| Small Wars Journal

Department of Defense Directive 5100.01: Functions of the Department of Defense and Its Major Components has been reissued. This is the first major update to this Directive since 1987. DoDD 5100.01 establishes the functions of the Department of Defense and its major Components, supporting the core mission areas of the Armed Forces, which are broad DoD military operations and activities required to achieve the strategic objectives of the National Security Strategy, National Defense Strategy, and National Military Strategy.

Hallelujah Flash Mob, Enjoy (Bumped up for Christmas Eve)

Netwar meets Oprah: The Wikileaks Files, Volume whatever

Netwar meets Oprah: The Wikileaks Files, Volume whatever by Dr. David Betz at Kings of War. A a member of an e-mail discussion group I belong to puts it: "This has a little of everything from NETWAR to Clausewitz to a neo-Marxist scholar mixed with some sarcasm and humor." Good stuff to include:

1. North Korea, complete arseholes--even the Chinese have outgrown them.
2. Russia, a whole country run like The Sopranos only with less charm and public spiritedness.
3. Iran, such manifest dips***s that even their neighbours want them dead.

Much more at Kings of War.

Read more about Netwar meets Oprah: The Wikileaks Files, Volume whatever

Merry Christmas

Christmas Boxes in Camp, 1861

Harper's Weekly, January 4th, 1862

Merry Christmas from Small Wars Journal

24 December SWJ Roundup

Afghanistan

Hazaras Gain Clout in Disputed Parliamentary Elections - Washington Post

Forces in Afghanistan Face New Threat From Iran - FOX News

'Iran Arms Smuggler' Captured by NATO in Afghanistan - BBC News

NATO: Iranian Guard Soldier Caught In Afghanistan - Reuters

U.N.: Number of Civilian Casualties in Afghan War Rises 20% - Washington Post

What They Are Reading: "My Life With The Taliban." - New York Times

Digger Families Get Australian Soldier Death Hoax Calls - Hearld Sun

Another Christmas in Kabul - New York Times opinion

Pakistan

As Drone Strikes Have Increased, So Have Assassinations - Washington Post

Taliban Launch Attacks Along North Pakistan Border - BBC News

Pakistan Clash Kills 11 Soldiers, 24 Insurgents - Associated Press

Pakistan Clashes Kill 11 Troops - Reuters

Pakistan Spy Chief to Ignore U.S. Summons - New York Times

Pakistan Calls for Wider Lifting of U.S. Tariffs - Washington Post

Korean Peninsula

China's North Korea Shift Helps U.S. Relations - New York Times

War Rhetoric Rises Between Koreas - Voice of America

North Korea Resumes War Threats - New York Times

War Rhetoric Rises Between North and South Korea - Associated Press

North Korea Nuclear Test "Possible" in New Year - Reuters

Analysis: Korea Threat Seen Rhetoric But Risk Still Watched - Reuters

Iraq

Bomb in Iraq Kills Militiaman, Wife and 3 Children - Associated Press

Iraq's Christian 'Religicide' - Washington Times opinion

Iran

Iran's President Seeks Regional Economic Help - Voice of America

Iran Says January Nuclear Talks Historic Opportunity - Reuters

WikiLeaks

Army Opens robe into Whether Manning Stole Files - McClatchy Newspapers

Norwegian Paper Says It Has All WikiLeaks Cables - Voice of America

U.S. Department of Defense

White House Orders DoD to Cut $78B Over 5 Years - Defense News

Senate Panel Stalls on Restoration of General Lavelle's Stars - Washington Post

2 Plead Guilty in Navy SEAL Weapon Smuggling Case - Associated Press

United States

U.S. Approved Business With Blacklisted Nations - New York Times

U.S. Defends Permits For Deals In Sanctioned Nations - Reuters

Russian Parliament Could Ratify U.S. Nuclear Treaty Friday - Voice of America

Russian Legislators to Ratify Arms Pact Next Year - Associated Press

U.S.: Tactical Nuclear Weapons Deal with Moscow Next - Voice of America

Vice Admiral: Obama Outmaneuvered by Russians on START - USNI

As Applications Drop, Work on Secret Wiretaps Grows - Washington Post

