| Small Wars Journal

The US Army/USMC Counterinsurgency Center is pleased to host Major Shehryar Qureshi, Pakistan Army. on a COIN Center webcast, Thursday, 18 November at 1100 (ET). Details can be found here.

The COIN Center is co-sponsoring a Counterinsurgency Conference in London on 8-9 December. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and United Kingdom COIN Centre are hosting the event with the US COIN Center, USMC IW Center, ISAF COIN Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT), and ISAF COIN Training Center-Afghanistan. The purpose is to provide a forum for ISAF contributing nations to discuss key tactical COIN insights in the Afghanistan theatre of operations.

The conference will highlight the application of counterinsurgency fundamentals to company level operations. Speakers include LF Gen Nick Parker, Commander-in-Chief, UK Land Forces; Ms. Emma Sky, advisor to US Forces, Iraq; Dr. Benjamin Grob-Fitzgibbon, Univ of Arkansas; Dr. Dan Marston, CGSC COIN Chair; COL Michael Howard, former commander, 4/25 IBCT and Office of SACEUR, SHAPE; and others.

The conference is free but seating is limited. Contact coin@conus.army.mil for reservations(include name, service and rank (if applicable), organization, and email address). Additional information, to include lodging and location details available at COIN.ARMY.MIL. Final agenda and speaker bios available at the RUSI web-site soon.

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Attrition warfare in Afghanistan, financial warfare in Washington

Few observers would compare the war in Afghanistan to the World War I Battle of Verdun. But it appears as if both Gen. David Petraeus and Mullah Mohammad Omar are explicitly using classic attrition warfare to compel a change in their adversary's behavior. Similar to the Verdun "mincing machine," each commander is hoping that unsustainable casualties, demoralization, or bankruptcy will force the other side into a settlement or withdrawal. For Omar, there is a direct line between his strategy and the budget crisis in Washington; he is counting on another financial crisis to help him win the war. A budget deal in Washington might do as much as air strikes and raids to convince the Taliban that their strategy won't work.

Two stories from today's New York Times illustrate the focus the two commanders are placing on attrition tactics. In a holiday fund-raising message aimed at international supporters, Omar described his attrition strategy against NATO forces, by which he hopes to do to the United States what in the 1980s the mujahedeen were thought to have done to the Soviet Union. On the other side, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other administration officials defended Petraeus's use of nighttime special forces raids against the Taliban chain of command and support network. As reported in the New York Times, such raiding, "in turn, puts pressure on senior Taliban leaders operating in the safe havens of Pakistan, according to a strategy outlined by General Petraeus, who hopes they may be forced to the bargaining table."

Which side will crack first? Congressman Buck McKeon, the incoming chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, vows it will not be the United States. In remarks delivered yesterday to the Foreign Policy Initiative, McKeon gave a stark and uncompromising defense of the Afghan campaign, U.S. defense modernization, and the overall Pentagon budget. McKeon declared that Defense Secretary Robert Gates's offer to increase defense spending by one percentage point faster than inflation was insufficient. Indeed, any thought of outright cuts to Pentagon spending would for McKeon cross a "red line." To McKeon, anything less than full support for the Afghan campaign, defense modernization, and required force structure would jeopardize American foreign policy and risk geopolitical instability.

McKeon admitted that defending the defense budget in the period ahead will be "a battle." Most sober observers across the political spectrum would agree with Joint Chiefs Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen when he asserted that the federal government's financial problems are the greatest threat to national security. Omar is hoping a financial crisis, exacerbated by his attrition strategy, will bring down the United States just as a financial crisis brought down the Soviet Union.

Defenders of defense spending rightly point out that a European or even Costa Rican level of U.S. defense spending will not fix the government's finances while Medicare and Medicaid inflate like the Hindenburg. And taking risks with national security means risking another national security crisis which would most likely be more expensive than the insurance that might prevent it.

