Disqus - Latest Comments for jdext

Re: edatrix. - buffet.

jdext — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 13:10:03 -0000

Best part of bueffets are the desserts. I haven't been to one in awhile. Any suggestions in DC?

Re: WashingtRon, City of the Future - Meetup this week!!!! Pay attention to this!!!

jdext — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:45:48 -0000

I might be leaving town earlier that day for Father's day. If my ride sticks around till Saturday, I will be there.

Re: Course Syllabus

jdext — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:43:04 -0000

Joe,

That is going to be my main jumping point for research on Algeria. Really, it couldn't be more timely. Thank you.

Re: erica saves the day - Ironic value vs. you’re a fucking idiot: the conundrum of bad tattoos.

jdext — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 17:08:22 -0000

Fair enough. I've received some criticism for a tattoo I have, so you might say I have a dog in the fight. I just never understand why other people get so mad/upset. If anything the person who has to see it everyday on their body should be the one who is bitter .

Regarding hating...no worries. What would blogs be if one couldn't hate?

Re: erica saves the day - Ironic value vs. you’re a fucking idiot: the conundrum of bad tattoos.

jdext — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:51:34 -0000

to each his/her own.

Re: Ranger Exum Leaves the Scene

jdext — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:27:03 -0000

Mike,

My reasoning for choosing the Algerian war was two-fold. I know absolutely nothing about the war. Therefore, I can come into the project with a more objective mind than if I were to tackle Vietnam or even the Tamil Tigers, which I did work on last summer. Also, since I am specifically interested in the Middle East, it is imperative I learn more about the Maghreb (outside of Egypt I really don’t read enough).

I will pick up Fall’s book, thanks for the suggestion.

Joe,

Thanks for sharing what the Algerian insurgent told you. I would like to get in touch with this individual down the road. That part on keeping a small, closed network is interesting, and I imagine standard operation procedure for an effective insurgency.

It must be incredibly difficult to retain all that information packed into three hours. To learn about individual tribes, their rivalries, and customs could take months, let alone three hours. More power to you if you remember anything from that presentation.

Re: Ghost of Patrick Henry - Despite the turmoil, Western students flock to Beirut

jdext — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 22:00:48 -0000

Damascus. I would like to enter a summer course (in '09) either at the Ma'had or the French Institute. I am debating taking a semester off (in the spring), but financially that may be a problem. Where does the Grandmasta reside?

Re: Ranger Exum Leaves the Scene

jdext — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:34:59 -0000

Joe,

His name sounded familiar to me also. I googled it and cannot seem to pinpoint exactly where I came across it prior (I thought perhaps via Phil Carter’s Intel Dump, but not entirely sure).

Thank you for the recommendations. I will take a look at those two SWJ threads. I have read (thanks to Abu Muqawama for highlighting it) critiques of overemphasizing counterinsurgency tactics (i.e. Gian Gentile). My critique of the syllabus might be unfair (I am sure it is subject to change). My personal belief is that the United States is more likely to be involved in small conflicts going forward. In which pacifying an insurgency or preventing forces of an insurgency from coalescing will be a dominant feature in policymaking and warfare in the future. Even if the United States were to find itself in conflict with a state power, such as Russia or China, I suspect it will play out in a proxy battle of a third world nation.

Interesting you mention “Learning to Eat Soup with A Knife.” I nearly bought it on Thursday, but instead opted for “A Savage War of Peace” (Horne’s book which I believe you are referring to). Perhaps for my project or just out of curiosity, I would leave to hear the stories told to you by the Algerian insurgent (shoot me an email sometime jeffdext@gmail.com).

When Rupert Smith’s book first came out I marked it as a must read, but admittedly I have not gotten to it. I should add it to my summer reading list.

Your point about instant analysis of ongoing conflicts and drawing conclusions from them is dead-on. Despite wanting to read an insatiable amount of material on Iraq and Afghanistan, I am reluctant to treat predictions in either theater as anything more than malleable assumptions. Unless mandatory, I would shy away from tackling the current campaigns in a project.

Re: Ranger Exum Leaves the Scene

jdext — Fri, 30 May 2008 20:00:40 -0000

Anytime Grandmasta. Your blog is not too far behind in its educational value, particularly for its Egyptian/Lebanese media translations and analysis.

Keep up the great work, and tell C Funkenstein I say what's up.

Re: Ghost of Patrick Henry - o tolmon nika

jdext — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:44:31 -0000

Yes, I was aware. However, I never came across that article before. Awesome headline. Anyone whose fought the Triads clearly can take on teenage muggers.