U.S. on Alert Against Militant Plots over Holidays - Reuters

United Kingdom

In Britain, Tapes Rattle a Political Coalition - New York Times

Africa

U.N. Recognizes Ouattara As Ivory Coast President - Voice of America

U.N. Recognizes Winner in Ivory Coast Election - Washington Post

U.N. Recognizes Ouattara as Ivory Coast's President - Reuters

Gbagbo's Funds Cut as Ivorian Standoff Deepens - Reuters

Independence Referendum Ballots Arrive in Sudan - Voice of America

Obama Reaffirms U.S. Support for South Sudan Referendum Vote - VOA

Sudan, Darfur Rebels Clash During Ceasefire Talks - Reuters

Nigeria Grants Bail to Iranian Held over Arms Shipment - BBC News

Nigeria: U.N. Experts to Visit Over Seized Arms - Associated Press

Somalia's Africa Peace Force to be Boosted - BBC News

Two Somali Militant Groups, Once Adversaries, Join Forces - Associated Press

China Defends Africa Economic and Trade Role - BBC News

Americas

Kidnappers of 50 Mexican Migrants Make Ransom Call - Associated Press

Mexico Tourism Sees Increase Despite Drug Violence - Associated Press

Venezuelan Politician Sentenced to Prison - Associated Press

Venezuelan Students Protest Against University Law - Associated Press

Venezuela Security Forces Break Up Student Protest - Reuters

Lula Closes his Brazil Presidency - BBC News

Paraguay Govt Sought DEA Spying Help - Associated Press

Cuban Media Publishing Translated Wikileaks Cables - Associated Press

Cuba to Free 2 Prisoners, Catholic Church Says - Associated Press

Haiti Mobs Lynch Voodoo Priests over Cholera Fears - BBC News

Haiti Urged to Halt Cholera Anti-Voodoo Lynchings - Reuters

Asia Pacific

U.S., China End Year on Positive Note - Washington Post

China Has a Lot of Peacemaking to Do - Los Angeles Times

Private Sector Sitting Out the China Trade Battles - New York Times

China Says Vatican Must Repair Rift Over Bishops - Associated Press

China Sentences Uighur Journalist to Life for Reporting Riots - Associated Press

Europe

Terror Fears Increase During European Holiday Season - Voice of America

2 Wounded in Rome Embassy Blasts - Voice of America

Parcel Bomb Attacks Strike at 2 Embassies in Rome - New York Times

Bombs Explode at Swiss, Chilean Embassies in Rome - Washington Post

2 Injured in Rome Bomb Blasts at Swiss, Chilean Embassies - Los Angeles Times

Rome Embassy Blasts Wound 2; Anarchists Suspected - Associated Press

Anarchists Claim Responsibility For Rome Bombs - Reuters

CIA Secrets Could Surface in Swiss Nuclear Case - New York Times

Russian Spy Tale Rattles Czechs - New York Times

Turkey Builds on Regional Ties - Los Angeles Times

Middle East

Wide Saudi 'Loopholes' Let Charity Funds Slip to Terrorists - Washington Times

U.N.: Israel, Hamas want to Reduce Gaza Strip Tension - Reuters

U.S. Makes Yemen Assistance Top Priority - Voice of America

South Asia

Mumbai Manhunt for 'Four Lashkar-e-Taiba Militants' - BBC News

India's Mumbai Put on Alert; Terror Plot Suspected - Associated Press

Read more about 24 December SWJ Roundup

U.S. Army COIN Center SITREP

Here's the latest U.S. Army Counterinsurgency Center SITREP. From the Director's Comments: "This SITREP highlights current initiatives in the Counterinsurgency and Irregular Warfare Communities of Interest to help keep you apprised of some important ongoing activities. It has been a dynamic time at the Combined Arms Center since the last COIN SITREP -- the COIN Center has been involved in several organizational changes -- creation of Mission Command Center of Excellence and the Army Irregular Warfare (IW) Fusion Cell -- intended to harmonize efforts across Counterinsurgency, Stability Operations, and security force assistance communities; several extended trips to Afghanistan; and assumption of the mission to deliver COIN Seminars to deploying brigade combat teams (BCTs) beginning in May, 2011."