But writing the government's budget is a political exercise, not a procedure in logical optimization. That means that McKeon will have to join the budget negotiations, giving in order to get. Omar is hoping for political failure in Washington, with harsh punishment ensuing from the global bond market, upon which the U.S. Treasury depends for cash. He is counting on a collapse in the U.S. Treasury's credit, leading to another financial crisis which would then result in a U.S. pullout from Afghanistan. No one knows how soon or distant such a crisis may be. But it may be Omar's confidence in the scenario that keeps him from considering a settlement.

From this perspective, perhaps the best way to reinforce Petraeus's efforts on the battlefield would be to reach a meaningful budget deal in Washington. Such a deal might remove a key pillar in Omar's strategy, cause him to reexamine his assumptions, and give Petraeus a major advantage in the war of attrition. A budget deal won't be easy. But knowing how much Omar is counting on political failure in Washington might make reaching an agreement a bit easier.

Mark Twain on Counterinsurgency

In a month when we're asking the experts hard questions on the need to reform FM 3-24 Counterinsurgency and rethinking the colonial methods, Mark Twain, the quintessential American writer, decided to chime in. Nearly 100 years after his death, Mark Twain is finally publishing his autobiography. In his political views, Twain was decidely anti-imperialist. In previous writings, Twain wrote,

"You ask me about what is called imperialism. Well, I have formed views about that question. I am at the disadvantage of not knowing whether our people are for or against spreading themselves over the face of the globe. I should be sorry if they are, for I don't think that it is wise or a necessary development. As to China, I quite approve of our Government's action in getting free of that complication. They are withdrawing, I understand, having done what they wanted. That is quite right. We have no more business in China than in any other country that is not ours. There is the case of the Philippines. I have tried hard, and yet I cannot for the life of me comprehend how we got into that mess. Perhaps we could not have avoided it -- perhaps it was inevitable that we should come to be fighting the natives of those islands -- but I cannot understand it, and have never been able to get at the bottom of the origin of our antagonism to the natives. I thought we should act as their protector -- not try to get them under our heel. We were to relieve them from Spanish tyranny to enable them to set up a government of their own, and we were to stand by and see that it got a fair trial. It was not to be a government according to our ideas, but a government that represented the feeling of the majority of the Filipinos, a government according to Filipino ideas. That would have been a worthy mission for the United States. But now -- why, we have got into a mess, a quagmire from which each fresh step renders the difficulty of extrication immensely greater. I'm sure I wish I could see what we were getting out of it, and all it means to us as a nation."

Much more of Twain's biography and his thoughts on counterinsurgency at NPR.

Medal of Honor: Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta

White House Medal of Honor Ceremony for Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta - View live at 1400 (ET) today.

From today's STAND-TO!:

Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta will receive the Medal of Honor - the nation's highest medal for valor - from President Barack Obama during a White House ceremony slated for 2 p.m. today. Staff Sgt. Giunta is the third Soldier to receive the Medal of Honor for service in Afghanistan, and the first living recipient for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since the medal's inception during the Civil War, more than 3,400 Americans have received the award; more than 2,000 of them were Soldiers.

Staff Sgt. Giunta demonstrated conspicuous gallantry Oct. 25, 2007 while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom with Company B, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, based in Vicenza, Italy. Staff Sgt. Giunta was serving as a rifle team leader when he engaged the enemy to recover a wounded Soldier that the enemy was trying to take prisoner. After throwing hand grenades at the enemy positions in order to suppress them, Staff Sgt. Giunta moved forward without hesitation, into what had been enemy fighting position only moments before. Staff Sgt. Giunta engaged two enemy fighters and then rescued his wounded comrade, and assisted in keeping him alive before the Soldier eventually succumbed to his wounds.

