| Small Wars Journal

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 202 of the Revised Statutes (22 U.S.C. 2656) and section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Establishment. There is established within the Department of State, in accordance with section 3161 of title 5, United States Code, a temporary organization to be known as the Pakistan and Afghanistan Support Office (PASO).

Sec. 2. Purpose of the Temporary Organization. The purpose of the PASO shall be to perform the specific project of supporting executive departments and agencies in strengthening the governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan, enhancing the capacity of those governments to resist extremists, and maintaining an effective U.S. diplomatic presence in both countries.

More here.

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America's War

An editorial in this morning's Washington Post, "Making the case for success in Afghanistan", lays out the bottom line in regards to where we now stand in prosecuting the war, and in particular a counterinsurgency strategy for that war, in Afghanistan. The editorial focuses (and generally agrees with -- "appropriate message" is The Post's description) General Petraeus' comments this past Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" and in an earlier interview with The Post's Rajiv Chandrasekaran. An American Forces Press Service article on that commentary provide the gist of the General's message concerning patience for the war, the war's focus and strategy, where we stand in regards to progress and what we need to do with that progress, and why our efforts are a long term proposition.

Largely overlooked by many mainstream publications earlier in the week, The Post rightly ends with an important observation: This war is not General Petraeus' war -- it is America's war and it is up to the President to make the case and provide the rationale for that war -- "not once, not twice, but repeatedly".

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Afghan Redeployment Strategy

Spencer Ackerman of Wired's Danger Room (and old-time friend of SWJ) is in Afghanistan and just finished an interview with General David Petraeus. His first installment, "Petraeus: Here's My Afghan Redeployment Strategy", is now posted. Danger Room will be posting the complete interview shortly.

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Afghanistan at CFR

Long Road Ahead for Afghan Security Forces - Interview with Dr. Jack Kem, Deputy to the Commander, NATO Training Mission--Afghanistan, by Greg Bruno, Council on Foreign Relations

Conflicting Objectives for U.S. in Afghanistan - Interview with Colonel Gian P. Gentile, CFR Visiting Fellow, by Bernard Gwertzman, Council on Foreign Relations

Time to Talk to the Taliban? - Interview with Matt Waldman, Independent Afghan Analyst; Former Fellow, Harvard University's Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, by Greg Bruno, Council on Foreign Relations

Media Conference Call: Defining Success in Afghanistan - CFR conference call with Stephen Biddle, Senior Fellow for Defense Policy, Council on Foreign Relations

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18 August SWJ Roundup

Why links only? - Because we desire to avoid this.

Afghanistan

Karzai Orders Guard Firms to Disband - New York Times

Karzai to Eliminate Private Security within 4 Months - Los Angeles Times

Afghanistan Orders Ban on Private Security Firms - Reuters

If Security Firms Dissolved, Guards Will Join Taliban - Washington Post

Pentagon, Karzai Work to Disband Security Companies - AFPS

Kerry: Karzai Must Lead 'Tangible' Effort Against Corruption - Washington Post

Sen Kerry: Karzai Must Fight Graft or Lose Support - Associated Press

'Three Cups of Tea' a Byword for Winning Hearts and Minds - Los Angeles Times

Russia to Host Afghan And Pakistani Leaders - Reuters

Afghan Executions Point to Widespread Taliban Control - Washington Times

Taliban Attack Afghan Official's Home, Killing 2 - Associated Press

NATO: 2 Wounded Afghan Gunmen Pose as Civilians - Associated Press

Karzai Condemns Stoning Of Afghan Couple For Adultery - Reuters

Pakistan

Floods Could Further Hurt Unstable Nation - Washington Post

U.N. Sounds Alarm on Aid for Pakistan - New York Times

U.N. Says Secured More Pakistan Flood Relief Funds - Reuters

U.S. Relief Continues in Pakistan - American Forces Press Service

Insurgents, Police Clash Amid Pakistan Flooding - Associated Press

Pakistan: An Urgent Call for Aid - New York Times editorial

Pakistan: A Trade Deal to Help Rebuild - New York Times editorial

Iraq

Hill: Iraq 'Going in Right Direction' Despite Terrorism, Political Stalemate - VOA

