"... an odd blogette for the 'best blog' winner - at least odd if you're not going to expound on what it says about the future of Western civilization that a naive, self serving simpleton celeb like Elvis, who hasn't written a half decent song in 20 years, can manage to worm mention of his moronic political affectations onto the astute pages of this esteemed 'best blog' - if you're not going to expound on the import of that I'm not sure why bother at all - that such sentimental detritus becomes grist for Cole's pathological mill is not surprising since he's the leader of the 'my entire existence is defined by how much Israel disgusts me' idiot pack - but why you bother seems a bit odd.

Because I don't see the impact on Israel's strategic positioning here - as long as the Mideast remains a geopolitical priority for the US Israel's security is sacrosanct - that's all that matters - even the puerile diplomacy of Obama can't change that, and Israel knows it. In that context Costello's sophomoric musings are about as relevant and valid as GB Shaw's sanctimonious defense of Stalinist Russia in the 30s - except that Shaw's talent actually had a bit of substance to it - Costello is merely a has been entertainer - so, again, unless you're gonna use this bit of fluff as a jumping off point for a thorough riffing on the decline of the West, I just don't see what you're after here..."

"... politics is not primary in COIN - culture is, then security/economic wherewithal, then an enabling political structure. You Obamaphiles want to believe it's all about politics etc because Obama's demonstrated world view can comfortably accommodate such a rendering - unfortunately Obama's world view is misguided, hopelessly compromised by vainly rationalizing ends to fit desired means.

During the primaries I warned that Obama's embrace of 'the good war' in Afghanistan was a cynical political calculation conveniently conjured by an abiding arrogance held aloft by wishful thinking and ideological pretensions - Obamaphiles roundly scorned me for suggesting such a calumny against their idol - they wanna believe it's all about the 'best and the brightest', how much brain power you bring to the table - it's not - any grunt can tell you that ya don't follow the smartest guy in the platoon, ya follow the guy who understands how the game is played and the unforgiving nature of the flames in which reality is forged ..."