What's Next Libya?

Two articles up today on Foreign Policy looking at what to expect and commenting on what Libyan leaders should do as the country transitions from Qaddafi's (spell it however you want Q or G) control to the National Transitional Council's (NTC) leadership have caught my thoughts.  James Traub says the NTC is more ready to govern than many of us would think.  Larry Kaplow gives his recommendations for how Libya can avoid the issues now facing Iraq caused by poor transition.

Of course, what neither says is do not let the U.S. DoD determine how to transition your country.  And, do not let Donald Rumsfeld have a say in how to reconstruct government or for that matter your sewage system.  I do, however, think Traub is a little bit over-optomistic and that Kaplow is correct and we can only hope such advice is heeded.  It does have me thinking, and so I ask you to tell me what you think should be done to avoid a Baghdad type failure in Tripoli.   I'll come back to this later this week and let the world know what I and my readers think should be done.

My Favorite Military Rifles

Shoot, oh wait, probably not the best word to use to start a blog about guns.  I realized, however, that I have not blogged about firearms in awhile.  So, I was watching a re-run on the military channel about their top 10 battle rifles one night in the last week.  Well, I can do top 10 lists also (and I have fired every gun on this list at least a few times).

10.  Springfield A303 (.30-06 caliber) Seargent York used it, any questions?  Love the caliber, but it is a long and rather heavy rifle.
9.   Lee-Enfield Rifle No. 5 Mk I "Jungle Carbine"  (caliber .303) too short and too light for general issue, but it was popular because of size and weight and I don't mind recoil.  "Jungle Carbine" was name given to it by Santa Fe Arms company when they were trying to sell surplus models.
8.  Mauser K98 (caliber 8mm) one of the best bolt action rifles ever to see combat use.  The K98 action design is still borrowed for modern bolt action rifles.
7. Mosin-Nagant Model 44 (7.62x54R caliber)  One of the most fun to shoot Russian/Soviet bolt action military rifles.  The built in, fold-out, bayonet is pretty neat, and the carbine length barrel ensures nice pumpkins when fired.
6.  Galil (Nato 5.56x45, .223 caliber) This is the only .223 that I have ever fired and liked.  Wish I could have fired one in 7.62x51 Nato (.308).  The Israelis make nice guns.
5. M1 Garand (.30-06 or .308 caliber) great rifle all around.  Never fired one that was not accurate.  Some people don't like the clip system for loading the ammo, but hey this beats the clip system for the Mosin-Nagant M44.
4.  AK-74 (5.45x39 caliber) The 1970s variant of the AK-47 system designed to lessen weight load for soldiers without compromising accuracy and lethality.  The goal was achieved, with a bullet called by the Afghanis "the devil's bullet" because of its impact in the 1980s in the fight with the USSR.
3.  AK-47 (7.62x39 caliber)  What a great rifle, throw it in the mud, freeze it, throw it under a vehicles tires, it still functions.  This rifle made everyone else in the world play catch up with the Warsaw Pact and is still in use in militaries around the world.
2.  M14 (7.62x51 NATO .308 caliber) the rifle that should be in service in some variant in the U.S. military rather than the M16 variants that circulate today.  This is a solid rifle with a high degree of accuracy and knockdown power.  Still in use in some military circles and basis for the M21 and M25 sniper rifles.
1.  FAL (7.26x51 NATO .308 caliber) "The Right Arm of the Free World".  This rifle competes with the AK-47 for most used rifle in conflicts and militaries around the world during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s.  The rifle is still in use in variations in contemporary militaries.  The rifle is available in both inch and metric patterns of construction.

Note to all you bobble head, M16 lovers out there--get a real rifle. 

Mindset of Class of 2015

For those of you who care about such stuff, or find it quaint, charming, interesting, the new mindset list is out.  The list has been published now for a number of years at Beloit College.  You can read the entire list for the class of 2015 here, and also check past lists.

I am always semi perplexed by this list.  If the point of the list is to show how out-of-touch with modernity we geezers are then the list fails.  If the point is to poke fun at the kids because they have been faced with a different set of circumstances then the list also fails.  As I see it, and you can see my comments below on some of the list, the list really does not accomplish much other than giving Billy Joel fodder for another version of "We Didn't Start the Fire" focusing on the post-baby boomer generations.  Of course, my reference to this song is not a possible item for this list because it was produced before the class of 2015 was born.