Staff Sgt. Giunta's actions embody the Army values and its highest ideals. His selflessness, leadership and service above and beyond the call of duty exemplify what is best in our young Soldiers. As a living Medal of Honor recipient, Staff Sgt. Giunta enjoys unique status and prestige. His humility, practicality, commitment to the team and down-to-earth demeanor make him an ideal spokesman for the Army. Staff Sgt. Giunta can deliver the Army message with unique force and credibility due to his powerful underlying narrative and attractive personal qualities.

In addition to today's ceremony at the White House, Army senior leaders will recognize Staff Sgt. Giunta, his family and friends during a Pentagon ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 17. Staff Sgt. Giunta will receive the official picture, citation and Medal of Honor flag during the ceremony. The ceremony will also feature the unveiling of his Hall of Heroes plaque.

Links:

White House MOH Ceremony - Live Coverage

Medal of Honor Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta

Congressional Medal of Honor Society

U.S. Army's Medal of Honor Website

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How COL Gentile Would Revise FM 3-24

COL Gian Gentile: How I would revise the Army's counterinsurgency manual at Tom Ricks' Best Defense.

Read more about How COL Gentile Would Revise FM 3-24

Militant Islamist Renunciations from Egyptian Prisons

Militant Islamist Renunciations from Egyptian Prisons:

An Ideological Challenge to al-Qaida

by Commander Youssef Aboul-Enein, MSC, USN

Grand abstractions such as Islamophobia or the classifying of all Islam as the

problem may be satisfying for some think-tanks, commentators, or blog sites, however

in the real world of countering violent Islamist ideology such abstractions are

of no real worth. Among the questions being asked among Muslim Arab intellectuals

fighting militant Islamists are: Is al-Qaida generally and its deputy leader Ayman

al-Zawahiri specifically, isolated ideologically among Islamist and militant Islamist

groups? If so, what narrative will Zawahiri produce to maintain al-Qaida's

relevance among militant Islamist groups? In a 2010 book by a former Gamaa

Islamiyah (Islamic Group) operative Abdel-Moeim Moneeb, the jihadist revisionism

and renunciation of violence by Egypt's militant groups is collected in a single

volume. The author was jailed from 1993 to 2007, for being part of several

conspiracies to commit acts of terrorism on behalf of the Islamic Group (IG).

His "Murjeeat al-Jihadiyeen, al-Qisaa al-Khafiyah li murajiyat al-Jihad

wal Jamaa al-Islamiyah dakhil wa kharij al-sijn," (Jihadist Renunciations: The

Hidden Story of the Revisionism of Egyptian Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Group

in and out of Prison) is 286 pages, and was published by Madbooli Press in Cairo,

Egypt. It catalogs the counter-narrative of former violent Islamist ideologues

starting with Zawahiri's mentor Imam al-Sherief (aka Dr. Fadl) to some of the founding

leaders of violent jihad of the 1990s and 1980s. While many of these individuals

are not friends of the United States, this volume shows that we should not be intimidated

by Zawahiri's pseudo-intellectual worldview and his peculiar brand of Islamic interpretations

that even elements of the most radical Islamists have since abandoned.

In addition, the book offers a deconstruction of al-Qaida ideology using jihadist

language, and further demonstrates al-Qaida's ideological marginalization among

the kaleidoscope of radical and violent Islamist groups. Finally, Zawahiri's

critique of this criticism from jihadists who have written detailed ideological

renunciations reinforces that the al-Qaida senior leaders cannot be reasoned with

and only marginalized.

Zawahiri Ideologically Attacks His Mentor

Zawahiri 300-page critique, entitled "The Exoneration," of Imam al-Sherief's

(hereafter referred to as Dr. Fadl) book is that his former mentor does not suggest

any remedies for the (modern) Muslim condition. Zawahiri reduces Dr. Fadl's

ideological attacks to six choices, all of which are unacceptable to the al-Qaida

deputy, they are: (1) Migration; (2) Isolation; (3) Forgiveness; (4) Capitulation;

(5) Patience; and (6) Remaining silent to injustice. Zawahiri says that his

mentor does not take into account the fatwas (religious opinions) of Shawkani

(d. 1834) and Ghazali (d. 1111) one cleric focuses on the importance of jihad as

fighting and not striving, the later cleric focuses on the idea of what constitutes

an Islamic state, and Ghazali finds his answer using pre-Islamic Persian sources

merging kingship and religion. Zawahiri just mentions the names of these clerics

despite both these scholars have written volumes of works, so one has to assume

what fragments of both these scholars Zawahiri is referring to in criticizing Dr.