Read more about U.S. Army COIN Center SITREP

Tossing the Afghan COIN

Tossing the Afghan COIN by Michael A. Cohen at The Nation. BLUF: "...what should really be taken away from the US military's experience over the past ten years is not that the United States understands how to fight and win population-centric counterinsurgencies but that counterinsurgencies are as violent and inconclusive as any other conflicts, and that the United States should avoid such wars at all costs."

23 December SWJ Roundup

Afghanistan

U.N. Envoy Says Taliban Realize They Can't Win - Associated Press

Taliban Insurgents Prepare to Attempt `Spectacular' Attacks - Bloomberg

U.S. Medicines for Afghan Soldiers Disappear - Associated Press

Afghan, Coalition Forces Kill Insurgents, Find Caches - AFPS

Suicide Attack Kills 1 Policeman in Afghanistan - Associated Press

Iran Stops Fuel Delivery, Afghanistan Says, Prices Are Rising - New York Times

Pakistan

Pakistan Parties Protest Possible Blasphemy Law Changes - CNN News

Korean Peninsula

China Seen Defusing Korea - Wall Street Journal

South Korean Military Prepares for Largest-Ever Live-Fire Drill - VOA

South Korea Begins New Round of Military Drills - New York Times

South Korea Military Begins Live-fire Drills - Los Angeles Times

S. Korea Holds Massive New Drills After North Attack - Associated Press

North Korea Response Muted to South's Planned Drills - Reuters

N. Korea Says Ready to Fight "Holy War" Using Nuclear Deterrent - Reuters

Kim Jong Il: The Boy Who Cried Nuke? - Los Angeles Times opinion

Iraq

New Iraqi Cabinet Holds First Meeting - Voice of America

U.S. Officials Applaud Formation of New Iraqi Government - AFPS

Iraqi Reactions to a New Government - New York Times

Iraq's North Seen as Next Trouble Spot - Wall Street Journal

Southern Iraqi City Eyes Break From Baghdad - Associated Press

Iraqi Churches Cancel Christmas Festivities - Associated Press

Iran

Prices in Iran Rise after Lifting of Subsidies - Los Angeles Times

Iran Opposition: 'Dark Future' Awaits the Economy - Associated Press

Islam

Crucifying Christians on Christmas - Washington Times editorial

WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks Founder Takes the Offensive - New York Times

