Tag Archives: Powell Doctrine

A Remarkable Admission

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Jim Wheeler

I have always had the utmost respect for the Marines, and even more so when I was Executive Officer of the Naval ROTC Unit at the University of Kansas, that being the closest affiliation I had with them in my … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Pork Chop Hill

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Jim Wheeler

It’s the same old story. What justifies war? Was it worth the blood and treasure? What constitutes “winning” a war – how do you define that? When is it really over? Well, it depends on who you ask and when … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Apples and Oranges, Onus Added

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

There was a nice tribute to outgoing General Petraeus in the Joplin Globe this morning. The editors extended him a well-deserved “atta-boy” as he leaves Afghanistan to assume duties as CIA chief. There’s no question that he is a tough, … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghan war, Iraq war, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Arab Street

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

The Libyan Affair continues to look more and more like an unresolvable morass, and the United States like a sucker for having dipped its military toe into a pool of tar.  The AP reports today that NATO is agreed that … Continue reading →

Posted in War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

An Affair To Remember

Posted on March 25, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

The Libyan Affair continues to evolve.  I believe it to be an historic precedent in warfare, but whether for good or bad is yet unclear.  But whatever the outcome I am resigned that here in the continuing nuclear age some … Continue reading →

Posted in Armed Forces, Foreign Policy / War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Zooming In On Libya

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

Since you are reading this on a computer it is likely that you have experienced Google Earth, a marvelous way to zoom in or out on just about any geographic point in the world.  The first time I tried it … Continue reading →

Posted in Afghan war, Armed Forces, Iraq war, Politics, War | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What Would George Say About Egypt?

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

How should America behave as the Arab world erupts in apparent chaos?  Al Qaeda, a.k.a. Islamic fundamentalism, is our enemy, and countering it and its ideas is the challenge we face. Anson Burlingame, my fellow Joplin blogger, in a recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Policy / War, Islam, Politics, Religion, Terrorism | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

War: What If?

Posted on October 8, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Anson Burlingame, fellow blogger, retired Navy Captain, ex-nuclear-submarine skipper, has proposed an online discussion of the nature of war, with the context being America’s controversial strategy for the Afghan War. As an opening post for a continuing discussion of indeterminate … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics / Morality, Nuclear weapons, Terrorism, War | Tagged | 8 Comments