Fadl.

Ideological Schisms on Who and When to Conduct Offensive Jihad?

Zawahiri levels his own confusion of the requirement for parental permission

to undertake jihad (as fighting), and does not (likely on purpose) engage in debate

on the nuance between jihad as a fard kifaya (limited obligation) versus

fard ayn (collective obligation). He focuses on Dr. Fadl heaping criticism

on the mujahideen fighters and not against the west that he consistently

refers to as "crusaders" and what they have done from the caucuses to Spain.

There are much ideological, psychological, and social insecurities embedded in Zawahiri's

responses to Dr. Fadl that needs to be highlighted and commented on. What

he chooses to highlight is as significant as what he chooses to ignore, and it weaves

an Islamic narrative that is purely Zawahiri's of which he has delusions of grandeur

that more and more Muslims would take seriously.

Egyptian Intelligentsia Attacks al-Qaida

The author then assesses the work of Dr. Muneer Goma'a who advocates that Dr.

Fadl although critical of Zawahiri, has not renounced a key concept in militant

Islamist ideology, that of takfir or declaring fellow Muslims apostate.

Goma'a, who is influential among Islamic scholars in Egypt, has called on al-Azhar

Rectory, the most organized body in Sunni Islam, to issue commentary marginalizing

and Islamically refuting both Zawahiri and Dr. Fadl. Goma'a makes an interesting

argument that Islamists like the Muslim Brotherhood, and militant Islamists like

al-Qaida confuses muwatanah (citizenship and civic duty) with ilmaniyah

(secularism) and that shariah (Islamic law) upholds the highest ideals of

citizenship, such as the protection of non-Muslims in Muslim lands. He also

argues that jihad as fighting, can only be undertaken by a collective of Muslims,

and not based on individual desires. Goma'a cites the great grandfather of

militant Islamist ideologues Sheikh Taqi ibn Taymiyyah (d. 1327), a person held

in high esteem among radical Islamists to critique them. Goma'a highlights

that Ibn Taymiyyah wrote that jihad def'aa (as a defensive obligation) can

only be undertaken based on one's capability and only after one has confirmed their

iman (piety). He challenges militant Islamists by writing that there

is a struggle for rights, democracy, and freedom to apply shariah (Islamic

law) that is neglected by the obsession with violent direct action. While there

is much to disagree about in Goma'a's thesis his are among a cacophony of voices

undermining al-Qaida ideology.

Dr. Kamel Abdel-Fatah is another critique of violent Islamist ideology who advocates

the ulema (clergy) develop an Islamic political jurisprudence that takes

into account realistic current events. He argues that militant Islamists are

filling a niche due to the lack of current interpretations of what constitutes Islamic

civil society in the 21^st century. He highlights such issues as

the clergy commenting on civil affairs between Muslims and non-Muslims in Islamic

nations. Abdel-Fatah advocates standing by Egypt's Christians who are asking

for the right to build churches, and the free exercise of their faith. He

wants Egypt's clerical body at al-Azhar to address such issues as the status of

the Muslim Brotherhood, since it abandoned violent action in 1966. There is

much to argue with Abdel-Fatah, such as defining Islamic civil society like the

question of imposing Islamic government opens the question who's Islam? However,

these are the voices competing with al-Qaida in Egypt and among the Arab intelligentsia.

