Apparently the Human Terrain System hasn't really been that effective in educating the U.S. military about Afghani customs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Terrain_System
http://humanterrainsystem.army.mil/

How many millions have to die before we call our "War on Terror" what it is...a genocide plain and simple. You know banality of evil and all that jazz. Is hell frozen over yet??? Pigs flying??? No? Ok just checking I guess I better go back to the Drudge Report and check for updates on Michael Jackson's death.

Excellent article as always Mr. Engelhardt.

Sherban I've been reading Mr. Raimondo's column for quite some time and I'm pretty sure he isn't a liberal.

"I have made it clear that this system is directed at preventing a potential attack from Iran, and has nothing to do with Russia. In fact, I want us to work together on a missile defense architecture that makes us all safer. But if the threat from Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs is eliminated, the driving force for missile defense in Europe will be eliminated."

I think Obama is trying to use what some foreign policy wonks call "soft power". By giving an obviously absurd justification for deploying a missile shield he then dangles the carrot in front of the Russians.

We need Russia's help to pressure the Iranians from going nuclear, and by we I mean the Israeli lobbyists in Washington, so we hint at the possibility of foregoing deployment of aforementioned missile shield in exchange for their help in pressuring Iran to halt their uranium enrichment project. Or at the very least quit supporting it materially.

Unfortunately Obama seems to be unaware that America's soft power ain't what it used to be. Putin's preemptive reply was spot on and only illustrates that he is leaps and bounds ahead of Obama on this one.