So, on to some items from the 75 item list and my comments:

1. Ferris Bueller and Sloane Peterson could be their parents. (really?  do you think she actually would stay with Ferris, remember the pool scene with Cameron and Sloane discussing their future with Ferris?)
2. They “swipe” cards, not merchandise. (only if they are honest and law-abiding, and whose card are they swiping?)
3. As they’ve grown up on websites and cell phones, adult experts have constantly fretted about their alleged deficits of empathy and concentration. (not about empathy and concentration, we worry about their being ghettoized in juvenile-ville because of lack of contact with elders)
4. Their school’s “blackboards” have always been getting smarter. (only at wealthy schools)
5. Amazon has never been just a river in South America. (Many of them just found out that the river is in South America--judging by geography scores).
6. All their lives, Whitney Houston has always been declaring “I Will Always Love You.” (most of them have never heard Whitney sing period.)
7. Life has always been like a box of chocolates. (Did anyone under the age of 30 actually watch Forrest Gump?)
8. They’ve always gone to school with Mohammed and Jesus. (yeah, and this makes life better?)
9. There has never been an official Communist Party in Russia. (uh, what..read about the life of the Communist Party from its first formation to its current existense here.)
10. Jimmy Carter has always been a smiling elderly man who shows up on TV to promote fair elections and disaster relief. (has been since 1984--so is this something new to the class of 2015)
11. Their older siblings have told them about the days when Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera were Mouseketeers. (has anyone watched the Mouseketeers since 1965?)
12. The bloody conflict between the government and a religious cult has always made Waco sound a little whacko. (How many of them knew DavidKoresh by name until I just wrote it down?)
13. Unlike their older siblings, they spent bedtime on their backs until they learned to roll over.
14. Electric cars have always been humming in relative silence on the road. (Well, really?  I have yet to see one humming along the road, and with the volume turned up on the stereos in their cars, they have never known the sounds of the road anyway).
15. No longer known for just gambling and quickie divorces, Nevada has always been one of the fastest growing states in the Union.  (Another geography/demography question, refer to comments about Amazon)
16. Some of them have been inspired to actually cook by watching the Food Channel. (And no other generation can say this?)
17. New kids have always been known as NKOTB. (has anyone listened to these guys since the 1980s?)
18. Kim Jong-il has always been bluffing, but the West has always had to take him seriously. (Bluffing?  threats about nuclear weapons use are not bluffing, they are threats!)
19. Major League Baseball has never had fewer than three divisions and never lacked a wild card entry in the playoffs. (oh the inhumanity of it all, this one really stinks and has made baseball worse)
20. Refugees and prisoners have always been housed by the U.S. government at Guantanamo. (wow, this one is semi-relevant and semi-important)
21. “PC” has come to mean Personal Computer, not Political Correctness. (um, no, PC is still used to talk about moronic liberalism as well as computer equipment)
22. The New York Times and the Boston Globe have never been rival newspapers. (newspapers--ok, we mean electronic based papers, right?)

Ok, so I could have gone on and on with all 75, and 22 is a weird number to use, but hey, its my blog.  Go read the list for yourself and come up with something to say about it.

Wealth and Dysfunction

As I gear up to teach African Politics this fall (a course I use to examine development and conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has been a rich area of exploration for ethnic conflict and civil war study for many a scholar) I spend time perusing wire services and news providers and came across two interesting pieces.  One is about new revenue streams for Sierra Leone based on oil reserves.  The other is about communal conflict at the tribal level in South Sudan.

Both of these stories highlight the factor of wealth and dysfunction issues in Sub-Saharan Africa.  While oil revenue could provide $100 million (U.S.) per year, will this wealth really make a difference for the average Sierra Leone citizen?  Sierra Leone has a great amount of mineral and timber wealth and this has not changed the quality of life for the average citizen to date.  South Sudan has independence and international recognition, but will this lead to peace in an area that has known decades of violent conflict?  Or will South Sudan quickly become a dysfunctional community?  Well, this gives me something to follow for the next few months.  I think it should give many people something to ponder for a few months.

Libya II

Stephen Walt happens to agree with my wait and see attitude about Libya.  You can read about it here.

Libya

This is what I like to see in the world.  People taking down their own government instead of us having to take it down for them--oh wait, we provided the air support, intelligence, and some indigenous forces training via special operations units.  Ok, well it wasn't perfect, but this is better than invading a country to take down the government.  Foreign Policy has a good set of pictures to view here, and Daniel Drezner looks at winners and losers here.  I don't know that I agree with all his choices of winners or all his choices of losers, but Q (or is it G) is now out of power, though not yet captured or out of Libya.