Iraqi Leaders Fear for Future After Their Past Missteps - New York Times

Suicide Bomb Targets Army Recruits; Dozens Killed - Washington Post

Suicide Bomber Hits Army Recruits in Baghdad; 61 Killed - Associated Press

Cemetery is Symbol of Militia's Vow to Fight - Washington Post

Iran

Iran Warns Against Attack on Nuclear Plant - Voice of America

Iran Says Won't Send Condemned Woman to Brazil - Reuters

Why Not to Bomb Iran - New York Times opinion

Bombs Away in Three Days - Washington Times opinion

Clerics Responsible for Failed Attempts at Democracy - Washington Post opinion

Al Qaeda

9/11 Suspect Was Detained and Taped in Morocco - New York Times

CIA Tapes of 9/11 Detainee's Interrogation Don't Show Torture - Washington Post

WikiLeaks

Justice Weighs Criminal Case Against WikiLeaks - Washington Post editorial

Department of Defense

Layers Key to Missile Defense Strategy - American Forces Press Service

United States

Federal Judge Throws Out Piracy Charges Against 6 Somalis - Associated Press

Blackwater Founder Moves to Abu Dhabi, Records Say - New York Times

U.S. May Sue Arizona's Sheriff Arpaio - Washington Post

Governor Seeking Talks on New Site for Muslim Center - New York Times

There's No Place for Shariah in America - Washington Times editorial

Ground Zero Mosque: A Mighty Mistake - Washington Post opinion

Let the Mosque Stand - Washington Post opinion

Obama's 'Teachable' Shariah Moment - Washington Times opinion

Africa

Rights Groups: Murder, Torture Rife in Nigeria Police Force - Voice of America

Aid Groups Again Denied Access to Darfur Camp - Associated Press

Americas and Caribbean

Key Mexican Drug Cartel Suspect Extradited to U.S. - Washington Times

Drug Cartels: Mexico's Reporters Go Silent - Los Angeles Times

Lawmakers in Mexico to Debate Drug Fight - New York Times

Court Rules Against Colombia-U.S. Base Accord - Associated Press

Analysts: Chavez Faces Political Test in September Elections - Voice of America

Venezuela: Communists Want 'Carlos the Jackal' Repatriated - Associated Press

U.S. Preparing to Open Travel to Cuba - Washington Post

Haiti Postpones Ruling on Wyclef Jean's Candidacy - Associated Press

Haiti Commission Earmarks $1.6 Bln For Recovery - Reuters

Asia Pacific

U.S. Wants Renewed Military Contacts with China - AFPS

Report Says Chinese Military Transparency Still Lacking - AFPS

Vietnam, U.S. Hold First-ever Defense Talks - Associated Press

Report: N. Korea Proposed Summit Talks With S. Korea - Associated Press

U.S. Supports U.N. Inquiry into Burma War Crimes - Washington Post

Taiwan's Legislature Approves China Trade Pact - Associated Press

The Caucasus

Deadly Suicide Attacks in North Caucasus - New York Times

Suicide Bomb And Cafe Blast Rock Russia's Caucasus - Reuters

Middle East

Can Social Media Bring Democracy to Middle East? - Voice of America

Israeli Purchase of Fighter Jets Seen as Litmus Test for Continued Support - VOA

Lebanon Gives Palestinians Work Rights - New York Times

Lebanon Law Gives Palestinians Few Civil Rights - Reuters

U.N. Gets Hezbollah 'Evidence' on Israel-Hariri Link - Associated Press

Hezbollah Gives Hariri Evidence to Lebanon Judiciary - Reuters

Palestinian Who Attacked Turkish Embassy Captured - Associated Press

South Asia

Sri Lanka Defends War Conduct, Slams Rebel "Human Shields" - Reuters

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Strategy and Insurgency: An Evolution in Thinking?

Strategy and Insurgency: An Evolution in Thinking? - Please find the latest by SWJ authors and friends John Sullivan and Adam Elkus at Open Security.

China's military exploits an opening

Yesterday the U.S. Defense Department finally released -- at least four months late -- its annual report on Chinese military power. The delay can be excused. This year's report is more comprehensive and more serious than its predecessors. In addition to its descriptions of China's inexorable expansion of weapons systems, force structure, and military power over the Taiwan Strait, the report added useful sections on China's grand strategy, its political-military guidance to the PLA, China's current military doctrine, its military-industrial espionage efforts, and its use of military diplomacy around the world. Those hoping the Western Pacific region would somehow smoothly merge into a stable strategic equilibrium will find little comfort in this report. The view instead appears more like an asteroid in the sky getting larger and larger every night.

