombs Kill Afghan Local Official, School Principal - Associated Press
Obama Meets With Denmark's Rasmussen on Afghanistan - AFPS
Pakistan
Pakistan Defers Ruling on CIA Operative - New York Times
Officials Won't Rule on American's Diplomatic Immunity - Los Angeles Times
Middle East / North Africa Unrest
Gadhafi Closes In, as Allies Huddle - Wall Street Journal
Rebel Leaders Seek Help to Transform Libya - Washington Post
Libyan Opposition Claims Gain Amid Military Onslaught - VOA
Diplomacy Stalls as Libya Rebels Face Qaddafi Forces - New York Times
Battle for Libyan Town Rages On - BBC News
Libyan Rebels Brace for Attack on Ajdabiya - Los Angeles Times
Gadhafi, Rebels Each Claim Control in Libya - USA Today
Qaddafi Unlikely to Push Much Further East - Christian Science Monitor
Air and Ground: Gadhafi, Rebels Each Claim Control - Associated Press
Tribal Ties, Long Qaddafi's Strength, May Be Undoing - New York Times
Gadhafi Intimidating, Detaining Reporters - Washington Times
Gaddafi Says Shocked by Former European Friends - Reuters
Clinton Meets in Paris With Libyan Rebel Leader - New York Times
U.S. Eyes Libyan Opposition, Allies Call for Action - Associated Press
Russia: Questions Remain Over Libya No-Fly Zone - Voice of America
Pentagon Official Discusses Libya No-Fly Zone - AFPS
Constitutional Confusion in Egypt - Washington Post
Clinton to Meet With Egyptian Transition Leaders - Associated Press
Saudi Troops Enter Bahrain to Help Put Down Unrest - New York Times
Saudi Troops Intervene in Bahrain - Washington Post
Saudis Send Force to Bolster Bahrain - Wall Street Journal
Saudi Arabian, Gulf Forces Enter Bahrain - Los Angeles Times
U.S. Urges Restraint by Gulf Nations in Bahrain - Reuters
U.S.-Saudi Tensions Intensify With Mideast Turmoil - New York Times
Provincial Governor Stabbed During Clash in Yemen - New York Times
4 Journalists Deported from Yemen - Washington Post
How Stable Is Saudi Arabia? - New York Times opinion
Gaddafi Has Long History as a Killer - Washington Post opinion
Iraq
11 Killed as Car Bomb Detonated at Iraq Base - New York Times
Iraq to Close Controversial Jail - Los Angeles Times
Iran
Iran Basks in Unrest of Arab World - New York Times
Iran Looms Large in Libya Decisions - Wall Street Journal
Iran Denounces Saudi Troop Deployment to Bahrain - Associated Press
Israel / Palestinians
West Bank Killings Further Complicate Peace Process - VOA
Abbas Condemns Killing of Jewish Family - New York Times
Abbas: Settler Killings 'Inhuman' - Washington Post
Briefing on Protest for Palestinian Unity Becomes Rally - New York Times
WikiLeaks
Indian Paper Gets Access to Wikileaks Cables - Associated Press
Underwear Flap Over Bradley Manning - Washington Post opinion
U.S. Department of Defense
Plan Improves Navy, Marine Corps Air Capabilities - AFPS
The Paradox of Bob Gates - Washington Post opinion
United States
U.S. Nuclear Industry Faces New Uncertainty - New York Times
How to Protect Foreign Aid? Improve It - New York Times opinion
Africa
Ham Makes First Visit to Africa as New Commander - Stars and Stripes
Police Raid HQ of the PM's Party in Zimbabwe - Associated Press
France Says Ivory Coast Sanctions Will Strangle Gbagbo - Reuters
Part of Ivorian City Slips Out of Gbagbo's Grasp - Associated Press
Life Sentences for Somali Pirates - BBC News
Americas
Mexico Judge Rules Film Can Continue in Theaters - Associated Press
Soldiers Kill 4 Alleged Kidnappers in Mexico - Associated Press
Chavez, Allies Lead Push for Libya Mediation - Associated Press
U.S. Urges Haiti's Aristide to Delay Return - Voice of America
Haiti Candidates Unfazed by Aristide's Return - Associated Press
Asia Pacific
China's Premier Again Calls for Reform - Washington Post
Tibetans Urge Dalai Lama to Stay On as Leader - Associated Press
N. Korea 'Ready to Discuss Nuclear Enrichment' - BBC News
N. Korea Willing to Talk About Uranium Program - Associated Press
N. Korea Agrees to Take Back 27 Who Entered South - Associated Press
Central Asia
Kyrgyz Plan to Host Anti-Terror Training Center - Associated Press
Rights Group Forced Out of Uzbekistan - Associated Press
Europe
Russia's Ruling Party Stumbles in Some Elections - New York Times
Former Candidate, Claiming Abuse, Flees Belarus - New York Times
South Asia
India Guards Die in Rebel Attack - BBC News