I am remembering the Clinton administration trying to sell us on Q (or G) having become a better world citizen. Everyone with an ounce of brain power knew that was silly.  And now, Obama can add this one to his list of credits as well, that we supported the winning side (or so it looks for the moment) of the fight for control of government in Libya. 

Next important question, just because the rebels removed Q (or G) does this mean we will see democracy in Libya?  On that point, I remain skeptical.  Disliking the government or JIC (Jerk in Charge) has not created democracy in Egypt or Tunisia.  It might, but it has not happened yet.  So, give it time and let us see what happens.

Pencil Sharpeners

"What do we need pencil sharpeners for in a building that is wired for maximum utilization of technology?"  This is a real question asked by an administrator when told by a faculty member that pencil sharpeners needed to be installed in classrooms.  Aside from the amazing DUH factor that should be considered (students still take notes, take exams, etc. in the classrooms), this response represents a bad trend in the academy.

Just because a classroom is wired for using the latest technology, does not mean it is the best pedagogical tool for use in the classroom in all circumstances.  Schools around the country are having this discussion.  On one side of the argument are those who say students are using their computers and we should encourage the use of electronic media in the classroom.  On the other side are those who argue that electronic media do not necessarily enhance learning.  Do my students learn best when taking notes on paper or when taking notes on their laptop while simultaneously surfing the internet or replying to emails and text messages because of having access to wireless connection in the classroom?  Should we as faculty have to police the classroom and add a distraction to our efforts to provide the best information and learning techniques to our students?  Well, we shall see what happens over time.

Top 10's: Cigars

A few months ago I did my first top 10 list--War Movies.  So, here is my second--Cigars.  Of course, this is biased by several factors.  Foremost, I do not have an unlimited luxury allowance that makes it possible for me to smoke cigars that cost $20 per stick at wholesale prices.  So, I try to find the best cigars for the money I can afford and my list will reflect this fact.  Second, I have simply not tried every cigar out there that I could try because I have particular taste that I am trying to satisfy.  Third, I decided to only include cigars that I have smoked at least 10 sticks in the last 5-6 years.  In short, if you do not like my top 10, pick your own.

1) Bolivar Belicosos Finos (Cuba)
1A) Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure #2 (Cuba)
3) Gurkha Legend Aniversario (Nicaraguan/Dominican/Honduran)
4) Gurkha Titan (Nicaraguan/Honduran/Colombian/Costa Rican)
5) Partagas Serie D #4 (Cuba)
6) Gurkha Beast (Domincan/Honduran/Colombian/Costa Rican)
7) Montecristo No. 4 (Cuba)
8) Arturo Fuente Hemingway Work of Art (Domican/Cameroon)
9) Carlos Torano Signature Series Toro (Domincan/Nicaraguan)
10) Oliva Serie O Robusto (Nicaragua)

Wow, making this list was really hard after number 5.  I can think of about 10 other cigars that I could put in the 6-10 slots as easily as those I did put in there--Padron, CAO Brazilia, Carlos Torano Exodus, Gurkha Assassin, and on and on and on.  If my list seems high on Gurkha--well, KH makes some great cigars (he also makes some crappy blends as well for those of poor to downright bad taste).  If it seems short on mild cigars--so what, I prefer flavor and heft. 

BBQ

I have wasted way too much space worrying about serious stuff today.  So here goes with something better. 

I love BBQ.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love to eat, drink, and be merry.  BBQ is the perfect food for doing all of these things.  In the last three years I have been working real hard on my BBQ, because if I am going to eat it, it better be good.  You can't be merry with poorly constructed or cooked food and drink.

I have actually developed my own dry rub, unfortunately I really can't tell you how to make it but I will list the ingredients:  smoked paprika, raw sugar, brown sugar, Mexican oregano, sweet basil, rosemary, dried celery, salt, ground chili pepper, crushed red pepper, ground chipoltle pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, minced dry garlic, dried minced orange peel.  I add a little dry mustard after the fact and remix when I am using this on pork butts.