Over the past decade, the United States and China have taken completely opposite paths on force structure investment. During this time, China has sharply reduced the headcount of its ground forces. Ground force modernization receives but a brief mention in the report. Instead, the report allocates dozens of pages describing China's investment in new classes of ballistic missiles of all ranges, new long-range land-attack cruise missiles, new nuclear weapons capabilities, new fighter and bomber aircraft, new integrated air defense systems, new diesel and nuclear submarines (attack and ballistic missile), new surface warships, improved expeditionary forces (airborne and marine divisions), cyber operations, space warfare, etc. China has focused its investment priorities on naval and aerospace power projection and high-end asymmetric capabilities, paid for with reductions in the army's headcount and, naturally, China's booming economy. According to the report, China is aiming its future naval and aerospace expeditionary forces beyond Taiwan and China's territorial claims over the South China and Yellow Seas; China intends to reach past Guam and the "second island chain" and deep into the Pacific.

Meanwhile, United States military investment priorities over the past ten years have been a mirror image. The Pentagon has added to its ground force headcount (and its personnel costs) while cutting heads in the Navy and Air Force. The Congress has generously funded counterinsurgency patrol trucks (MRAPs) and large logistic bases in the Middle East and Central Asia. In the meantime, U.S. naval and aerospace investments are waiting, both for defense contractors to sort out their problems and for policymakers to assign a higher priority to these investments. The F-35, when it finally arrives from testing, will have limited utility in Asia due to its short range and scarcity of survivable bases (the F-22's utility in Asia is similarly hobbled). Defense Secretary Robert Gates has had to cancel several of the Navy's surface warship programs due to cost overruns. Over the decade, the Navy has received a few new ships a year and has retired even more, resulting in a shrinking fleet. The Air Force won't get a new bomber for at least a decade. All of this is in sharp contrast to China's military investment program.

The Soviet Union's collapse allowed China to reallocate resources from frontier defense to naval and aerospace power projection. This trend was in place long before the United States intervened in Iraq and Afghanistan. But China is no doubt also exploiting what it likely perceives as U.S. neglect in the Pacific while it focused on ground wars in the Middle East and Central Asia. With the China military power report now in their hands, U.S. policymakers need to question what risks they are taking with America's strategic position and whether they are entirely comfortable with the military investment program they are now managing.

Gates to Retire in 2011 (Updated)

Fred Kaplan interviews Secretary of Defense Robert Gates for Foreign Policy and snares an exclusive. Head on to FP and find out what the SECDEF "hopes to leave behind".

More:

Defense Secretary Gates Would Like to Leave Next Year - Washington Post

Why Would Defense Secretary Gates Want to Retire? - Christian Science Monitor

Gates Hints at Retiring from U.S. Defence - Financial Times

Gates Plans to Retire Next Year - Associated Press

Gates Gone? Not So Fast... (Updated) - Wired

Gates Going - National Review

Tomorrow: The Next Phase in America's Relationship with Iraq

The Next Phase in America's Relationship with Iraq

A conversation with:

Nathaniel Fick

CEO of Center for a New American Security

Michael Corbin

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq

Dr. Colin Kahl

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East

RSVP online here.

President Obama's speech in early August heralded the end of U.S. combat operations in Iraq, but U.S. engagement in the country is far from over. As the military draws down, our nation's diplomats are preparing to expand their role and take the lead in providing guidance and assistance to Iraqis as they build a stable future for their country. However, the transition of responsibility from the Department of Defense to the Department of State in a resource-constrained environment presents challenges for the government in meeting U.S. foreign policy objectives and managing the thousands of contractors needed to provide security and other services necessary for State to operate in Iraq.

Tomorrow, August 17, 2010, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) will host a moderated discussion that will address these questions with two leading Administration officials on Iraq: Michael Corbin, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Iraq, and Dr. Colin Kahl, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East. CNAS Chief Executive Officer Nathaniel Fick, a national security expert and veteran of the Iraq war, will moderate the conversation.

Date and Time:

Tomorrow, August 17, 2010

12:30 p.m.: Check-in and Registration

1:00-2:30 p.m.: Event

Please note the event will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m.

Location:

The Willard Intercontinental Hotel's Crystal Room (Map and Directions)

1401 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Washington, D.C. 20004

RSVP:

RSVP online here.

Or, call 202.457.9427

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