U.S. Military Pushes U.N. Back Over Manning Treatment - FOX News

DMA Rescinds Memo on Restricted Access to Documents - Stars and Stripes

Former WikiLeaks Official Writing Tell-All Book - Reuters

U.S. Department of Defense

President Signs 'Don't Ask' Repeal Act Into Law - American Forces Press Service

With Obama's Signature, 'Don't Ask' Is Repealed - New York Times

Obama Signs 'Don't Ask' Repeal Bill - Washington Times

Standing Watch on Christmas - Washington Times editorial

United States

U.S. Senate Ratifies New Arms Treaty With Russia - Voice of America

Senate Approves U.S.-Russia Arms Treaty - American Forces Press Service

Senate Ratifies Nuclear-Arms Pact - Wall Street Journal

Senate Passes Arms Control Treaty With Russia, 71-26 - New York Times

Senate Ratifies New START; Obama Gets 'Reset' with Russia - Washington Times

Obama Hails Senate Vote to Back Russia Nuclear Treaty - BBC News

Senate Ratifies Nuke Pact, Delivering Win to Obama - Associated Press

Kremlin Hails Senate's Approval of Nuclear Treaty - Associated Press

Russian Duma Could Ratify START Within Days - Reuters

Obama Gamble Pays Off With Approval of Arms Pact - New York Times

Feds Boost Security for Holiday Travelers - Washington Times

U.S. Preparing to Hold Some Guantanamo Inmates 'Indefinitely' - VOA

Congress Bars Gitmo Transfers - Wall Street Journal

Vote Hurts Obama's Push to Empty Guantanamo Prison - New York Times

Intelligence Chief Not Briefed on Terror Arrests in Britain - Washington Post

Administration Defends Intelligence Director - New York Times

'Axis of Evil' Spins Closer - Washington Times opinion

Australia

Three Guilty of Plotting Sydney Army Base Attack - BBC News

3 Convicted in Terror Plot on Australian Army Base - Associated Press

Africa

Ally of Ivory Coast's Ouattara Says Force Needed to Oust Gbagbo - VOA

Ivory Coast Opposition Wants Gbagbo Forced Out - Associated Press

U.N. Panel Accepts Ivory Coast Outtara's Envoys - Reuters

International Community May Bolster Ivory Coast Force - Reuters

World Bank Cuts Ivorian Financing as Crisis Deepens - Reuters

French Urged to Leave Ivory Coast - BBC News

Ivorian Army Says Unified For Gbagbo Despite Pressure - Reuters

S. Sudan: A New Nation, to be Born of Scars - Los Angeles Times

U.N. Increases Troops in Somalia by 50 Percent - Associated Press

U.N. Council OKs Big Boost In A.U. Somalia Force - Reuters

Suicide Ignites Clashes in Tense Tunisian Town - Associated Press

Americas

To Root Out Dirty Police, Mexico Sends In a General - Wall Street Journal

Mexico City Leftist Mayor Rules Out Alliances In 2012 - Reuters

Mexico Investigates Report of 50 Missing Migrants - Associated Press

El Salvador Fears Mexico Drug Cartel Violence Overflow - BBC News

Venezuela Opposition Slams "Coup d'Etat" By Chavez - Reuters

Venezuela Bars Foreign Funding for NGOs - Associated Press

Brazil 'Police Gun-running Gang' Busted - BBC News

Bolivia Sends Formal Letter Recognizing Palestine - Associated Press

Argentina Former Leader Jorge Videla Jailed for Life - BBC News

Argentine Ex-Dictator Sentenced to Life in Prison - Associated Press

Salvadoran Sentenced to 30 Years For Cuba Bombings - Reuters

Jamaica Mayor Turned to Drug Baron to Fight Crime - Associated Press

40 People Lynched Amid Haiti Cholera Fears - Agence France-Presse

Asia Pacific

White House Summit For China's Hu Set For January 19 - Reuters

China Speeds Plans to Launch Aircraft Carrier - Reuters

China Bans Use of English in Print, Internet - Voice of America

Thai Rangers Killed In Rebel Ambush - Reuters

Europe

Hungary: Military Pooling Atop E.U.-Presidency Goals - Defense News

After Russian Death, Inquiry Doors Open and Shut - New York Times

Russian Paper to Air WikiLeaks Corruption Material - Reuters

Pro-Kremlin Group Luring Youth With Spy Luster - Reuters

High Security Serb Nuclear Shipment Reaches Russia - Reuters

Belarus: 7 Presidential Candidates Face 15 Years - Associated Press

Summit Lets Turkey Flex Its Diplomatic Muscles - Reuters

Middle East

New Gaza War 'A Question of When, Not If' - BBC News

After Freeze, Settlement Building Booms in Israel - New York Times

Palestinians: Draft on Settlements Ready For U.N. - Reuters

Leaked Cable Stirs Animosities Between Palestinian Sides - New York Times

Jordanians Play Active Role in Al-Qaida - Associated Press

Roadblocks to Mideast Peace - Los Angeles Times opinion

South Asia

Opposition Launches Anti-Corruption Protests in India - Voice of America

U.K. Training Bangladesh 'Death Squad' - BBC News

U.S., U.K. Urged to Stop Training of Bangladeshi Force - Associated Press

Read more about 23 December SWJ Roundup

Building partner capacity: a security strategy for the Indo-Pacific region

A recent conference at the American Enterprise Institute reached an interesting conclusion concerning United States security strategy in the Indian Ocean-East Asian-Pacific Ocean ("Indo-Pacific") region. U.S. security would benefit from a much stronger effort to build partner security capacity in the region. The current "protectorate" approach employed by the United States, centered on large military bases in the region, is rapidly becoming obsolete. These bases are politically toxic and are increasingly vulnerable to missile attack. A mobile sea-base strategy is not likely to be a feasible alternative; such sea-bases and naval task forces will become increasingly vulnerable to anti-access/area denial capabilities fielded in the future by China and other rising powers.