Assessing the Seriousness of Groups and Persons Renouncing Violence

Kamal Habeeb argues about the naiveté of Islamists and militant Islamists who

thought they could use the 1979 Iranian Revolution as a template in Egypt.

He says these Islamists demonstrate an appalling ignorance of social differences

between Egyptians and Iranians, not to mention the religious expressional differences

between Sunni Egypt and Shiite Iran. He offers an interesting observation

that Islamist movements of the 1980s and 1990s that were once violent have turned

to thinking about socio-economic problems of the masses. The day to day issues

of justice and development have occupied much of Islamist political discourse in

the 21^st century, thereby transforming themselves into a political party.

If Habeeb's premise is true, this begs the question is al-Qaida not catching up

with this general trend in Islamist grassroots organization within the political

process? Judging Islamist versus militant Islamist groups should center upon

the following questions from Amru Hamzawy:

To what extent has militant Islamist revisionism translated to true reform?

Is this true revisionism or a tactical retreat?

Is this a tactical renunciation of violence that is temporary or permanent?

What do individuals or groups within the militant Islamist movement do after
renunciation?

Hamzawy makes an interesting observation that Islam's general trend in the last

fourteen centuries have centered on orthopraxy (good practice) and the law, much

like traditional Judaism. Those fixated on ideology were a minority and do

not last long. He cites the Kharijites (the fringe group) who rejected

mainstream Islam and whose disagreement was political and became theological lasted

no more than sixty years before being marginalized. The book also discusses

how prison offers a quiet place, in which the prisoner's basic needs are met, and

they are free to pursue the kind of serious Islamic study they never undertook as

children, or while being indoctrinated my militant Islamists, which channels operatives

into fragments of Islam designed to get them to commit violent acts.

Hamzawy's discussion opens all kinds of possibilities, for whenever Zawahiri

is frustrated by Islamic argumentation that undermines him he states this is the

Islam that America wants. Zawahiri uses this as a means to marginalize the wide

Islamic opinions that differ from his own, just like Anwar al-Awlaki, the spiritual

leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), labels theological arguments

that challenge him "New World" Fatwas. Zawahiri concludes his 300 page critique

of Dr. Fadl, be addressing the Muslim community, the security apparatus, to those

jailed who remain steadfast, and to those jailed partaking in this renunciation

initiated by the security apparatus. This work is worrying Zawahiri that he

has spent much time and effort issuing his own refutations.

Conclusion

The book highlights that twenty-five volumes have been written by previous leaders

of the militant Islamist movements from within Egypt's prisons. Dr. Fadl is

on his fourth volume that is attacking Zawahiri and Bin Laden by name and labels

al-Qaida as the cult of these two leaders. This demonstrates a higher level

of nuance needed for America's counter-terrorism analysts. The author compares

the differences in debate to the difference within Communism of Stalin versus Lenin

versus Mao, with the Red Brigades conducting suicide missions in the name of Marxist-Leninism

on the extreme end. The Turkish Peace and Justice Party (AKP) wants to enter

the European Union, while al-Qaida wishes to destroy the nation-state. These

are the kinds of nuances George Kennan advocated, and what is needed in delineating

between Islam, Islamist political theories, and militant Islamist ideologies.

Dr. Fadl matters because he is not only a mentor to Zawahiri but also influenced

Abu Qatada al-Filistini (Bin Laden's representative in Europe) and Abu Muhammad

al-Maqdisi (Al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi's mentor).

The criticisms by former militant Islamist leaders of Zawahiri and how he chooses

to respond tells us much about the state of al-Qaida's ideological and strategic

mindset and should be highlighted and studied by America's counter-terrorism experts.

This review essay is an attempt at highlighting the Arab discourse that attacks

al-Qaida ideology to American readers for debate, discussion and a higher level

of counter-terrorism intelligence analysis.

Commander Aboul-Enein is a Navy Medical Service Corps and Foreign Area Officer.