I can give you a better recipe for injection marinade for pork butt:
1 cup apple juice or apple cider
1 cup Coca-Cola
1 cup beer (a lager or a pilsner should be used--nothing bitter or dark)
1 cup pork broth (substitute chicken broth if pork broth not available)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons Cajun seasoning salt
2 Tablespoons of whatever dry rub you are using

finely grind up the dry ingredients and make sure butter is melted into the mix to avoid gumming up your injector needle.   Use about 2-3 Tablespoons per pound of meat.  Inject before dry rubbing the meat and let sit for 1 hour before cooking.  Use some of the marinade to mop or spritz the meat prior to saucing at end of cooking.  Some people like to inject again when removing from grill, try it and see for yourself how you like it best. This recipe makes a bunch of marinade, so be prepared to store in refrigerator.

A word on BBQ sauce.  You can make your own, but there is a lot of good stuff out there.  When I make my own (I actually like to use Sweet Baby Ray and occasionally try out some other sauces) here is my general recipe:

1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup ketchup or catsup (not really sure what the difference is between these items)
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/4 cup orange juice
1 Tablespoon tomato paste
The following items are dry items added to taste:
salt
ground chili pepper
ground chipoltle pepper
garlic powder
onion powder
mustard powder
brown sugar (I add this last after tasting and use to balance against heat and bitter of spices)

So, now you should go out and enjoy.  All of the above recipes are meant to be trial and error efforts, play around with them, determine what you want to taste.  Make sure to do a little studying about cooking with your particular type of grill.

A word on grills and BBQ.  If you must use gas, find someway to create smoke, gas is fine for grilling but adds no flavor to meat, and BBQ is all about flavor.  Wood and charcoal rock the BBQ scene and so I avoid gas grills.  If you have a fancy grill/smoker use wood or a wood/charcoal mix.  Regardless of type of wood/charcoal grill, use lump hardwood charcoal if available.  As to adding water pans, here is why you do it--water absorbs heat and can be used to maintain proper cooking temperature, it is not meant to "steam" the meat.  Do not put your wood chips used to create smoke and flavor in the water pan, put the soaked or dry chips on the charcoal.  What type of wood or charcoal should you use:  try a few different ones and figure out what flavor profile is created to your own taste.  I personally like to use a mixture of mesquite and hickory and occasionally soak the mesquite in apple juice to tame some of the harder flavor profile of mesquite.  Many people prefer apple, pecan, peach, cherry wood.  Again, I say go out and experiment with the wood and charcoal combination to get the flavor you want.

Happy BBQ! 

S&P Guilty of "Terrible Judgement"

Okay, so Geithner says the S&P made a terrible judgement call in downgrading the U.S. credit rating (read about it here).  Well this is a big DUH! Of course Geithner has to say this just as much as a "White House adviser" has to say it is the Tea Party Republican's fault (read about it here) and Republican leaders say it is the fault of the White House and veto threats that forced them to sign onto a less than desirable compromise.

Here are a few of my thoughts.

1) we (the generations since the "Greatest Generation") gave ourselves a lot of services and payments from the government without stopping to think about how this is really funded.
2) we (the same generations previously mentioned) have also proven generally to be poor managers of our own money.
3) now we want to pawn off the payments on future generations by not lowering spending or raising revenue intakes in any meaningful way.
4) we are a bunch of schmucks!!!!!!!!!!!

Redemption for the Nuclear Arsenal?

For the last generation, or at least as long as I have been pursuing an academic career, a great big raspberry has been directed at the nuclear arsenal by most, close to all, academics I have encountered. This position might need to be reconsidered.  At least I think it should be reconsidered in light of a very thoughtful argument made by Adam Lowther in The National Interest (read Adam Lowther's piece here).

Prior to the end of the Cold War academes roundly criticized the presence of a nuclear force as threatening to human existence.  Truth exists in that stance.  Nuclear weapons do threaten human existence as they kill and destroy with much greater ease than conventional weaponry--but do not tell this to the dead. maimed, permanently scarred from all of the wars of mankind since 1945.  After the Cold War the argument was what need do we have of a nuclear arsenal when there is no menacing Soviet threat.

Adam Lowther cogently points out that a policy shift will be necessary to mate future military capability with national security concerns.  The fact is that with a constricted budget we will not be able to do militarily nearly as much brushfire fighting as we have shifted to since 1980.  This brings back into play a nuclear arsenal which can truly be used as a deterrent.  Of course, now we can probably argue about deterrence theories.  But, at least this is something we might consider as we work toward new policy directions driven by economic realities.  Anyway, I like good arguments and believe all angles should be considered, so consider Lowther's argument.