And yet it will remain a vital national security task for the United States to maintain a forward presence in the region in order to protect freedom of navigation in the region's sea, air, space, and cyber commons and to maintain the credibility of its partner security relationships. A major component of the solution to this problem will be a stronger U.S. program to build partner capacity in the region. Such a program would include, but also extend well beyond, security force assistance directed against insurgency and irregular warfare threats.

A "full spectrum" regional security force assistance strategy would buy broader access to the region for U.S. military forces, an improvement on the current vulnerable basing plan. It would create additional capacity with which to share the burden of policing the region's commons. This strategy would help develop positive norms of behavior for all countries in the region which benefit from the commons. Finally, a "full spectrum" regional security force assistance strategy would provide an organizing principle for the U.S. government's overall strategy for the region and would include significant roles for all of the military services, the Department of State, U.S. country teams across the region, and many other agencies of the U.S. government.

Background

Last week, Michael Auslin, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, presented his research report "Security in the Indo-Pacific Commons." A panel discussion, moderated by AEI's Thomas Donnelly, critiqued his report (click here for a video of the conference).

Here are bullet points from Auslin's report and from the panel discussion:

"Security in the Indo-Pacific Commons"

1. Due to its economic strength, military power, and political dynamism, the Indo-Pacific will be the world's most important region in coming decades.

2. Ensuring security in the Indo-Pacific region will be the primary foreign policy challenge for the United States and liberal nations over the next generation.

3. The interests of the United States and its allies and partners lie in protecting the Indo-Pacific commons.

4. As a result of China's military buildup, the United States and its allies can no longer be assured of maintaining regional superiority of forces either numerically or, eventually, qualitatively.

5. The U.S. military must maintain a forward presence and superior power projection capabilities in the region. In order to achieve this, the U.S. should increase its attack submarine, ballistic missile defense surface combatant, Air Force, and cyber-ISR force structure in the region.

6. The U.S. government needs a new regional political strategy for the region. One part of this strategy would be to end the traditional U.S.-centered "hub-and-spoke" security system and encourage more multilateral security cooperation. Auslin proposes a "concentric triangles" political approach with the outer triangle representing Japan, South Korea, Australia, and India and the inner triangle centered on countries bordering the lower South China Sea.

7. The U.S. should also promote a more liberal political environment and culture in the region. A liberal political culture would foster political stability, positive norms of behavior in the commons, and cooperation in resolving conflicts. Auslin is careful not to equate this effort to explicit democracy promotion or a "freedom agenda."

Panel discussion

Admiral Timothy Keating, USN (ret), former Commander, U.S. Pacific Command

1. Keating's conclusion from a long career spent in the region: all players he talked to, whether friends or non-friends of the U.S., said the U.S. was "the indispensible power" in the region and must never leave.

2. Keating expressed concern that China will view U.S. multilateral alliance-building as an effort to isolate and contain China.

3. U.S. anti-piracy assistance provided to Indonesia and Singapore largely vanquished the piracy problem in the Strait of Malacca and is a notable recent BPC success. [I will add JSOTF-Philippines to this example.]

J.D. Crouch II, deputy national security advisor, George W. Bush administration

1. The East Asian security environment has changed "radically' over the past 14 months. The Chinese leadership has misinterpreted the global financial crisis, mistakenly viewing it as a significant weakening in the U.S. strategic position. China is now testing whether it can exploit this misperceived opportunity.

2. The Bush and Obama administrations have attempted to persuade China to become "a responsible stakeholder" in the international system. China has rejected this proposal and the U.S. will have to adjust its strategies accordingly.

3. Other Asian countries like having the U.S. as a security partner because the U.S. homeland is not in Asia.

4. The State Department needs a modernized organization and better internal communications in order to improve its effectiveness in the region.

Jim Thomas, vice president for studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. Also a former deputy assistant secretary of defense.

1. Anti access/area denial threats to U.S. sea and air power in the region will get much worse. The United States will no longer be able to take air and sea dominance for granted.

2. Forward basing and power projection will become increasingly challenging. The Pentagon should only acquire platform and capabilities that can survive in non-permissive environments.

Subscribe to