He is the author of "Militant

Islamist Ideology: Understanding the Global Threat," published in 2010 by Naval

Institute Press. Commander Aboul-Enein teaches an elective on Islam, Islamist Political

Theory and Militant Islamist Ideology at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.

He wishes to thank the University of Iowa and National Defense University Libraries

for providing this work for analysis.

16 November SWJ Roundup

Afghanistan

Despite Gains, Night Raids Split U.S. and Karzai - New York Times

Afghan Officials Dismiss Talk of Rift with U.S. - Washington Post

Karzai Remarks Raise Questions About Afghan War - Associated Press

Clinton Defends U.S. Afghan Policy After Karzai Criticism - BBC News

Petraeus-Karzai Dispute Reflects Varied Perspectives, Says Pentagon - VOA

Karzai's Comments are Latest Frustration for Petraeus, NATO - Stars and Stripes

NATO, Russia to Cooperate in Afghan War - Associated Press

Taliban Leader Says Insurgents Are Waging War of Attrition - Associated Press

Taliban Chief Mullah Omar Rules Out Afghan Peace Talks - BBC News

Afghan Taliban Reject Talks Again - Reuters

Afghanistan Wants More Taliban Off Blacklist - Associated Press

Coalition, Afghan Forces Detain Numerous Insurgent Leaders - AFPS

Bush Says Some NATO Allies Let U.S. Down in Afghanistan - CNN News

Pakistan

U.S. to Give One-Half Billion Dollars for Pakistan Flood Assistance - VOA

Pakistan Drone Attack 'Kills Four Militants' - BBC News

Pakistan Bombshell - United Press International opinion

Iraq

Bush Memoir Makes Selective Use of Iraq Data - Washington Post

Iran

Computer Worm May Have Targeted Iran's Nuclear Program - Washington Post

Iran Set for Air Maneuvers Tuesday - United Press International

Nigeria Reports Iran Arms Seizure to U.N Security Council - Reuters

Human Rights Lawyer Latest in String of Arrests - Washington Post

Germans Held In Iran Say Deceived By Activist - Reuters

Iran Woman With Stoning Sentence Shown on State TV - Associated Press

Islam

Muslim Pilgrims Ascend Mecca's Mount Arafat in Annual Hajj Ritual - VOA

NATO

U.S. Officials: Deal Close on NATO Missile Shield - Associated Press

U.S. Department of Defense

The Newest Medal of Honor - Wall Street Journal

Life Won't be the Same for Medal of Honor Recipient Giunta - Stars and Stripes

'War' Excerpt about Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta's Actions - Stars and Stripes

GIs Testing 'Smart' Weapons that Leave Nowhere to Hide - Stars and Stripes

MARSOC to Purchase More Powerful Pistols - Marine Corps Times

Hearing for Fort Hood Shooting Suspect Ends - Associated Press

Hasan Declines to Testify At Fort Hood Tribunal - Reuters

U.S. Offers $20,000 Reward for Info on Va Shooter - Associated Press

United States

All Eyes on Sen. Kyl as Obama Presses Nuclear Treaty - Washington Post

Gates, Clinton Press for New START Ratification - AFPS

Juror Asks to Be Excused in Embassy Bombing Trial - New York Times

California Woman Charged with Terrorist Aid - Associated Press

U.S. Officials Defend New Airport Screening Procedures - Reuters

United Kingdom

Cameron: U.K. Still a World Power, Despite Cuts - Associated Press

U.K. Parliament Warns Staff Over Mumbai-Style Attack - Associated Press

Payout for Ex-Guantanamo U.K. Inmates - BBC News

U.K. Agrees Settlement With Ex-Guantanamo Detainees - Associated Press

U.K. to Compensate Guantanamo Ex-Detainees - Reuters

Africa

South Sudan Leader Salva Kiir Urges Massive Vote - BBC News

Sudanese Register to Vote on Secession for the South - New York Times

Thousands of Sudanese Register to Vote in Referendum - Los Angeles Times

South Sudanese Register For Independence Vote - Reuters

Nigeria Reports Iran Arms Seizure to U.N Security Council - Reuters

Militants Kidnap 7 From Exxon Platform Off Nigeria - Reuters

Conde Wins Guinea Presidential Runoff - Voice of America

Conde Declared Guinea Poll Winner - BBC News

Officials: Alpha Conde Wins Guinea Election - Associated Press

Alpha Conde Wins Guinea Vote - Reuters

Protesters Clash With Police Over Guinea Elections - New York Times

Polisario Demands U.N. Council Probe Of Sahara Clash - Reuters

Morocco Accuses West Sahara Activists Of Killing Police - Reuters

Americas and Caribbean

Mexico: 10 Kidnapped Migrants Freed by Navy - Associated Press

U.N.: Haiti Cholera Cases Expected to Rise - Voice of America

Amid Cholera Outbreak in Haiti, a Scramble to Get Soap - Washington Post

U.N.: Cholera Affecting Haiti Security - Associated Press

Cholera Protesters Barricade Haiti City, Assail U.N. - Associated Press

Haiti Cholera Protests Target U.N. - BBC News

7 U.N. Troops Hurt, Attacked by Haitians - Washington Post

Haitians Attack U.N. Troops, Blame Them For Cholera - Reuters

Cuba and U.K. in Anti-drug Smuggling Talks - BBC News

Cuba Gets First British Warship Visit In Decades - Reuters

Asia Pacific

North Korea Defections on Rise, South Says - New York Times

North Korean Arrivals in South 'Surge'Ã¢â¬Å½ - BBC News

Number of N. Korean Defectors to S. Korea Tops 20,000 - Associated Press

Internet Traffic was Routed via Chinese Servers - Washington Post

U.N. Human Rights Chief Welcomes Release of Aung San Suu Kyi - VOA

Suu Kyi Urges 'Real Genuine Talks' in Burma - Washington Post

Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi Aims for Peaceful Revolution - BBC News

Burma's Suu Kyi Seeks to Revive Political Party - Associated Press

As Indonesian Volcano Death Toll Grows, Evacuees Are Leaving Shelters - VOA

Europe

Obama: U.S--Russia Dialogue Productive, Will Continue - AFPS

In Russian Justice, the Jury Is Something to Work Around - New York Times

Chechen President Under Fire Ahead of Murder Trial - Associated Press

Bosnia Arrests Srebrenica Massacre Suspect - Voice of America

U.N. Prosecutor Allows Mladic May Not be in Serbia - Associated Press

Charges in Kosovo Organ-Selling Ring - New York Times

Europe Fears That Debt Crisis Is Ready to Spread - New York Times

Italy: Four Quit Berlusconi Cabinet, Deepening Crisis - New York Times

Italy: Beginning of End for Berlusconi? - Associated Press

Dutch Anti-Islam Party Averts Crisis as Retains MP - Reuters

Mohammad Cartoonist Wants His Old Identity Back - Reuters

Amnesty Says E.U. 'Failing' over CIA Renditions - BBC News

Middle East

U.S. Pinning its Mideast Hopes on 90-day Settlement Freeze - Washington Post

Netanyahu Tries to Shore Up Support for U.S. Plan - Associated Press

Israeli Government Seen Accepting New Settlement Freeze - Reuters

Israel 'Risks Chaos Without Peace', Official Warns - BBC News

Lawmakers Seek Conditions on Arms Sale to Saudis - Los Angeles Times

Will Egypt Elections Move the Arab World? - Voice of America

Egypt: NDP Fears Us, Muslim Brotherhood Says - United Press International

Egypt Police Accused in New Alexandria 'Torture' Case - BBC News

Read more about 16 November SWJ Roundup

Moments Often Left Unspoken: Glorious Deeds and Veteran's Day

Moments Often Left Unspoken: Glorious Deeds and Veteran's Day

by Michael Few

This Veteran's Day was special for me. It was my first real vacation in years. I surprised my girlfriend, Sarah, with a trip to Asheville for her birthday. As we drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway, the autumn churned a mixture of brown, orange, green, and yellow as the trees dropped their leaves in preparation for the coming winter- the cycle of life, death before the renewal of spring. Throughout the extended weekend, we hiked the mountains, rested along the French Broad River, and enjoyed a weekend surrounded in nature and partaking in rich foods- the seasoned lamb wrapped in grape leaves, the grilled marinated bison, the Asheville burrito, and the shrimp and grits. On Sunday, we attended church to give thanks for the blessings in our life, remember those that sacrificed so much for our nation, and pray that we could continue to devote our lives in a manner of something towards sacrifice and self-less service. Inevitably, we had to head back to the real world- her life as a journalist in a non-profit striving to provide social justice for the poor and my oath to uphold the Constitution and implement our Foreign Policy.

On this Sunday night back in Raleigh, before we could unwind with the nothingness of the "Amazing Race" (her choice) and "Family Guy" (my choice), we watched the 60 Minutes interview of Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, a soldier from the 173rd Airborne who will receive the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama tomorrow. It was a world that I thought that I had finally left behind. Back in 2007, deep inside the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan, SSG Giunta performed acts deemed uncommon valor and heroism,

"When an insurgent force ambush split Specialist Giunta's squad into two groups, he exposed himself to enemy fire to pull a comrade back to cover. Later, while engaging the enemy and attempting to link up with the rest of his squad, Specialist Giunta noticed two insurgents carrying away a fellow soldier. He immediately engaged the enemy, killing one and wounding the other, and provided medical aid to his wounded comrade while the rest of his squad caught up and provided security. His courage and leadership while under extreme enemy fire were integral to his platoon's ability [to] defeat an enemy ambush and recover a fellow American paratrooper from enemy hands."

Maybe, it was just a moment. Maybe, it was just a reaction.

Regardless, in the most simplest of terms, Giunta is my hero. In the course of my time in combat, I've known dozens of Giunta's. In his own humbling demeanor, he is the perfect man to receive this award, and I hope that eventually he finds peace knowing that he is representing all the men and women that fought outside the lines, deep inside enemy territory, dismantling enemy safehavens, terrorist training camps, and denied areas. In the short term, SSG Giunta feels like a regular soldier doing his job. He is right. He did what so many would have done in his position.

Today, as I process the actions of this Medal of Honor Recipient, it brings back deep feelings and emotions of my own war. Four years ago, we attacked into an al Qaeda held territory known as Turki Village to dismantle a terrorist training camp and end the ethnic cleansing of Shia villagers. During our initial assault, CPT John Dennison was killed while leading his platoon. John Ryan Dennison, a 2004 graduate of the United States Military Academy, was a shining light in the Class of 2000 at Urbana High School in Frederick County, Maryland -- an excellent student, a football player, a wrestler. John is gone but not forgotten.

So, moving onwards, Salvatore, we are so proud of you for your service and actions. As you receive the Medal of Honor, please do so knowing men like John Ryan are smiling down on you from heaven. You represent all of us that served. God bless you and your family. Please don't take too much of this burden onto your soul. My mortar platoon once taught me that the Roman's once thought of it this way- Armis Exposcere Pacem- They Demanded Peace by Force of Arms. Perhaps in a distant time,in thoughtful prayer, our measures will prove to provide such a peace to our granchildren.

All the way, sir.

Major James Michael Few is an active duty Armor officer with various command and staff positions in multiple tours to Iraq. Currently, he is the Editor of Small Wars Journal.

My Notes: For a complete story on SSG Giunta's Medal of Honor, read the New York Times account of In One Moment in Afghanistan, Heroism and Heartbreak

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